The document summarizes several news stories from around the world:
- In Syria, a bomb exploded in Damascus killing 25 people in the second major attack in two weeks as the government blamed terrorists and the opposition demanded an independent investigation.
- In the US, the unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, its lowest in almost three years, as the economy added 200,000 jobs in December in a burst of hiring that led economists to conclude the job market improvement may continue.
- In New Zealand, all 11 people on board a hot air balloon were killed when it crashed near Carterton during a sightseeing trip on a clear morning with minimal wind.
This document discusses an alternative economic model called "Franciscanomics" that is inspired by the teachings and actions of St. Francis of Assisi. It suggests that individual acts of kindness, charity and integrity could help restore faith in the economy and address issues like unemployment, poverty and homelessness from the ground up. The document argues that even small, ordinary actions when multiplied could make a meaningful difference, just as St. Francis and the early Franciscans helped reform corrupt systems through compassionate works.
A series of arson fires occurred in Los Angeles over two nights, destroying over two dozen cars and damaging some homes. On the first night, nearly two dozen fires were set in a 4-hour period in Hollywood and West Hollywood. The next night, 7-8 more cars were set on fire in North Hollywood, suspected to be connected to the earlier arsons. Authorities from multiple agencies are investigating and have offered a $35,000 reward for information leading to convictions. Meanwhile, hundreds of tons of methamphetamine precursors are being trafficked through Guatemala by Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, producing large quantities of meth to be distributed internationally.
The FIRST robotics team at C.M. Eppes Middle School is preparing to compete in a national robotics competition in January. The team of 43 students meets after school to design and build a robot to complete various challenges. They have 6 weeks to complete the robot using a basic kit and parts they obtain themselves. In March, the team will also compete in a state robotics competition in South Carolina. The competition emphasizes cooperation and competition to teach students valuable skills. Former presidential candidate John Edwards is seeking to delay his upcoming trial on campaign finance charges, citing an undisclosed medical condition.
Afghan investigators accused the US military of abusing detainees at its main prison in Afghanistan. The investigators said detainees complained of freezing temperatures, humiliating strip searches, and being deprived of light. An Afghan investigation commission head called for all detainees without evidence against them to be freed. This puts pressure on the US and Afghanistan to resolve the fate of hundreds of suspected Taliban and al Qaeda detainees. Meanwhile, the accusations complicate negotiations over the long-term US role in Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.
The document reports on multiple bombings targeting Shiite Muslims in Iraq that killed at least 78 people. Coordinated explosions hit Baghdad's largest Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City and another district containing a Shiite shrine, as well as near Nasiriyah where pilgrims were heading to the Shiite holy city of Karbala. The attacks bore the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents and came ahead of an important Shiite holy day that draws large numbers of pilgrims across Iraq.
Mitt Romney has emerged as the clear front-runner in Iowa ahead of the state's caucuses according to interviews and polls. However, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry are climbing and gaining support from social conservatives. With a large number of undecided voters, the candidates are making their final appeals. Airplane travel is safer than ever, with only two deaths per 100 million passengers on commercial flights over the past decade according to an analysis of government data.
Seven teenagers were arrested for beating a 13-year-old classmate unconscious on a school bus in central Florida. The victim said she was not allowed to sit down on her first time riding the bus. One of the teens encouraged others to form a circle around the victim and begin hitting and kicking her, causing her to fall to the floor appearing to have a seizure and pass out. In Nigeria, a radical Muslim sect known as Boko Haram killed eight worshippers at a church and two others in a gun battle with police, bringing the death toll from recent sect attacks to 13. In Hawaii, three and possibly four critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals have been deliberately killed in the past two months, frustrating conservation efforts as the motive
This document provides answers to common questions about stairlifts from 101 Mobility. It addresses questions such as the typical cost of a stairlift (between $3,000-$4,000 depending on the model and staircase), financing options like rent-to-own, whether insurance may cover stairlifts, the manufacturers they work with including Bruno and Sterling, rental options, and why to choose 101 Mobility as they are a one stop shop that can sell, install, and service stairlifts.
