Wednesday, October 30, 2013

from The Hindu, October 29, 2013




Innovative tablet for students launched


Supreme Court rejects plea to include PM in coal FIR


Centre alerted Bihar govt: Shinde
The Centre on Tuesday said it had alerted the Bihar government about possible terror attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally in Patna which was rocked by serial blasts on Sunday.


JPC report on 2G submitted
‘Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was misled by then Minister A. Raja’


Arup Raha new IAF chief


How Obama keeps his BlackBerry secure


Diverting Nethravati will not serve the purpose: India Water Portal
Revive traditional water systems using rainwater and by developing greenery


Govt. mulls ban of official usage of Gmail, Yahoo
Wary of cyber snooping, the government could ban e-mail services such as Gmail and Yahoo for official communications by December this year in a move to safeguard its critical and sensitive data.


Singapore reaches out to Dubai to develop South Asia growth corridor


India, Pak agree to observe calm along border
Border guards of India and Pakistan on Tuesday agreed to observe calm along the international border to allow farmers harvest crops in the zero line on Jammu frontier at a flag meeting, at which the BSF lodged strong protest against frequent ceasefire violations from across the border.

Mohammad Imtiaz Ansari, one of the two terror suspects arrested in connection with serial blasts in Patna, has been sent to judicial custody by a court here, a police official said Tuesday.


Spousal maintenance has been found to be out of reach for most women from low economic or disadvantaged sections of society


Naidu lashes out at Sonia
Says that the Congress president is bent on dividing Telugu people


Security arrangements for Thevar Jayanthi touch a new high


India’s weight of the world moment
As the country develops economically, its double burden of malnutrition and its health implications will increasingly affect women and those who are socio-economically weak


Walking a tightrope between depositors and deposits
While the proposed rules under the new Companies Act 2013 are laudable, the government must not end up closing an investment avenue



from Daily Mail, October 29, 2013


New York remembers Hurricane Sandy as before-and-after pictures reveal progress exactly one year after storm devastation


The teacher who is allergic to SCHOOL: Deputy head has severe allergies which stop him holding pens, using smart boards and picking up chairs
Michael Steer, 36, star of the Channel 4 documentary Educating Yorkshire, has eczema and dermatitis and is allergic to potassium dichromate
His hands swell and his skin becomes raw on contact with the chemical
It is found in red ink, smartboards, chairs, computer screens and pens
Has to wear gloves to work to protect his hands from the chemical


Suck it out: Military personnel are getting LIPOSUCTION to pass Pentagon's body fat test
Military personnel are getting liposuction to pass the Pentagon's body fat test
The Defense Department's method of estimating body fat is considered unfair because it knocks out personnel with muscular builds
Fitness experts claim the military's fitness standards are outdated and don't reflect that Americans are bigger
Personnel can get kicked out of the military if they don't pass tests
The number of Army soldiers booted for being overweight has jumped tenfold in the past five years


Just in case we come a cropper: The doomsday vault that keeps seeds for every type of agriculture mankind relies upon should a disaster ever wipe them out
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway is home to more than two billion seeds
The seed bank can withstand a nuclear strike and aims to preserve crops in the face of natural disasters and war
Rare images of the food ark, which has 4.5 million varieties of seeds, were taken by photographer Jim Richardson
Vault was started by conservationist Cary Fowler from the Global Crop Diversity Trust and cost £4million to construct


Think you get cold hands in the winter? Spare a thought for this woman whose painful fingers turn purple and white when exposed to the elements
The 45-year-old woman has severe Raynaud's phenomenon
Occurs when the blood vessels in the hands and fingers go into a temporary spasm blocking the flow of blood - it is usually triggered by exposure to cold
When the patient’s hands warm up again, and blood returns to the fingers, they can become painful - the sufferer also sometimes gets pins and needles
There is no cure for the condition but it does not usually pose a serious threat to health


Comfort eating: The new mental illness. You eat a biscuit - then can't stop until you finish the packet. Don't assume it's lack of willpower. Doctors now say it's a psychiatric condition that needs treatment
Binge-eating has officially been classified a new type of eating disorder
Those affected are often depressed and extremely self-critical
Unsurprisingly, those with binge eating disorder are often overweight, but...
They can and do lose weight periodically - and dramatically
The disorder affects men and women equally (unlike anorexia and bulimia)


River of CARAMEL threatens to engulf Brazilian town after warehouse fire melts 30,000 tonnes of sugar
Firefighters are still battling blaze at sugar warehouse in Santa Adelia, Brazil
River of caramel flowing out of building, onto roads and towards homes
Hundreds of locals have been moved into hotels for fear of being engulfed


