War: Obama orders U.S. troops to Africa to hunt down African 'army' leader Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda

President Barack Obama is sending about 100 U.S. troops to Africa to help hunt down the leaders of the notoriously violent Lord's Resistance Army in and around Uganda.

"I have authorized a small number of combat-equipped U.S. forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield," Obama said in letter sent Friday to House Speaker John Boehner and Daniel Inouye, the president pro tempore of the Senate. Kony is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army.

U.S. military personnel advising regional forces working to target Kony and other senior leaders will not engage Kony's forces "unless necessary for self-defense," Obama said.

"I believe that deploying these U.S. armed forces furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa."

Obama noted that the group "has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women and children in central Africa" and "continues to commit atrocities across the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan that have a disproportionate impact on regional security." more

Pursuing the truth for our Coming Crisis readers is a bit like this sometimes, but we love every moment of it

P.S. If only all of us could take our challenges in life with the kind of spirit that this kitten does with his. A lesson for us all.

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck the Kermadec Islands Region at a depth of 21.7 km (13.5 miles), the quake hit at 18:00:46 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 170 km ( 105 miles) East of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake BANDA SEA, INDONESIA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck Banda Sea, Indonesia at a depth of 400.6 km (248.9 miles), the quake hit at 17:24:29 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 308 km ( 191 miles) Northeast from Dili, East Timor
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

Hubble telescope captures new 'maps' of dark matter - 14th Oct 2011

These latest images from the Hubble Telescope are among the clearest evidence yet of the mysterious effect of 'dark matter' on the galaxy - showing distortions akin to seeing an image reflected in a curved mirror.

This image has yielded such impressive results because the galaxy being targeted is MACS 1206, a massive galaxy cluster with a gravitational pull so huge it acts like a giant cosmic 'lens', warping the fabric of space-time so that light from nearby stars is distorted.

Hubble's Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey- CLASH - is charting the distribution of dark matter in 25 clusters.

The Hubble scientists are scanning cluster galaxies, the most massive objects in the universe held together by gravity, to see if light is distorted by the dark matter inside the clusters.

The astronomers say the distortions produced by MACS 1206 is evidence that the galaxies are largely 'made' of dark matter.

The distortions shown in the images would be far weaker if the only mass in MACS 1206 was the mass of the stars and planets we can see. Read More

The battle of Wall Street: Violence erupts as police clash with protesters after they force Bloomberg to back down over 'eviction' - 14th Oct 2011

Violence erupted on Wall Street this morning with hundreds of protesters clashing with police as they marched in Manhattan - jumping over barriers, pushing over police scooters and blocking traffic.

Fifteen protesters have already been arrested in New York today after they got into fights with police officers after a planned ‘eviction’ was postponed following a last-minute standoff with authorities.

Park owners - backed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - put off the scheduled clean-up and Occupy Wall Street demonstrators celebrated this morning as they marched down Broadway. Read More

WhenFri, October 14, 4:30am – 2:30pm

WhereLiberty Plaza (Zuccotti Park) New York, NY (map)

DescriptionEMERGENCY #OWS EVICTION DEFENSE: Prevent the forcible closure of Occupy Wall Street Tell Bloomberg: Don't Foreclose the Occupation. NEED MASS TURN-OUT, SHOW UP NO LATER THAN 6 A.M. This is an emergency situation. Please take a minute to read this, and please take action and spread the word far and wide. Occupy Wall Street is gaining momentum, with occupation actions now happening in cities across the world. But last night Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD notified Occupy Wall Street participants about plans to “clean the park”—the site of the Wall Street protests—tomorrow starting at 7am. "Cleaning" was used as a pretext to shut down “Bloombergville” a few months back, and to shut down peaceful occupations elsewhere. Read More

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake OFFSHORE ICELAND - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake has struck offshore Iceland at a depth of 8 km (4.9 miles), the quake hit at 16:25:56 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 201 km ( 124.6 miles) Northwest of Raufarhofn, Iceland
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

Government cameras in your car? E-toll patent hints at Big Brotherish future

Imagine that you couldn't drive on major highways without agreeing to put a camera in your car -- one that could film either the occupants or the vehicle’s surroundings and transmit the images back to a central office for inspection.

You don't have to read George Orwell to conjure up such an ominous surveillance state. You just have to skim through filings at the U.S. Patent Office.

It's hard to imagine Americans would tolerate such a direct, Big-Brotherish intrusion. But they might not notice if the all-seeing cameras were tucked inside another kind of government tracking technology that millions of Americans have already invited into their cars.

Kapsch TrafficCom AG, an Austrian company that just signed a 10-year contract to provide in-car transponders such as the E-Z Pass to 22 electronic highway toll collection systems around the U.S., recently filed a patent on technology to add multi-function mini-cameras to their toll gadgets. Today, transponders are in about 22 million cars around the U.S. Adding inward and outward facing cameras to the gadgets would create surveillance capabilities far beyond anything government agencies have tried until now.

The stated reason for an inward-pointing camera is to verify the number of occupants in the car for enforcement of HOV and HOT lanes. The outward-pointing camera could be used for the same purpose, helping authorities enforce minimum occupant rules against drivers who aren't carrying transponders. more

UBS, RBS Ratings Lowered as Fitch Says More Than a Dozen Banks May Follow

UBS AG (UBSN), Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS) had long-term issuer default grades cut by Fitch Ratings, which put more than a dozen other lenders on watch negative as part of a global review.

UBS’s long-term issuer default rating and its “support rating floor” were cut to A from A+ on a “view that the one- notch uplift for close affiliation with the Swiss state is no longer warranted,” the ratings firm said yesterday in a statement. Lloyds and RBS were lowered two steps to A from AA- as Fitch said the U.K. is less likely to provide future support.

