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Two suicide attackers, Islamic State member killed as troops repel attack in Baghdad
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Zim: Cop acquitted of Charamba insult
[HERALD.CO.ZW] A 38-year-old police officer who was being accused of insulting chief police spokeswoman Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba by labelling her an "idiot," is now a free man after a Harare magistrate cleared him of any wrongdoing.
"Yup. She's an idiot. Case dismissed."
Through his lawyer Mr Arshiel Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga legal practitioners, Assistant Inspector James Mabasa successfully applied for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
"Hey! Waydaminnit, yer honor!"
The police disciplinary hearing committee also withdrew charges against him after plea, following Mr Mugiya’s objection that the evidence they intended to rely on was not admissible in any court, saying the messages were not authenticated by the service provider of WhatsApp.
"Whaddya want, Dum-dum?"
Magistrate Ms Josephine Sande accepted Mabasa’s argument that the State failed to prove a prima facie case against him and ruled that he was entitled to an acquittal. Ms Sande added that there was no evidence indicating that the message pointed at Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
"He called me an idjit and I work for the government! That has to be illegal!"
She also concurred with Mr Mugiya’s submission that the manner in which the police confiscated Mabasa’s cellphone was illegal and that there was intrusion to his right to privacy because the message was sent on a private platform.
"It's only against the law if you use government email. Any moron knows that!"
Mabasa, who is based at Police General Headquarters (PGHQ), was accused of making the remarks on a WhatsApp platform sometime in May last year. The message read: "The police used to hold meetings with magistrates and other law enforcement stakeholders to map a way forward, reducing lawlessness, but now it’s the other way round, the public have meetings with lawyers on ways to disregard police. The public relations office is headed by an idiot, who doesn’t know that she has to encourage the public to be compliant to the police."
"Wotta maroon!"
In her testimony during trial, Snr Asst Comm Charamba maintained that the offensive message was directed at her as the head of Press and Public Relations department.
Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


-Obits-
Joel Taylor, Star Of Discovery Channel's ‘Storm Chasers,' Gone At 38
[Huffpoo] Joel Taylor, the star of Discovery Channel’s "Storm Chasers," has died at age 38, according to friends and associates.

"I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend," "Storm Chasers" co-star Reed Timmer wrote on Twitter.

The Team Western OK Chaser Facebook page in Taylor’s native Oklahoma mourned his passing, calling him an "inspiration."

"He didn’t chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms," the passage said. "In the last few years he’d load up with his dad and go chase and not even take a camera."
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 09:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Managed to caught one?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/24/2018 11:40 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
A man bit a smartphone battery as a test, and it exploded (video)
[The Verge] A man at an electronics store in China decided to give a smartphone battery his own litmus test by biting it. The battery ruptured and caused a small explosion. The spectacle, captured by the store’s CCTV security cameras, was uploaded to Miaopai, a Chinese video sharing platform similar to the now-defunct Vine. It has since garnered 4.69 million views.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 06:56 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  shudda stuck with Tide pods.....
Posted by: Tiny Sputer8745 || 01/24/2018 8:45 Comments || Top||


Duckworth to be first sitting US senator to give birth
[Chicago Sun Times] WASHINGTON ‐ In the history of the nation, only 10 members of Congress have given birth while in office and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is one of them.

Soon Duckworth will be in a class by herself.

Duckworth told me she is expecting her second child, another girl, in late April, a few weeks after she turns 50. The birth will make Duckworth the nation’s first senator to have a baby while serving in the chamber.

Sen. Dick Durbin D-Ill., said in a statement, "I am proud to have her as my Illinois colleague and prouder still that she will make history by being the first U.S. Senator to have a baby while in office. I couldn’t be happier for her."

The other congressional births have all come while the female lawmakers were serving in the House.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What's a Duckworth?