Nasa satellite images reveal the terrifying extent of China's air pollution
Smog is visible as murky grey colour shown in Suomi NPP satellite image
Brightest areas are fog which has a tinge of yellow due to the air pollution
It engulfed the city of Harbin causing visibility to be reduced to 10 metres


What a magic birthday! Leukaemia girl, 6, is deluged with a MILLION cards after plea to receive letters like Harry Potter
Oliwia Gandecka's wish was to receive lots of cards on her birthday
The six-year-old was inspired by a scene in Harry Potter
Her parents set up the Birthday Card for Oliwia campaign
On October 26 more than a million cards was delivered to the child


Don't call me an ugly bug! Photographer uses extreme close-ups to capture the unique faces of less conventionally attractive creatures
Colin Hutton took stunning photos of the world's most overlooked animals including spiders, flies and wasps
He said he often spends up to three hours trying to photograph just one restless bug to capture the perfect photo
Colin, from North Carolina, scours local parks to find the insects but will travel over 600 miles to his parent's house in Florida to capture more unusual bugs


'To the person who stole my son's pumpkin...': Parent writes hilarious sign for local Halloween thief
A mother in Washington DC left a note for the person that stole her two-year-old's pumpkin
Becky, 33, said she wanted to distract her upset son and shame the thief


Megachurch pastor tells his congregation his newly built 16,000-square-foot house is gift from God
Pastor Steven Furtick of the Elevation megachurch in North Carolina has built a $1.7 million home
He told his congregation on Sunday that the home is a gift from God
Elevation Church and Furtick will not disclose what he is paid by the church or the church's earnings
Furtick's salary and benefits are not decided by an elected board of elders or his congregation
A panel of five 'appointed' members who are all pastors of megachurches decide Furtick's pay


Husband, 46, killed by his wife's homemade curry after suffering major allergic reaction to coconut cream
Marcus Sweet fell into anaphylactic shock after a spoonful before dinner
Despite taking antihistamine and being given CPR, he died within an hour
Wife Julie accused paramedic Vic Ward of failing to act properly
After brief suspension and training, Mr Ward is back at work


How many calories are in your favorite seasonal drinks? Dunkin' Donuts's Pumpkin Spice Coolatta has over 1,000 calories!


Woman surfer nearly drowns as St Jude's gale creates off Portugal some of the biggest waves to ever be conquered by boards
Father-of-two Andrew Cotton, 34, took on the monster waves at Praia do Norte, near Nazare at 8am yesterday
Beach known among surfers for huge waves because it picks up full brunt of violent Atlantic storm swells
Maya Gabeira, from Brazil, nearly drowned and had to be resuscitated on the beach after falling on a wave


Beware novelty contact lenses: How the popular Halloween accessories can cause infection and blindness if not used properly


Innocent man burned to death by vigilante neighbours who mistook him for paedophile
Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, took pictures of youths vandalising his flower baskets
A court heard he planned to give the images to police as evidence
But a neighbour saw him with a camera and reported him as a paedophile
Police arrested Mr Ebrahimi but let him go when they realised the mistake
But two days after his release he was attacked by vigilante neighbours
Lee James has pleaded guilty to murder after beating Mr Ebrahimi unconscious before dragging him into the street and setting him on fire
Stephen Norley pleaded guilty to assisting an offender
Both will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court next month


It’s the STRAIGHTENING Tower of Pisa: Italian landmark loses 2.5cm of its famous tilt after £25m salvage project
Stabilisation works have prevented further tilting AND made it more vertical
The tower has straightened up by 2.5cm since works were completed in 2001


from AsiaNews.it, October 29, 2013


SAUDI ARABIA: Women caught driving fined and forced to sign pledge to respect Saudi ban on women driving
The authorities report police detained 16 women drivers who participated in the day of protest against the driving ban imposed on them. Yet, on Twitter, a dozen women post videos showing them behind a steering wheel.


Nepali Hindu leaders ban women from school during menstruation
Extended to public schools in the country's north and west, the ban touches teachers as well. Those who refuse to comply risk expulsion from their villages. For Hindu leader Chintamani Yogi, the practice is phony and "is not part of Hindu tradition."


INDIA: Karnataka, Christians most affected in surge in ethnic and religious violence.
A report by the Ministry of Internal Affairs says that in the last three years there have been 222 episodes. The figure makes Karnataka the worst of the Southern States, and the fourth in whole country. President of the Global Council of Indian Christians ( GCIC ): "At least 150 cases involving Christians. Police connivance grave." Most of the crime is concentrated in rural areas.


