Syria toll rises to 136,000 after bloody month: NGO

BEIRUT: More than 136,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, with January one of the bloodiest months on record, an NGO said Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain, said the toll now stood at at least 136,277 people killed.

Among those are 47,998 civilians, including more than 7,300 children, the group said. “January was among the bloodiest months since the beginning of conflict,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

“We in the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights will continue to call on all actors on the international stage to due their humanitarian and moral duty to press for the Syrian file to be referred to the International Criminal Court,” the group said in a statement. The group said it sought “the trial of the murderers of the Syrian people, and those who have collaborated with them.”

The Observatory’s last toll, at the end of December, stood at 130,433, but fierce fighting between rebels and the regime, as well as between rebels and jihadists, has claimed nearly 6,000 lives since then. The group said at least 31,629 opposition fighters, including more than 8,000 jihadists, had been killed since the start of the conflict.

On the regime side, 53,167 soldiers and militiamen were killed, along with 271 members of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and 338 members of other foreign Shiite brigades fighting alongside the government. The toll also includes 2,824 unidentified individuals whose deaths the Observatory has documented. The group said the real toll could be much higher than recorded so far, citing “extreme secrecy” by rebels, jihadists and regime troops about the number of their dead.

Syria’s bloody conflict began in March 2011, with peaceful anti-government demonstrations. The regime of President Bashar Assad cracked down on the protests, and the opposition took up arms. The conflict has spiralled into an increasingly bloody civil war, with human rights groups accusing both sides of suspected war crimes

More than 1,000 Iraqis killed in January

Official data revealed on Friday showed that 1,013 Iraqis were killed during the first month of this year as a result of the ongoing violence in the country.

The data, which was collected by the ministry of health and interior ministry, showed that 795 of those killed were civilians while 122 were military personnel; the rest were police officers. All lost their lives in violent incidents.

More than 2,000 people were wounded in the same period, including 1,633 civilians, 238 soldiers and 153 policemen. The Iraqi armed forces said that it killed 189 armed insurgents and arrested 458 more in January.

According to the data, the number of casualties last month is the highest since April 2008, when the figure was 1,073.

UN raps Israel for destroying Palestinian homes

The United Nations has censured the Israeli regime for demolishing 36 Palestinian homes in the Jordan Valley.

James Rawley, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories, released a statement on Friday, calling for a halt in such actions in the occupied West Bank.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing displacement and dispossession of Palestinians… along the Jordan Valley where the number of structures demolished more than doubled in the last year,” Rawley said, adding, “This activity not only deprives Palestinians of access to shelter and basic services, it also runs counter to international law.”

Rawley’s office said more than 1,000 people were displaced in 2013 in the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) after their homes were demolished for not having Israeli permits, “which are virtually impossible to obtain.”

On Thursday, 66 Palestinians, including 36 children, were pushed out of their houses after demolitions in the Jordan Valley community of Ain al-Hilweh, Rawley said.

Meanwhile, around 300 Palestinians, along with some Israeli activists, occupied some abandoned houses near the city of Jericho, also known as Ariha, in the West Bank to protest against Tel Aviv’s expansionist policies.

The protest was staged against the repeated refusal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismantle illegal settlements and agree to a pullout from the Jordan Valley.

NT/MHB/MAM

Israel open fires, 15 Palestinians shot in West Bank, Gaza

January 31:

Israeli soldiers shot and wounded 10 Palestinians near the West Bank town of Ramallah during a protest today over the killing of a teenager, Palestinian medics and security sources said.

In Gaza, meanwhile, medics said five more Palestinians were wounded by Israeli army gunfire near the border fence with Israel.

The sources said the Palestinians in the West Bank were hit by live rounds on the outskirts of Jalazun refugee camp and hospitalised in Ramallah, including one with serious injuries.

Hundreds of Palestinians took part in the protest, many of them hurling rocks at the soldiers.

The demonstration was called to protest at the Israeli army’s killing on Wednesday of Mohammed Mubarak, a 19-year-old from Jalazun working on a project funded by USAID and son of the camp’s locally elected leader.