Usually about $10-$15
Posted by: Spats Crinerong1550 || 01/24/2018 8:38 Comments || Top||

#2  "only 10 members of Congress have given birth while in office"

11 - Cory Booker just had a cow last week...
Posted by: Tiny Sputer8745 || 01/24/2018 8:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Let us hope "An Odious Woman Married - May bear a babe and mend"
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/24/2018 11:44 Comments || Top||

#4  I don't get it.
She struggled to get pregnant at 50.
Many teens are struggling to not get pregnant.
Where's the balance?
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 12:22 Comments || Top||

#5  The impreciseness of the English language.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/24/2018 21:54 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Gore Effect lives- Scientists Get Buried In Snow At Davos While Lecturing On Global Warming
Posted by: DarthVader || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You know.
False Prophets for profits.
Posted by: newc || 01/24/2018 0:31 Comments || Top||

#2 
Posted by: 3dc || 01/24/2018 0:56 Comments || Top||

#3  "Just as we predicted!!!"
Posted by: Matt || 01/24/2018 10:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Algor is Latin for cold
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 01/24/2018 17:10 Comments || Top||

#5  Watch your wallet. It's a shakedown scam.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 01/24/2018 18:09 Comments || Top||


Uproar at Saudi Arabian camel beauty contest as contestants caught using Botox
[RT] A dozen camels have been disqualified from an annual beauty contest in Saudi Arabia after their trainers used Botox to enhance their appearance.

The contest is part of a month-long festival, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, and is designed to celebrate the camel, which is considered a “symbol of Saudi Arabia,” Fawzan al-Madi, chief judge of the contest, told Reuters.

“We used to preserve it out of necessity, now we preserve it as a pastime," he added.

The camels take part in a series of races and show competitions in the hope of bagging a portion of the combined prize fund of 213 million riyals ($57 million).

In the beauty portion of the contest, judges rate the size of the animal’s lips, cheeks, head and knees while crowds of men watch from the bleachers. Any form of camel modification is strictly prohibited, however with such a substantial prize up for grabs, some contestants have resorted to extreme measures to come out on top. Including, but not limited to, the use of Botox.
Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Lipstick on a camel?
Posted by: 3dc || 01/24/2018 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  Here and I didn't even know that Botox came in a handy 5 gallon jug...
(They call it the Pelosi dose, for some reason...)
Posted by: ed in texas || 01/24/2018 8:31 Comments || Top||

#3  And I thought the only beauty they appreciated were goats...

This is good fodder for an entirely new brand of Pelosi jokes. I wonder if San Fran Nan has one hump or two?
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 01/24/2018 9:51 Comments || Top||

#4  Don't need a stool, need a bench.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 12:23 Comments || Top||

#5  Cue Fergie.
Posted by: Andy Angemble7538 || 01/24/2018 12:54 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
George Weah sworn in as president
[HERALD.CO.ZW] Former international football star George Weah has been sworn in as president of Liberia, the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the West African country in more than seven decades.

Weah won 61.5 percent of the votes in December’s election run-off, beating outgoing vice president Joseph Boakai who garnered 38.5 percent of the ballot. Voter turnout was 55.8 percent, or just over 1.2 million people, according to the election commission. The former world footballer of the year succeeded Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president.

Weah entered politics after retiring from football in 2002 and ran for the presidency in 2005 losing to Johnson Sirleaf. The last peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents took place in Liberia in 1944, when president Edwin Barclay was replaced by William Tubman.

The swearing in ceremony at a stadium near the Liberian capital, Monrovia was attended by more than a dozen African and foreign dignitaries, including heads of state from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

Many Liberians regard the 51-year-old as a hero for his incredible rags-to-riches tale. He was born in a slum in Monrovia, but found fame in international football. Weah has promised to eradicate corruption in the country of four million people and bolster the weak economy.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Zim Bigwigs get 5 weeks to declare assets
[HERALD.CO.ZW] GOVERNMENT yesterday directed ministers, their deputies, permanent secretaries, senior principal directors, board chairpersons and board members of State enterprises and parastatals, and chief executive officers of State enterprises to declare their assets by not later than February 28.

