#3
Please stand out in the middle of a field wearing bright orange clothing, waving a palestinian flag. We'll allow all our current and former snipers (and anybody else that wants a shot) a chance at you. All of you that survive may be heard. The rest of you will be used for gator feed.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/30/2015 22:25 Comments ||
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Between the Al Shabaab jihad and inter- and intra-tribal warfare, Somalia has been hard at work to reduce their excess population. And it's working!
[AnNahar] Over 38,000 Somali children are at "high risk" from dying from starvation despite hunger levels improving by almost a third across the war-torn nation, U.N. experts said Thursday.
The grim assessment, based on the latest data collected by the U.N., comes just over three years since intense drought and war sparked famine in the Horn of Africa nation, killing more than a quarter of a million people.
In total, over 731,000 people, including 203,000 children who are severely malnourished, face "acute food insecurity", according to a joint report released by the U.N.'s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network(FEWS NET).
But the total number affected is a drop of 29 percent from last assessments covering the past six months, with "relatively good rains" in late 2014 helping farmers.
"Many children remain acutely malnourished, despite a small decrease in their numbers over the past six months," the statement read.
"An estimated 202,600 children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, including 38,200 who are severely malnourished and face a high risk of morbidity and death."
Three-quarters of those in dire need are those who have fled their homes, mainly due to continued fighting.
"Malnutrition rates remain stubbornly high," U.N. aid chief for Somalia Philippe Lazzarini said. "The outlook for 2015 is worrisome."
More than 250,000 people, half of them children, died in the devastating 2011 famine.
Fighting continues between Somalia's al-Qaida-affiliated Shebab rebels and government and allied forces, backed by more than 20,000-strong African Union force.
It never rains, but it pours. How many horsemen ride through Nigeria these days?
[AnNahar] Nigeria on Thursday confirmed that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread from seven to 11 states within a week, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of poultry but no human cases.
Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina told an emergency meeting on the outbreak that "as of yesterday (Wednesday) a total of 11 states, have reported positive cases".
Cases have been recorded in Kano, Plateau, Gombe and Jigawa in the north, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo in the southwest. Imo in the southeast is also affected, with Rivers, Delta and Edo in the south.
The minister said that as of Wednesday, 232,385 birds were exposed to the virus and 51,444 had died -- up from nearly 140,000 exposures and just over 22,000 deaths on January 21.
"We are not in a state of any epidemic, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking aggressive containment measures," said Adesina.
"There is no cause for alarm but we must now move with greater speed and decisiveness."
Kano, Nigeria's largest state in the north, has been worst hit by the outbreak with 136,905 infected birds and 17,987 deaths; Lagos had 38,845 cases and 4,732 deaths.
Adesina said last week that the first cases were confirmed on a commercial farm in Kano city and at a live bird market in Lagos State on January 8.
The government has approved 145 million naira ($767,400, 676,000 euros) to compensate farmers by the outbreak.
The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus has killed more than 400 people worldwide since it first appeared in 2003, most of them in southeast Asia.
[Dhaka Tribune] Police in Comilla are looking for a Chhatra League ... the student wing of the Bangla Awami League ... leader accused of leading a gang to coerce a Taiwanese businessman into giving money on Wednesday.
The gang led by Sohel Ibne Mohiuddin was claimed to have taken away Tk31 lakh from Huangjun Yu, managing director of Yagotex Fabrics in Comilla EPZ area.
Late on Wednesday night, the Taiwanese national lodged a case with Kotwali cop shoppe, stating that five to six men led by Sohel entered his rented flat in section 3 of the housing estate area around 1:30pm and held him at gunpoint.
They forced him into a car, took him to an unknown location in Suagazi area of Comilla Sadar (south) upazila where they assaulted him and demanded that he give them two billion US dollars.
They forced him into a car, took him to an unknown location in Suagazi area of Comilla Sadar (south) upazila where they assaulted him and demanded that he give them two billion US dollars.
In a while, Huangjun was brought back to his flat and was forced to write a cheque for Tk23 lakh.
Sohel then transferred the money from Prime Bank's Comilla branch to the account of his firm, Aab Yaaz Enterprise, by wire transfer, according to police.
They also took Tk8 lakh in cash from Huangjun's flat and made him sign two blank cheques before leaving.
Sohel, son of AHM Mohiuddin of Tomchhom Bridge area and a leader of Chhatra League's Comilla Victoria Government College unit, served in prison a year earlier on charges of embezzling Tk38 lakh from a Dhaka-based businessman named Azad.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model cop shoppe Khorshed Alam said the lawsuit was transferred to the Detective Branch of police in compliance with an order of the district police super.
Sub-Inspector of the Detective Branch of police in Comilla Firoz Hossain, also the investigating officer of the case, said Sohel's wife Dipti was interrogated for clues and was released later.