The army said he was shot dead near a Jewish settlement outside Ramallah after opening fire on them, but witnesses insisted he was unarmed.

Palestinian housing and public works minister Maher Ghneim has condemned what he branded the “cold-blooded killing” of a labourer working on a project run by the ministry in coordination with USAID.

Ghneim said the youth had been “carrying a sign to direct the traffic” when he was shot.

A total of 27 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank in 2013, three times more than the previous year, figures from Israeli rights watchdog B’Tselem showed.

In central Gaza, five Palestinians were shot and wounded today as they threw rocks at soldiers on the other side of the border fence, medics said.

An army spokeswoman, contacted by AFP, said dozens of demonstrators hurled rocks and had approached the fence inside a military exclusion zone.

The soldiers first fired warning shots before targeting the protesters, she said, adding that at least one Palestinian was hit

Aitor Karanka pleased the transfer window has closed

1 Feb 2014 12:04

Aitor Karanka says he’s delighted the January transfer window has closed as he has found January to be particularly demanding

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka

Aitor Karanka says he’s delighted the January transfer window has closed.

The Boro boss said at the start of the month that he wanted to strengthen his squad during the window but would only sign players who were better than the ones he already had.

As a new manager, he’s found January particularly demanding but says it’s all part of the job.

“It will be nice to simply concentrate on preparing the players for matches on the training ground,” he said. “That said, the loan window will open next week! But I’m a manager and it’s part and parcel of the job,” he added. “The important thing is that we improved the squad in January.”

As expected it was a busy transfer deadline day at Rockliffe Park as Steve Gibson and Neil Bausor tried to push through late signings. Boro provisionally agreed a deal with Sunderland to sign Danny Graham on loan for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old, who turned down an approach from Watford in favour of a return to the club where he started his career, joined Hull City on loan at the start of the season.

Graham Dorrans was another player who discussed a move to Boro. The 26-year-old West Brom midfielder turned a move for personal reasons but could well permanent switch in the summer. The surprise story of the day was Marvin Emnes’s proposed switch to Swansea on loan for the rest of the season.

Swansea have been courting Emnes’s signature since he moved to the Liberty Stadium on loan in October 2010.

Swansea chief scout Dave Leadbeater previously worked for Boro and was instrumental in the club signing Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam in July 2008.

He’s kept tabs on Emnes during his time on Teesside and Swansea made a serious attempt to sign him in the summer of 2012. Boro turned down that approach because the player had just enjoyed his best season with the club, scoring 18 Championship goals.

Big Boro Survey: Middlesbrough fans welcome big seats switch

The Riverside re-configuration has seen the away fans moved into the East Stand, home supporters occupy blocks of seats in the South Stand, the creation of a family section in the East Stand and the installation of a big screen.

Half of all supporters who answered the question said they think the stadium re-configuration has worked really well while 41% offered no opinion.

Just 4% said it was a bad idea and the same number offered their own thoughts on the initiative.

Here’s a selection of those comments:

Generally good but, as usual, they’ve been at the expense of season ticket holders in the East Stand. There are just six turnstiles for home East Stand supporters - club not thinking it through.

It’s better than last season.

It’s good but no banter with away fans and still areas of the stadium refuse to sing.

Hasn’t really made a difference.

Red Faction should be placed right behind the goal in top and bottom tiers.

It’s been okay, the fans need to be behind the goal though.

Not enough people going (to games) to assess it properly.

I think it’s split the North Stand which has been bad for the atmosphere and leaves too many empty seats.

I like it. Having been to a number of matches before moving overseas you could see that the atmosphere has been a problem post-Premier League.

The change in configuration is making a difference and the Red Faction is improving the atmosphere.

The South Stand seems completely cut off from the rest of the stadium.

I don’t enjoy sitting near the away fans and feeling intimidated.

My view is great, though. Would like to be more central, but no two seats together on my row.

Dreading Leeds’ visit as the security (bits of tape) are not secure.

Good idea - don’t give the away team/fans any encouragement.

I sit in the East Stand upper and all I see in the three stands around me is empty seats.