This is in line with the fundamental tenets of good corporate governance. Also expected to declare their assets are chairpersons and members of Constitutional commissions (both executive and independent) and chief executive officers of local authorities. The mentioned officials are expected to submit a written declaration of their assets by the said date.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said in a statement yesterday that the declaration of assets documents should contain the following information ‐ details of all immovable property owned by the public servant or those in which he or she has an interest and any item of movable property exceeding US$100 000 in value owned or leased by the individual concerned or in which he or she has any other interest.

The officials should also reveal any business in which they have an interest and or in which they play a part in running. The nature of the interest in the property or business concerned must be clearly stated, said Dr Sibanda.

"The Declaration of Assets documents should be submitted under sealed envelope to the undersigned by no later than 28th February, 2018," he said.

"Heads of ministries are hereby directed to coordinate the collection, and submission of all declarations in respect of designated grades within their ministries, as well as in public entities and Constitutional bodies under their purview.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela's Maduro: Will Seek Re-Election if Socialist Party Wants
[USNEWS] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday he would stand for re-election in the next presidential election if the ruling Socialist Party asked him too. "I'm ready to be a candidate," he told reporters.
Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  if Socialist Party Wants

"...and there's a nice, convenient wall outside waiting for any Party member who doesn't."
Posted by: PBMcL || 01/24/2018 0:30 Comments || Top||

#2  After all you have done for the place, you should be a shoo in.

heh
Posted by: newc || 01/24/2018 0:32 Comments || Top||

#3  Maybe this time, someone can finally do socialism right.
Posted by: SteveS || 01/24/2018 1:04 Comments || Top||

#4  "#3 Maybe this time, someone can finally do socialism right."

The problem here is you cannot ever do a wrong thing right like political fantasies.

What I AM saying to you is the Unicorns dies in-utero.

Impossible corpses. Still voting for the left.
Posted by: newc || 01/24/2018 2:32 Comments || Top||

#5  "I accept the nomination, the results. You're welcome"
Posted by: Frank G || 01/24/2018 14:59 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
CIA Director: U.S. Ability to Block Shipments Into North Korea is Inadequate
[FreeBeacon] The CIA believes its capacity to block international shipments into North Korea is inadequate amid U.S. efforts to choke off revenue to Pyongyang's military programs, the agency's director Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.

"We're not quite where we need to be," Pompeo said at an event hosted by the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.
We need lots more money and people.
"Our mission is not complete, but we have officers all around the world working diligently to make sure that we do everything we can to support the U.S. pressure campaign and to tighten sanctions in such a way that we have the opportunity to prevail and to achieve the president's mission, which is denuclearization of the peninsula."
Pompeo's remarks came four days after the Wall Street Journal revealed that U.S. intelligence officials had gathered evidence of at least six Chinese ships entering ports in North Korea and transporting illicit cargo to Russia and Vietnam in violation of United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang.

The Trump administration in September submitted a proposal to the United Nations Security Council requesting authorization for the U.S. Navy and Air Force to interdict and inspect North Korean ships in international waters. The resolution was rejected, but the UN in December imposed sanctions on North Korea aimed at cutting off fuel and oil supplies, which served as a key source of revenue for Kim Jong Un's nuclear and missile defense programs.

Pompeo said a fundamental risk of North Korea developing its missile and nuclear capabilities is proliferation to rogue states such as Iran.

He judged that North Korea's weapons programs will be used for coercion purposes in addition to self-defense and said Kim's next "logical step" would be the development of an arsenal of weapons with the capacity to fire multiple missiles simultaneously.

"We do believe that Kim Jong Un, given these toolsets, would use them for things beyond regime protection and that is to put pressure on what is his ultimate goal, which is reunification of the peninsula under his authority," Pompeo said. "We don't think it's the case that he's simply going to use this tool set for self-preservation."
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  "Our mission is not complete, but we have officers all around the world working diligently to make sure that we do everything we can to support the U.S. pressure campaign and to tighten sanctions in such a way that we have the opportunity to prevail and to achieve the president's mission, which is denuclearization of the peninsula."