VIETNAM: Vinh diocese against the conviction of two parishioners from My Yen
In an official statement, Church leaders attack the manner in which the trial was held. The public supports the two activists, who were actively involved in promoting human rights and religious freedom. Church leaders also slam the authorities for failing to inform the defendants' families about the trial. For some legal experts, the accused could be tried (and convicted) on other charges.


Forced Islamization of northern Cyprus continues unabated
Since the 1974 invasion, the 200 thousand Greek Cypriots forced to leave the area have been replaced by 300 thousand settlers from Anatolia, who lack education, but are devout Muslims. And even the original Turkish Cypriots are victims of discrimination at the hands of the Turkish occupiers and their settlers.


BANGLADESH: Dhaka: festival with magic, games and some medical care for street kids
In its eighth edition, Br Lucio Beninati's initiative has brought together as volunteers Muslims, Hindus and Christians on a day dedicated to homeless children and youth. The festival involves a variety of activities, including sharing meals but also medical checkups for kids in poor health. Although "unruly," the latter "know they are loved."


CHINA: Jiangxi: trial against three anti-corruption activists adjourned
With a legal maneuver, Liu Ping's lawyers, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua, successfully scuttled the first hearing of his trial to "provide an opportunity for the court to rectify its mistakes." The three defendants are close to the 'New Citizens Movement,' which calls on the government to make public assets and private interests of Communist officials. Since April, at least 18 activists have been arrested.


CHINA: Police: Uyghur suspects behind Tiananmen accident
Search is on for two men from Xinjiang and four cars with the license plates from the region. It could have been a suicide terrorist attack. Uyghur intellectual calls for more caution. AsiaNews sources: Not only the Uyghurs, but entire Chinese population is tired and dissatisfied with the leadership. Strong censorship on information.

Grand Mufti of Syria: The kidnapped Orthodox bishops are alive and in Turkey
Ahmad Hassoun Badreddin's words reported by directors of a Russian humanitarian organization engaged in the Middle East and who met the Syrian spiritual leader in Moscow. "Chechen militants and the Turkish authorities behind kidnap."

from The Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2013


A Teddy Bear That Monitors Your Child’s Health


Doing the Sugar Math for Halloween
Research explains kids' cravings but fails to find evidence of 'sugar highs'
Dentists aren't all that worried about the effects of one night of Halloween candy. They're more concerned about kids' sugar consumption over the course of a year.


College Kids Give Themselves an ‘A’ for Job Readiness
Nearly 80% of current college students say they’re “very” or “completely” prepared to start work. But just 54% of hiring managers agree, according a new survey.


Web Giants Threaten End to Cookie Tracking
Balance of Power in Ad Industry at Stake as Google, Microsoft Seek to Control Web Tracking
How Microsoft, Google and Facebook are threatening to end online cookie tracking. Would you feel more or less comfortable with one of these companies tracking your data as opposed to using cookies?


Pediatricians Set Limits on Screen Time
The American Academy of Pediatrics' New Guidelines on Children's Use of Internet, TV, Cellphones, Videogames: Children ages 8 to 18 spent an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes a day consuming media for fun in 2009.


Snakes, Shellfish Traps Add to Mining Hazards as Lake Reemerges
Usually Mines Have Too Little Water; Barrick Has Too Much

Bloody Attack on Doctors Triggers Protest in China
Being a doctor in China can be dangerous.The average number of assaults on doctors increased to 27.3 per hospital last year in China, up 33% from 2008. Factors driving the surge in violence include doctor-patient communication, high patient expenses and dissatisfaction with treatment.


Deadly Storms Batter Britain, Mainland Europe


Live to 120? Thanks, but No Thanks.
The idea of 'radical life extension' gives many adults pause. At least for now. Most Americans - 56% - say they wouldn't want to live to be 120. The median ideal life span among those surveyed was 90, or about 11 years longer than the current average U.S. life expectancy.


Obama Unaware as U.S. Spied on World Leaders
The NSA ended a program used to spy on German Chancellor Merkel and a number of other leaders after an internal Obama administration review revealed to the White House the existence of the operation. WSJ's Siobhan Gorman has exclusive details.
video (4:42)


from NPR, October 29, 2913


That's Not What She Said? 7 Quotes You May Be Getting Wrong
Was it Winston Churchill who said, "You can always count on the American people to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all other possibilities"? Did Marilyn Monroe actually say, "Well behaved women seldom make history"? Take our quiz on famous misattributed quotes and see if you can determine their correct origins.


How A Wandering Brain Can Help People Cope With Pain
Prescription painkillers don't work for many people, and some people are helped by treatments like meditation that don't rely on drugs. The varied responses may stem from fundamental differences in how people's brains react to pain. Some minds can wander away from pain, while others just can't turn away.