Fitch also placed viability ratings, and in some cases credit grades, on negative watch for seven global banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Morgan Stanley because of new regulations and economic developments. It put European banks such as Credit Agricole SA (ACA) on watch, based on sovereign debt concerns and said it would review Bank of America Corp. (BAC)’s mortgage-litigation risks.

“Fitch systematically, like many of the rating agencies, seems to be working its way through the European banking community from the standpoint of raising awareness of potential capital inadequacies,” Adrian Miller, a New York-based fixed income strategist at Miller Tabak Roberts Securities LLC, said in a telephone interview. “This is more or less a macro call on the sector. It’s a continuation of a developing theme that’s been going on since July that, since that point, has intermittently sent shockwaves throughout the market.” more

Missing Libya Missiles Find Their Way to Gaza Border

Some of the thousands of surface-to-air missiles that have gone missing since the collapse of the Gadhafi regime in Libya have now turned up just miles from the Israeli border.

U.S. officials say there were 20,000 Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles in Libya before the uprising, and thousands have disappeared in the looting of Moammar Gadhafi's arm caches. According to the Washington Post, many of those Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons are being sold in Egyptian black markets, and so many are available the price has dropped from $10,000 to $4,000.

Egyptian officials told the paper they have intercepted looted Libyan weapons, including anti-aircraft guns, missiles and artillery, on the road from Libya into Egypt, in black markets on the Sinai Peninsula, and in the smuggling tunnels between the Sinai and Gaza.

The heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles, most of them shoulder-fired, have a range of two miles and would pose a threat to Israeli helicopter and planes on either side of the Israel-Gaza border.

Though Libya had an estimated 20,000 man-portable surface-to-air missiles before the popular uprising began in February, Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro told ABC News in September the government does not have a clear picture of how many missiles they're trying to track down. more

Drug Smugglers Tunnel Into Arizona Parking Spaces

Drug smugglers are endlessly creative when it comes to inventing ways to move marijuana, cocaine and other contraband from Mexico into the United States.

In the latest innovation uncovered by law enforcement, smugglers in the border town of Nogales, Arizona were bringing drugs into the U.S. for the cost of a quarter.

The parking meters on International Street, which hugs the border fence in Nogales, cost 25 cents. Smugglers in Mexico tunneled under the fence and under the metered parking spaces, and then carefully cut neat rectangles out of the pavement. Their confederates on the U.S. side would park false-bottomed vehicles in the spaces above the holes, feed the meters, and then wait while the underground smugglers stuffed their cars full of drugs from below.

When the exchange was finished, the smugglers would use jacks to put the pavement "plugs" back into place. The car would drive away, and only those observers who were looking closely would notice the seams in the street.

In all, U.S. Border Patrol agents found 16 tunnels leading to the 18 metered parking spaces on International Street. The pavement is now riddled with neat, symmetrical patches. more

G20 finance ministers gather as time runs out

Top of France’s agenda when it took the presidency of the G20 last November was the arcane subject, “reducing imbalances”. Judged against its own goals one year on, then, it is fair to say the French presidency has not been an unequivocal success.

Global imbalances are as entrenched as they ever were. Budget deficits dominate the political agenda, with countries from the US to Italy to Greece still grappling unsuccessfully with their debts. Trade imbalances continue to warp economies, as consumer-heavy nations try to kick-start their manufacturing engines and exporters try to trigger a consumer boom.

The China-US trade deficit is a case in point. It hit a record $29bn in August. The US is now lurching towards protectionism, the desperate result of failed negotiations. The US Senate has approved legislation to impose penalty tariffs on Chinese products sold in the US if China does not do more to let its currency appreciate.

It’s not like France didn’t see the risks ahead. In February, Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund’s managing director who was then French finance minister, warned that a failure to address the imbalances “leads us straight into the wall of another debt crisis”. How prescient.

At the same time, with the world appearing to have turned the corner, President Nicolas Sarkozy warned against complacency. Complacency, he said, “would be the death of the G20”.

As the G20 finance ministers and central bankers gather in Paris this Friday and Saturday, a collective sense of failure will loom large. But France still has time to rescue its G20 presidency. If a deal can be struck to restore confidence in the euro area and settle the baying markets, France will have done the global economy a great service. Work has already begun in earnest, and must continue this weekend. more

House Bill Would Criminalize Satire of TSA (Uh oh, the CC is in trouble)

On September 22, 2011, H.R. 3011 was introduced in the House. It is entitled the “Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011” and it contains some curious language.

Two thirds of the way through the ponderous bill, in Sec. 295, we find the following:

Whoever, except with the written permission of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security (or the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service for issues involving the Federal Air Marshal Service), knowingly uses the words ‘Transportation Security Administration’, ‘United States Transportation Security Administration’, ‘Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘United States Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘Federal Air Marshals’, the initials ‘T.S.A.’, ‘F.A.M.S.’, ‘F.A.M.’, or any colorable imitation of such words or initials, or the likeness of a Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service badge, logo, or insignia on any item of apparel, in connection with any advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or with any play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, in a matter that is reasonably calculated to convey the impression that the wearer of the item of apparel is acting pursuant to the legal authority of the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service, or to convey the impression that such advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or such play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service .(Emphasis added.) more

Coast Guard member spit on near Occupy Boston tents

Coast Guard member spit on near Occupy Boston tents: MyFoxBOSTON.com

The Coast Guard in Boston confirmed that a woman in uniform was harassed and spat upon near Occupy Boston protesters.

The woman was walking to the train and said protesters spit on her twice, called her foul names and even threw a water bottle at her.

Now, the Coast Guard is warning all staff working on Atlantic Avenue to avoid those protesters while in uniform.

Devon Pendleton, a spokesman for Occupy Boston, doesn't believe that those male protestors are actually part of the movement. However, Pendleton wants to be clear, that if protestors are responsible for doing something so disrespectful, he'd like to apologize on behalf of Occupy Boston.