North Stand has gone quieter.

Red Faction should be right behind the goal, they create the atmosphere.

My seat is good value but I am sick of having to ask people to move from the exit as my two children cannot see. It is not only me as others have had to ask people to move also.

A lot better when crowds are 18,000-plus. Makes no difference with 13,000 crowds.

Red Faction area looks like away support. Why doesn’t the big screen play replays?

It has been sad to see friends move to enable them to sit with their children, they should have been able to bring their children to them.

Overcrowded in the concourse and the South Stand looks awful.

THE issue of cut-price ticket promotions and other initiatives have proved popular, with 82% agreeing that they are a great idea for getting fans through the turnstiles while almost 14% thought they were unfair on season card holders. The remaining 4.2% offered their own opinions on the offers.

To find out what they think, read on:

It’s missing the point - they should be cheap for every game. We’re an average Championship team and prices should reflect this otherwise attendances will continue to be low and the club will suffer. Offer half price and you’ll fill the ground, plus sell more shirts, pies, beers, programmes etc. It’s basic market forces but the club don’t seem to get it.

While it’s great news for locals who cannot afford normal prices, I do feel for those who have paid up in full. Ideally, ticket prices should be lowered permanently as more people through the gates means more programme sales, more food and drink consumed and overall higher profits for the club.

Great but ticket holders should get something in return.

A great idea but unfair on season card holders.

I think £15 is about the price for normal matchday.

Look at German model - cheap all the time.

Works against those that can only get there on a Saturday.

I don’t know why people complain about it being unfair on the season card holders. I’m one and it’s much better when there are more people in.

The club needs more offers to get the stadium attendances up. Offers should continue even when the team is doing well.

Ticket pricing is the sole reason for low crowds. Individual prices are too high compared to season ticket prices. People cannot always commit to season tickets and the price per game is very high.

Good, but (would like to see) some reduction for following year season tickets.

If Boro fans want Premiership football they must support the team in greater numbers to allow management to buy better players.

It’s a great idea for getting fans in but unfair on season ticket holders so more should be done to reward fans who constantly turn up.

If it brings people in why not consider lowering prices full stop and getting more people through the gate to support the Boro.

It is always good to see bigger crowds so I am happy with the offers. However, as a season ticket holder I am disappointed at the poor implementation of the drinks offer. As I live a distance away I don’t always get there in time for a drink before and have no interest in staying afterwards. It’s a shame I can’t get a hot drink at half time as that is all I want, as a result I have not used a single voucher, the offer is pathetic.

A great idea for getting fans in but still unfair on season card holders.

Movie Review: I, Frankenstein (12A)

1 Feb 2014 11:54

Two hundred years after his shocking creation, Dr. Frankenstein's creature, Adam, still walks the earth. But when he finds himself in the middle of a war over the fate of humanity, Adam discovers he holds the key that could destroy humankind

Aaron Eckhart in I Frankenstein

Dudley-born former prisoner of war turned film-maker James Whale created one of the landmark films in cinema history with Frankenstein (1931) – and he reunited with star Boris Karloff four years later for the seminal sequel, Bride of Frankenstein.

By comparison, it takes less than four minutes to realise that this Underworld-style, graphic novel adaptation won’t keep anyone in the audience sitting bolt upright for long.

Shot in Australia and only the second film after Tomorrow, When the War Began to have been directed by the original Pirates of the Caribbean writer Stuart Beattie, this twisting of the Frankenstein legend never feels right.

Even a decent actor like Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) is unable to make any impression as the artificially-created creature trying to find his purpose in life – but then so did the heavily made up Robert De Niro before him in Kenneth Branagh’s more traditional 1994 version.

In a limp story supposedly reigniting a two-centuries old war between the rival clans of the Demons and the Gargoyles, I Frankenstein feels less like a new Apple product (the iFrank), more like a tenth-rate Batman.

Bill Nighy rarely lets anyone down, but the Love Actually star lacks so much malevolence as the Demons’ bad boy Naberius he reminds us of former MP Michael Heseltine preparing to announce a 1980s-style Enterprise Zone.

