Twenty-nine people have been indicted in a sex trafficking ring spanning three states and allegedly run by Minneapolis-based Somali gangs.
An indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Nashville says one of the goals of the gangs was to recruit females under age 18, including some under age 14, and force them into prostitution in exchange for cash, drugs or other items.
The indictment says the sex ring operated in Minneapolis, Nashville, and Columbus, Ohio.
The indictment outlines several instances of prostitution. In one case in 2005, a girl under age 14 was transported from Minneapolis to Columbus and Nashville for sex. In other cases, the girls were forced to engage in sex acts in hotel rooms, men's bathrooms and other locations.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Following in the footsteps of Russian and Chinese immigrates just before them.
The same people who spend inordinate amounts of time to desperately find a minutia of racism in the Tea Party to then broad brush the entire movement are the same people who are absolutely blind to the repetitive negative aspects of their multicultural agenda.
Hey, if the Gecko can carry a cell phone and a wallet, why not a gun? AoS follow-up: image removed. Given the issues we and other blogs have had with certain lawyers who won't be mentioned further, not sure we want to tempt the gawds of copywrighte.
#1
I think this is a grand idea, both for the housing, and for the opportunity for vets to network, which they do if they have the chance. This matters, because when one vet finds a good deal, he passes it around to his comrades.
A cruise ship stranded offshore with 4,500 passengers and crew must be towed slowly into a Mexican port and will not arrive until at least Wednesday night, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.
The Carnival Splendor was 200 miles south of San Diego when an engine room fire cut its power early Monday. Current plans are for the ship to be towed to Ensenada Mexico, ETA 8PM PST Wednesday. From there the passenger & crew are to be bused to San Diego, 50 miles north. A Carnival spokesman said "she was unaware of any safety concerns from passengers or their families about traveling by bus in Mexico." That would take about 90 buses. This could turn out to be 'interesting.'
(KUNA) -- The Central Elections Commission in Azerbaijan announced on Monday that the ruling New Azerbaijan Party won a majority of votes in the parliamentary elections.
Interfax news agency reported today that the party won 65 seats in the new parliament.
Also, the representatives of opposition parties, particularly the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and the Equality Party, Party of Hope, and Democratic Reforms Party have been qualified to enter the parliament, it noted.
The voting process was supervised by about 2,000 international observers, and 690 candidates competed to fill the seats of parliament's 125 seats.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2010 00:00 ||
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One of China's leading credit rating agencies has downgraded United States of America government debt in response to what it sees as deliberate devaluation of the dollar by quantitative easing and other means.
If China, now the second biggest economy in the world, stops buying US government bonds this could have a very negative effect on the global recovery. The Dagong Global Credit Rating Company analysis is highly critical of American attempts to borrow their way out of debt.
They're not the only ones ...
It criticises competitive currency devaluation and predicts a "long-term recession".
Dagong Global Credit says: "In order to rescue the national crisis, the US government resorted to the extreme economic policy of depreciating the U.S. dollar at all costs and this fully exposes the deep-rooted problem in the development and the management model of national economy.
"It would be difficult for the U.S. to find the correct path to revive the US economy should the US government fail to understand the source of the credit crunch and the development law of a modern credit economy, and stick to the mindset of traditional economic management model, which indicates that the US economic and social development will enter a long-term recession phase."
The analysis concludes: "The potential overall crisis in the world resulting from the US dollar depreciation will increase the uncertainty of the U.S. economic recovery. Under the circumstances that none of the economic factors influencing the U.S. economy has turned better explicitly it is possible that the US will continue to expand the use of its loose monetary policy, damaging the interests the creditors.
"Therefore, given the current situation, the United States may face much unpredictable risks in solvency in the coming one to two years. Accordingly, Dagong assigns negative outlook on both local and foreign currency sovereign credit ratings of the United States."
As part of the initiative to better connect General Motors brands with customers, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will each receive its own Certified Service brand.
Chevrolet Certified Service, Buick Certified Service, GMC Certified Service and Cadillac Certified Service are being launched as part of a larger strategy by the company to strengthen the relationship between the customer and the four brands.
Our number one priority is providing a world-class ownership experience that creates positive long-lasting relationships with our customers, said Steve Hill, vice president and general manager, GM Customer Care and Aftersales. Certified Service supports GMs strategy to focus on the four brands Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac -- and is a natural extension of the customers vehicle purchase experience at the dealership.
"This is more than a name change -- it is a declaration of our commitment to our customers, with exclusive vehicle diagnostics and connectivity via OnStar, competitively priced services and parts, increased advisor and technician training, and working jointly with our dealers to focus on customer satisfaction."
Customers will continue to receive competitively priced service performed by trained experts who know their vehicles best at dealerships across the country. Service is an integral part of vehicle ownership, and customers who are satisfied with their service experience are much more likely to return to the dealership.