Coast Guard official Luke Clayton tells FOX25 whether or not the people who spit on the woman are part of Occupy Boston or not, what happened is against the law and he expects police to protect them against things like this in the future. more

Fun takes a holiday in Somerville: School frowns on Halloween, Columbus Day – and maybe Thanksgiving – as political correctness runs amok

A Somerville principal has opened fire on cherished American holidays, blasting legendary explorer Christopher Columbus for “atrocities” and saying “we need to be careful” about celebrating Thanksgiving in a scathing email to teachers — who are already under orders not to let the kids dress up for Halloween.

“When we were young we might have been able to claim ignorance of the atrocities that Christopher Columbus committed against the indigenous peoples,” wrote Kennedy School Principal Anne Foley. “We can no longer do so. For many of us and our students celebrating this particular person is an insult and a slight to the people he annihilated. On the same lines, we need to be careful around the Thanksgiving Day time as well.”

Mayor Joseph Curtatone said, “She raises a fair point. History is messy.” School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said her “intention is to be very, very sensitive to all of the many, many cultures” of Somerville. Foley said she just wanted to “open up a conversation.”

“When I grew up, I was taught from a very European perspective of history and it was both embarrassing and enlightening to me when I learned other perspectives,” Foley said. “I want our children and families to know that we are aware of those other perspectives.”

When pressed on the “atrocities” of Columbus and misdeeds of the Pilgrims, Foley said she wasn’t going to “dwell on that.”

“I have friends who are Native American. I have friends from the islands in the Caribbean. I’ve heard their perspective on different things that we say and do — their versions of history,” said Foley. more

114-year-old electric car gets same 40 miles to the charge as Chevy Volt

Meet the Roberts electric car. Built in 1896, it gets a solid 40 miles to the charge — exactly the mileage Chevrolet advertises for the Volt — the much-touted $31,645 electric car General Motors CEO Dan Akerson called “not a step forward, but a leap forward.”

The executives at Chevrolet can rest easy for now. Since the Roberts was constructed in an age before Henry Ford’s mass production, the 115-year-old electric car is one of a kind.

But don’t let the car’s 115 years let you think it isn’t tough: It’s present-day owner, who prefers not to be named, told The Daily Caller it still runs like a charm, and has even completed the roughly 60-mile London to Brighton Vintage Car Race.

If you didn’t know there are electric cars as old as the Roberts, you aren’t alone. Prior to today’s battle of electric v. gas, there was another battle: Electric v. gas v. steam. This contest was fought in the market place, and history shows gas gave electric and steam an even more thorough whooping than Coca-Cola gave Moxie.

But while the Roberts electric car clearly lacked GPS, power steering and, yes, air bags, the distance it could achieve on a charge, when compared with its modern equivalent, provides a telling example of the slow pace of the electric car.

Driven by a tiller instead of a wheel, the Roberts car was built seven years before the Wright brothers’ first flight, 12 years before the Ford Model T, 16 years before Chevrolet was founded and 114 years before the first Chevy Volt was delivered to a customer. more

Early soggy pomp gives way to opulent state dinner in Obama’s South Korean charm offensive (Paid for by you, while you watch on and starve)

Hemlines were soaked and raindrops spattered tuxedos, but not even a thunderous downpour could dampen the excitement of guests flocking to perhaps the most exclusive social event on Washington’s fall calendar: a White House state dinner for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

“I love the rain. They don’t have rain in Arizona,” said Dr. Peter Rhee, the trauma surgeon who treated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head earlier this year.

So much for the hair salon,” said ABC News correspondent Juju Chang, holding up the floppy ends of her dark locks.

Even President Barack Obama took note of the soggy weather as he marveled at the intense day of diplomacy that took the South Korean leader from the White House to the Capitol and back again. “President Lee has had a very full day — and a very wet day,” Obama said.

A driving rain began just as guests started to arrive for Thursday’s opulent East Room extravaganza, soaking many of the guests and their finery as they waited in line to come in from the storm. more

Is the "New World Order" unraveling?

With Greece on the precipice of default and Portugal and Italy approaching the ledge, the European monetary union appears in peril.

Should it collapse, the European Union itself could be in danger, for economic nationalism is rising in Europe. Which raises a larger question.

Is the New World Order, the great 20th century project of Western transnational elites, unraveling?

The NWO dates back as far as Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations, which a Republican Senate refused to enter. FDR, seeking to succeed where his mentor had failed, oversaw the creation of a United Nations, an International Monetary Fund and a World Bank. more

San Francisco Restaurants Want To Make 25% Standard Tip Rate (By Law)

It’s a question many of us ask when we go out to a restaurant. “How much should I tip?” Whether your service is good or bad, San Francisco Restaurant workers want to implement a 25% standard tip onto your bill for you. Is this fair?

Many in the food industry say “…yes, it’s about time.” However, many “foodies” are not as happy with the idea. According to an article in the San Jose Mercury News, for the most part, people, on average tip between 15% – 20% and the restaurant worker actually has to claim 15% of that to the IRS.

Opinions that sway against the increase said that “…the whole purpose of a tip is to reward service.” They feel the new tip increase should be earned and if more is needed, then they must step up their service so that the increase justifies a larger tip amount.

Not everyone is against the idea. Some have felt with the state of the nation’s economy is in, that 25% is not unreasonable. And some tip above the average already. Some went a step further to say if you want to reward service, you must start tipping the workers at fast food places as well. Most fast food workers earn minimum wage and rarely get tips. source

Budget cuts take US military 'to the edge'

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta chided congressional dysfunction and warned that cutting $450 billion in defense spending would take the Pentagon "to the edge" at a hearing on Thursday punctuated by anti-war protests.

Panetta, in his first appearance as Pentagon chief before the Republican-led House Armed Services Committee, said any defense cuts over the $450 billion currently approved for the next decade "will truly devastate our national security."

"I don't say that as scare tactics. I don't say that as a threat. It's a reality," Panetta told the lawmakers, saying his remarks were based on going through the weapons systems, personnel and benefits that may have to be cut to achieve the $450 billion in spending reductions already approved.