Talk To The Head Honcho; He Speaks Japanese
Where did the word "honcho" originate? While the word is often mistakenly believed to have Spanish origins, it actually traces its roots to American soldiers who fought in the Pacific during World War II.


Who Has The Right To Know Where Your Phone Has Been?
You probably know, or should know, that your cellphone is tracking your location everywhere you go. But whether law enforcement officials should have access to that data is at the center of a constitutional debate.


Eeek, Snake! Your Brain Has A Special Corner Just For Them


Unlikely Multiple Sclerosis Pill On Track To Become Blockbuster
A hot-selling drug for multiple sclerosis was derived from an old chemical that is used industrially to make foods sour. The twice-a-day pill called Tecfidera comes at a lofty price, despite its humble origins.

Divide By D'oh! The 'Mathematical Secrets' Of The Simpsons
"There are other [Simpsons] writers that have Ph.D.s in maths, one was a Yale professor. And they've all been doing it, they've all been smuggling math into the scenes of The Simpsons."


What You Need To Know About Babies, Toddlers And Screen Time
Researchers are still learning about the effects of touch screens on kids. But scientists say that certain kinds of screen time, involving interaction with other people, can help youngsters learn.


Goodbye Paper Menus? Restaurants Test The Water For Tablets
Digital menus may help diners make more informed choices about restaurants' food and drink options. One Florida restaurant says sales have increased 23 percent since it introduced tablet menus in September.

Botched Investigation Fuels Kennedy Conspiracy Theories
It's been 50 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and polls show that a majority of Americans still believe Kennedy was the victim of a conspiracy, not a lone assassin. Philip Shenon, author of 'A Cruel and Shocking Act,' explores what keeps these conspiracy theories alive.


How Real Is The Candy Witch? Pretty Real, By Some Measures
Halloween blurs the boundaries between what is real and what is not. Can children keep things straight? Commentator and researcher Tania Lombrozo tells the story of the Candy Witch and explains what it says about how children understand the fantastical beings that populate their lives.

from Fox News, October 29, 2013


Is this the new normal? Obama’s politics of oppression and lawlessness


Black Boxes to Track and Tax the Miles You Drive? Judge Napolitano Weighs In
"It's Just More Money for the Bureaucrats to Spend"


Megyn Kelly Snaps at Dem Guest Over Obamacare: Don't Go to Your 'Happy Place,' Answer the Question!video (7:23)


'How Do You Not Know?': Lawmaker Presses Gov't Official on ObamaCare Enrollees

A year later, some Sandy victims wonder if they’ll ever get their lives back
"For the past 12 months I've been living in my bedroom. There's mold throughout the first floor." -Michael Conacchio of Brick Township, NJ.

Report: First Lady's College Classmate Linked to No-Bid ObamaCare Contract


Five tips for Republicans questioning Secretary Sebelius about ObamaCare this week
"This is a critical opportunity to get to the bottom of the 'fiasco' of the ObamaCare rollout and to demonstrate to America that there is a better alternative." -Dana Perino


'Don't Go Off to Your Happy Place': Megyn Battles Dem Over ObamaCare Plans


Human Remains Found at California Water Treatment Center


O'Reilly Presses Cheney: 'What Did We Gain From Iraq, Afghanistan Wars?'


Henry to Carney: “Will You Admit That What the President Said Isn’t True?"


'Clearly Intimidation': Feds Seize Reporter's Files During Pre-Dawn Raid
A conservative reporter alleges that in a pre-dawn raid, the Feds took her files while searching her home for a toy potato gun. Audrey Hudson, Washington correspondent for the Colorado Observer, thinks the government may have an ulterior motive for conducting the search.


OBAMA CONFRONTED ON BENGHAZI - Stutters Through Response
video (2:13) (from Nov. 14, 2012)


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

In the news, Monday, October 28, 2013


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OCT 27     INDEX      OCT 29
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from ABC News


________


from ACLJ


A Dozen Democrat Senators Now Demand Delay of ObamaCare

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from AMAC


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from Ancestry.com


How does the DNA in your saliva record your family history in the first place?

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from AsiaNews.it


IRAN: As anti-US posters are removed in Tehran, Rouhani's US overtures still dividing the country
Put up to mark the 34th anniversary of the US Embassy hostage crisis, anti-US posters are removed by the Tehran municipality. Meanwhile, Rouhani and conservatives in parliament are still at loggerheads over ministerial appointments. Green wave advocate Reza Salehi Amiri's candidacy is turned down.


Pre-election violence breaks out in Bangladesh, several dead and perhaps 500 injured
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) calls for a three-day strike, resulting in clashes with police and government supporters. The BNP wants a caretaker government to prepare the country for new parliamentary elections (January 2014), but the prime minister is opposed. This could favour the possible rise of an Islamist party.