Interesting, but wait just a moment please. Economic and trade sanctions; isn't what Director Pompeo referring to the job of the State Department ?

By the way, exactly how does the CIA "tighten sanctions?" Huge sums of US Dollars? Comfort girls? Big Mac's ?

What are the folks at Foggy Bottom being paid to do ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 4:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Is there a shortage of attack subs and/or torpedos?
Posted by: C. Elmomoger7737 || 01/24/2018 9:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Much like the Neutron bomb that was to kill people but not destroy buildings, I seem to remember a development program for an EMP mine which would simply disable a ship's control systems without damaging the hull thus leaving it adrift and open to high seas salvage. I think the program was suspended when someone realized we used more tech than they did.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 10:41 Comments || Top||

#4  What are the folks at Foggy Bottom being paid to do ?

Yeah, B, that's an easy one for those of us who've been paying attention.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 01/24/2018 11:09 Comments || Top||

#5  Guess the Navy can't run a blockade.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 17:42 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Nukes for Oz? Flying Pig Delivery System?
Posted by: Grunter || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1 

Speed to target and payload weight look a bit iffy.
Posted by: 3dc || 01/24/2018 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Subs and rockets might be old school. What about an orbiting distributed cluster?
Posted by: 3dc || 01/24/2018 0:50 Comments || Top||

#3  packed in tins of Vegemite?
Posted by: Tiny Sputer8745 || 01/24/2018 8:48 Comments || Top||

#4  At first glimpse I'd say their's is not a 'point solution' problem.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 12:25 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Supreme Court agrees to fast track Trump's DACA appeal
[USA Today] WASHINGTON ‐ The Supreme Court is racing Congress to decide the future of the Dreamers.

The justices agreed Tuesday to decide quickly whether to hear the Trump administration's appeal of a federal district court's order to restart the DACA program without waiting for an appeals court ruling.

By setting up a fast track for both sides to submit court papers, the high court likely will consider the Justice Department's request at its Feb. 16 conference. If it decides to take the case, it could hear arguments in the spring.

That would set up a simultaneous decision-making process on the fate of some 690,000 young adults brought to the United States illegally by their parents under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program established by President Barack Obama in 2012.

President Trump announced in September that the program would end March 5 unless renewed by Congress. Since then, Democrats and Republicans have squabbled over the so-called Dreamers' fate along with other immigration and border security issues ‐ most notably Trump's demand to build a wall along the Mexican border.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 00:41 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Former SF officer Michael Waltz announces run for DeSantis' seat in Florida (FOX video)
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 00:03 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is he an activist or an apologist?
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 10:32 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Woman for freeing sister from alleged ‘sex racket’
[NATION.PK] Awoman lodged a complaint with City Police Officer Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi and appealed to him to get her young sister freed from the clutches of an alleged ’sex racket’ operating within the limits of Police Station Airport, informed sources on Tuesday.

The applicant revealed that she had also been made a sex slave by members of the racket. The CPO ordered Station House Officer Airport to carry out raid at the house where the girl was allegedly detained, the sources added.

According to the sources, Iram Sabir, 18, a resident of Lahore, appeared before the CPO in an open court and lodged a complaint, stating that she and her younger sister Taiba Sabir had been brought to Chaklala Scheme III, Rawalpindi from Lahore by a woman , Shehla Bibi, for jobs.

However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by...
the women forced them into prostitution, she alleged . "Shehla’s husband Sher Khan and son Asif Sher were also accomplices in the crime," she added.

She said that she fled from the house of Shehla but her sister Taiba was still detained there and was being forced into prostitution. Iram appealed to the CPO to recover her sister from illegal custody of the alleged ’sex racket’.