"Several police teams are trying to nab the accused and to recover the money," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/30/2015 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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For a map, click here. You can enlarge the map, if you open it separately.
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Anti Ukrainian rebels continued pressing attacks on the Debaltsevo salient, with reported losses of 13 for the rebels according to various Russian language sources.
A textual summary of Donetsk deputy defense minister Eduard Basurin said that attacks by the rebels are forcing the Ukrainian Army to reinforce the sector, presumably in anticipation of further attacks.
Meanwhile in nearby Gorvlovka, which is several kilometers to the west, shelling by both sides continued.
Ukrainian military journalist Dmitri Tymchuk said that rebel commanders have received some reinforcements in Gorlovka to include a total of 10 armor vehicles, among them four tanks, which are to be dug in in Gorlovka.
A video of a news report said that a total of 8,000 Ukrainian troops are dug in at Debaltsevo, while other reports say Ukrainian troops' defenses around the city are layered. Rebels claim to have troops already in the extreme eastern outskirts of the town.
A news account posted on the pro rebel Voice of Sevastopol said that rebels continue to attack the eastern and western walls of salient at several points including in Uglegorsk. According to the report, those attacks are forcing the Ukrainian troops inside the salient to draw troops away from other sectors in order to drive rebel gains back.
Rebel troops continue to attack the "mouth" of the salient with renewed attacks in the area. However, most of the time, rebel have been forced to deal with Ukrainian counterattacks and attempts to retake Krasnii Pukhar on the eastern edge of the salient. Some rebel forces were forced to go over to the defensive to hold positions gained just days ago.
Tymchuk said that an apparent rebel attack at Troiskye, also near the mouth of the salient, failed, and rebel troops were forced back by Ukrainian counterattacks.
The Debaltsevo salient is important to both sides no just because of the mass of Ukrainian troops holding the position but also because Debaltsevo is astride a major crossroads, a road system that can be used by either side to switch troops and supplies to threatened sectors of the front. In its present form, the Debaltsevo salient is dubbed a Ukrainian "spirngboard" for further offensive operations, or, possibly a resumption of its offensive plans to encircle the citty of Donetsk. That operation was stopped last August when a large Ukrainian mobile force, the other half of a pincher was stopped, surrounded and destroyed by rebel forces at Ilovaisk.
Tymchuk reported on Thursday that a total of 2,500 rebel troops, 35 tanks, 50 armored fighting vehicles, 50 tubes of artillery including self-propelled artillery, and 22 rocket artillery launchers, were moved into the area in the last 48 hours.
Tymchuk said that five battalion tactical groups comprise comprise some of the forces dedicated to rebel offensive operations near Debaltsevo.
Rebel media said that the the Ukrainian army is preparing an offensive on Gorlovka and surrounding environs.
Donetsk and Avdievka
Rebel media said Thursday that Ukrainian artillery in Avdievka and Opotnye continued to hit targets in Donetsk city, hitting Petrovsky and Kievsky districts. Rebel media noted Thursday that unlike just a month ago, Ukrainian artillery fire is nearly continuous in the city, in nearly every sector in the city.
Ukrainian military journalist Roman Burko said Wednesday that Ukrainian artillery fire was used against rebel troops marshaling and supply points in Petrovsky district in Donetsk city.
According to a summary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin, the combat situation in Peski and Avdievka, northwest of Donetsk city, have stabilized, although repeated rebel attempts to fully take both cities have failed. Rebel media has claimed several times that they have taken control of Peski, and Rozhin has confirmed that a larger part of the village is controlled by rebel troops, but fully taking control of the village has eluded rebel forces.
Further south of Donetsk, artillery of the Ukrainian 28th Brigade has been shelling Yelenovka for three days, according to rebel media. Rebel counterbattery fire has been striking at Ukrainian artillery claiming one unidentified artillery battery, although the type of artillery destroyed was not apparent in rebel reports.
Northern Lugansk and Highway T1301
Rebel and Ukrainian artillery units continue to exchange fire at locations on the Northern Donetsk River and on T1303. Just a few days ago, rebels were claiming part of T1303 under their control, but those positions have been since shelled by Ukrainian artillery units.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com. You can read past articles about the 2014 war in southeastern Ukraina by clicking here.
[AnNahar] Recent satellite images suggest North Korea may be about to restart the nuclear reactor seen as its main source of weapons-grade plutonium, a U.S. think-tank said Thursday.
When fully operational, the five-megawatt reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex is capable of producing around six kilos (13 pounds) of plutonium a year -- enough for one nuclear bomb, experts say.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, and recently threatened a fourth, amid tensions over fresh U.S. sanctions and U.N. moves to censure Pyongyang for its human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... record.