Archbishop of Yangon: Audience with Pope, a source of strength and guidance for Aung San Suu Kyi
This morning, Pope Francis received the Burmese opposition leader in audience. Vatican spokesman emphasizes "consensus" on key issues such as the "culture of encounter." Msgr. Charles Bo confirms profound "esteem" of the Burmese Catholics for the "Lady." who has “key role" in interreligious dialogue.


Christians and Hindus: fostering human relations through friendship and solidarity
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends a message to the world's Hindus on the feast of Diwali. At a time of growing materialism, when the deepest spiritual and religious values are despised, a "culture of solidarity" should be fostered, one that "requires a common recognition and promotion of the intrinsic dignity of the human person".


CHINA: Xi Jinping's economic reforms face a bumpy road ahead
The State Council's Development Research Centre is calling for less government in the economy, pensions, health care and education for all, an end to the hukou (household registration) system, a stop to illegal farmland sales, and the use of the yuan in international trade. It is silent on political reform. All its proposals will be vetted during the Third Plenum in November.


Sri Lanka inaugurates second highway, 'made in China'
Costing 291 million US dollars, the Colombo- Katunayake Expressway will improve traffic flow and will lead directly to the nation’s international airport. Since the end of the civil war (2009), Beijing has emerged as Sri Lanka’s primary financer, with investments of billions of dollars in major projects. Among these, a coal fired power plant and a port.


Tensions run high between Tokyo and Beijing over Senkaku / Diaoyu
Four Chinese Coast Guard ships enter into the disputed waters. Shinzo Abe gives permission to the armed forces to shoot down Chinese drones or planes flying over Japanese airspace without permission. And Beijing responds: "We will respond to any act of war.”


CHINA: Car explodes in Tiananmen Square; three dead
Police remain silent, cordoning off the area from public view. Xinhua devotes only two lines to the incident. The square is always under heavy control to avoid any form of protest.

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from BBC News


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from The Blaze


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from Breitbart


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from CBS News


60 Minutes: Benghazi
Benghazi was a planned, sophisticated attack by al Qaeda against a barely protected American outpost. Lara Logan reports.

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from Choice and Truth


Child Victims of CIA Drone Strike to Appear Before US Congress Tomorrow
Video (9:50) An excerpt from the documentary "Uganda Rising" helps provide some perspective as to why Uganda, and Africa as a whole, are plagued with violence today. Feature interviews include Noam Chomsky and Mahmood Mamdani.


The Libyan Puzzle in the Scramble for Africa
[shared from Global Research]


Proposed Belo Monte Gold Mine Means More Devastation for Amazon & Indigenous People


A Timeline of CIA Atrocities
[shared from Global Research]


The Right to Save Seed
An animated movie which explains when farmers can resow their seed in Europe
video (5:13)

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from CNSNews.com


GOP set to question Sebelius on health law

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from Columbia Basin Herald


Banning recreational pot could be costly
The City of Moses Lake has no current plans to prohibit marijuana retail sales and took the first step this week to recognizing marijuana retail as an "outright permitted use" within certain zoning districts in city limits.

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from The Daily Caller



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from Daily Mail


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from EarthSky


Landsat captures images of eruption at Klyuchevskaya
NASA has just released images of the ongoing 2013 eruption at Klyuchevskaya, one of Russia’s tallest and most active volcanoes.


Astronauts and cosmonauts call for global cooperation on asteroid threat
“Asteroid impacts have dramatically altered the course of life on Earth and a rogue asteroid will certainly strike Earth, posing a global threat to human life and society.” – Astronaut Tom Jones

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from Facecrooks


Concerns, Doubts Raised About Facebook Facial Recognition Technology
Did you know that Facebook has your face? You can turn off the feature, but you can't totally opt out of it. (Unless you live in the EU or some other area that has stricter privacy laws.) Does the fact that governments could potentially tap this huge pool of facial recognition data concern you? If you'd like to turn the feature off, then see this post: How to turn off Facebook’s photo recognition software.


Changing Facebook profile picture to a Giraffe gives hackers your password?
[Hoax Alert] We have received several questions about a message circulating that claims changing your profile picture to a Giraffe can give hackers your password. The warning is unfounded and just another silly Facebook hoax. Check out this post from our friends at ThatsNonsense.com for more information.

