US to send 1,300 troops to Iraq

Washington is to send 1,300 soldiers to Iraq next month to train Iraqi security forces, the Pentagon announced on Friday. The announcement was made in a media conference by the Press Secretary of the US Defence Department, John Kirby.

According to Kirby, the deployment will begin in late January to help security forces on the ground in the fight against ISIS. The troops are part of the additional 1,500 troops that President Barack Obama authorised in November.

The US is leading an international alliance against ISIS, which controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

US Congress passes bill increasing weapons in Israel by $200 million

The US Senate has unanimously passed a bill supplying Israel with military equipment that would enable it to execute an air strike on Iran. The bill, titled the US-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, includes the sale of advanced aerial refueling tankers, which refuel fighter jets in midflight – necessary for Israeli fighter jets to reach targets in Iran. This is particularly noteworthy since the Bush administration had refused to provide Israel with refueling tankers.

The sale of the refueling tankers follows a 2013 arms sale to Israel that included V-22 Ospreys. Kenneth Pollack of the Brookings Institution stated shortly after the sale that Ospreys are “the ideal platform for sending Israeli special forces into Iran.”

The bill, which was also passed in the House earlier this year, expands the US weapons stockpile in Israel by a value of $200 million, to a total of $1.8 billion. Israel used weapons from this stockpile during its most recent military operation against Gaza, “Operation Protective Edge.” Israel also used the stockpile during its 2006 invasion of Lebanon.

The bill has generated concern among experts. Mike Coogan, legislative coordinator at US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, told us that the air refueling capabilities, expanded satellite cooperation, and access to US satellite data that the bill would grant Israel “sounds quite dangerous.”

“It sounds like a formula for attacking Iran.”

The bill may also be in violation of the Leahy Law, which prohibits US weapons exports to military units responsible for consistent human rights violations. Israel’s most recent major military offensive, “Protective Edge,” would seem to have violated elementary human rights.

Richard Falk, former UN special rapporteur on Palestinian rights and professor of international law at Princeton, at the time of the operation remarked, “the evidence that I’m aware of suggests the commission of serious crimes against humanity and war crimes in the course of this operation.”

The UN high commissioner for human rights likewise suggested that there was “a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes.” The UN secretary general condemned the high civilian death toll Israel inflicted upon the Palestinians: “I condemn this atrocious action. Israel must exercise maximum restraint and do far more to protect civilians.” Amnesty International called on the UN to “impose an arms embargo on Israel/Gaza.”

Andrew Feinstein, former minister of Parliament for South Africa and arms industry expert, told us that the bill is “in flagrant violation of the International Arms Trade Treaty, which the US supported and which prohibits the export of weaponry to countries engaged in conflict or where conflicts are likely to be extended or intensified by such exports.”

“It is further proof of the heinous role that the US plays as the biggest seller of weapons globally and reminds us again of US complicity in the continued occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people, which violates numerous international laws, conventions and UN resolutions. Israel continues to act as a shop window for US weapons at the cost of the lives of thousands of innocent Palestinians.”

Coogan was also critical of the expanded access to weapons stockpiles that the bill would afford Israel. He said, “it’s morally, financially, and legally problematic to continue to give Israel access to the weapons stockpiles, particularly in light of how they used them in their war on Gaza this summer.”

“It looked like, for a time, the Obama admin actually suspended a shipment of weapons to Israel – specifically, hellfire missiles – but then apparently started to resend those. But the thought behind the original suspension was that Israel was using it in violation of international law and US law.”

“I think it was shown by numerous human rights organizations that Israel was using ammunition stored in those forward-deployed stockpiles in clear violation of US and int’l law. So it’s a mystery to us why a country of laws – purportedly – would continue to give Israel access to weapons that it uses in flagrant violations of those laws.”

Retired political science professor and Israel expert Norman Finkelstein told us that the significance of the bill is that, “for all the bad blood between Obama and Netanyahu, nothing fundamental has changed in the US-Israel strategic relationship.”

