Meena's GAOC

According to Reuters International the United States said on Friday U.S. intelligence found a secret Iranian nuclear arms program halted in 2003 could easily be continued because of later curbs on U.N. inspections in the country. Tehran says it has never sought nuclear energy for anything but electricity. But it has a history of dodging International Atomic Energy Agency’s scrutiny and is trying to acquire an inundation of enriched uranium, of possible use for bombs.
U.S. representative Gregory Schulte said Washington's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) contained "new evidence" of a concerted, secret atom bomb project in Iran. The NIE said Iran was trying to develop the technical means applicable to producing weapons but had stopped trying to build them, contradicting President George W. Bush's position that Iran is actively trying to develop an atomic weapon.

Gabby's News

On December 19, 2007 the Karachi-Lahore express, a passenger train, derailed in southern Pakistan, killing around 40 people and injuring nearly 100.
Officials had said earlier in the day that at least 56 people were killed in the disaster, but now the confirmed death toll is under 40. It is not yet clear what caused it but an investigation has begun.
The death toll for this crash is lower than past crashes. In recent years hundreds have died on railways in Pakistan.
Both Pakistan's railway authorities and the local government in Sindh helped to lower the casualties in this disaster.

According to New York times world news, there are old U.S. allies, still hiding in Laos. 

Men who say they fought a secret war for the C.I.A., are still on the run with their families in the mountain jungles of Laos. 40 years ago the C.I.A. hired thousands of jungle warriors to fight Communists on the western fringes of the Vietnam War. The men are hunted periodically by a Laotian Communist Government still mistrustful of them for siding with America. One group has been attacked twice this year by the Laotian Army, each resulting in death. In may, they killed a woman and her 2 year old child. In September, soldiers killed a 5 year old boy. This group moves every two weeks to avoid attack. There are still thousands of veterans and their families surviving in the jungle. Many groups have not seen an American since 1975. These people have been struggling in the jungle for over four decades.

New Zealand's Quake Picture

6.8 Magnitude Quake Hits New Zealand

On Thursday, December 20th, a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Gisbourne, New Zealand causing gaping holes in streets, over ten fires, tall buildings crashing to the ground, and major damage to homes and other small buildings. It hit precisely at 8:55pm and the strong temors ran thiry-one miles away from Gisbourne, the quakes' main target.

One resident of Gisbourne, Kathleen Munn, said that, "The house itself was all right, bit it made a pretty horrific sound. Maybe half the books fell off the bookcase and a large pile of CD's looked like someone had thrown them across the room. A lot of glassware fell of the shelves and smashed to bits. it just felt like the whole ouse was lurching from side to side."

New Zealand lies on the Pacifc "Ring of Fire," where plates in the Earth's crust cause frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Lucy's News

A French TGV train crashed into a truck on Wednesday according to Javno. Near Tossait, France, by the Swiss border, a train derailed and hit a truck, killing the driver and injuring twenty five people on the train. According to one of the passengers the truck had been dragged down the tracks and torn apart. A local spokesman said, “We regret the death of the driver of the lorry. One person was seriously injured and 24 people suffered light injuries and are being treated by medics at the scene." According to French state railways, the accident happened at a level crossing.

Clara's Focus Story

Jamil El-Banna, a now former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was released on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 by the U.S. He was arrested early on Thursday after flying to Britain but was later released on bail. He had been arrested because the Spanish believed that he had terrorist ties. He was suspected to be apart of al Qaida in Spain called the Islamic Alliance and to be recruiting people to be apart of the group. Later this week he will face Spanish charges in court.

Charging Jacob Zuma

Just two days after Jacob Zuma was elected as the leader of the African National Congress Group, the top prosecutor in South Africa released a statement saying that there is enough evidence against Zuma to charge him with corruption. There charges relate to controversial arms deals, which caused one of Mr. Zuma's advisers to get put in jail for 15 years. Zuma, 65, denies any wrongdoing and has recently addressed his party for the first time since defeating his rival, President Thabo Mbeki, in a well-fought battle.

There are rumors going around that Mbeki will be stepping down before the end of his term in 2009. Mr. Mbeki’s spokesman denied any allocations of resignation. There is history between the two. Back in 2005 Mbeki bet Zuma in presidential race.