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from Family Tree Magazine


"I researched my family tree...and now I can name Jack The Ripper"
THE identity of Jack the Ripper may finally have been uncovered by a woman who discovered she is a distant relative of a man who fits the profile of Britain’s most notorious serial killer to a T. Sometimes genealogy research can dig up real skeletons (though we're still skeptical).
[shared from the Express]

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from The Farmacy (& Strawbale City)


9 Not-So-Safe “Healthy” Foods You Should Avoid


from Fox News


VIRAL: Hear the Feel-Good Story of the 'Grocery Store Samaritan'

Report: First Western eyewitness in Benghazi to go public gives account of attack, warning signs
"They knew what they were doing. That was a well-executed attack," the witness said.


from Freedom Foundation


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from iFIBRE ONE News


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from The Guardian


Top 10 war movies
War is hell, for sure, but war can make for undeniably brilliant movie-making. Here, the Guardian and Observer's critics pick the ten best


Peru's UFO investigations office to be reopened
Air force to revive office that lay dormant for five years after increased sightings of 'anomalous aerial phenomena'


Teaching is like parenting: you don't need to have a qualification
Nick Clegg is wrong to say teachers must first be qualified – you learn best on the job. A course may not help at all


Three dead after St Jude storm lashes southern UK
St Jude's day storm one of the worst in recent years to hit the UK with winds of 99mph recorded at Isle of Wight.
Three reported deaths
270,000 homes 'without power' across southern GB
Hundreds of felled trees block road and rail links
Heathrow cancels 130 flights

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from The Heritage Foundation


This Obamacare Call-Center Operator Was Fired for Being Honest

From One Obamacare to Another
In an attempt to divert attention from the mounting failures of his signature piece of legislation, President Obama is now back to beating the broken drum on amnesty.


Lady Gaga and “The Walking Dead”? What Are College Students Learning These Days?

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from Huffington Post


Obama's Health Care Woes May Have Staying Power


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from International Christian Concern
(PERSECUTION.org)


Vietnam: Two Christians Imprisoned for Fighting for Religious Freedom
On Wednesday judges in Vietnam's Nghe An Province sentenced two Catholic men to several months in prison. The men were detained four months ago after campaigning for human rights and their arrest sparked large protests by the Catholic community. On September 4th one of those protests was violently broken up by riot police. Dozens of Christians were injured and reports at the time said authorities prevented many from receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. The sentence demonstrates just how resolved Vietnam remains to control and contain the growth of Christianity, despite the negative publicity and protests that such control generates.


Rebel in northern Central African Republic
The Church Under Fire in Egypt
Latest Church Attack Kills Five in Cairo
The terrorist attack on a wedding service at a church in the Al-Warrak suburb of Cairo on Sunday, October 20, is the latest evidence of the seriousness of the situation in Egypt. Violence against Egypt's minority Christian community has shown no sign of abating following the dramatic increase in tensions since the ouster of former Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammed Morsi. In the aftermath of the Al-Warrak attack there has been a distinct shift in tone, however, as many in the country are coming to see these attacks, and the Islamist agenda, as dangerous for Egyptian society as a whole.



Islamist Threat to Christians Spreading Across Central Africa
Séléka and Islamist terror groups have been conducting religious cleansing operations against Christians in the Central African Republic. ICC has reported on the allegations that this campaign receives some measure of support and coordination from foreign Islamic states. Further reports indicate that the Islamist campaign is spilling over the borders of the CAR, including targeted persecution of Christians and religious cleansing campaigns in Christian areas.

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from The Jerusalem Post


Netanyahu sends message to Bennett on 'necessary' prisoner release
Tensions rise within coalition on eve of Palestinian security prisoner release; PM expresses compassion for families who lost loved ones at hands of terrorists set to go free.


Palestinian minister: Israeli concept of 'life in prison' has collapsed
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to greet freed security prisoners in Ramallah ceremony.


IAF strikes underground rocket launchers in Gaza following rocket attacks on Israel
Israel strikes in response to 2 rockets fired from Gaza Strip; targeted site connected to Hamas' armed group.

Iron Dome intercepts rocket fired from Gaza over Ashkelon
Second rocket lands in open territory; rocket is first to activate Iron Dome in several months; comes day after mortar fire from Gaza hits South and coincides with naming of Palestinian security prisoners to be released.

Israel agrees to return to UN Human Rights Council
Netanyahu re-establishes ties just 48 hours before Israel’s scheduled appearance for its Universal Periodic Review.

Government okays release of second group of Palestinian prisoners
IPS to publish names of 26 pre-Oslo prisoners later Sunday night after bereaved families are notified; public has 48 hours to appeal release; after heated row, ministers nix bill seeking to ban future releases.


Ministers nix Bayit Yehudi bid to ban Palestinian prisoner releases
Bayit Yehudi plans to appeal Legislative Ministerial Committee vote as separate panel prepares to approve release of second group of Palestinian prisoners as goodwill measure for peace talks.