While the digital filming is exposed by the flimsy 3D, the sound architecture works better, particularly through the incredibly long credits which finally say: ‘Thanks to Mary Shelley’.

She’s the 19th century author (1797-1851) whose original book was first published anonymously in 1818.

Next January there will be yet another Frankenstein film, with James McAvoy starring as Victor Von Frankenstein alongside Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe as Igor.

Shelley really did create a monster!

Movie Review: That Awkward Moment (15)

1 Feb 2014 11:47

In support of a friend devastated by a recent breakup, three guys vow to maintain their single status for as long as possible

That Awkward Moment. Pictured: Zac Efron as Jason

Times have moved on in the 20 years since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were starring in old fashioned romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle (PG) – which returns to cinemas on Valentine’s Day.

If you believe the premise here, young people can now be sleeping together for several weeks without even being sure if they are dating.

Written and debut-directed by Tom Gormican and featuring lots of engaging pavement shots in New York, the story revolves around three best friends who are all at similar make-or-break points in their different types of relationships.

Will they, won’t they, should they keep them going... or will the grass be greener with somebody else?

Playing like an explicit, junior equivalent of Sex And The City combined with the emotional immaturity that Adam Sandler delivers with his own style of ensemble movies, the film’s plot lines are messy and unfocused.

But that’s partly a desire to offer a fly-on-the-wall view.

As long as you don’t mind the often adult and sometimes rather smutty tone of the humour, there’s a sufficient underlying sweetness in store to hold the attention of under 25s with a similar disposition.

While Mikey (Michael B Jordan) wonders if he can sustain his marriage to Vera (Jessica Lucas) having married young, Jason (Zac Efron) and co-worker Daniel (Miles Teller) are both keen to keep playing the field – and respectively wondering where new acquaintance Ellie (Imogen Poots) and best friend Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis) will lead them.

The London-born Me and Orson Welles star Poots offers greater depth than Efron, who tries so hard to make it look as if he can struggle to attract women that he wears a Norton motorcycle T-shirt and dreams of ‘restoring a Jaguar XK-E’ (the E-Type).

Perhaps it’s his way of saying he finds British engineering sexy.

Shay Given heading back to Aston Villa after failing to extend loan deal

1 Feb 2014 11:45

Shay Given will return to Aston Villa at the end of the month after Boro failed to push through an extension to his current loan deal

Shay Given

Shay Given will return to Aston Villa at the end of the month after Boro failed to push through an extension to his current loan deal.

The club have been involved in protracted negotiations with Aston Villa throughout the transfer window but finally admitted defeat yesterday afternoon.

Given, 37, joined Boro on an initial one month emergency loan on November 28 and that deal was extended by a further two months on New Year’s Day.

For the vastly-experienced Irishman to stay until the end of the season, a deal would have had to be agreed before the January window closed at 11pm last night.

The Gazette understands that negotiations broke down for financial reasons.

Given is believed to be earning in the region of £50,000 per week and Boro are simply unable to match that kind of salary - or a significant percentage of it - even over a short-term contract.

He will be able to play in the Championship fixtures against Doncaster, Blackburn, Watford and Leeds before returning to Villa and by then Jason Steele should have fully recovered from his ankle injury. Boro also have the option of signing another keeper on loan during the emergency window, which opens at the end of next week.

Meanwhile, Faris Haroun has revealed that he turned down offers from abroad to sign for Blackpool. The Belgium midfielder parted company with Boro on Thursday. His contract - which was due to expire in the summer - was cancelled by mutual consent and that meant the player was a free agent.

Prior to that, Blackpool had been trying to thrash out a loan deal for Haroun but were unable to agree terms.

But, after ending his two-and-a-half year stay with Boro, the 28-year-old agreed a contract with the Tangerines that runs until the end of the season. He links up with former clubmate Tony McMahon, who has also signed up with Blackpool until the summer.

Haroun, who played just 29 minutes for Boro this season, coming off the bench in the opening day defeat to Leicester, said: “I had a lot of offers out of the UK - maybe those offers were for more money - but I was waiting for a good club to take me because I want to stay here.