As an extension of this strategy, GM will phase out the Goodwrench brand name effective Feb. 1, 2011 in the United States.
#3
More moves like this and I'll believe they're going to bust the divisions apart for easier sale. Maybe make GMC the bad brand with all the union liabilities and job bankers. Teh only way to get money out if the IPO fails.
(KUNA) -- Organizations from 42 countries Monday issued a plea here to world leaders to impose a tax on financial transactions to help meet the costs of the economic crisis and support developing nations.
The group amounts to the largest coalition yet to give its backing to an international financial transactions tax, and includes members of the UK-based "Robin Hood" Tax campaign including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Friends of the Earth, and ActionAid.
Their plea comes ahead of the summit of leaders of G20 economic powers in the South Korean capital Seoul on November 11-12, when measures to stabilize the world economy and boost the recovery will be high on the agenda.
Today's letter released here, addressed to G20 leaders including Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack B.O. Obama, is signed by development, health, education, and environmental charities and unions from 16 of the G20 countries.
It says that a financial transaction tax would help meet the costs "of the global financial and economic crisis, including reducing the unacceptably high rate of job loss, and achieve key development, health, education, and climate change objectives in developing countries." TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said, "Governments around the world are embarking on a sweeping program of austerity measures that will lead to huge job losses and cuts in services that the most vulnerable in society rely upon.
"At the same time, the banks are back to business as usual with multimillion pound salaries being paid to the chief executives of bailed-out banks and billions handed out in bonuses.
"A Robin Hood Tax would mean the world's banks paying to reduce deficits they helped cause, and would remove the need for such swinging cuts in public spending." Friends of the Earth's head of international climate Asad Rehman said, "Recent floods in Pakistain and droughts in Africa show the devastating reality of climate change on people in developing countries.
ActionAid meanwhile said, "The G20 must now turn the global economic crisis into an opportunity to help the world's poorest. A tiny tax on the banks could raise hundreds of billions needed for those around the world feeling the effects of a crisis they did the least to create."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Actually I could be convinced to support a hundred percent tax [ie matching funds] of all political contributions made by banks, financial institutions, and the top three management layers thereof. Since they got their sock puppets to use the public treasury to bail them out, they might as well be tagged for something back.
#9
As near as I can tell, this 'Robin Hood Tax' idea is not coming from G20 leaders: it is coming from the various hard-left/watermelon pressure groups and addressed TO the G20.
A reasonable response might be 'STFU/GTFO'... but I am not known for diplomatic nuance.
Amy Busefink, 28, of Seminole, Fla., pleaded the equivalent of a no-contest in state court to two misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of compensation for registration of voters. Her Alford plea acknowledged the state had evidence for a conviction at trial.
The plea agreement could get Busefink a year of probation, a $1,000 fine and 100 hours of community service.
According to a group of soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, officers are still belittling those who seek help. And that's directly responsible for the March suicide of Spc. Derrick Kirkland.
A soldier says he personally witnessed a sergeant calling Kirkland a "coward" and a "pussy." Kirkland had just returned from his second tour in Iraq, a tour that was cut short because of his mental health problems.
Kirkland was then assigned to a room by himself, and diagnosed with PTSD, given substandard care. Three days later, Kirkland committed suicide by hanging himself. Only one day after, the soldier says he overheard the same sergeant making jokes alluding to Kirkland's death. "Hey, you guys want to hang out later?"
The joint base runs a so-called "Warrior Transition Battalion," where wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are supposed to get the help they need, including mental health services. The base's battalion is currently building a $52 million complex that is to house 400 soldiers. In the mean time, it's overcrowded. Kirkland, like many traumatized soldiers, was not placed there.
And in April, the battalion turned away some 180 National Guard soldiers on the grounds that they were "weekend warriors" who were faking their injuries, according to the military publication Stars and Stripes.
#2
#1 son is based there now, for his last 10 mos of service. He came home well-adjusted and more mature, but says there are some screwed-up guys. This story, if true, is appalling
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/09/2010 19:45 Comments ||
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(KUNA) -- India has emerged as a "world power", and today it is a "key actor at the world stage," said US President Barack Hussein Obama in New Delhi on Monday. That'll tighten the Pak turban, by golly...
The remark was made while addressing a joint presser along with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the two leaders held a meeting.
Obama is on a four-day state visit to India on an invitation of Prime Minister Singh.
Repeating his earlier assertion, Obama said that the Indo-US partnership would be a defining one for the 21st century. "India and the US are the world's biggest democracies and it is for their mutual interest to forge a trade partnership and friendship. Our partnership would be a defining one for the 21st century," he told media.