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from KHQ Local News (Spokane)




from KING 5 News (Seattle)


Doctors to parents: Limit kids' texts, tweets, online
How much do you regulate your child's habits online and on their phones? The American Academy of Pediatrics is expanding its recommendations on banning televisions from children's and teens' bedrooms and limiting entertainment screen time to no more than two hours daily, including Twitter and Facebook.


Mars Hill Church starts prayer campaign for Bellevue property

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from KIRO 7 Eyewitness News (Seattle)


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from KGW News (Portland)


St. Helens lifts ban on teachers carrying guns

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from KOMO News (Seattle)


Report: Pending U.S. home sales plunge as prices climb


Controversial Orca documentary 'Blackfish' making waves
A controversial documentary released this summer is just now stirring debate. The film, which looks at Killer Whales held in captivity, debuted to millions on CNN this week. It's the film that has everyone talking, and has SeaWorld firing back. Howard Garrett of Orca Network says Killer Whale numbers dwindled in the 1960s and 1970s in part because of the captures here in the Pacific Northwest, followed by their captivity in parks like SeaWorld.


from KREM 2 News (Spokane)


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from KXLY 4 News (Spokane)


Law enforcement officials help dispose of prescription drugs
The sheriff's office and the Drug Enforcement Agency teamed up this weekend to help people properly dispose of unused and expired prescriptions.


from Los Angeles Times


Some health insurance gets pricier as Obamacare rolls out
Many middle-class Californians with individual health plans are surprised they need policies that cover more — and cost more.

A black box in your car? Some see a source of tax revenue
The devices would track every mile you drive —possibly including your location — and the government would use the data to draw up a tax bill.

________
from National Journal

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from National Review

Obama’s Valerie Jarrett: Often Whispered about, But Never Challenged

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from Natural Society

In a small town in Germany, activists have decided to rogue-plant cannabis seeds as an act of defiance against the ‘demonization’ of the marijuana.



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from NBC News

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from NPR

'Bishop Of Bling' Mansion May Become Refuge For Poor
German Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst was suspended by Pope Francis after reports about lavish spending on renovations at his residence in Limburg. Now, the home he spent tens of millions of dollars on may be put to use as a refugee center or soup kitchen.

Recipe For Strong Teen Bones: Exercise, Calcium And Vitamin D
These days teenagers shun milk and reach for the energy drinks. That doesn't bode well for their bones, since most of the adult skeleton is built between ages 9 and 14, and they need vitamin D. But perhaps the most surprising ingredient for strong bones is exercise.

A Churchill 'Quote' That U.S. Politicians Will Never Surrender
Winston Churchill's backhanded compliment to Americans - that they'll always do the right thing, after trying everything else - is often repeated by members of Congress. There's no evidence that Churchill ever said it, but don't expect that to stop politicians from quoting it.

Moving In With Manufacturers, Amazon Delivers A New Approach
Amazon's business is built on three basic concepts: faster delivery, greater selection, and cheaper prices. In service of that, it has built enormous warehouses staffed largely by robots that shuttle around, pulling goods out of bins at remarkable speed. It can take just a matter of minutes to go from order to shipment. And lately it's pursuing a program where Amazon goes directly into manufacturers, and manages their logistics and online retailing.

A Look Into Facebook's Potential To Recognize Anybody's Face
Revelations about NSA spying have left people wondering about the privacy of their digital data. But what about the privacy of our faces? And are we, by posting pictures onto Facebook, actually chipping away at our own future privacy?

The Slow, Uneven Rebuilding After Superstorm Sandy
A year after the storm, some families in New York City's hardest-hit neighborhoods have managed to rebuild their homes and their lives. Some are waiting to find out more about new building codes and flood insurance rates. And others are ready to sell their flood-damaged properties and move on.

One Way For An Indie Bookstore To Last? Put Women 'First'
Women and Children First has weathered more than three decades of competition from chain stores and online booksellers to become one of the largest feminist bookstores in the U.S. Now, the Chicago store is among the few of its kind left standing -- and it's on the hunt for new ownership.

Predicting Quakes Still Shaky, But Being Prepared Is Crucial
In Southern California and communities from St. Louis to Seattle, millions of Americans live in areas at risk for earthquake. But many have not taken simple steps to protect themselves -- and seismologist can only provide limited warning.

Roma Children Removals Make Us Wonder What Family Looks Like
The removal of Roma kids from their European families gives multiracial Americans pause for thought.

Is Rebuilding Storm-Struck Coastlines Worth The Cost?
The storms keep coming, and so does the damage. How should coastal communities, like the ones hit by Hurricane Sandy, respond?