“When I had the call from the coach to come and join Blackpool it was an easy choice.”

Convicted double killer Mark Robinson 'kicked off' after bread ration cut

1 Feb 2014 11:40

A convicted double murderer from Teesside “kicked off” in prison, after his bread ration was cut, leaving five officers needing hospital treatment

Convicted double murderer Mark Robinson

A convicted double murderer from Teesside “kicked off” in prison, after his bread ration was cut, leaving five officers needing hospital treatment.

Killer Mark Robinson told one supervising officer at HMP Wakefield he was unhappy after his bread quota was changed, from two loaves weekly to being given two to three slices a day instead, to be kept in a plastic container for freshness.

As he was being taken back to his cell from collecting a meal in the “close supervision centre” which houses some of the country’s most dangerous offenders, 20-stone Robinson told an officer: “I’m not happy with the bread situation boss.”

Christopher Jackson, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday the officer said he would print off a notice explaining the situation for Robinson - but he only responded: “Well I’m not happy and I might kick off”.

Within seconds Robinson, who is over six feet tall, threw his tray up in the air and kicked the officer in the groin so hard it lifted him up off the ground.

Other officers then went to his assistance including Craig Dudley who was punched in the face with such force it broke his nose. He subsequently had to have his nose reset in hospital and surgery to remove cartilage to help his breathing.

It took 10 officers to subdue Robinson in the end, including one who suffered a perforated eardrum and a total of five were treated in hospital.

The court heard prisoners had been unsettled in the centre in December 2011 because of staff changes, with regular officers being replaced by some new ones, which upset prisoners who liked to see the same faces. The food change then added to the issue.

Robinson, originally from Billingham, was only 17 when he was first convicted of murdering a 32-year-old married neighbour Patricia Wagner after confronting her at her home.

He served a life sentence, was released and killed again, this time for repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend Sharon Morley, 25. He was then ordered to serve a whole life tariff.

Robinson, now 52, refused to leave his cell at the jail yesterday to appear on a video link to Leeds Crown Court and was sentenced to three years in his absence for assaulting Mr Dudley and affray to run concurrent with his present sentence.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said Robinson was clearly a “very dangerous man”. That was not the first time he had behaved in a violent way towards staff in prison having twice before been sentenced for attacks on officers, including one at a previous prison.

The incident, in 2011, had taken so long to reach court because of the medical affect on Mr Dudley, among others, that day.

He said the public might wonder why such incidents were charged when under current legislation Robinson would never be released “but we live under the rule of law in this country and such crimes will be prosecuted.”

Movie Review: Out Of The Furnace (15)

1 Feb 2014 11:39

Russell Baze has a rough life: he works a dead-end blue collar job at the local steel mill by day, and cares for his terminally ill father by night

Out Of The Furnace. Pictured: Christian Bale as Russel Baze

He's just been Oscar nominated for American Hustle, but the brilliant Christian Bale returns with some fresh facial fuzz and a deadly desire for vengeance.

The all-star action is set in similar post-industrial, Pennsylvanian territory to last week’s Stallone thriller Grudge Match, except this is ten times the harder-hitting movie.

It’s inspired by life in Braddock, a ‘Rust Belt’ town where the real life mayor’s tattoos include the names of local murder victims.

Everyone’s struggling in the dying economy, except, perhaps, for Edward Kennedy who is batting on TV for Barack Obama ‘to restore America’.

Following an opening which signals the heinous brutality of bearded bruiser Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson), everything seems to be blue – from the workers’ collars to the bed sheets, jeans, trucks, factories, t-shirts, caps, doors and, of course, tattoos.

Steel mill worker Russell Baze (Bale) tries to help with his brother’s debt, only for post traumatic stress disorder sufferer Rodney (Casey Affleck) to be incapable of throwing a fight he’s lured into by Petty (Willem Dafoe).

As the heat is turned up on Rodney, how will Russell deal with the risks to himself?

Looking totally unlike his fattened persona in American Hustle, the unrestrained Bale offers explosive unpredictability fuelled by family loyalties.