This document discusses an alternative economic model called "Franciscanomics" that is inspired by the teachings and actions of St. Francis of Assisi. It suggests that individual acts of kindness, charity and integrity could help restore faith in the economy and address issues like unemployment, poverty and homelessness from the ground up. The document argues that even small, ordinary actions when multiplied could make a meaningful difference, just as St. Francis and the early Franciscans helped reform corrupt systems through compassionate works.
A series of arson fires occurred in Los Angeles over two nights, destroying over two dozen cars and damaging some homes. On the first night, nearly two dozen fires were set in a 4-hour period in Hollywood and West Hollywood. The next night, 7-8 more cars were set on fire in North Hollywood, suspected to be connected to the earlier arsons. Authorities from multiple agencies are investigating and have offered a $35,000 reward for information leading to convictions. Meanwhile, hundreds of tons of methamphetamine precursors are being trafficked through Guatemala by Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, producing large quantities of meth to be distributed internationally.
The FIRST robotics team at C.M. Eppes Middle School is preparing to compete in a national robotics competition in January. The team of 43 students meets after school to design and build a robot to complete various challenges. They have 6 weeks to complete the robot using a basic kit and parts they obtain themselves. In March, the team will also compete in a state robotics competition in South Carolina. The competition emphasizes cooperation and competition to teach students valuable skills. Former presidential candidate John Edwards is seeking to delay his upcoming trial on campaign finance charges, citing an undisclosed medical condition.
Afghan investigators accused the US military of abusing detainees at its main prison in Afghanistan. The investigators said detainees complained of freezing temperatures, humiliating strip searches, and being deprived of light. An Afghan investigation commission head called for all detainees without evidence against them to be freed. This puts pressure on the US and Afghanistan to resolve the fate of hundreds of suspected Taliban and al Qaeda detainees. Meanwhile, the accusations complicate negotiations over the long-term US role in Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.
The document reports on multiple bombings targeting Shiite Muslims in Iraq that killed at least 78 people. Coordinated explosions hit Baghdad's largest Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City and another district containing a Shiite shrine, as well as near Nasiriyah where pilgrims were heading to the Shiite holy city of Karbala. The attacks bore the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents and came ahead of an important Shiite holy day that draws large numbers of pilgrims across Iraq.
Mitt Romney has emerged as the clear front-runner in Iowa ahead of the state's caucuses according to interviews and polls. However, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry are climbing and gaining support from social conservatives. With a large number of undecided voters, the candidates are making their final appeals. Airplane travel is safer than ever, with only two deaths per 100 million passengers on commercial flights over the past decade according to an analysis of government data.
Seven teenagers were arrested for beating a 13-year-old classmate unconscious on a school bus in central Florida. The victim said she was not allowed to sit down on her first time riding the bus. One of the teens encouraged others to form a circle around the victim and begin hitting and kicking her, causing her to fall to the floor appearing to have a seizure and pass out. In Nigeria, a radical Muslim sect known as Boko Haram killed eight worshippers at a church and two others in a gun battle with police, bringing the death toll from recent sect attacks to 13. In Hawaii, three and possibly four critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals have been deliberately killed in the past two months, frustrating conservation efforts as the motive
This document provides answers to common questions about stairlifts from 101 Mobility. It addresses questions such as the typical cost of a stairlift (between $3,000-$4,000 depending on the model and staircase), financing options like rent-to-own, whether insurance may cover stairlifts, the manufacturers they work with including Bruno and Sterling, rental options, and why to choose 101 Mobility as they are a one stop shop that can sell, install, and service stairlifts.
ECU's Brody School of Medicine is working with First Lady Michelle Obama's Joining Forces initiative to better diagnose and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in military service members and veterans. As part of this collaborative effort, ECU will focus on treating traumatic brain injury through telemedicine and conferences to share clinical knowledge with military medical staff. North Carolina has many military bases and is working to provide accessible healthcare to address PTSD and TBI, which have affected many veterans. ECU and other North Carolina medical schools stepping up to address veterans' healthcare needs through research, teaching and treatment.
