On March 7th of 1985, a two year old from the Detroit area was stolen away from her family in Lebanon. "The kids (were) playing outside and about 15 (minutes) later, she went outside to check on the kids and she (didn't) find the girl," said her father, Jihad Haidar.
The girl's parents were in the mountains outside Beirut. A witness said that a man grabbed their daughter and took off in a white Mercedes. He claimed that he was a relative, but was part of a child snatching ring.
Almost a decade after Ohaila's disappearance, the parents returned home to Michigan. They never gave up hope that they might see their child again someday.
Several months ago, they finally got lucky. A 28-year-old woman living in the West Bank was looking for her real parents. "She (said) her name and she said she's the one who was online looking for her parents, and she (wanted) to talk to someone from her family if we are her family," Haidar said.
The story doesn't explain how they made sure that this was their daughter. Nor does it mention what happened to her during the time between being kidnapped in Beirut and becoming a West Bank wife.
"I (found) out she's married. She had three kids," said Haidar. She would like to find a way to move back to the United States. The father is working with the Red Cross to try to arrange this for his daughter, her husband and children.
#1
She would like to find a way to move back to the United States. The father is working with the Red Cross to try to arrange this for his daughter, her husband and children.
The shooting happened just before midnight Tuesday at a home on Antha near Bertwood in North Houston.
Homicide detectives were investigating the case Wednesday. They confiscated several guns in the man's home. The elderly man said he let the victim inside his home before this time he feared for his life.
If you sit down with Jack Hands, you'll hear plenty of stories that span over his 91 years. This story, however, is one he never thought he'd tell police. Hands shot and killed a man inside his home Tuesday night.
"That's where he fell and I stood right here," Hands said.
He placed a white blanket over the 30-year-old man until homicide investigators arrived.
"He's a local crackhead. I'll call it like it is," Hands' family friend Cynthia Jackson said.
Hands, who has a neighborhood reputation for being generous, helped the man many times by giving him food and money.
"He'll take the shirt off his back and give it to you even if you didn't need it," Jackson said.
Tuesday night was no different. Hands opened his door to the man yet again. This time, he was asking for $80.
"He got money from me and then came back [for more]," Hands explained.
When Hands hid not hand over the cash, he said the man picked up a loaded gun in the home and threatened to use it.
"You're going to die tonight. You're going to die tonight," Hands recalled the man saying.
Hands told police he had another gun stashed under the couch he was sitting on. After a struggle, Hands told police he reacted.
"I took the gun out. Boom, and I tore his head all out to pieces," said Hands.
Hands considers himself a good shot and he practices at the gun range.
"I tell people where my bullets are going to shoot," Hands said.
The case has been referred to a Harris County Grand Jury. The victim's identity has not been released.
#2
"Loaded gun". I never get tired of seeing ignorant journalists use that term. They take the scary (to them) word "gun" and make it even more dangerous (to people they know) by putting the word "loaded" next to it.
It does say that the crackhead picked up the gun from inside the old man's house though. Might want to keep those put away during visits from crackheads.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that more than 80 percent of Pakistanis, who were rendered homeless by floods, are still left without shelter.
The IOM says it only has enough funding to provide 17 percent of the victims with shelter.
"We have probably reached something like 2.1 million people, that is only about 17 percent or less than a fifth of the families that actually need emergency shelter," said a senior official from the organization
The organization is taking part in the UN led relief efforts in flood-stricken Pakistan.
The United Nations is to launch a fresh appeal for funding later this week to help the victims of the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history.
The floods have affected more than 21 million people and left 10 million without shelter.
More than eight-million people rely on aid handouts for their survival.
The developments come as Pakistani authorities continue efforts to protect several towns in Dadu district near the Indus river in Sindh Province.
A Press TV correspondent says more lives are at risk from waterborne diseases in flood-hit areas.
The correspondent adds that millions of Pakistan flood victims are leading miserable lives in the southern city of Thatta and several other districts in Sindh Province.
They have taken refuge in graveyards or under trees to protect their families from scorching heat in the outskirts of the city.
Survivors have been left without food, water, shelter and other basic necessities in Pakistan as a result of last month's flooding.
More than 1,750 people have lost their lives due to the weeks-long floods, which have engulfed an area the size of England.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press TV] An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 has jolted the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan and the northwestern and eastern regions of Pakistain.
Pak officials have told Press TV that the quake caused panic and that people rushed out of their homes.
No reports of damage have been received so far.
This latest natural disaster has struck Pakistain as millions of people affected by the recent floods are still without shelter.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at a depth of 199.7 kilometers (124.1 miles) at 11:51 p.m. local time (1921 GMT), was 75 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Faizabad and 265 kilometers (165 miles) northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Is it just me, or is Allah really pissed at that part of the world for some reason?
[Al Jazeera] The UN Security Council has slammed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for mass rapes in the country, calling for toughter action to bring those responsible to justice.
Hundreds of women and children were raped by militia groups in the east of the central African country in late July and early August, drawing widespread international condemnation. UN peacekeepers in the country were also criticised for their slow response to the attacks.
