Archive for February 24, 2011

BAIDA, LIBYA – Forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi fought Thursday to take back territory from a popular revolt that is steadily advancing toward the capital, as the United States and other Western powers considered possible responses to the bloodshed including a military “no-fly zone.”

Loyalist forces made up of Libyan militiamen and foreign mercenaries attacked rebels in two cities near the capital, but the anti-government movement made new gains and seized control of an air force base, news agencies reported. control

via Gaddafi loyalists launch counterattacks; U.S. consults allies on Libya options.

More details have emerged of Lara Logan’s terrifying ordeal at the hands of a frenzied mob.

The 39-year-old foreign correspondent for CBS News show 60 Minutes was separated from her film crew in Cairo on February 11 and surrounded by as many as 200 men in Tahrir Square at the height of the anti-Mubarak demonstrations.

According to one source, reported in The Sunday Times newspaper, sensitive parts of her body were covered in red marks that were originally thought to have been bite marks.

via Lara Logan attack: Stripped, punched and whipped with flag poles | Mail Online.

DENVER — According to multiple reports, the Celtics have agreed to a deal that will send Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, solving the Celtics small forward problem by sacrificing an important piece in their starting lineup.

With the team preparing to face the new-look Nuggets tonight, Perkins was at shootaround this morning, but the more immediate concern was the sprained MCL he suffered against Golden State on Monday, that would have kept him out for the rest of the Celtics’ road trip. He said he wanted to play one of the remaining games, but the trade makes it all moot.

The Celtics part ways with Robinson after acquiring him from the Knicks at the deadline a year ago in a package that included Eddie House. Calls to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge were not immediately returned.

via Report: Perkins, Robinson dealt to OKC for Green -Celtics blog – Boston Globe basketball news.

* Gaddafi’s elite units likely to remain loyal

* Has 10-12,000 Libyan troops plus foreign fighters

* Battle lines for potential civil war being drawn

By Peter Apps, Political Risk Correspondent

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi may have lost control of much of his country and military, but a hard core of troops will probably stay loyal as he tries to retain control of western Libya, the coastal strip and the capital Tripoli.

Much of the oil-rich east around Benghazi appears lost. Troops melted away in the face of popular protests inspired by the overthrow of rulers in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia, leaving it in the hands of people’s militias and tribal groups.

But so far Gaddafi’s opponents appear disparate and disorganised, with no centralised command and little prospect of mounting their own offensives.

via ANALYSIS-Gaddafi still has enough loyal forces for a fight | News by Country | Reuters.

Toyota announced Thursday morning that it is recalling another 2.1 million vehicles in the United States for problems related to unintended acceleration. The latest recall is a massive setback for the company’s efforts to move beyond the highly publicized safety defects that prompted Congressional hearings and led to staggered sales.

The concern over Toyota’s quality had seemed to be receding. Last month, U.S. investigators ruled out defects in Toyota’s engine electronics as a cause of the sticking accelerators.

But the announcement on Thursday revives the old questions about the autos’ safety. Another 2.1 million cars are being recalled because unsecured or ill-fitting floor mats could entrap the accelerator, causing the car to speed without the driver pushing the pedal.

Among the cars being recalled are:

* Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runners

* Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570 autos

* Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4 vehicles

* Approximately 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400h vehicles

* Approximately 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles

via Political Economy – Toyota recalls 2.1 million vehicles in U.S..