Three news stories are summarized:
1) Mitt Romney continues to benefit from a divided Republican opposition in South Carolina as his rivals struggle to find momentum or a strong challenger.
2) Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno speaks out for the first time since being fired, saying his assistant was vague about details of alleged abuse but that he reported it to his superiors.
3) Police in Anaheim, California question a man in connection with the latest stabbing death of a homeless man, the fourth such killing in the area in recent months.
The leader of a Nigerian labor union said they failed to reach a compromise with the government over fuel costs, risking a midnight strike that could disrupt oil production. Meanwhile in Italy, protesters clashed with police in St. Peter's Square over the Vatican's wealth. Also, four women are being held in Mexico on suspicion of trafficking children to childless Irish couples.
The document provides a summary of international news stories from around the world. It discusses:
1) A new president taking office in Guatemala who has pledged to crack down on drug cartels with an "iron fist".
2) Continuing protests in Romania against austerity measures, with police using tear gas against demonstrators.
3) The arrest of four men in Mexico suspected of kidnapping and killing a marine officer, his two sons, and wife.
This document contains a collection of news articles from various locations around the world. The main articles discuss:
1) An explosion in Turkey that killed 1 person and wounded 27 others, apparently targeting a police car.
2) Two men arrested at Boston's airport for trafficking over 8 pounds of cocaine in their luggage.
3) Mexico implementing new rules banning advertising of unregistered "miracle cures" and increasing fines for misleading medical claims.
This document contains obituaries for nine individuals from the local community who recently passed away. It provides basic biographical information about each person such as date of birth, date of death, surviving family members, and funeral service details. It also includes several memorial notices and death notices with additional details about services.
Romney and Gingrich are locked in a tight race heading into South Carolina's primary election. Romney urged Gingrich to provide more details about his past ethics issues as House Speaker. Gingrich's campaign accused Romney of panicking due to recent polls showing Gingrich gaining ground. Santorum and Paul argued they remain viable candidates as well. In other news, a fast-moving wildfire near Reno, Nevada destroyed 26 homes and forced thousands to evacuate.
The article summarizes a panel discussion on immigration issues hosted by the Pitt County Coffee Party. Two panelists, Bryan Patonay and Javier Castillo, described how their families immigrated to the United States, facing difficulties obtaining visas and paperwork. The panel discussed how both documented and undocumented immigrants struggle to find their place in American society. The event aimed to help attendees better understand the complexities of U.S. immigration policies.
This document summarizes news stories from across the United States. It discusses a contained brush fire in Reno, Nevada that destroyed 29 homes. It also discusses three men being charged with murder in Philadelphia for fatally beating a man who was trying to hail a cab. Additionally, it mentions a rare winter snowstorm that blanketed parts of the Northeast United States with a few inches of snow.
1) A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas on Saturday, shaking cities across the state. No major damage was reported.
2) In Switzerland, over 100 protesters were detained in Bern during an unauthorized demonstration against the annual World Economic Forum meeting. Some protesters threw fireworks and objects at police officers.
3) In Sudan, gunmen killed one U.N. peacekeeper and wounded three others in an ambush in eastern Darfur on Saturday. A total of 35 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission began in 2007.
The document summarizes East Carolina University's efforts to trim its budget in response to state funding cuts. It discusses how the university conducted a thorough review of all academic programs to identify areas for potential budget reductions or increased investment. The Program Prioritization Committee proposed eliminating or reducing 48 programs and identified 67 others for additional funding. The document urges protecting funding for higher education while acknowledging ECU's efforts to cut waste and focus on its core mission.
Pitt County's Relay for Life events received a national award for raising the third highest amount per capita nationally among communities with populations between 150,000 and 249,000 in 2011. Pitt County raised nearly $500,000 total through three Relay for Life events. While fundraising was down across the nation for Relay for Life due to the economy, over 300,000 more participants walked than three years ago. Locally, a 16-year-old student was charged with assaulting a J.H. Rose High School assistant principal after attempting to break up a fight between the student and another.