Asked whether President Barack Obama agreed with his assessment that there should be no further cuts to defense spending, Panetta said the U.S. president did.

The defense secretary's remarks, which were interrupted by protesters shouting "war machine" and "you are murdering people," come as the Pentagon is working to implement a reduction in national security spending agreed upon between Congress and President Barack Obama in August. more

"Unusual" meeting between US, Iran over plot

President Barack Obama said Thursday that officials at the "highest levels" of the Iranian government must be held accountable for a brazen and bizarre plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States on American soil, insisting leaders of the world will believe the U.S. case without dispute once they absorb the details.

U.S. officials, meanwhile, confirmed the Obama administration has had direct contact with Iran over the allegations. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, met with Iranian officials at Iran's mission to the U.N. on Wednesday — a highly unusual contact for two countries that do not have diplomatic relations.

Obama would not say whether Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, knew of the alleged plan. Yet he called it part of a pattern of "dangerous and reckless behavior" by the Iranian government and said people within that government were aware of a murder-for-hire plot.

The U.S. considers it an attempted act of terrorism.

"We believe that even if at the highest levels there was not detailed operational knowledge, there has to be accountability with respect to anybody in the Iranian government engaging in this kind of activity," Obama said in a news conference tied to the state visit of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. more

Book warns of the end of America within a decade or so

"As the faith that gave birth to the West is dying in the West, peoples of European descent from the steppes of Russia to the coast of California have begun to die out, as the Third World treks north to claim the estate. The last decade provided corroborating if not conclusive proof that we are in the Indian Summer of our civilization."

So begins Pat Buchanan in his hardcore work, SUICIDE OF A SUPERPOWER.

"Will America Survive to 2025?"

Buchanan, set for maximum controversy, launches all rockets at introduction "Disintegrating Nation" -- and does not let up for 400-plus pages.

"America is disintegrating. The centrifugal forces pulling us apart are growing inexorably. What unites us is dissolving. And this is true of Western Civilization....Meanwhile, the state is failing in its most fundamental duties. It is no longer able to defend our borders, balance our budgets, or win our wars."

The books reads as if its been written to be left behind in the ruins, only to be found by a future civilization. more

Teacher dies in France after setting herself on fire

An apparently depressed maths teacher in southern France has died after setting herself on fire in the playground of her secondary school.

Students and teachers rushed to help the woman, 44, after she doused herself with petrol during morning break and set herself alight.

She was airlifted to hospital in Montpellier but died of her burns.

Traumatised pupils at the school in Beziers were being assisted by psychologists after the incident.

The previous day, she had attended a stormy meeting with children in her class who found her teaching methods too strict, according to witnesses.

Education Minister Luc Chatel said after a visit to the hospital where she was taken that he was shocked by the "desperate act".

Local prosecutors said an initial investigation had found "no criminal act" connected with the incident. more

Gaddafi loyalists and Libya NTC trade fire in Tripoli (but wait, wasn't Tripoli conquered?)

A gun battle has broken out in the Libyan capital Tripoli between forces loyal to the transitional government and gunmen they say support fugitive ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The fighting started after a demonstration by Gaddafi loyalists in the Abu Salim district of the city.

It is the first armed confrontation in Tripoli since the city fell to the forces of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in August.

There is no word yet on casualties.

Gaddafi loyalists still hold parts of the city of Sirte and the desert enclave of Bani Walid. more

Report: Arab Spring upheaval cost $55 billion

The popular protests this year in North Africa and the Middle East - known as the Arab Spring - have cost the region more than $50bn, a new report says.

The report, by consultancy group Geopolicity, says Egypt, Syria and Libya paid the highest financial price.

It warns that without a regional support programme, the effects of the Arab Spring could be regressive.

But oil-producing nations that have avoided or suppressed rebellions have benefited most, it says.

Using data from the International Monetary Fund, the group says countries that have experienced intensive civil disturbances or conflict during the Arab Spring, are expected to lose the most in the short term.

However, the report makes clear that costing the Arab Spring in 2011 cannot be done precisely. "Many critical economic indicators are unavailable, and the situation is highly fluid," it says. more

Tunisia police teargas protesters as demonstrations continue

Police in Tunisia have fired tear gas at hundreds of Islamists demonstrating in the capital, Tunis, reports say.

One of the protests took place outside a private TV station which has angered Islamists by screening an animated film which critics accuse of blasphemy for including an image of God.

It was the second rally outside the Nessma TV station in a week after it broadcast "Persepolis", which deals with Iran's 1979 revolution.

Tunisia goes to the polls next week.

The elections, for a constitutional assembly, will be held on 23 October.

These will be the first polls in Tunisia since long-time President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in an uprising in January.

Correspondents say that with the autocratic government of Ben Ali gone, more conservative Muslims are making themselves heard. more

Congolese migrants describe horrific abuse in Angola's mines

In the Democratic Republic of Congo town of Kamako, seven kilometres (four miles) from the Angolan border, 10 women sit on sofas arranged in a circle by a local non-governmental organisation which helps distressed migrants.

Therese Tshanga is one of them. This 38-year-old Congolese woman is among hundreds of thousands of migrants expelled from Angola since 2003.

She cradles a toddler in her arms and has a fresh scar on her forehead.

Ms Tshanga says she was looking for a job in Angola when men in uniform arrested her on 28 September and took her into the bush.

"Three soldiers came to rape me. The first two had their way, then I resisted against the third one and he gave me this wound to the face with his teeth," she says, pointing to the scar.

After being held for three days in the bush and another three days in a prison near the Angolan border town of Dundu, Ms Tshanga says she was finally deported to her native DR Congo with her nephew. She has lost contact with his mother. more

Biting Asian ladybugs invade south Ottawa

here are reports of swarms of the multicoloured Asian ladybug, an insect known to bite, in Ottawa's southern limits and making their way into more urban areas.