This article previously appeared in Reader Supported News

Ken Klippenstein is a journalist at Reader Supported News. He can be reached on Twitter @kenklippenstein or via email: ken@readersupportednews.org

Paul Gottinger is an independent journalist whose work focuses on the Middle East and the arms industry. He can be reached on Twitter @paulgottinger or via email: paul.gottinger@gmail.com

World Bank: Six countries lost $35bn due to Syrian war and ISIS

Countries east of the Mediterranean Sea have sustained economic losses amounting to $35 billion due to the Syrian war and the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), the World Bank revealed.

The countries include Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

In a study by the World Bank, a copy of which was obtained by the Anadolu Agency today, the Bank reported that the overall economic size of these countries could have grown by $35 billion if the war had not erupted. The report also explained that the total cost of the war is equivalent to Syria’s GDP in 2007.

The World Bank said the losses were not evenly distributed as some countries were affected more by the wars than the others as they felt the brunt of the direct economic costs.

Syria and Iraq’s per capita losses amounted to 23 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.

The embargo on trade with Syria is a major factor behind the direct costs, and this was followed by a decline in the labour force, particularly in skilled labour, due to casualties, refugees leaving the country, destruction of infrastructure, and a spike in the cost of trade activity in conflict areas.

Other countries also sustained losses in their GDP as the flow of refugees into Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey resulted in more consumption and investment as well as a larger labour force.

The study added that in all cases, the average per capita income grew by less than the population growth rate and that the war has affected living standards. The average per capita income declined by 11 per cent in Lebanon and by 1.5 per cent in Turkey, Egypt and Jordan compared to the levels that could have been reached if the war did not break out.

The report noted that the assessment did not take into consideration the financial costs of providing basic services to refugees in the host countries or the cost of allowing refugees to use the infrastructure facilities, which may be very large for countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, as they have received the largest numbers of refugees.

It also did not take into consideration the future cost arising from the large number of deaths and the reconstruction of the physical assets and human capital, which is likely to be very high, especially in Syria

Leaked CIA document reveals setbacks of targeted killings

WASHINGTON: The US government’s program to capture and kill insurgent leaders can backfire, a leaked CIA report, citing “limited” results in Afghanistan in particular.

The July 2009 document released by WikiLeaks tackles the pros and cons of “high value targeting” (HVT) operations conducted “against specific individuals or networks.”

The 18-page report was made under former CIA director Leon Panetta just months before President Barack Obama ordered a “surge” of troops in a bid to reverse the Taleban insurgency, defeat Al-Qaeda and quicken an end to the war in Afghanistan. The report categorized the program’s contribution to counterinsurgency success in Afghanistan as “limited.”

“The Taleban has a high overall ability to replace lost leaders,” it said.

“The government’s limited influence outside of Kabul has impeded integration of high-value targeting (HVT) efforts” it concluded, adding that Taleban leaders’ use of sanctuary in Pakistan had “also complicated the HVT effort.”

But, it said, the tactics were successful in driving Osama bin Laden into hiding, where he adopted a low-key profile “including his reliance on low-technology communications, his reluctance to meet with subordinates, and his contentment with leading from a sequestered distance.”

The report suggests that the tendency of some insurgent groups to adapt to attacks means that targeting logistics and finances “can in some circumstances be more effective than targeting the group’s leadership structure.”

In the fight against al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), only when HVT operations were combined with “broader Coalition and Iraqi Sunni actions… such as efforts to cut AQI off from its support base,” did the movement began losing steam.

HVT tactics were effective in weakening insurgents by reducing insurgent will, splitting the group, or strengthening government morale and support, the report said.

“HVT operations can play a useful role when they are part of a broader counterinsurgency strategy,” the document said.

The report, which details the success and failure of the method across a number of groups worldwide, highlights the “decisive use” of HVT against the Shining Path in Peru, whose founder and senior leadership were captured in 1992.

Shining Path “remnants have tried to regain traction since the early 1990s but have been unable to overcome the setbacks of a movement built around a cult of personality,” it said.