A North Carolina man, Shkumbin Sherifi, 21, was arrested and charged with plotting to hire a hitman to kill three witnesses from his brother Hysen Sherifi's terrorism trial. Hysen Sherifi, 27, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to attack a Marine base. At a preliminary hearing, a federal judge ruled that there was enough evidence to send Shkumbin Sherifi's case to trial and ordered him held without bond. The plot involved Shkumbin Sherifi meeting with an FBI informant posing as a hitman and paying them $4,250 as a down payment to behead the three witnesses.
A third man has been charged in connection with a robbery of over $100,000 from a barber in Grimesland, North Carolina. Two other men had previously been arrested for the crime in November and large sums of cash and weapons had been recovered. Local Relay for Life fundraising events are facing challenges from economic pressures and natural disasters, but organizers hope highlighting achievements like being in the top three nationwide for per capita fundraising will encourage continued community support.
- The Arab League halted its observer mission in Syria due to escalating violence that has killed nearly 100 people in the past three days. Pro-Assad forces battled dissident soldiers in suburbs near Damascus in the most intense fighting yet close to the capital.
- France called for a speedier NATO exit from Afghanistan, reflecting war fatigue in the West and raising fears that other coalition countries will also pull out troops early due to political pressure.
- Britain gently rebuked France, saying withdrawals from Afghanistan should depend on security conditions, not political timetables. Britain plans to withdraw its 9,500 troops by the end of 2014.
The IMF director is trying to raise $500 billion more for the IMF's resources to help combat Europe's debt crisis. She is meeting with finance ministers from major economies like the UK, Germany, and Japan to request contributions. The UK and Germany say they would contribute more if Europe strengthens its own rescue fund. The IMF hopes to have more funds available to lend to countries in crisis like Greece, which is negotiating a debt reduction deal, in order to prevent the crisis from further damaging the global economy.
- Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, knocking out power to thousands and prompting evacuations in some low-lying areas.
- In other news, a teen was arrested for posing as a physician's assistant and treating patients at a Florida hospital. He faces five charges of impersonating a physician's assistant.
- Additionally, a North Carolina man was convicted of second-degree murder for killing eight people at a nursing home in 2009. He will not face the death penalty.
Gen. Julio Casas Regueiro, the Cuban defense minister who oversaw Cuba's lucrative economic enterprises, died of heart failure at age 75. He was an important figure from the Cuban revolution. State television announced three days of national mourning and began playing footage of his life. His body was cremated according to his wishes and his remains will be placed in the Defense Ministry headquarters. In other news, hundreds of far-right activists held a banned protest in London and some clashed with police, while in Yemen a suicide car bomber killed three policemen at a checkpoint in Aden. Militants have seized cities in southern Yemen while taking advantage of political turmoil.
1) CIA and special operations forces will likely be the last US forces to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014 as they prepare for up to a decade more of counterterrorism operations and training of Afghan forces.
2) Puerto Rico's Justice Department condemned a recent US report demanding reforms to the territory's police force, though the governor had accepted the report's findings.
3) Nineteen people were treated at hospitals after two women threw bleach and another chemical on each other during a fight at a Walmart store in Maryland, forcing an evacuation.
Revolutionary forces in Libya claimed to have captured parts of a large convention center that Gaddafi loyalists have been using as their main base in Sirte. They have been shelling the city to eliminate snipers as they try to rout remaining forces and take full control of Sirte. However, the battle has been fierce, with 15 fighters killed and 180 wounded on Friday alone as snipers remain positioned in high buildings. Taking Sirte is key to unifying Libya politically and allowing the transitional government to move forward with establishing elections and democracy.
ECU's Brody School of Medicine is working with First Lady Michelle Obama's Joining Forces initiative to better diagnose and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in military service members and veterans. As part of this collaborative effort, ECU will focus on treating traumatic brain injury through telemedicine and conferences to share clinical knowledge with military medical staff. North Carolina has many military bases and is working to provide accessible healthcare to address PTSD and TBI, which have affected many veterans. ECU and other North Carolina medical schools stepping up to address veterans' healthcare needs through research, teaching and treatment.
Three news stories are summarized:
1) Mitt Romney continues to benefit from a divided Republican opposition in South Carolina as his rivals struggle to find momentum or a strong challenger.
2) Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno speaks out for the first time since being fired, saying his assistant was vague about details of alleged abuse but that he reported it to his superiors.
3) Police in Anaheim, California question a man in connection with the latest stabbing death of a homeless man, the fourth such killing in the area in recent months.
The leader of a Nigerian labor union said they failed to reach a compromise with the government over fuel costs, risking a midnight strike that could disrupt oil production. Meanwhile in Italy, protesters clashed with police in St. Peter's Square over the Vatican's wealth. Also, four women are being held in Mexico on suspicion of trafficking children to childless Irish couples.
The document provides a summary of international news stories from around the world. It discusses:
1) A new president taking office in Guatemala who has pledged to crack down on drug cartels with an "iron fist".
2) Continuing protests in Romania against austerity measures, with police using tear gas against demonstrators.
3) The arrest of four men in Mexico suspected of kidnapping and killing a marine officer, his two sons, and wife.
This document contains a collection of news articles from various locations around the world. The main articles discuss:
1) An explosion in Turkey that killed 1 person and wounded 27 others, apparently targeting a police car.
2) Two men arrested at Boston's airport for trafficking over 8 pounds of cocaine in their luggage.
3) Mexico implementing new rules banning advertising of unregistered "miracle cures" and increasing fines for misleading medical claims.
This document contains obituaries for nine individuals from the local community who recently passed away. It provides basic biographical information about each person such as date of birth, date of death, surviving family members, and funeral service details. It also includes several memorial notices and death notices with additional details about services.
Romney and Gingrich are locked in a tight race heading into South Carolina's primary election. Romney urged Gingrich to provide more details about his past ethics issues as House Speaker. Gingrich's campaign accused Romney of panicking due to recent polls showing Gingrich gaining ground. Santorum and Paul argued they remain viable candidates as well. In other news, a fast-moving wildfire near Reno, Nevada destroyed 26 homes and forced thousands to evacuate.
The article summarizes a panel discussion on immigration issues hosted by the Pitt County Coffee Party. Two panelists, Bryan Patonay and Javier Castillo, described how their families immigrated to the United States, facing difficulties obtaining visas and paperwork. The panel discussed how both documented and undocumented immigrants struggle to find their place in American society. The event aimed to help attendees better understand the complexities of U.S. immigration policies.
This document summarizes news stories from across the United States. It discusses a contained brush fire in Reno, Nevada that destroyed 29 homes. It also discusses three men being charged with murder in Philadelphia for fatally beating a man who was trying to hail a cab. Additionally, it mentions a rare winter snowstorm that blanketed parts of the Northeast United States with a few inches of snow.
1) A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas on Saturday, shaking cities across the state. No major damage was reported.
2) In Switzerland, over 100 protesters were detained in Bern during an unauthorized demonstration against the annual World Economic Forum meeting. Some protesters threw fireworks and objects at police officers.
3) In Sudan, gunmen killed one U.N. peacekeeper and wounded three others in an ambush in eastern Darfur on Saturday. A total of 35 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission began in 2007.
The document summarizes East Carolina University's efforts to trim its budget in response to state funding cuts. It discusses how the university conducted a thorough review of all academic programs to identify areas for potential budget reductions or increased investment. The Program Prioritization Committee proposed eliminating or reducing 48 programs and identified 67 others for additional funding. The document urges protecting funding for higher education while acknowledging ECU's efforts to cut waste and focus on its core mission.
Pitt County's Relay for Life events received a national award for raising the third highest amount per capita nationally among communities with populations between 150,000 and 249,000 in 2011. Pitt County raised nearly $500,000 total through three Relay for Life events. While fundraising was down across the nation for Relay for Life due to the economy, over 300,000 more participants walked than three years ago. Locally, a 16-year-old student was charged with assaulting a J.H. Rose High School assistant principal after attempting to break up a fight between the student and another.