Action demanded
A Security Council statement on Friday said that the DRC should be doing more to catch the perpetrators and help the victims, while calling for the UN peacekeeping force, the most expensive in the world, to do more to protect the remote communities that suffer at the hands of militias.
There are some 20,000 peacekeepers in the DRC, seeking to prevent lingering violence in the east of the country.
The DRC should "ensure a swift and fair prosecution of the perpetrators of these terrible crimes and to inform the Security Council oon the measures undertaken", the statement said.
It called on the government to "condemn these atrocities and provide effective assistance to the victims of sexual abuse".
The Mai-Mai militia and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have been accused of the attacks, which occurred when bands of Islamic bandidos took over whole villages and raped women in front of their families.
UN peacekeeping officials have admitted that the force "failed" to protect the local population from the rapists by responding too slowly to reports of the attacks. Patrols in vulnerable areas have since been increased.
The Security Council said that the peacekeeping force must "improve relations with communities, including through information-gathering mechanisms and communications tools".
Margaret Wallstron, the UN special representative on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict, has called the DRC the "rape capital of the world" and said that sexual violence is used as a weapon in the bloody battle to control the country's rich mineral and gold resources.
DRC denial The DRC reacted angrily to the statement, saying that the rapists had no connection to the government. "We are the victims," said Lambert Mende, the government's front man. "Do you think that the rapists are tied to the DRC government? We know who the rapists are, even if they are in the DRC, they have no connection with the government"
Mende insisted that government forces had done everything they could to tackle the rapists. DRC troops "were put into offensive contact with these groups of rapists, we beseiged them", he told the AFP news agency. "Why is it the government that is criticised? We should be encouraged to continue the clampdown we are engaged in against these people," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rejected on Friday, Larry Palmer, ambassador appointed by the United States.
"That man was disqualified. If they (U.S.) decide not to send an ambassador, do not send him and if they want to withdraw our ambassador, do it. We are an independent nation and they are acting with imperial rudeness," said Chavez, during an official event of the ruling Socialist United Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
Chavez added that the administration of U.S. president Barack Obama was irresponsible and killer.
"Let him send who ever he wants, or the one the empire wants," Chavez said.
"That man is disqualified, better him not ever try to come because he will not be allowed to enter Venezuelan territory. Let' s make this clear once for all," Chavez added.
On Aug. 3, Palmer made comment on the "low moral of the Venezuelan Armed Forces," so the Venezuelan government expressed his rejection and in three occasions informed that it would reject Palmer as ambassador to the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Sit in the capital next door and make nasty comments.
#1
China's prosperity and economic growth is dependent upon open trade routes and access to resources. Anyone who's read Mahan knows that you'd better have the means to protect such economic infrastructure. That means investment in blue water navy capability and projection ability. To spoil that infrastructure doesn't require a similar construction program in size or design.
#2
All this heavy breathing about a ground-to-sea ballistic missile is silly propaganda. Let them test such a thing. If they ever do, remember that there are at least dozens of standard missiles tested and deployed in each carrier battle group that can shoot down satellites and sub-orbital ballistic missiles.
Anyone who has read Mahan would know that the Chinese will build the fleet they need for their national interest. The US can't change that very much or worry about it. Instead, the US must maintain the ability to put navy assets in the places that are in our national interest. Lastly, should these two forces come to blows, the US needs to ensure that the forces built could be supplied in the theater and would be victorious there.
While carriers may be the most expensive part of the US fleet, its strength is in the combination of assets -- space, air, sea, land, and submarine; manned and unmanned. Even in the rare chance that a portion of that fleet were disabled or destroyed the other components would sail on and complete the mission.
China's rapidly developing navy is not a threat, it is instead the expected behavior of a rapidly developing nation that depends on access to the sea for its developing economy.
[Dawn] The government has set up a 15-member National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) to monitor distribution of funds for reconstruction in flood-affected areas.
The council comprises prominent personalities including retired judges and senior bureaucrats. Five members of the council have been nominated by the federal government, two each by the four provinces and one each by Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to a notification issued on Thursday, the council will be headed by U.A.G. Isani, a retired bureaucrat from Sindh who also served as vice-chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University and held senior positions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Other nominees of the federal government are Ejaz Rahim, Fauzia Naqvi, Ameena Sayed and Farid Rehman. Justice (retd) Mian Allah Nawaz and A.Z.K. Sherdil have been nominated by Punjab, Fazlur Rehman and Fazlullah Qureshi by Sindh, Justice (retd) Sardar Mohammad Raza and Mohammad Azam Khan by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal and Munawwar Khan Mandokhel by Balochistan; G.M. Sikandar by Gilgit-Baltistan and Tariq Masood by AJK.
According to a government handout, the council will review reconstruction plans and monitor their implementation. It will interact with the economic affairs division, Planning Commission, National Disaster Management Authority and provincial governments and ensure transparent disbursement of funds.
