Archive for January 6, 2011

Sources: Security threat level for London raised to ‘severe’ – CNN.com

London (CNN) — New information has emerged from an intelligence operation about the possibility of an attack being planned in or near London, with subway stations and airports of particular concern to officials, a British security source told CNN Thursday.

CNN understands that the intelligence operation concerns a possible Mumbai-style attack, the source said.

The action is not connected to terrorism arrests last month in Stoke, Cardiff and London, the source said.

A second British security source said a decision was made Wednesday night to raise the terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” for the civil aviation industry and London transport.

The overall, national terrorism threat level remains at “severe.”

via Sources: Security threat level for London raised to ‘severe’ – CNN.com.

$380m jackpot winners have 23 grandkids – U.S. news – Wonderful World – msnbc.com

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A couple with 23 grandchildren claimed half of the $380 million Mega Millions jackpot on Thursday.

Jim and Carolyn McCullar traveled from their home in Ephrata, Wash., to the state capital Olympia for the ceremony.

Jim McCullar — who bought the ticket and said his luck includes having come back from hospital stays where he was pronounced dead three times — accepted the oversized check, and then promptly handed it over to his wife.

via $380m jackpot winners have 23 grandkids – U.S. news – Wonderful World – msnbc.com.

BBC News – Brazil police move into Rio de Janeiro gang strongholds

Police in Brazil say they have taken control of three poor districts in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

About 250 members of an elite police unit moved into the shantytowns, which have been virtual no-go areas for the security forces.

The operation is part of a long-term plan by the Brazilian authorities to retake poor areas of the city from drug gangs.

via BBC News – Brazil police move into Rio de Janeiro gang strongholds.

Women raped in mass attack in Congo, humanitarian group says – CNN.com

(CNN) — Dozens of women were raped in a coordinated attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo on New Year’s Day, Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.

The humanitarian agency said 33 women were raped in Fizi, South Kivu, in the eastern part of the war-torn country.

“Women had been restrained with ropes or beaten unconscious with the butt of a gun before being attacked, some in front of their children,” said Annemarie Loof, an official with the agency, commonly known by its French name, Medecins Sans Frontieres.

“Up to four armed men were involved at a time and homes and shops were looted,” she said in a statement.

via Women raped in mass attack in Congo, humanitarian group says – CNN.com.

U.S. Boosts Afghan Surge – WSJ.com

WASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to send an additional 1,400 Marine combat forces to Afghanistan, officials said, in a surprise move ahead of the spring fighting season to try to cement tentative security gains before White House-mandated troop reductions begin in July.

The Marine battalion could start arriving on the ground as early as mid-January. The forces would mostly be deployed in the south, around Kandahar, where the U.S. has concentrated troops over the past several months.

via U.S. Boosts Afghan Surge – WSJ.com.

Extraordinarily important and necessary move. With the continued unrest in Afghanistan, the resurgence of the Taliban, and the instability of Pakistan we must put our best efforts forward to stem the savage tide of terrorism.

2 million fish found dead in Maryland – CNN.com

(CNN) — Authorities in Maryland are investigating the deaths of about 2 million fish in Chesapeake Bay.

“Natural causes appear to be the reason,” the Maryland Department of the Environment said in a news release. “Cold water stress exacerbated by a large population of the affected species (juvenile spot fish) appears to be the cause of the kill.”

The investigation comes days after the deaths of an estimated 100,000 fish in northwest Arkansas. Authorities suspect disease was to blame there, a state spokesman said.

In Maryland, preliminary tests showed water quality to be acceptable, officials said.

“The affected fish are almost exclusively juvenile spot fish, 3 to 6 inches in length,” the Maryland department said. A recent survey “showed a very strong population of spot in the bay this year. An increased juvenile population and limited deep water habitat would likely compound the effects of cold water stress.”

Large winter kills of spot fish have occurred at least twice before in the state, in 1976 and 1980, the department said.

via 2 million fish found dead in Maryland – CNN.com.

 

Somehow, somewhere, some Right wing ideologue is concocting a way in which this is Barack Obama’s fault…

San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics – Recap – January 05, 2011 – ESPN

BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had already played two games since returning from a sprained ankle. It wasn’t until Wednesday night, though, that he really returned.

The Celtics point guard had 22 assists, 12 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th career triple-double, adding six steals to help Boston beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-103 in a matchup of the NBA’s top two teams.

via San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics – Recap – January 05, 2011 – ESPN.

UN seeks troops for Cote d’Ivoire – Africa – Al Jazeera English

The UN is calling for up to 2,000 peacekeepers to bolster existing forces in Cote d’Ivoire, as the world body continues to press disputed leader Laurent Gbagbo to step down.

The additional troops would reinforce the 9,800-strong UN force currently in the West African country, Alain Le Roy, the UN peacekeeping undersecretary-general, said on Wednesday.

He said the UN would make a formal request for the troops from the 15-nation Security Council next week, for deployment within weeks.

“In light of the current crisis in [Cote d'Ivoire], beefing up the UN peacekeeping operation would make a lot of sense,” Nicholas Birnback, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission, said.

Some 800 peacekeepers are stationed in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire’s largest city, outside of the Golf Hotel, where the government of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara has been holed up since the country’s disputed presidential runoff on November 28.

The UN, the African Union, the 15-nation West African regional group ECOWAS and other world powers have recognised Ouattara as the winner of the November vote.

But Gbagbo has refused for more than a month to step down after a decade in power, sparking a political crisis that has left more than 170 people dead.

via UN seeks troops for Cote d’Ivoire – Africa – Al Jazeera English.

Elizabeth Edwards’ will leaves everything to her children – CNN.com

Elizabeth Edwards left everything to her children, with no mention of her estranged husband, John Edwards, in her will.

“All of my furniture, furnishings, household goods, jewelry, china, silverware and personal effects and any automobiles … to be divided among them …” Edwards says in the document dated December 1.

It names her daughter, 28-year-old Catharine, as the executor of the will.

via Elizabeth Edwards’ will leaves everything to her children – CNN.com.

nbcnews: The man with the golden voice. (And smile.)

RT @nbcnews: The man with the golden voice. (And smile.) @ NBC Studio 1A – Today Show http://instagr.am/p/4vsr/