He stressed on the fact that successive US Presidents, irrespective of which political party they belonged to, have helped building ties with India. "Clinton was a Democrat, then Bush a Republican, and now myself a Democrat; all of us have steadily strived to build up smooth partnership and friendship with India," he elaborated.
"I have spent maximum number of days here than in any foreign country since assuming Presidency," Obama said to indicate the significance the US attaches to the host state.
Asked how India could benefit from 50,000 jobs to be created in the US out of the 20 business deals worth USD 10 billion signed on Saturday with Indian companies, the visiting President said that India would benefit by import of American technologies and their use here.
To a question about US policy on Kashmir, Obama said that it was a long-standing dispute between the two countries and that it was in the interest of both to resolve it. "Both India and Pakistain have interests in reducing tension over Kashmir," he said, and added that his country was ready to mediate if both sides call for such a US role.
This statement assumes significance as India has all along stated that it does not want any third party mediation in resolving the Kashmire problem.
Speaking to media, Prime Minister Singh said that India required "enormous help" from the US in building up its infrastructure. "India needs a trillion dollars in the next five years for building up its infrastructure; we welcome US' enormous help in this regard."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2010 00:00 ||
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PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > CHINESE SURPRISE: INDIA NOW AT PAR WID P5 ["Permanent Five" Group of Nations aka "Big 5" UNSC]. Beijing formally upgrades the Position, Status of Chin
"Ambassador to India" to that of a HIGHER RANKED, VICE-MINISTRY/MINISTERSHIP IN THE PRC NATIONAL GOVT.
ARTIC = MAJOR NATIONS/POWERS also desire to join the P5.
* SAME > TOP SECRET OBAMA-SINGH "TALKING POINTS" REVEALED.
A conservative Muslim government minister admits he shook hands with first lady Michelle Obama in welcoming her to Indonesia but says it wasn't his choice.
Footage on YouTube shows otherwise, sparking a debate that has lit up Facebook, Twitter and the rest of the blogosphere.
"I tried to prevent (being touched) with my hands but Mrs. Michelle held her hands too far toward me (so) we touched," Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring told tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.
While Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, the vast majority practice a moderate form of the faith. But Sembiring has flaunted his conservatism and says he avoids contact with women who are not related to him.
The minister was among the dignitaries in a receiving line that greeted President Barack Obama and his wife as they arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday a homecoming of sorts for the president who spent part of his childhood here. Indonesians gathered around television sets across the country to watch the American president touch down. Children at the school he attended practiced a song dedicated to him just in case he visited.
In footage of the official welcome, Sembiring appeared to share his countrymen's enthusiasm. He smiled broadly as he shook the president's hand and then reached with both hands to grasp Michelle Obama's. But later he said she forced their contact.
His denial was in a response to tweets from Indonesians who noted the handshake and questioned his long-standing claims that, as a good Muslim, he restricts his contact with women.
Many posts had a "gotchya" quality to them.
One female journalist who said the minister had refused to shake her hand gleefully noted that now he would no longer be able to wriggle out of it.
Sembiring has often tweeted controversial comments, including blaming natural disasters on a lack of morality and joking about AIDS.
[Al Arabiya] Iranian police have made a string of arrests in raids targeting the capital's underground rap scene, the Tehran-Emrouz newspaper reported on Monday.
An unspecified number of "boys and girls were arrested, and Western musical instruments and alcohol seized" in Friday's raids, the paper quoted Tehran police chief Hossein Sajedinia as saying.
"These bands recorded underground clips and released unauthorized songs on satellite and cyber networks," Sajedinia said.
"These boys and girls used deserted and crumbling buildings, and camouflaged the place by hanging dirty curtains in order not to arouse suspicion."
The police chief said that officers had kept several venues under surveillance in their crackdown on the "morally deviant" scene.
He accused the rappers of "using obscenities, portraying a bleak picture of society and presenting unhealthy relationships between boys and girls as normal."
Iranian censors vet all art and music before its release and rappers are routinely denied authorization despite their popularity among the Islamic republic's disproportionately youthful population.
The authorities regard an array of Western musical genres as decadent, including heavy metal as well as rap. Frequent raids on illegal concerts have resulted in scores of arrests.
But underground bands have still managed to get their music heard by using home computers to get it aired over the Internet or on Persian-language satellite channels broadcasting from abroad.
Sajedinia accused Iran's underground rap scene of spreading profanity and poisoning young minds. He called for an increase in traditional Iranian music to counter the influence of rap music.
"Those who have been arrested are among those who have veered away from proper behavior, who have distanced themselves from all of life's hardships and are in search of comforts that have no limits," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2010 00:00 ||
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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.
(KUNA) -- The Central Elections Commission in Azerbaijan announced on Monday that the ruling New Azerbaijan Party won a majority of votes in the parliamentary elections.