Directed by Scott Cooper, whose debut film Crazy Heart (2010) finally turned its veteran star Jeff Bridges into a best actor Oscar winner, the hand-held camera-work overseen by Japanese cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi (Silver Linings Playbook) is of an engrossingly high standard.

Furnace tries to blend The Deer Hunter sensibilities with Fight Club’s punch-ups, while using Harrelson’s tattooed fists to reference Robert Mitchum in the recent re-released 1955 noir classic, The Night of the Hunter.

But the over-arced plot under uses the Oscar-winning Forest Whitaker as police chief Wesley, who is seeing Russell’s teacher girlfriend Linda (Avatar’s Zoe Saldana).

£1.2m could end flood woes for residents near Lustrum Beck

1 Feb 2014 11:20

Flood relief could be on the way for fed-up residents in Stockton if the Government signs off £1.2m next week to improve defences at Lustrum Beck

Lustrum Beck's levels rise

Flood relief could be on the way for fed-up residents in Stockton if the Government signs off £1.2m next week to improve defences at Lustrum Beck.

And a leading Stockton councillor is “quietly confident” that the much-needed cash will be approved.

An announcement is expected following the Environment Agency main board meeting on Thursday.

Properties in the Lustrum Beck area were among those worst affected during the 2012 Autumn floods.

Stockton has already secured £415,000 from the North-East local levy to pay for a smaller scheme to reduce the risk of flooding at Brown’s Bridge.

But the Environment Agency (EA) and Stockton Council have also submitted a bid for £1.2m which would enable further flood defence and alleviation work to be undertaken for the beck.

The causes of flooding in the area are complex and involve both surface water flooding as well as river flooding.

Scores of family homes were left swamped in September 2012 after Stockton was hit by the worst flooding in 30 years.

David Rose, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member of environment at Stockton Council, said: “If we get this funding, added to the £415,000 we have already secured from the regional Local Levy it means there will be £1.6m available to finally carry out major works to help protect properties from Lustrum Beck flooding.

“We saw back in September 2012 the devastating effect when the beck burst its banks and we have been working hard over the last couple of years to try and get the funding needed.

“The Coalition Government has cut the national flood defences budget substantially since 2010, despite flood defences on average preventing £8 in future flood damages per £1 spent.

“We are doing everything we can to try and get the funding needed to better protect Stockton residents’ properties and I am hopeful the Government will agree this indicative allocation.

“People have told me that flood defences for Lustrum Beck have been discussed for more than a decade, but I am quietly confident that the vital need - as demonstrated by the impacts in 2012 - will finally be recognised.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Council, added: “Everyone is hopeful we will secure this vital funding.

“We are determined to do all we can to help people affected by flooding and the valuable work by politicians, officers and the Environment Agency highlights that tackling the effects of climate change go hand in hand with tackling social inclusion.”

Scarlett Johansson resigns from Oxfam over contract with a settlement-based Israeli firm

US actress Scarlett Johansson announced that she has quit her role as an ambassador for Oxfam, an international organisation that fights against poverty, after insisting on promoting an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim.

Oxfam said in a statement that it has accepted Johansson’s resignation, adding that “while Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms Johansson’s role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador,” according to the United Press International news agency.

Oxfam argues that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in Israeli settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities.

The organisation noted that it opposes all forms of trade with the Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.

Johansson cited a fundamental difference of opinion with Oxfam as a reason for her resignation.

Her television advert for SodaStream International will premiere on 2 February during the Super Bowl, the final match of the American Football season.

Last week, Johansson justified working with the Israeli company by saying that she is not the face of any Israeli social or political movement nor a supporter of discrimination, but instead a strong proponent of economic co-operation and social interaction between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The actress had been active with Oxfam since 2005 and became its global ambassador in 2007.

Changing climate killing baby penguins: Scientists

Climate change, which leads to more extreme weather, is claiming the lives of baby penguins, a long-term study suggests.

The research, which was published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday, said that drenching rainstorms as well as unusual heat have killed a large number of young Magellanic penguins at the bottom tip of South America.