To learn more about the heated controversy in South Africa, go to BBC.com

UN warns migrants of Yemen risks

The United Nations refugee campaign has begun to warn potential migrants about the dangers of crossing illegally to Yemen. About 28,000 Somalis have crossed to Yemen this year. They have crossed Yemen either to escape fighting in Somalia or to find work. According to the UNHCR, over 1,400 Somalis have died when crossing to Yemen. They have been killed by smugglers or drowned at sea.
The UNHCR have made leaflets in Somali and Ethiopian languages and have made warnings on the radio informing people of the risks of crossing illegally to Yemen. Sheikh Abdulqder, the chief of the elders in Bossasso told UNHCR, "We alone cannot prevent these desperate people from crossing. The support of the international community will help us curb a tragedy that has been going on for too long."

Omagh bombing: Sean Hoey found not guilty

According to telegraph.uk Sean Hoey, from Jonesborough, was the first person to face a murder charge in connection with the Real IRA blast in 1998, which left 29 people dead. Announcing his not guilty verdict at Belfast Crown Court today, Mr Justice Weir had strong criticism of the police's handling of evidence. 

He also accused two officers of telling untruths to the court which made their testimony invalid. The 56 day hearing - one of the biggest murder trials in British legal history - ended in January. Hoey was cleared of all charges relating to the 1998 atrocity, and all other charges linked to a series of bombs and murder attacks in Northern Ireland before 1998.

Practice Focus Story

According to Reuter UK Thursday was a difficult day in the Gaza Strip between Egypt and Israel. A raid led by Islamic military killed at least four Palestinian gunmen. Several other Palestinians were injured including a 7-year-old boy. An Israeli military spokesman said the raid was “a routine operation against terrorists threats” he had no comments about the other casualties.
Along with regular raids Israel started air operations against Islamic Jihad which started air attacks from inside the Gaza Strip. Three rockets were launched against Israel borders Thursday; one of them landed only 40 meters away from a school. It is likely there will be more fighting through these holiday seasons in the Gaza Strip.

Emily's Focus Story

Jamil El-Banna, a 45 year old citizen of Britain and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, is wanted by Spanish authorities for supposed terror-related offenses. After being arrested right after being released from Guantanamo, he was granted a bail by a Senior District Judge Timothy Workman. The British judge gave him a £50,000 bail even though he had entered Britain with a fake passport. While he was in Guantanamo for years, he was held with out trial alongside with Omar Deghayes, 38 and Abdennour Samuer, 34. They were also arrested shortly after being released from the Cuban prison.


(the picture is of his two sons protesting against Guantanamo Bay's unfair treatment)

GAOC

According to “the gulf news” Al Qaida leader Al Zawahiri is going to answer questions from web readers. Some of the comments include “When are you going to destroy America?” and “Do you feel that the greedy Empire of America will eventually crumble even without foreign interface?” It is said that all questions will be sent to Al Zawahiri in January “whether it comes from someone who agrees or disagrees.” Comments must be brief and focused and posted by January 16th. If you would like to send in your questions, go to www.gulfnews.com.

Kayakers going to New Zealand

Two kayakers, James Castrission and Justin Jones, are attempting to go from Western Australia to New Zealand in a double, custom built kayak survived a rocky night ... The kayak's main line- connecting the boat's rudder to the tiller, wrapped around the rudder, making it impossible to steer. The line was finally untangled and they're back on course, but are still a good 900 kilometers off the coast of New Zealand. Within the last hour, the two sent a text message to their Australia base saying they were safe.

The kayakers are still facing bad weather with strong winds from the south-east and heavy seas. They set off on their 2200-kilometer journey on November 13th. If the two succeed in the crossing, they will be the first people to cross the Tasman Sea by kayak after many failed attempts.

Core B news

Forty Nine patients with incurable, highly infectious and drug-resistant tuberculosis have escaped from Jose Pearson hospital near Port Elizabeth this week. So far twenty six have returned to the wards. Police are now primed to join door-to-door searches for the rest.The patients, some of whom have been in hospital for 18 months, were said to want to spend Christmas with family.


Correspondents say South Africa is battling the spread of virulent forms of TB which are especially dangerous for those infected with HIV, the virus which can lead to Aids.Its estimated that 5.4 million people in South Africa are living with HIV. Just 400 people have been officially diagnosed with extremely drug-resistant TB, or XDR-TB, the Associated Press reports.But the true figure is guessed to be much higher because many people die before being diagnosed.