The council will prepare quarterly reports for the Council of Common Interests and will commission and supervise audit of utilisation of the funds.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The government has set up a 15-member National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) to monitor distribution of funds for reconstruction in flood-affected areas divert the funds into their own pockets and make sure precious little actually gets to the flood victims.
Fixed.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/18/2010 13:52 Comments ||
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[Pak Daily Times] Two lawyers and three of their accomplices stoned a man to death following a traffic accident in Gujrat, a private TV channel reported on Thursday. The deceased Tariq Mehmood was travelling in his car when his vehicle collided with a motorcycle at Bhambar Road, near Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital.
Advocates Nadeem Tahir and Nadeem Sindhu were riding the motorcycle. The resulting dispute was however resolved and Tariq apologised to the two lawyers. However, both the lawyers kept on following Tariq and stopped him in another part of the city. They were then joined by three of their aides and overpowered Tariq. They threw bricks and stones at him and severely injured him. Punjab Police personnel, who reached the spot, did nothing to stop the lawyers.
The injured was brought to the nearest hospital, however, he succumbed to injuries. Locals later managed to capture the five accused, however, Civil Lines Police SHO Sarwar Gondal, Sub-Inspector Mubarik and four constables helped them escape from the crime scene, the channel reported.
Later on, the relatives and locals held a protest against the brutal incident and blocked the GT Road. A case has been registered against the five accused. However, no arrests had been made so far.
An investigation has also been launched against police officials involved in the incident, the channel said.
Mehmood's post-mortem report confirmed that he died due to severe injuries sustained at the hands of the accused. Police has said that it would soon arrest the accused. Punjab Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident, the channel reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Gee, their lawyers are more humane than our lawyers.
#4
I've read a few things about how Islamists are crossing the border and attacking Indians, but it seems the problem is also bad internally. If memory servers correctly, Punjab has always been a problem area for India.
A court martial in Sri Lanka convicted former army chief Sarath Fonseka on Friday of corrupt military supply deals and sentenced him to three years in jail. The military court, whose decision must now be ratified by President Mahinda Rajapakse, found that Fonseka favoured an arms company run by his son-in-law, the official said, asking not to be named.
Last month, Fonseka was stripped of his rank and pension after another court found him guilty of dabbling in politics while in uniform. Fonseka, 59, who led the military to victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May last year, fell out with the government and unsuccessfully tried to unseat Rajapakse in January polls.
The chairman of the court read out its decision and it must now be ratified by the president, the official said, adding that the closed-door court would make no formal announcement.
Rajapakse is expected to ratify the decision seen as a formality when he returns from the United Nations general assembly session this month.
Fonsekas lawyers had refused to make final submissions in the former army chiefs defence after accusing the court of serious irregularities.
Fonseka was arrested two weeks after his defeat in the presidential elections and has remained in military custody since. He won a seat in parliamentary elections in April, however, allowing him to attend parliament. He has said the government is seeking revenge for his decision to stand against the president and to keep him from from speaking in parliament.
They are going to put me in jail and I am prepared for that, Fonseka told reporters in parliament after being escorted by the military from his room in Colombos naval headquarters to parliament in August.
The first court martial ordered the withdrawal of the medals he had earned during his 40-year military career and also stripped him of his rank and pension.
The former four-star general quit the military in November to become an opposition politician, but has since been embroiled in numerous court cases, which he says are being orchestrated by the government. He faces civilian charges of employing army deserters, as well as revealing state secrets offences that carry a 20-year jail term.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/18/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Thanks for defeating the Tamil Tigers after 30 years of incompetent army commanders, now fuck off. We can't have you using your popularity to replace the people in power, oh no.
Pols who do this stuff just prep the political battlefield for such consequences in the future. Thousands of years of the history of human behavior should be guide in what not to do.
#3
Rajapakse seems to have a solid power base, and the people identify him as the architect of success in the civil war. So I think he's secure for a while, and putting Fonseka on ice just makes it easier for him. That's also the history of human behavior -- jug your opponents when you can get away with it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/18/2010 12:59 Comments ||
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#4
..that's what Pompey and the Senate had in mind for Caesar. And as they say..the rest is history. :)
I'm not Jewish, but I don't even have to click on the link to know the answer is NO.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/18/2010 22:29 Comments ||
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#2
No, they are not the same. However, free citizens may freely choose to enter into contracts or arbitration of disputes according to principles that they think best. In this area, of private concern, all bets are off and the Federal state should tread lightly. Except for indentured servitude and commerce clause stuff, the Feds would be overreaching.
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.
On March 7th of 1985, a two year old from the Detroit area was stolen away from her family in Lebanon. "The kids (were) playing outside and about 15 (minutes) later, she went outside to check on the kids and she (didn't) find the girl," said her father, Jihad Haidar.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that more than 80 percent of Pakistanis, who were rendered homeless by floods, are still left without shelter.
[Iran Press TV] An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 has jolted the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan and the northwestern and eastern regions of Pakistain.
(Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rejected on Friday, Larry Palmer, ambassador appointed by the United States.