The CPO Israr Abbasi directed the SHO Airport Ahsan Kiyani to recover the detained girl. The SHO constituted special team to conduct raid on the house.

"We are carrying out a raid to arrest members of alleged sex racket to recover the girl," said SHO while talking to The Nation. He said that police would soon arrest the accused and put them behind the bars.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Parents pardon cleric accused of beating their son to death
[NATION.PK] A holy man who allegedly beat his eight-year-old pupil to death at a seminary in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
’s Bin Qasim Town area on Sunday was pardoned by the victim’s family on Monday, Station House Officer Dhani Bux Marri said. Despite the pardoning, police nonetheless proceeded to register a first information report (FIR) against the accused on behalf of the state under Section 322 of the Pakistain Penal Code.

Mohammed Hussain had allegedly been subjected to corporal punishment by Qari Najmuddin in the past, after which he had run away from the seminary. His parents , however, brought him back to the seminary on Friday. When the student tried to flee again, Qari Najmuddin got hold of him and allegedly beat him to death with a blunt weapon.
Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Commandos escort anti-polio squads in sensitive areas
[NATION.PK] Police commandos have been deputed at all sensitive union councils of Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
during the ongoing six-day anti-polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
campaign, said Inspector General of Police (IGP - Sindh) AD Khawaja here on Monday.

Sharing details of the security cover being provided to the 9,000 polio teams engaged in the exercise, he said no compromise will be made with regard to their security.

"In fact police department as a stakeholder will do its optimum to facilitate the workers," said the IGP - Sindh.

In reply to a query, he said plain clothed cops have also been deputed at each of the sensitive UC along with commandos and area coppers.

"Security on basis of inner and outer cordon has been further ensured at more than 30 UCs identified as sensitive in the quiet provincial capital," said the police chief in response to another query. "There are standing orders that cover being provided to the polio workers must be strengthened and streamlined with adequate provision for intelligence sharing and sharp vigilance," he added.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Demining or polio vaccination; which is more dangerous?
Posted by: Richard Aubrey || 01/24/2018 6:49 Comments || Top||


Who is the serial rapist-killer?
[NATION.PK] An ordinary-looking person has been found involved in an extraordinary evil ‐ rape and murder of at least seven children, as young as five-year-old, reported by police in Kasur district of the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

during the last couple of years.

Resident of Road Kot, Imran Ali, 24, also a neighbour of Zainab, is said to be a carpenter by profession. He joined protesters after discovery of the body of the latest victim early this month. He was also seen among relatives of the victims as media persons rushed to the violence-hit district. The police could not reach the serial killer unless the DNA profiling proved him guilty in at least seven similar cases.

Imran had left school when he was in class-III. Many local residents on Tuesday were in a state of shock as they came to know that the serial killer police were hunting for was in fact Imran Ali.

The father of this serial killer had died a couple of months ago, according to the initial investigations. Police said the killer’s father Muhammad Arshad had been suffering from mental illness.

The suspect used to participate in religious gatherings. He was living with his two brothers and four sisters. At least five relatives of the suspect including his two brothers Farhan and Fahad were also tossed in the slammer
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
by police last week.

The house of the killer is located just 120 metres away from the victim’s residence. Hence, he was familiar with the child. He raped and killed at least seven children within a radius of two kilometres during the last two years but the police failed to trace him.

The police in Kasur district reported at least 11 cases of child rape and murder since 2015. The latest killing led the police to find out that the criminal they were hunting for was a "serial killer ." Before this, police never investigated this element despite a series of child murder cases reported in the same locality.

During the Zainab murder case probe, the police established on the basis of DNA reports of the victims that a single person was involved in at least seven rape and murder cases. Several forensic experts were sent to Kasur for DNA sampling of local population soon after authorities discovered that the rapist on the loose, in fact, is a "serial killer".

The joint investigation team comprising police Sherlocks and intelligence operatives arrested the suspect after two weeks-long investigations. The police interrogated a few thousand people and collected DNA tests of at least 1150 residents of the locality.