A North Carolina man, Shkumbin Sherifi, 21, was arrested and charged with plotting to hire a hitman to kill three witnesses from his brother Hysen Sherifi's terrorism trial. Hysen Sherifi, 27, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to attack a Marine base. At a preliminary hearing, a federal judge ruled that there was enough evidence to send Shkumbin Sherifi's case to trial and ordered him held without bond. The plot involved Shkumbin Sherifi meeting with an FBI informant posing as a hitman and paying them $4,250 as a down payment to behead the three witnesses.
A third man has been charged in connection with a robbery of over $100,000 from a barber in Grimesland, North Carolina. Two other men had previously been arrested for the crime in November and large sums of cash and weapons had been recovered. Local Relay for Life fundraising events are facing challenges from economic pressures and natural disasters, but organizers hope highlighting achievements like being in the top three nationwide for per capita fundraising will encourage continued community support.
- The Arab League halted its observer mission in Syria due to escalating violence that has killed nearly 100 people in the past three days. Pro-Assad forces battled dissident soldiers in suburbs near Damascus in the most intense fighting yet close to the capital.
- France called for a speedier NATO exit from Afghanistan, reflecting war fatigue in the West and raising fears that other coalition countries will also pull out troops early due to political pressure.
- Britain gently rebuked France, saying withdrawals from Afghanistan should depend on security conditions, not political timetables. Britain plans to withdraw its 9,500 troops by the end of 2014.
The IMF director is trying to raise $500 billion more for the IMF's resources to help combat Europe's debt crisis. She is meeting with finance ministers from major economies like the UK, Germany, and Japan to request contributions. The UK and Germany say they would contribute more if Europe strengthens its own rescue fund. The IMF hopes to have more funds available to lend to countries in crisis like Greece, which is negotiating a debt reduction deal, in order to prevent the crisis from further damaging the global economy.
- Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, knocking out power to thousands and prompting evacuations in some low-lying areas.
- In other news, a teen was arrested for posing as a physician's assistant and treating patients at a Florida hospital. He faces five charges of impersonating a physician's assistant.
- Additionally, a North Carolina man was convicted of second-degree murder for killing eight people at a nursing home in 2009. He will not face the death penalty.
Gen. Julio Casas Regueiro, the Cuban defense minister who oversaw Cuba's lucrative economic enterprises, died of heart failure at age 75. He was an important figure from the Cuban revolution. State television announced three days of national mourning and began playing footage of his life. His body was cremated according to his wishes and his remains will be placed in the Defense Ministry headquarters. In other news, hundreds of far-right activists held a banned protest in London and some clashed with police, while in Yemen a suicide car bomber killed three policemen at a checkpoint in Aden. Militants have seized cities in southern Yemen while taking advantage of political turmoil.
1) CIA and special operations forces will likely be the last US forces to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014 as they prepare for up to a decade more of counterterrorism operations and training of Afghan forces.
2) Puerto Rico's Justice Department condemned a recent US report demanding reforms to the territory's police force, though the governor had accepted the report's findings.
3) Nineteen people were treated at hospitals after two women threw bleach and another chemical on each other during a fight at a Walmart store in Maryland, forcing an evacuation.
Revolutionary forces in Libya claimed to have captured parts of a large convention center that Gaddafi loyalists have been using as their main base in Sirte. They have been shelling the city to eliminate snipers as they try to rout remaining forces and take full control of Sirte. However, the battle has been fierce, with 15 fighters killed and 180 wounded on Friday alone as snipers remain positioned in high buildings. Taking Sirte is key to unifying Libya politically and allowing the transitional government to move forward with establishing elections and democracy.
1. The Daily Reflector, Saturday, January 7, 2012 A
NatioN WoRLD
DAMASCUS, SyriA MiAMi iSTANBUL WELLiNGTON, NEW ZEALAND
Explosion in capital kills 25 NASA questions checklist sale 11 dead in hot air balloon crash
A bomb exploded Friday at a busy Da- NASA is questioning whether Apollo All 11 people on board were killed
mascus intersection, killing 25 people 13 commander James Lovell has the right when a hot air balloon crashed near the
and wounding dozens in the second ma- to sell a checklist from the flight that in- rural town of Carterton, some 94 miles
jor attack in the Syrian capital in as many cludes his handwritten calculations cru- north of the capital, Wellington.