But the CIA document enumerated a list of potentially negative effects including “increasing insurgent support, causing a government to neglect other aspects of its counterinsurgency strategy, (and) provoking insurgents to alter strategy or organization in ways that favor the insurgents.”

Northern League: Late drama at Thornaby while Marske hit seven and Stokesley and Guisborough both win

Norton needed a late own goal to salvage a 1-1 draw in an all-action derby at Thornaby this afternoon as Marske enjoyed the best Northern League result on Teesside by a country mile in claiming a magnificent 7-0 win at Whitley Bay.

Fifth-placed Guisborough racked up a fine 2-1 victory at Shildon while Billingham Synthonia lost 3-1 at home to Bishop Auckland, Stokesley won 4-2 at Brandon and Billingham Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Chester-le-Street.

Thornaby and Norton got stuck into each other in typical second division derby fashion at Teesdale Park as they kept referee Adam Williamson occupied throughout.

The hosts were the better side by some distance in a goalless first half with Danny Lofts and Jason Honeyman drawing saves from David Knight, and Curtis Edwards was not too far wide with an audacious effort from near the halfway line before Lofts curled narrowly wide.

Norton could only manage a conifer-clearing Marcus Laing effort in the opening 45 minutes and found themselves a goal down two minutes after the break as Laing brought down Lofts for a penalty.

Referee Williamson enraged the Thornaby bench when he only showed last man Laing a yellow card, but Jamie Clarke showed a cool head after the rumpus died down as he beat Knight from the spot.

Full-blooded tackles and yellow cards continued to flow at a steady rate in the second half and when Danny O’Brien shoved Thornaby left-beck Conna Jones to the ground the incident triggered a free-for-all involving both sets of players.

Norton began to got more and more into the game having brought on frontman Anthony Hume - re-signed from Guisborough this morning - and former Thornaby striker Gary Mitchell.

Thornaby keeper Michael Duff made a great save from a Karl Charlton header and another at the feet of Michael Jameson as the Ancients enjoyed increasing pressure.

But he was powerless to prevent Norton’s 87th minute equaliser as Mitchell fired the ball on target from the left and otherwise excellent Thornaby centre-half Sean Davies turned it into his own net off his knees.

Marcus Laing, white, who brought down Danny Lofts, right, for Thornaby's penalty

Thornaby manager Paul Edwards said: “Overall, I thought a 1-1 draw was a fair result.

“I thought we were very good in the first half but they didn’t let us play the same way in the second half.

“I felt sorry for the back four because they defended so well, and if we had showed a bit more composure on the ball in the second half like we did in the first, we might have seen the win out.

“But that’s why Norton win so many games, they keep going.”

Thornaby are still ninth while Norton are now third after being overtaken by Washington - 3-2 winners at Heaton Stannington.

Ancients boss Andy Campbell said: “If the game had gone on another five minutes I think we would have won it.

“We created enough chances in the second half to win two games.

“We were sloppy at the end of the first half and at the start of the second half and probably deserved to go 1-0 down.

“That said I was delighted to get a point. That's what we’ve said all along - win at home and draw away.”

Stokesley take back-to-back wins into their Boxing Day derby at Thornaby after Gez Richardson (two), Matty Dunford and debutant Jack Rose scored for them at bottom of the table Brandon.

The visitors should have been home and hosed in the first half after creating numerous chances but went into the break level at 2-2 after they conceded through individual errors either side of a Richardson header and finish.

Stokesley went 3-2 up with Dunford firing home at the end of a good move, and visiting keeper Paul Clements saved a penalty as Brandon began to bombard them.

But Brandon's decision to push their keeper up for a corner as they searched for an equaliser proved costly as Rose picked up possession and sprinted the length of the pitch to tap Stokesley’s fourth into an empty net.

Norton captain Michael Jameson, white, and Curtis Edwards tussle in midfield

Stokesley are now only two points behind Billingham Town, who were unfortunate not to beat Chester-le-Street in front of another good crowd at the Evolution Arena.