Carleton University entomologist Jeff Dawson said in the fall the ladybug looks for places with stable temperatures to survive the winter.

Often, they sneak into cracks and open holes in people's homes. The insects also do not face much threat in their natural habitats.

"Being an introduced species, they tend not to have the same predators," said Dawson," So their numbers tend to explode at certain times of year."

The pretty, yellowish-orange bug has been spotted in the small community of Winchester, Ont., just south of Ottawa, at Carleton University and even at a south Ottawa golf course. more

Abandoned puppies rescued from plastic box

Fifteen puppies crammed into a plastic container and dumped by the side of the road in Sherbrooke are now in the care of the animal protection.

The puppies, Labrador and boxer crosses, were found piled one on top of each other in a plastic bin that measured less than two feet wide by a foot high.

A technician with the SPA came across the animals while driving to work on Wednesday.

“She saw all those puppies were starting to come out of the box, so she stopped and gathered every one of them in her car and came to the SPA,” said Bergeron.

The puppies were crammed in this plastic bin when they were abandoned by the side of the road. The puppies were crammed in this plastic bin when they were abandoned by the side of the road. SPA L’Estrie If the puppies hadn’t been able to open the container themselves, they could have suffocated, she said.

Because of their age, estimated to be between five and six weeks old, they’ll go to foster homes for a few weeks before they return to the SPA for a checkup and to get spayed and neutered.

They’ll then be put up for adoption.

Despite their ordeal, Bergeron said the puppies are all doing well. more

African dictators warned: 'Your time is up'

Sudanese billionaire and communications mogul Mo Ibrahim has issued a warning to African leaders clinging to power, saying people are no longer prepared to put up with bad governance on the continent.

Ibrahim says the face of Africa has changed and the Arab Spring has shown the world that the younger generation are not afraid to demand change.

"There's a lot of African people who are educated and well informed and that's a better generation than ours and those people wont take nonsense," he said.

"These are the people that went out in Tahrir Square, Tunis and Libya and bred havoc," he added. more

Can the Euro survive its current crisis?

Angel Gurria, Mexico's minister of finance between 1998 - 2000, is credited with helping steer his country's economy away from relative volatility toward a period of stability.

Now, as Secretary-General of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), he is watching the eurozone debt drama unfold.

The crisis - which has forced weak eurozone countries Greece, Ireland and Portugal to take bailouts - must be more actively confronted by Europe's leaders, he said. The issue has become "critical," Gurria said. "[Europe's leaders] have to deal with that."

The eurozone is facing "an erosion of confidence ...and you deal with that first of all by ring fencing the countries that have a problem and by not allowing the contagion to spread."

Plans to stem the eurozone crisis have failed to convince the markets, which remain concerned it could spill into the bloc's bigger economies, such as Italy and Spain.

According to Gurria, the markets need assurance there is enough firepower that the problem can be contained. Doing so -- alongside providing assurances that fragile banks on the continent will be protected from such events such as a default on sovereign debt -- is vital, he said. more

Standard & Poor's downgrades Spain yet again

Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's credit rating Friday, blaming economic malaise and dim prospects.

S&P lowered Spain's long-term rating to AA- with a negative outlook, citing risks to economic growth and the banking sector.

"Despite signs of resilience in economic performance during 2011, we see heightened risks to Spain's growth prospects due to high unemployment, tighter financial conditions, the still high level of private sector debt, and the likely economic slowdown in Spain's main trading partners," the rating agency said in a statement.

Looking ahead, S&P highlighted ongoing challenges facing the country. "The financial profile of the Spanish banking system will, in our opinion, weaken further, with the stock of problematic assets rising further," said S&P analysts.

The rating agency said that Spain is being held back by "uncertain growth prospects in light of the private sector's need to access fresh external financing to roll over high levels of external debt amid rising costs and a challenging external environment." more

Harold Camping's Back, With a Brand-New Doomsday Prediction

The end of the world is nigh – again.

Doomsday prophet Harold Camping is once more predicting an apocalypse, and apparently we don't have long left. The 90-year-old California radio mogul has pointed to October 21 on the calendar, by which date he reckons it will “probably” all be over.

But this time around he is not warning of souls burning up and ascensions to heaven from the sidewalks of Manhattan. Instead Camping, the owner of the Family Radio Network, believes it will be a much quieter affair.

“I really am beginning to think as I restudied these matters that there's going to be no big display of any kind. The end is going to come very, very quietly, probably within the next month. It will happen, that is, by October 21," he stated in a recent radio recording.

Camping became infamous earlier this year for incorrectly heralding the arrival of the Rapture on May 21. Followers across the U.S. spent millions on advertising campaigns warning people of the eventual non-event.

Despite admitting that he was “flabbergasted” that the world still existed, Camping insisted his erroneous warning had in fact been correct - but that only a spiritual "Judgment Day" had occurred.

Nonetheless, reports suggest Camping didn't take the whole episode too well and suffered a stroke in June. But he has made a partial recovery since and is now back to broadcasting – until Oct. 21, of course. more

India's problem with "ragging" -- Bullying is indeed an international issue

U.N. rights chief urges 'immediate' international steps to protect Syrians

The top U.N. human rights official deplored the "devastatingly remorseless toll of human lives" in Syria on Friday and exhorted the world community "to take immediate measures" to protect citizens.

"The onus is on all members of the international community to take protective action in a collective and decisive manner, before the continual ruthless repression and killings drive the country into a full-blown civil war," said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, in a written statement describing a dire human rights situation in Syria.

Her remarks came as protesters took to the streets Friday in various Syrian cities, a nationwide outpouring supporting the "free army," a reference to personnel who have defected from President Bashar al-Assad's military and to the recently formed Syrian Free Army. At least nine people have died in the latest protests, one activist group said.

Pillay said the government has "manifestly failed to protect its population" and has "ignored the international community's calls to cooperate with international investigations," she said.