Several provinces in South Africa have been forced to take legal action to force drug-resistant TB patients to stay in hospital, AP adds. It is hard on everyone especially the people who are forced to stay in a hospital without any family.





http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7152855.stm

beauty queen pepper spray scare

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2007 beauty pageant winner Ingrid Marie Rivera, from Dorado was in tears when the press questioned her about the hives and burns all over her body. She was composed in front of press and fans but when she got back stage she had to take off all her clothes and put ice all over her body to stop the painful hives from spreading. It had even happened once before but the second time people began to get suspicious "We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves," pageant spokesman Harold Rosario said. "But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence." Later, onlookers concluded that her clothes and makeup and been doused with pepper spray. The other competitors where obvious suspects. Many had often said that Maria Rivera should be disqualified because she is to experienced and has already won five times in a row. When officials examined her makeup and gown they discovered no trace of any such substance. "I guess she has a lot of explaining to do," police spokesman Stephen Alvarez said on Saturday. Police Superintendent Pedro Toledo said he would investigate whether anyone provided false information to his detectives, which would be a felony. This story is still developing.

Kyrgyzstan Names Mountain Peak After Santa Claus

According to BBC News Source, On Christmas Eve a group of mountaineers will join in a ceremony to name a peak after Santa Claus. Kyrgyzstan has been looking for a way to attract more tourist, when Sweco a Swedish company decided that Kyrgyzstan was the new destination for Santa, or the "New North Pole" the country decided to take in the idea as a way of getting more visitors. The country hopes that the new idea will work out and boost the industry. Children and Adults alike are waiting to see the effects of this decision.

Earthquake

An earthquake with the magnitude of 6.8 hit New Zealand hard on Thursday; the quake struck around 9:00pm and was about 50 kilometers southeast of the central north island coastal city of Gisborne.
Police say the city of Gisborne was blacked out for 45 minutes, and there had been damage to buildings and roads in the city.
The phone lines where cut and there are rumors of minor damage all over Some roofs have collapsed and At least one main road had a large hole in it New Zealand records about 14,000, but only 150 are felt by residents and less then 10 a year cause any damage

No Easy Walk to Empowerment for Women!

In the soon to be elections for Kenya, woman candidates have an all-time high assult rate. Political violence is nothing new in Kenya, but almost all the recent violence has been directed at woman candidates. At this moment, over 250 charges have been reported. Many of the targets have been sexually and physically asualted, and in worse cases they have been shot or torured.

It has been 25 years since a woman has even
attempted to run in Flora Terra's constituency. The key is civic education to stop violence against woman who want to run in politics. Some say Kenya men have a problem with the idea of women being in charge.

Elizabeth II Outlives Victoria Today

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest living monarch in British history today.

AT 1700 GMT the Queen surpassed the 81 years and 243 days of Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, but there was no special event to commemorate the historic landmark.

There’s nothing the Queen is doing to mark the occasion, others have noticed the date but it’s nothing that we were thinking about marking. This is just another normal working day,” said a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman.

During her reign, the Queen has set records including being the first British monarch to send an e-mail, have a message put on the moon and hold a public concert in her back garden.

Journalist Kidnapped in Somalia

Armed men kidnapped a French journalist Sunday, near Bossasso in Somalia's North Western Puntland region.
According to Al Jazeera, The reporter's car was pulled over by three men with AK-47s, who later demanded a ransom of 70,000 dollars.
The abductee's driver says that the journalist contacted the armed group about a story concerning Somali immigrants being smuggled into Yemen, but the group reneged the deal.
French authorities are in touch with "those who seem to be the abductors" and will be seeking his release.

Deforestation in Haiti

The plant cover in Haiti is at two percent a UN official stated Thursday. Haiti s in crisis. "There is a real urgency, and measures need to be taken..." Joel Boutroue said. Most people in Haiti live under the poverty level, on less than two dollars a day. They cook with wood fires and the result has been devastating on the country's trees and plants. Boutroue fears that without quick action on the part of government and international groups, the country will fall deeper into poverty.