"Imran was arrested as a result of DNA profiling. Also, during his polygraph tests, the suspect confessed to his crime before an investigation team," said a police officer, who was familiar with the development.

The first DNA test was conducted on January 14 and the second DNA test was carried out by forensic experts on January 20. "The DNA matching was 100 percent. In his (video-recording) statement, the suspect confessed to raping and killing six other children," the officer explained.

Earlier, police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested the main suspect behind at least seven child rape and murder cases reported in Kasur district in recent years. The first case of child rape and murder had surfaced in June 2015.

Zainab Amin was kidnapped on Jan 4 this year when she was going to her aunt’s house nearby for Koran lessons. She was found murdered after being raped on a heap of garbage in the same locality on Jan 9.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Zainab’s killer arrested: Shehbaz
[NATION.PK] After hectic efforts of 14 days by the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

government and civil as well as military agencies, the rapist-cum-killer of seven-year-old Kasur girl, Zainab , has been identified and taken into custody.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced this successful operation before media persons in the presence of Haji Muhammad Ameen, father of Zainab , Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, police, administrative/intelligence officials and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency and Laboratory DG here yesterday.

Imran, the rapist-cum-killer of Zainab , is a serial killer as a dozen of Kasur girls below the age of eight have been raped and killed by him since June 2015. Through the investigation held both on scientific and human level, he has been found the killer of seven of them.

Feeling the pain and cruelty of the pathetic incident of Zainab’s murder, the chief minister expressed his desire that Imran should be hanged publicly so that no one in future could dare to repeat such a heinous crime.

He affirmed the case of Imran would be tried in the Special Anti-Terrorism Court, urging the Lahore High Court chief justice to hold its proceedings on day-to-day basis to take the matter to logical conclusion at the earliest. He assured the court of the Punjab government’s fullest help. He opined the court, while deciding the case under the law, might order public hanging of 24-year-old Imran, ’the beast’. He also hinted at amending the law for the public hanging of the convicts of such gruesome offences as a lesson to others.

The chief minister revealed the KP government had also approached the Punjab government for forensic lab help to trace out the culprit of five-year-old Asma of Mardan who was also raped and murdered some 10 days ago, the CM offered full cooperation to them in this regard. He also offered forensic lab help to the Sindh government in Naqeeb killing case. He said such incidents were painful for every Pak, so no one should do politics on them.

Shehbaz said: "We are highly thankful to Almighty Allah Who made our untiring and hectic efforts successful. He appreciated the JIT, Punjab police, Forensic Lab, ISI, MI, IB, administration, politicianship, the media and prayers of the whole nation that resulted in the arrest of Imran. He also thanked the army chief for extending every help in this regard.

The CM termed the officers who shared efforts to track down the killer shining stars of the nation. Shehbaz remarked he had never seen such commitment, dedication and concerted efforts to trace such a difficult crime. He also announced to take action against the police personnel who neglected their duties at the earlier stage after Zainab had gone missing on January 4.

Before addressing media persons, the chief minister also held a meeting with the father of Zainab .

It may be mentioned that the body of Zainab was recovered on January 9, after five days of her going missing, from a heap of garbage around 300 yards from her residence. The incident sparked a strong public reaction which jolted not only the police department but also the Punjab government. Taking notice of the incident, the Supreme Court on Sunday gave 72 hours to the police to trace the culprit.

Imran lived just nine houses from the residence of Zainab in the same street. His DNA samples were twice obtained, on January 14 and January 20, and their laboratory results showed the same matching with that of seven little girls, including Zainab . DNA tests of a total of 1,150 suspects of the area were carried out and Imran was one of them. A polygraphic test of Imran also came positive to establish his link with the rape-cum-murderer of Zainab and six other innocent girls.

Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Science & Technology
While the U.S. waits, China has been CRISPRing human cancer patients since 2015
[TechCrunch] While the U.S. is just gearing up to the idea of CRISPRing its first humans, China seems to be benefiting from the "move fast and break things" ‐ or cut them with the CRISPR scissors ‐ motto.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, China has already gene-edited 86 people using CRISPR-Cas9 since 2015. Unhindered by rules and regulations like the ones we have in America to prevent science experiments gone wrong, Hangzhou doctor Wu Shixiu has been using the technique on cancer patients.

In fact, it only took a half hour one afternoon, according to the Journal, for hospital administrators to sign off on Dr. Wu’s plans.

It’s not clear if these experiments worked ‐ though some preliminary reports suggest some of the various trials have had some success. However, this is not the first time China’s used CRISPR on humans ‐ often with disastrous results. Chinese scientists tried unsuccessfully to genetically modify human embryos using CRISPR in 2016 but found at least two-thirds to have genetic mutations, and only a fraction of the 28 surviving embryos (out of 86 total tested) contained the replacement genetic material.

At least nine other CRISPR trials have been conducted on humans in China, according to listings in the U.S. National Library of Medicine database. The Journal found at least two other trials had been conducted on humans in China using the technique since 2015.

While some worry this gives China the edge in pioneering CRISPR medical techniques, others urge caution and patience with such a new technology. Both the U.S. and Europe, where the technique was first jointly discovered by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, have implemented conservative regulatory measures and have yet to start human trials.

"It is hard to know what the ideal is between moving quickly and making sure patients are safe," Dr. Carl June, the lead scientist for the CRISPR research team at the University of Pennsylvania, where the first human trials are slated to take place once researchers there can get through several regulatory hurdles, told the Journal.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 09:33 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sadly, genetic prevention methodologies do not appear to fit the current oncology business model.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 9:37 Comments || Top||

#2  That's what you get when medicine is run by MBAs, B. The current Legacy oncology model is overwhelmed by demand and under compensated by insurers.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 10:23 Comments || Top||

#3  That's what you get when medicine is run by MBAs

That's what you get when anything, especially businesses, are run by MBAs.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/24/2018 11:32 Comments || Top||

#4  So, that was OK? No. However, It’s not clear if these experiments worked seems not quite up to contemporary medical ethics (unless its Planned Parenthood).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/24/2018 15:20 Comments || Top||

#5  It’s not clear if these experiments worked ‐ though some preliminary reports suggest some of the various trials have had some success.

In other words, the cancers were not cured, but some of the patients were not killed or harmed by the procedure. While having no love whatsoever for the FDA as it currently functions, I stand with Procopius2k on this.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/24/2018 16:18 Comments || Top||

#6  Now we know where the zombie apocalypse is going to start.
Posted by: woggut || 01/24/2018 19:56 Comments || Top||


Tractor beam breakthrough could one day levitate humans - study
[RT] Levitating humans could be in our future, thanks to a scientific breakthrough in acoustic tractor beam technology, which can now lift larger objects than ever before.

Engineers from the University of Bristol have demonstrated that it’s possible to stably levitate objects using the world’s most powerful acoustic tractor beams. Their findings were published in the Physical Review Letters on Monday.

Acoustic tractor beams use soundwaves to hold particles in the air. It was previously believed they could only be used to levitate very small objects which were about the same size as a wavelength of sound, but the research demonstrates the potential for far larger objects to be levitated.

“Acoustic researchers had been frustrated by the size limit for years, so its satisfying to find a way to overcome it,”said the study’s lead author, Dr Asier Marzo of Bristol’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. “I think it opens the door to many new applications.”