"At stake are the universal rights to life, liberty and security of person which must never be brushed aside in the interests of realpolitik. The international community must speak with one voice and act to protect the Syrian people." more

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck offshore Maule, Chile at a depth of 25.1 km (15.6 miles), the quake hit at 15:31:58 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 92 km ( 57 miles) WNW from Talca, Chile
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

Occupy Wall Street park cleaning postponed, averts showdown

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday that at midnight Thursday Brookfield Office Properties -- the real-estate firm that owns Zuccotti Park -- made the decision not to clear out Wall Street protesters from the Lower Manhattan park after the company was "inundated" with threatening calls from elected city officials.

The mayor said during his weekly commentary on New York's WOR Radio that he didn't know which officials allegedly made the threats, but that the company decided to work out some form of a negotiated settlement with protesters in the coming days.

Bloomberg added that while he lacked first-hand knowledge of the conversations, he was told the officials generally threatened to "make life more difficult" for the real-estate company.

Brookfield Properties could not be immediately reached for comment.

The cancellation, meanwhile, averts a broader showdown between authorities and demonstrators, who appeared heartened by news of the cancellation.

"We are winning and Wall Street is afraid," protester Kira Moyer-Sims said in a written statement distributed by the group. "This movement is gaining momentum and is too big to fail." more

Tensions rise between doctors and patients in China

In China, it is sometimes the doctors who call for medical help.

In Beijing last month, an angry patient left a female doctor with 17 stab wounds.

Wang Baoming, a cancer patient, allegedly attacked Dr. Xu Wen with a kitchen knife, wounding her arms, left leg and back. Fortunately, she survived after nine hours in surgery.

Wang is now under arrest. He reportedly attacked the 43-year-old surgeon because he deemed her attempt to remove his laryngeal tumor in 2006 a failure that made his condition worse.

The suspected assailant had complained about it in his blog.

"It was supposed to be a minor operation which can cure my illness once and for all," he wrote as early as April 2009. "Because of the destructive surgery by Mrs. Xu, within three months the scattered cancer cells spread."

He was left a disabled man, he wrote, and wanted to take revenge on Xu.

This is not an isolated case, the Chinese media and medical industry sources say.

Caixin, a muck-raking Chinese weekly, said at least eight similar cases have occurred this year. more

Liam Fox Resigns As Defence Secretary... about time - 14th Oct 2011

Liam Fox has resigned as Defence Secretary, his office has confirmed, amid allegations he broke the ministerial code.

He had come under intense pressure after mounting claims his friendship with lobbyist and businessman Adam Werritty breached the rules.

In his resignation letter to Prime Minister David Cameron he said he had "mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my Government activities to become blurred".

His statement continued: "The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days.

"I am very sorry for this.

"I have also repeatedly said that the national interest must always come before personal interest.

"I now have to hold myself to my own standard. I have therefore decided, with great sadness, to resign from my post as Secretary of State for Defence - a position which I have been immensely proud and honoured to have held."

Dr Fox had already apologised for "blurring" the lines between his professional and personal life but an investigation into his behaviour was being carried out by Downing Street's most senior civil servant.

Earlier this week he refused to quit and said he wanted to focus on defence issues. Source

Coming Crisis Alert -- Major Pacific Quake Event, World -- October 14, 2011

Update: October 22, 2011, 245 EST: World seismic monitors have calmed. Alert has been lifted.

Update: October 22, 2011, Midnight EST: World seismic monitors are currently recording activity that's off the charts; this has gone on for the past several hours. Indicators suggests that another major seismic event may be imminent. We will keep tabs on the situation and update as necessary.

Update: October 21, 2011, 530pm EST: World seismic monitors have erupted into a massive flurry of activity across the entire planet. Lynsey is currently off-shift, so I have made the decision to extend the alert by another 24 hours. Stay tuned.

Update: October 21, 2011: An approximately 7.6 magnitude quake has struck the Kermedec islands and set off a flurry of activity on world seismic monitors. We believe this to be the concluding event of this alert, and so will be lifting the alert by midnight, EST.

Update: October 20, 2011: Due to an uptick in worldwide seismic and quake activity, we are extending the alert for another 24 hours.

ALERT AREA AND DURATION:

Pacific region specifically, and world until October 22, 2011, midnight EST.

EVENT:

Marked increased in earthquakes in the past few days and highly active world monitors are indicating the possibility that a major quake event is brewing somewhere in the pacific region, although there is a small likelihood that that the quake event may occur in another world location.

Interestingly, and perhaps not so coincidentally, Comet Elenin, whose state and whereabouts are mostly unknown and speculative, has begun entering into a travel period that brings it at its closest point to the Earth, a fact brought up by one of our observant readers and which we verified. Again, while this may be merely "coincidental", four verifiable quake alignment events and dramatically increased seismic activity during the comet's closest point to the Earth calls for increased observation and analysis at the very least. We'll continue conducting our investigation into this matter as the situation unfolds.

EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS:

1) It is recommended that you stay clear of beaches, low lying coastal areas and out of tall buildings. We are not recommending that you panic or live your life in any manner other than how you usually do, but are asking you just to take that small extra step of caution to enhance your safety.

2) Keep close to a TV or radio should emergency instructions be issued by your governmental authority. Keep your eyes and ears open for a tsunami alert.

3) Should an tsunami alert be issued, head immediately for higher ground. Do not pack. Do not wait. Do not ponder over whether it’s necessary to evacuate; just move. If higher ground is unavailable, seek out a tall building with multiple floors.

4) Do not return to your homes immediately if there is a quake without a tsunami. Sometimes the tsunami is delayed by up to an hour in some areas. Wait at least several hours, or better yet, until the go-ahead is given, before returning home.