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from NWCN

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from POLITICO

from Senior Airman Brian Kolfage

60 Minutes: Al Qaeda Flags Were Flying All Over Benghazi Before 9/11 Attack
If you missed CBS 60 Minutes story on Benghazi yesterday,you can watch it on this link.
[shared from Townhall.com]

If Obama Isn’t In Charge, Who Is?
[shared from Allen B. West]

The Morsi-Zawahiri Connection
Obama's man in Egypt is well connected with Al Qaeda.
[shared from Frontpage Mag]

Obama Loses the Middle East
There are things that Obama just doesn’t understand. Like math. And health care. And alliances.
[shared from Frontpage Mag]

DHS buying 2717 armored vehicles for domestic use
I can't figure out why DHS needs IED proof combat vehicles on the streets of the US. Not only are they extremely over kill for regular operations they cost $1million for ONE vehicle. I don't how our government could approve such an overkill vehicle with a tremendous price tag in a time where we have no real combat taking place on our soil and we're in an economic crisis. There is absolutely no need for this many, maybe if they bought 100 and sent them out around the US, but thousands? Something is not right, you're telling me DHS bought these to sit around? They are prepping, for what, I don't know; but they are. It's completely shady.

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from Space.com (& CollectSpacc)

Diamond Planets Likely Dry and Inhospitable for Alien Life
Too much carbon is apparently *not* a good thing. The same carbon-rich conditions that might give rise to a so-called diamond planets could also create waterless environments too hostile to support life, new theoretical research shows. "It's ironic that if carbon, the main element of life, becomes too abundant, it will steal away the oxygen that would have made water, the solvent essential to life as we know it," says study collaborator Jonathan Lunine, of Cornell University.

NASA Space Telescopes to Peer Deeper Into Universe Than Ever Before
Three NASA space telescopes are teaming up to give astronomers their best-ever looks at some of the most distant objects in the universe. The space agency's Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes will collectively observe six huge galaxy clusters over the next three years as part of a project called The Frontier Fields.

Sun Fires Off 2nd Monster Solar Flare in 1 Day
Things are really starting to heat up on the sun. Our star blasted out yet another strong flare late Friday morning (Oct. 25), continuing a pattern of high and intensifying solar activity over the past few days. The most recent flare, which erupted at 11:03 a.m. EDT (1503 GMT) Friday, registered as an X-class event, the most powerful type.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from The Star (Grand Coulee)

________

from The Telegraph (U.K.)

Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
President Barack Obama was told about monitoring of German Chancellor in 2010 and allowed it to continue, says German newspaper

________

from USA Today

________

from VIRALNOVA

Look Like A Normal Wedding To You? Trust Me, It’s Far From It.
Kyle was only 19 when his kidneys began to fail. He was desperate to find a donor, but none of his family or friends were a match. But then, he met his angel. Chelsea met Kyle through a friend and offered him her kidney. She was a match. Six months later they went under surgery together. Four years after that, they tied the knot. They became one emotionally after already sharing the gift of life.

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from The Wall Street Journal

Graphic: World Economic Forum
Vital Signs: Iceland Tops Gender-Equality Survey
Countries with the most gender equality, according to World Economic Forum report:
1. Iceland
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Philippines

Warning Signs? How to Understand Your City’s Finances
Cities across the U.S. are grappling with the same types of issues that sunk Detroit, which filed for the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy this year.

Silicon Valley: Feel the Froth
Tech Valuations Stir Memories of 1999, but There Are Some Differences

How to Start Your Own College Scholarship
Naming rights and deductions vary, but donors are increasing. Reacting to the rising cost of college, growing numbers of people are starting their own scholarships, some with as little as $1,000. The effort is part charity, part self-interest: A scholarship can yield tax breaks for the charitably inclined.

Girls, Girls, Girls: Alibaba’s Play for Mobile ‘Losers’
Alibaba’s messaging service Laiwang is making a play for mobile ‘losers’ with sexy, young models.

China's Coming Economic Slowdown
History shows that every economic miracle eventually loses its magic. How much longer can China sustain such astounding growth?

Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground Dies

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from The Washington Post

Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander takes shots at tea party in Tennessee primary race

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from The Weekly Standard

Florida Woman's Insurance Rate Increases 10X Under Obamacare
"I just want to know why I can't keep what I have. ... Why do I have to be forced into something else?"

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from The Wenatchee World

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from 100 Percent FED Up

NAACP President Says Voter ID Laws Are Racist, Trying To Undermine Coalition That Elected Barack Obama
Isn’t it racist to assume blacks and hispanics lack the ability to show an ID?

Why China is Buying Up Detroit?
[shared from Before It's News]

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