The technique creates a tornado-like effect with acoustic vortices, which researchers said are like, "tornadoes of sound, made of a twister-like structure with loud sound surrounding a silent core."
Posted by: Fred || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Now we just need to overcome the 'all test subjects go deaf' problem."
Posted by: PBMcL || 01/24/2018 0:37 Comments || Top||

#2  When pigs fly......
Posted by: Tiny Sputer8745 || 01/24/2018 7:41 Comments || Top||

#3  Will it work in space? You know for towing disabled space vehicles and meteorites and stuff like that.
Posted by: Seeking cure for ignorance || 01/24/2018 9:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Somewhere, Doc Smith is having a quiet chuckle.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/24/2018 11:41 Comments || Top||

#5  Not much of a discovery for anyone having watched sunlit dust motes in front of a speaker.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 12:14 Comments || Top||

#6  Let me know when they develop photon torpedos.
Posted by: Raj || 01/24/2018 14:28 Comments || Top||

#7  I will require dual beams and a parachute.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/24/2018 14:52 Comments || Top||

#8  All this talk about tractors reminded me of the old joke; goes like this:

The tractor salesman broke up with his girlfriend; sent her a John Deere letter.

You can thank me later.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 01/24/2018 14:54 Comments || Top||


Government
US slaps 'America First' tariffs on washing machines and solar panels
[BBC] China hardest hit.
O. E. Unereque1853 gives us the government press release here.

Years too late for folks in Evansville, Indiana.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/24/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Aren't all the non-commercial US washers (ie.. Whirlpool and it's various labels like Maytag) assembled in Mexico?
Posted by: 3dc || 01/24/2018 0:53 Comments || Top||

#2  Whirlpool claims that 80% of its products sold in America are made in America.
Posted by: JohnQC || 01/24/2018 6:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Seems like a good idea, except solar system installers are now laying off workers because the demand is expected to go down, now that Han panels won't be so cheap. Law of unintended consequences in play - still a good idea to reduce dependency on Han goods. And don't get me started on the Army buying Han security cameras.....
Posted by: Tiny Sputer8745 || 01/24/2018 7:49 Comments || Top||

#4  And don't get me started on the Army buying Han security cameras.....

Grrr. Maybe we should make our own stuff now and then. Then again, the NSA/CIA would insert themselves into creating the standard to make it hackable. Sigh.
Posted by: gorb || 01/24/2018 10:34 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
31[untagged]
8Islamic State
7Sublime Porte
6Govt of Pakistan
4Commies
4Arab Spring
3Moslem Colonists
2Haqqani Network
1Hezbollah
1al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Lashkar e-Taiba
1Palestinian Authority
1Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)
1al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
1Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army
1Boko Haram (ISIS)
1Govt of Pakistain Proxies
1Hamas

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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2018-01-24
  Two suicide attackers, Islamic State member killed as troops repel attack in Baghdad
Tue 2018-01-23
  1.5K al-Nusra troops surrounded in Idlib
Mon 2018-01-22
  Tunisian forces kill top aide of Al Qaeda leader in Maghreb
Sun 2018-01-21
  Seven Niger troops killed in Boko Haram attack
Sun 2018-01-21
  Seven Niger troops killed in Boko Haram attack
Sat 2018-01-20
  Lebanon foils ISIS plans to attack places of worship, government buildings
Fri 2018-01-19
  Deso Dogg -- Dead Again
Thu 2018-01-18
  US drone strike leaves 6 militants dead, wounded in East of Afghanistan
Wed 2018-01-17
  Wanted terrorist Abdullah Al-Qalaf killed in eastern Saudi Arabia
Tue 2018-01-16
  Deadly clashes in Libyan capital force airport to close
Mon 2018-01-15
  Israel Says It Destroys Hamas Tunnel Under Key Gaza Crossing
Sun 2018-01-14
  Islamic State affiliate claims Mali attack that injured 3 French soldiers
Sat 2018-01-13
  Over 100 Palestinians said injured in West Bank, Gaza clashes
Fri 2018-01-12
  Saleh Commander Presumed Dead Appears in Yemen Video
Thu 2018-01-11
  Veritas strikes again: Twitter caught doing shadow bans on conservatives through algorithm
Wed 2018-01-10
  Pakistan has suspended military and intelligence cooperation with US: defence minister


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