The chicks that are very vulnerable when they are nine to 23 days old are also too big for their parents to protect and too young to have grown waterproof feathers.

If the youngsters get soaked they usually die despite the attention of their parents, scientists said.

The study revealed that over a 27-year period, an average of 65 percent of chicks died yearly.

About 40 percent of baby penguins starved to death while climate change was responsible for killing an average of seven percent of chicks per year.

However, changing climate killed 43 and 50 percent of all new chicks in two extreme weather years.

The research was conducted in Punta Tombo peninsula in Argentina, at the world’s largest breeding area for Magellanic penguins.

“It’s the first long-term study to show climate change having a major impact on chick survival and reproductive success,” said lead author Dee Boersma, who is a biology professor at the University of Washington.

Some 200,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins make their nests on the peninsula every year and stay there in arid conditions from September until February to hatch their young.

The number of storms at the breeding site in the first two weeks of December, when the babies are less than 25 days old, rose between 1983 and 2010.

“Penguins live in the desert and what’s really happening with these rain storms, they are turning their nests into swimming pools and they really don’t like to be wet,” added Boersma.

“We’re going to see years where almost no chicks survive if climate change makes storms bigger and more frequent during vulnerable times of the breeding season as climatologists predict,” stated co-author Ginger Rebstock.

Meanwhile, in a separate research also published in PLOS ONE, scientists showed that changes in sea-ice have an impact on Adelie penguins in Antarctica.

They discovered that in normal conditions, the penguins have no problem in finding food at relatively low sea-ice concentrations. However, these penguins will face major difficulties in coping with infrequent, extreme environmental events such as the presence of giant icebergs.

Lead researcher Amelie Lescroel from the French National Center for Scientific Research said extreme environmental events “such as the calving of giant icebergs, can dramatically modify the relationship between Adelie penguins and sea ice.”

MR/NN

Your Daily Muslim: Ghazala Ditta

Ghazala Ditta

It’s my 25th birthday, so that’s why there’s a post on a Saturday. Enjoy!

UK Muslimah Ghazala Ditta (pronounced something like “guzzler ditz”) and four of her five sisters are a horde of rampaging, jealous bitches. One of Ghazala’s sisters, Nazma, wasn’t as unfortunate in terms of appearance as the rest of the family, and had managed to find someone. The family had one slight problem with the person Nazma chose – she was female.

Nazma’s devout Muslim family had been planning on marrying her off in an arranged marriage. Before you ask, yes, she was supposed to marry her own cousin. It’s surprising that Nazma, age 27, had not already been married off at half that age, as is common in Islam. When Ghazala found out about Nazma’s lesbian relationship, instead of being understanding and supportive like a sister should be, instead the Muslimah flew into a violent rage. She immediately recruited her braindead-looking hamplanet sister Atfah (picture below) as well as her sister Nighat and brother Tahmoor to help restore the family’s honor, which was somehow being violated through Nazma’s consensual relationship. Ghazala left a threatening voicemail for Nazma, calling her a “selfish stupid bitch” and saying “just wait ’til I get a hold of you.”

Atfah Ditta the hamplanet

Ghazala, Nighat, Tahmoor, and ninja-costume-clad Atfah descended upon Nazma’s girlfriend, Sarah, as she left work in Blackburn, Lancashire. Tahmoor brought a metal rod, a Magic Muslim Peace Wand™, with which he delivered the peace of Islam unto the frightened Sarah’s body. The female Muslims used typical female fighting techniques like shin-kicking and hair-pulling. The Muslims tried to force Sarah into their car and also stole her handbag during the attack. One of the Muslims said, “You’ve messed with the wrong Muslims. We’re going to kill you.” Luckily for Sarah, the attack occurred in public, in broad daylight, and she managed to get away. She and Nazma have had to relocate due to the potential for future violence from Nazma’s family.

Ghazala and her violent kin were sentenced to five to six years each, despite their lawyer’s argument that they did it out of a misguided love for their sister. That sounds like a flavor of the leftist political-correctness “cultural differences” crap often used to get guilty Muslims off the hook.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related