The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said the latest satellite images showed fresh activity at Yongbyon suggestive of "the early stages of an effort to restart the reactor".
Signs included steam coming from a probable pressure relief valve on a steam pipe just before it enters the turbine building, and meltwater running off the centre of the turbine-building roof, the institute said in a post on its closely-followed 38 North website.
The analysis stressed that the activity was too "limited" to enable an accurate assessment of when the reactor might be tested and become operational.
North Korea shut down the Yongbyon reactor in 2007 under an aid-for-disarmament accord, but began renovating it after its last nuclear test in 2013.
The UN's nuclear watchdog, the ineffective International Atomic Energy Agency, said in September last year that steam discharges suggested the reactor might already be operational again.
But analysis of later satellite imagery led other experts to conclude it had either failed to restart properly or had been shut down again -- possibly for refuelling or renovation.
Pictures have also detected activity at a separate Yongbyon facility, thought to be used for enriching uranium.
The North says the purpose is to produce low-enriched uranium for a new reactor it is constructing, but experts suspect that the real goal is weapons-grade uranium, an alternative to plutonium for a nuclear bomb.
Earlier this month, North Korea offered to suspend nuclear tests in exchange for a temporary freeze on U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.
Washington rejected the offer, which it described as an "implicit threat" to detonate a fourth nuclear device.
A separate analysis on the 38 North website two weeks ago said satellite images of the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site showed there were no signs that a detonation could be imminent.
h/t GoV
A second Danish priest has come forward to admit that she does not believe in the literal truth of either the resurrection of Jesus Christ or the biblical account of the creation.
#3
A doubting Thomas is a skeptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience—a reference to the Apostle Thomas, who refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles, until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross. - wiki
Now if she were Muslim and had made such statement about Mohammad, her future would be rather short.
#4
“Do you really think there are no sins of intellect?”
“There are indeed, Dick. There is hidebound prejudice, and intellectual dishonesty, and timidity, and stagnation. But honest opinions fearlessly followed—they are not sins.”
“I know we used to talk that way. [...] It all turns on what are honest opinions.”
“Mine certainly were. They were not only honest but heroic. I asserted them fearlessly. When the doctrine of the Resurrection ceased to commend itself to the critical faculties which God had given me, I openly rejected it. I preached my famous sermon. I defied the whole chapter. I took every risk.”
“What risk? What was at all likely to come of it except what actually came—popularity, sales for your books, invitations, and finally a bishopric?”
The Great Divorce
Posted by: James ||
01/30/2015 22:56 Comments ||
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h/t Gates of Vienna
A leading Finnish think tank is calling for a doubling of immigration to meet the country's employment needs. The pro-business EVA warns that employment will remain low unless there is a strong influx of workers from abroad.
...Over the past quarter-century, they say, the number of individuals working in Finland has basically remained the same â only growing by some 2,000 while the population has soared by some half a million. And as the recession has brought a loss of 100,000 jobs, this adds up to an impossible equation, says EVA.
#1
Supply/Demand. Over supply and the price drops. Under supply and the price rises. Labor is no different. Why to you think unions want 'closed shop'? /rhet question. Same applies to the money supply. If you dump a quadrillion dollars into the system without backing, the money devalues (see-inflation). Restrict new money and existing money retains value.
A leading Finnish think tank is calling for a doubling of immigration to meet the country's employment needs.
Probably cheaper if we provide some Central Americans free air tickets to Helsinki from San Jose than to subsidize them here.
#4
Rents are the main reason immigration is subsidised.
The establishment collect the subsidies via increased rents even if the immigrants dilute GDP per head.
Lower wages costs falling on the middle and lower classes is just a "bonus"
The US Air Force has reportedly selected the Boeing 747-8 as the President's next official plane.
According to Reuters, two sources "close to the decision" said that the Air Force is close to announcing its decision to replace the current 747 with the latest version of Boeing's jumbo jet.
The current fleet of Presidential aircraft entered service in 1990, during the George H.W. Bush administration. The two planes â with tail numbers 28000 and 29000 â are highly modified examples of the Boeing 747-200B airliner.
The US Air Force's decision should come as welcome news for Boeing's struggling 747 program. The company announced last month that it would slow production of the 747-8 due to lagging sales.
#1
USAF determined that AF-1 required 4 engines, and other than the 747, only Airbus A340 and A380 have 4 turning and burning. Bad optics to buy non-US for the POTUS (ignoring what we currently have in office)
Thank goodness. Walker/Cruz 2016 Always liked Mitt. Agree that his chance has come and gone.
After a three-week flirtation with another run for president, Mitt Romney said definitively on Friday that he will not seek the White House in 2016.
The Republican Party's 2012 nominee plans to tell supporters about his plans to pass on another national campaign during a conference call. He first let his staff know in a separate call that he was out of the race.