weeks, officials said, vowing to respond cial in guiding the damaged spacecraft Wairarapa District Health Board
to further security threats with an “iron back to Earth. spokeswoman Jill Stringer said the 11
fist.” The document was sold by Heritage people died when the balloon came down
The government blamed “terrorists,” Auctions in November for more than near show grounds north of the township
saying a suicide bomber had blown him- $388,000. The checklist gained great fame in rural Wairarapa county.
self up in the crowded Midan district. But in the 1995 film “Apollo 13” when actor Police confirmed there were “multiple
the country’s opposition demanded an in- Tom Hanks, playing Lovell, used it to deaths” when the balloon crashed.
dependent investigation, accusing forces make the calculations. Eyewitnesses told local media of seeing up
loyal to the Syrian regime of being behind The sale was suspended after NASA to 32 feet of flames rising from the balloon’s
the bombing to tarnish a 10-month-old contacted Lovell and Heritage to ask basket before it plummeted to the ground.
uprising against President Bashar Assad. whether Lovell had title to the checklist. Police said they have no details yet of
“Is there anything worse than these NASA said only the space agency can au- what caused the early morning crash in
the associated press
crimes?” said Majida Jomaa, a 30-year- thorize the sale of such an item. Lovell has clear, bright conditions with minimal
old housewife who ran to the streets after not returned a phone call seeking comment. SWiMMErS COMBATED to catch wind. The region is well known for its hot
hearing the explosion about 11 a.m. “Is The Apollo 13 moon mission was abort- a wooden cross during an epiphany air ballooning.
this freedom?” ed when an oxygen tank exploded in 1970. ceremony to bless the waters on Friday. From Associated Press reports
December hiring surge adds 200,000 jobs nation-wide
By PAUL WiSEMAN power to this economy than the virtuous cycle may be
AND CHriSTOPHEr S. most believe,” said Sung under way, which would “There is more
rUGABEr Won Sohn, an econom- suggest the job market will
the associated press ics professor at California get stronger yet.
horsepower to
State University, Chan- When more Americans this economy
WASHINGTON — Four nel Islands. “The stars are are hired, they have more
painful years after the Great aligned right for a mean- money to spend. When than most believe.”
Recession struck and wiped ingful economic recovery.” more money courses Sung Won Sohn
out 8.7 million jobs, the It was the sixth month through the economy, busi- economics professor
United States finally may be in a row that the economy nesses can justify hiring
in an elusive pattern known added at least 100,000 jobs, more people. That means
as the virtuous cycle — an the longest streak since more jobs, more spending “The labor market is
escalating loop of robust job 2006. The economy added and more demand for busi- healing,” said Diane Swonk,
growth, healthier spending jobs every month last year, nesses. Which leads to still chief economist at Mesirow
and higher demand. the first time that has hap- more hiring, spending and Financial. She cautioned
The nation added pened since 2005. demand. that “we still have a long way
200,000 jobs in December And the unemployment That would be the re- to go — years — to recoup
in a burst of hiring that rate, which peaked at 10.1 verse of the vicious cycle the losses we have endured.” the associated press
drove the unemployment percent in October 2009 that took hold during the Indeed, the economy A BUrST of hiring in december pushed the unemployment
rate down two ticks to 8.5 and stood at 9.1 percent at Great Recession. People lost added 1.6 million jobs for rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the
percent, its lowest in almost the start of last year, has fall- jobs and spent less money, all of 2011. That is better economy a boost at the end of 2011.
three years, and led econo- en four months straight. so businesses rang up less than the 940,000 it added
mists to conclude that the If economics textbooks sales and were forced to lay during 2010. In 2009, the But it will take 6 million recession began. Econo-
improvement in the job and the best hopes of off more people. That led most bruising year of the more jobs to get the United mists forecast the nation
market might just last. millions of unemployed to even less spending and Great Recession, the nation States back to what it had in will add almost 2 million
“There is more horse- Americans are confirmed, more layoffs. lost more than 5 million. December 2007, when the this year.
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