Children Soldiers in Asia

In several countries in Asia, there are lots of young children soldiers that are being recruited to armed militias. Children soldiers are young kids that are forced to kill people, and even their family, to survive. They get brainwashed from bad groups and go murder innocent people. Some kids know that it's wrong but if they don't kill people, they will get killed. Sri Lanka, Afganistan, and Cambodia are the countries that are being the worst affected. Right now, India is not getting affected as much as some other neighboring countries, but if India's government doesn't give attention to this, children soldiers will start invading India.

Kathryn's Practice Focus Story

The first picture above is of where Malaysia is on a map. The second is of a pirate shop.

According to the AFP, Malaysia is getting 2 new pirate DVD dogs. The dogs Manny and Paddy were trained by the same people who trained Lucky and Flo (the dogs they are replacing), who sniff out chemicals in pirated DVDs.
The Malaysian Authorities raided three labs in the southern Johor state. These three labs have been sending out an average of four million pirated DVDs a year, said one industry officer.
The MPA's (Motion Picture Association) regional director Mike Ellis, said a team from Malaysia's domestic trade and consumer affairs took over the illegal disc burning centers and a printing facility that is related last Thursday.

Man acquitted of deadliest N.Ireland bombing

On Thursday in Belfast, North Ireland Sean Hoey was acquitted for murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing in 1998. Relatives of the victims and the judge were outraged with the quality of forensic evidence and the British polices' investigation. While this was happening North Ireland was trying to bring the Protestants and Catholics back into alliance after 30 years of conflict, but the verdict left a feeling of unfinished business them. Sean Hoey was convicted of the 1998 Omagh car bombing, killing 29 people , including a woman pregnant with twins, just months until the peace deal. The verdict on Thursday was trailed has the biggest murder trail in UK history.

Largest SPecies of Cobra Discovered

A new species of spitting cobra- now the largest in the world- has been discovered and named by researchers in Kenya and the UK. The newly anointed Ashes cobra can grow up to nine feet and beleived to deliver more venom in one bite than any other cobra. Acording to the Thaindian News, the species was previously identified as a brown colored variety of the Black Necked Spitting Cobra,  but new research proves that is indeed its own species. 

The new finding might prove to be significant for residents along Kenya's Indean Ocean coast who are at risk of being bitten by the new snake. Even though the new snakes venom is very similair to the BLack Necked cobra's, it can deliver twice the amount of venom so anyone who is bitten will need twice as much anti-venom.

New Zealand Earthquake

According to The Associated Press and The New Zealand Herald,a earthquake at the magnitude of 6.6 to 6.8 on the Richter scale shook New Zealand on December 20th. The quake centered around an undersea trench called Hikurangi beneath the North Island. The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science said the quake occurred 25 miles below sea, about 30 miles from the city Gisborne, which is situated on the coast. Darkness enveloped Gisborne for about 40 minutes after the 1st quake, but now they are back up and running. This earthquake was about the same size as the Edgecombe earthquake of '87. The quake in December was felt throughout the lower part of the North Island, and the upper part of the South Island.
New Zealand is situated on the ridge of two tectonic plates, and over 14,000 happen a year. Only about 150 can be felt by those living on the islands.

Alice's Focus Story for 12.21

Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, at the UN on Thursday


According to the BBC World News, UK, Ethipioan's Prime Minister Meles Zelawi, Thursday accused the United Nations of being counter - productive in the Somalia Crisis and hopes the UN will play a more "positive role" in the aid. The UN declared that for the last 16 years, Somalia has been in the one of worst humanitarian crisis's; over 60% of families have had to evacuate their homes. The UN has made safe-zones for over 1.5 million children affected by this conflict.

Meles Zenawi says the UN has been counter-productive, because they have been helping where it isn't needed, and sending aid into places they believe are in danger, but without evidence that there is a conflict. Zenawi says that "the situation there, as hard as it is, could do with less hype and exaggeration."

Lena's Practice Focus Story

Each year Japan kills a total of 1035 whales for reasearch. According to The Age, Australia, Australia will continue there campaighn to stop the mass amount of whaling in the Southern Ocea. On Wednsday the Australian Government anounced that they would heighten there efforts to save the whales The plan to send aircrafts to gather evidence for the trail against Japan. Japan kills 935 mink whales, 50 endangered fin whales, and 50 humpback whales.

The US supports the Japanese whaling for research and the Us representatives think that Japan and Australia can come to a compromise. Japan has resently agreed to stop hunting the humpback whales, although no terms have been reached regarding the situation of mink whales and endagered fin whales.

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