"After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I've decided it is best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee," Romney said in a statement, which he planned to read to supporters on the call.
The former governor of Massachusetts had jumped back into the presidential discussion on Jan. 10, when he surprised a small group of former donors at a meeting in New York by telling them he was eyeing a third run for the White House.
It was a monumental change for Romney, who since losing the 2012 election to President Barack Obama had repeatedly told all who asked that his career in politics was over and that he would not again run for president.
In the days since that meeting in New York, which caught several in attendance off-guard, Romney made calls to former fundraisers, staff and supporters, and gave three public speeches in which he outlined his potential vision for another campaign.
"I'm thinking about how I can help the country," he told hundreds of students Wednesday night at Mississippi State University.
#4
...Taking bets now that Mitt - a good man, a decent guy, but an iffy Republican - is now keeping the team on short notice, in the event he's needed to break a deadlock at the convention...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/30/2015 12:38 Comments ||
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#5
This is mostly what I said in the other Romney thread. Waiting for a deadlocked convention? I don't think that strategy will work today given the loathing of the MSM for all things 'pub. And the high cost and number of primaries. The pool will be drained pretty early.
IMHO, Romney isn't that underhanded anyway. He really is a good person. He just has that old Bush noblesse oblige, compassionate conservatism gene that makes him think that gov't should solve all problems.
With all that said, I wish it was Bush or Christie saying no go. but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
#6
I'd like to see Romney, Jeb and Christy walk away. I like what I've heard about Walker and Cruz. Wouldn't mind hearing more from Rand Paul and Rubio.
#9
FREEREPUBLIC Artic specualtes it may be part of a secret deal for 2016 = post-Bammer Presidential Admin on the part of Romney + seeming GOP #1 POTUS contender Jeb Bush???
[HughHewitt.com] Let me begin by letting you know who else is on this call, besides Ann and me. There are a large number of people who signed on to be leaders of our 2016 finance effort. In addition, state political leadership from several of the early primary states are on the line. And here in New York City, and on the phone, are people who have been helping me think through how to build a new team, as well as supporters from the past who have all been kind enough to volunteer their time during this deliberation stage. Welcome, and thank you. Your loyalty and friendship, and your desire to see the country with new, competent and conservative leadership warms my heart.
After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, Iâve decided it is best to give other leaders in the Party the opportunity to become our next nominee. A wise decision.
#1
Nelson Rockefeller did the same thing in '68 to dodge the early Nixon stronghold primaries, then a change of heart when a possible win (Wisconsin? Oregon) came up.
#2
Shipman, that was a long time ago. I don't think that strategy will work today given the loathing of the MSM for all things 'pub.
IMHO, Romney isn't that underhanded. He really is a good person. He just has that old Bush noblesse oblige, compassionate conservatism gene that makes him think that gov't should solve all problems.
With all that said, I wish it was Bush or Christie saying no go.
h/t Gates of Vienna
In a report entitled âImmigrants Tend to Live in High Welfare Benefit States,â published on Jan. 26, 2015, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) determined that âthe generous welfare benefits offered by some states have magnetic effects and alter the geographic sorting of immigrants in the United Statesââattracting many to California. Whatever happened to "Jobs Americans won't do"?
#3
B, methinks it's even higher than that in GA. I see it everytime I go to my local Publix (it's even worse at Kroger) and then I politely follow and watch them get in their new-ish luxury car (or brand new F150).
Posted by: BA ||
01/30/2015 12:07 Comments ||
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#4
I don't have a problem with helping someone out [rice, beans, cold cuts, apples, some powdered milk] BA, but 6 months ought to be about enough. If you can't figure something out in 6 months or less, someone needs to take a very hard look at your efforts.
#5
I get what you are saying Beso, but if someone is taking your money to hand out on their own terms, the only person you are helping is the person taking your money.
6 months is plenty. IMHO after 3 months a habit forms. And drug testing. Let me tell you about my step in-law who does nothing but drink beer and 4@ck. He would drink beer before going to a job interview, of course get declined, but interviewer can't say anything about they why, right, so it looked like he was trying to get a job. Bullshit. Or the duuude who asked wife for a job at store other day and was so tweeked out she said it was like he was stuttering backwards. I can go look out my door at a meth house, other than losers shuffling about in their jammies, house is a mouse until sundown, then hoo ah.
Loads.
The killer is the kids grow up thinking this is normal behavior. It pisses me off that my money is being used to subsidize this behavior.
One my favorite? stories is about Lawrence, KS. Declared itself an open/sanctuary city. Pristine downtown unexpectedly turns into a panhandlers paradise, place goes to crap, business drops off. Solution: put the handlers into a detention facility (sound familiar as a solution?) and buses them to and from downtown on a schedule to.....guess: job search or panhandle?
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
North Korea