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake LA RIOJA, ARGENTINA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck La Rioja, Argentina at a depth of 90.4 km (56.2 miles), the quake hit at 14:01:45 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 192 km ( 120 miles) Southeast of Copiapo, Chile
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

4.0 Magnitude Earthquake GULF OF ALASKA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake has struck the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of 0.1 km (0 miles), the quake hit at 13:03:03 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 147 km ( 92 miles) South from Cordova, Alaska
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

Legionnaire’s Confirmed at Boardwalk Hotel, Maryland; One Fatality Reported - 14th Oct 2011

Three more cases of Legionnaire’s Disease connected to a historic Boardwalk hotel were confirmed this week, including an elderly out-of-state victim who has died from the disease, while state and local health officials this week confirmed the presence of the bacteria in the water at the facility.

Last week, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Worcester County Health Department reported three individuals who were guests at the Plim Plaza Hotel on the Boardwalk had developed legionellosis, more commonly known as Legionnaire’s Disease, roughly one week after staying at the hotel. All three individuals were hospitalized, although none had died.

This week, however, three additional cases of Legionnaire’s Disease were confirmed in people who had stayed at the hotel. One of the victims, an elderly out-of-state guest at the hotel, succumbed to symptoms of the disease, according to state health department officials.
“Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the elderly victim that passed away,” said Plim Plaza spokesperson Betsy FauntLeroy, who did not provide any more information about the victim. “We really want to respect their privacy.”

This week, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Laboratories Administration testing confirmed the presence of legionella bacteria in water collected at the Plim Plaza last week. Legionella pneumophia, the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s Disease, was detected in water collected from various locations at the hotel. Read More

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake TONGA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has struck Tonga at a depth of 40.7 km (25.3 miles), the quake hit at 11:01:45 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 68 km ( 42 miles) ESE of Neiafu, Tonga
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake HALMAHERA, INDONESIA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck Halmahera, Indonesia at a depth of 111.3 km (69.2 miles), the quake hit at 10:01:09 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 227 km ( 141 miles) NNE of Ternate, Moluccas, Indonesia
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 66.6 km (41.4 miles), the quake hit at 09:26:53 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 61 km ( 37 miles) East of Tokyo, Japan
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

United Nations Warns Of 'Full-Bown' Civil War In Syria - 14th Oct 2011

The United Nations says the death toll in Syria's unrest now exceeds 3,000 and has warned of the danger of a "full-blown civil war" in the troubled country.

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, called for the international community to take action against the "ruthless repression" of anti-government protesters.

The regime has used its security forces to try to crush pro-democracy demonstrations that began in March.

At least 187 children are reported to be among the 3,000 people estimated to have been killed in Syria.

The UN says 100 people have died in the past 10 days alone.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 19 people were killed in the latest wave of attacks against protesters.

Ten civilians died in the northern town of Banash during a government attack.

“Sniping from rooftops, and indiscriminate use of force against peaceful protestors - including the use of live ammunition and the shelling of residential neighbourhoods - have become routine occurrences in many Syrian cities,” Ms Pillay said. Read More

4.2 Magnitude Earthquake BANDA SEA, INDONESIA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake has struck Banda Sea, Indonesia at a depth of 86.7 km (53.9 miles), the quake hit at 06:09:28 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 255 km ( 158 miles) NNW of Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

El Hierro Update:14th Oct 2011

''There is a gap of several kilometers of ejected magma from one side to the other''

The Technical Centre for Scientific Research (CSIC) Ramon Ortiz said Valverde on Thursday released an update of what is happening of the coast of ​​La Restinga , they have discovered "there is a gap of several kilometers of magma leaving one side or the other "he said.

On the new spots that have appeared in the sea, Ortiz said that the spot seems to be nearing the coast of La Restinga and is associated with magma output from other parts of the fissure it takes days open ", he added,

CSIC scientist said he did not rule out any possibilities as to what might happen in the future, but predicted three possible scenarios "that an explosive eruption will happen off the coast, land of the island or in deep water," he said and admitted in terms of the crack, that "if you go into deeper water will not see anything, and that beyond the 500 m deep water pressure prevents the release all ·." At the time the magma rise more and had only 40 or 60 meters above water would be in the most dangerous time in which it already had many explosions, "said the scientist.

STABLE PROCESS

The Ministry of Security and Emergency Canary Islands Government, said that the situation in El Hierro eruptive process is stable although continued vigilance as there may be changes in its evolution.

The Director General of Security and Emergency of the Canary Islands, Juan Manuel Santana, said that in this situation and because it continues with the same level of risk " the alert will remain on red in La Restinga and asked for the public to remain vigilant. Source

Setagaya HIGH radiation unrelated to nuclear crisis says Government - Well what else did you expect them to say? - 14th Oct 2011

A high radiation dose detected in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward on Thursday is probably due to radium and unrelated to the nuclear crisis at the crippled, radioactive cesium-leaking Fukushima Daiichi power plant, the education ministry said.

The announcement following a probe by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology came after Nobuto Hosaka, mayor of the ward, said the radiation did not appear to be linked to the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, northeastern Japan.

Hosaka made the comment at a news conference in reference to an investigation conducted by ward officials after airborne radiation of up to 3.35 microsieverts per hour was recorded earlier in the day along a sidewalk in a residential area in an inspection commissioned by the ward.

The investigation detected high radiation levels near bottles under the floor of a house in the Tsurumaki district, Hosaka said.

The discovery of high radiation doses added fuel to public health concerns as a citizens' group detected up to 5.82 microsieverts close to the ground at a children's theme park in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.

The detected radiation levels in Funabashi and Setagaya, which are 210 and 230 kilometers away, respectively, from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, were higher than the 2.17 microsieverts per hour measured Wednesday at the village office in Iitate, Fukushima. The village is 45 kilometers from the plant and designated as an evacuation zone due to the relatively high radiation. Read More

Meningitis Outbreak Worries Parents at Valley High School, West Virginia - 14th Oct 2011

Valley High School leaders talked with parents about their reaction to a viral meningitis outbreak.

Parents and students met at Valley High School Thursday night to voice concerns over the Fayette County School District's reaction to an outbreak of viral meningitis.

Parents say they had gotten word from their kids about members of the middle school football team staying home sick as early as last week, but it wasn't until Wednesday morning that the school district confirmed two cases of the virus.

"We're dealing with something that's common," said Associate Superintendent Serena Starcher.

The two students with confirmed cases were both football players. The school district canceled practices and a scheduled game, but did not close the school.

An estimated 150 parents showed up for the meeting. Some worried not enough was being done.

"I was terrified," said Jennifer Williams. Her son was one of the students diagnosed with viral meningitis. "If I send my son tomorrow, he's going to infect somebody."

While there are only two confirmed cases, other students are waiting for blood test results. The school district is now deciding whether or not to cancel gym classes and other areas with physical interaction. Source

hairline crack Discovered in the concrete shield building outside the reactor containment structure at the Davis-Besse nuclear plant, Ohio - 14th Oct

FirstEnergy Corp. and Nuclear Regulatory Commission engineers Thursday were studying a hairline crack in the concrete shield building outside the reactor containment structure at the Davis-Besse nuclear plant to determine if it constitutes a major problem for the plant.

The crack, about 30 feet long, was revealed when a FirstEnergy contractor cut a large hole in the shield building to create an entry point for installing a new reactor head as part of a scheduled maintenance shutdown that began Oct. 1.

Jennifer Young, a FirstEnergy spokesman, said late yesterday that engineers had yet to determine if the "barely visible" crack was caused by the hole-cutting operation or if it is evidence of a broader problem with the shield building's 2?½-foot, steel-reinforced concrete.

Consequently, its effect on completion of the reactor-lid installation and future plant operations is unknown, she said.

"The experts are still doing their review," she said. "We don't have an expert opinion on that yet."

The shield building surrounds the reactor containment structure, made of 1?½-inch thick steel. It is intended to protect the containment structure from external damaging forces. It was built in the early 1970s.

The crack parallels a reinforcing steel (rebar) rod in the concrete and runs along a plane parallel to the shield building's surface, so if it existed before the hole was cut, it would not have been visible, Ms. Young said.

She said she did not know whether the crack was big enough to have been detected by ultrasonic means during plant inspections. Read More

4.2 Magnitude Earthquake POLAND - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake has struck Poland at a depth of just 2 km (1.2 miles), the quake hit at 04:15:45 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 8 km ( 4.9 miles) Southeast of Glogow, Poland
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time

Hordes of jellyfish invade Sattahip Bay, Thailand - 14th Oct 2011

Scuba divers and beachgoers beware: Perhaps as many as a million jellyfish have moved into Sattahip Bay making a day at the beach a potentially painful experience.

Royal Thai Navy officials said the invasion of the dangerous, but not usually deadly, “moon jellyfish” pushed fishermen out of shallow waters and beachgoers out of the surf. Most of the stinging scyphozoans have been spotted in Tuay-gnarm Bay and Dongtan Bay.

Soi Yenrudee resident Somchai Chijprajong, 45, said he and other local fishermen pulled as many as 400,000 jellies out of the sea with their nets. He said he’s never seen so many and said it must have been caused by anomalous sea conditions.

Somchai didn’t escape his close encounter unscathed, however. Like other fishermen, he suffered a number of stings, which he and Navy officials said can be treated by crushing and applying wild Morning Glory cultivated by the Navy on area beaches. Scuba divers, many of whom could find their next dives in Samae San a painful experience, generally treat jellyfish stings with vinegar and hot water. Read More

Tornadoes reported in Virginia - 14th Oct 2011

Suspected tornadoes touched down Thursday in New Kent County and Louisa County, the rural community at the epicenter of an Aug. 23 5.8-magnitude earthquake, the National Weather Service said.

About a dozen homes and the roof of an elementary school were damaged when an apparent twister cut a six-mile swath through western New Kent, according to Fire Chief Tommy Hicks. Trees were down throughout the area, including a couple that toppled onto homes, Hicks said.

He said one person was slightly injured but did not require hospital treatment.

In Louisa, a funnel cloud ripped into an historic plantation house, ripping off its roof and causing other damage, county spokeswoman Amanda Reidelbach said. There were no reports of injuries.

The historic home known as Sylvania, built in 1746, has suffered profound damage in the earthquake, Louisa County Administrator Robert Dube said. The tornado finished the job, he said.

"The tornado took the roof off," he said. "If the house wasn't done before, it is now."

Dan Proch, a meteorologist in the weather service's Wakefield office, said law enforcement personnel reported the suspected tornado in Louisa County around 3:40 p.m. Read More

Wall Street protesters vow to stay put - 14th Oct 2011

Protesters will resist any efforts to remove them from the Lower Manhattan park where they have been camped for nearly a month, despite Mayor Michael Bloomberg's order that they vacate the park at 7 a.m. Friday so it can be cleaned, an organizer said Thursday.

"Come tomorrow morning, we will passively resist and make it as difficult a process to remove us as possible," said Occupy Wall Street spokesman Tyler Combelic. "It's not an occupation if you can't occupy the park."

His words appeared to be backed up by the sentiment of the crowd of more than 1,000 protesters who filled Zuccotti Park Thursday night. "All day! All week! Occupy Wall Street!" they chanted.

Combelic called the mayor's announcement a "not-so-veiled attempt" to force protesters from the park, setting up a possible confrontation with authorities.

Protesters descended on the privately owned park near the New York Stock Exchange on September 17 to protest the nation's ailing economy. Read More

6.1 Magnitude Earthquake AMURSKAYA OBLAST', RUSSIA - 14th Oct 2011

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has struck Amurskaya Oblast, Russia at a depth of 15.3 km (9.5 miles), the quake hit at 06:10:15 UTC Friday 14th October 2011.
The epicenter was 130 km ( 80 miles) SSW from Tynda, Russia
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time