Town hit the crossbar twice through Daniel Ballantyne and Nathan Mohun before taking the lead when fit-again Joel Callender hammered home a 70th minute shot.

But Chester-le-Street salvaged a point six minute from time when Scott Heslop buried a penalty.

Town are at Norton on Boxing Day.

Marske have now passed the 100-goal mark in all competitions this season after battering Whitley Bay to remain within striking distance of leaders West Auckland in Division One.

The Seasiders were poor in midweek as they lost 3-0 at Penrith, but whatever manager Carl Jarrett said before today’s game had the desired effect as seven different scorers found the back of the net.

Liam O’Sullivan, Sam Garvie and Reece Kelly struck to give Marske a 3-0 cushion at half time.

Jamie Owens, Danny Brunskill, Josh MacDonald and Craig Gott added further goals in the second half to leave Bay shellshocked.

Guisborough are just a point behind third-placed Marske in fifth heading into the sides’ Boxing Day derby at the GER Stadium, and are now unbeaten in their last six league games following their 2-1 win at Shildon.

Defensive midfielder Adam Gell and top scorer Danny Earl scored the Priorymen’s goals.

Three goals in 21 first half minutes cost struggling Billingham Synthonia as Bishop Auckland left Central Avenue with a 3-1 victory.

John Butler got Bishops’ first two, pouncing on rebounds following saves from on-loan Boro keeper Joe Fryer, and Kyle Davis tapped in their third.

Synners were much improved in the second half even though the damage had already been done, and they managed to pull back a consolation goal when substitute Chris Dodds whipped the loose ball home after Kris Hughes hit the post.

View: Ursula Cassidy joins The Gazette's Camera Club

VIEW GALLERY

Every day The Gazette features the very best of pictures sent to us from readers around Teesside.

We’ve been so impressed we launched Camera Club, a regular feature in which we profile different photographers, find out a bit more about them and share a selection of their latest shots.

To have your pictures featured visit http://ift.tt/1oEfB6I

Name :  Ursula Cassidy

Where are you from ? Middlesbrough

Tell us a little bit about yourself : I’m a registered childminder. I have three grown up children. I was brought up in Billingham and left to work in Middlesbrough. I have a twin brother, who is 51.

What do you like taking pictures of ?  Mainly sun rises.

To be featured in Camera Club click on this link

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Hartlepool United confirm interest in convicted rapist Ched Evans

Hartlepool United manager Ronnie Moore has confirmed he is interested in signing convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Evans, who was released from prison in October, had seen a return to former club Sheffield United collapse recently after a backlash.

The 25-year-old was rumoured to be considering retiring from football in the coming weeks, but League Two side Hartlepool now say they’re considering signing him.

Boss Moore admitted: “If it could happen for me, I would want it to happen.

“There is no doubt about that. He is a proven goalscorer.

“He has served his time for me and the boy wants to play football.

“If there is a chance that he might come here, and I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t.

“I know what will happen now, everybody will me groaning and you see what happened at Sheffield United.’’

And Moore added: “You keep pushing the lad away. He made a mistake and maybe he hasn’t made the apology in the right way and there is a case pending on the appeal.

“On the football matters, if he gets on the park he will go a long way to getting us out of trouble, that’s for sure.

“It is a possibility, I would leave it at that for now.”

The news is likely to spark the debate once again as to whether Evans should be allowed to return to the pitch, having previously been found guilty of raping a girl in a hotel in 2011.

Togadia pushes for anti-conversion law

Top VHP leader Pravin Togadia today called for enacting an anti-conversion law and criticised political parties for disrupting Parliament over the issue of religious conversion.

“At one point of time, the entire world was Hindu, but now there are just 100 crore Hindus. Currently, 82 per cent of the population in India consists of Hindus. If we don’t create awareness and take steps (to stop conversion), in a few decades this number will drop to 46 per cent,” he claimed.

The VHP International Working President was speaking at a ‘Hindu Sammelan’ organised here as part of the right-wing organisation’s golden jubilee year of formation.

“If conversions are wrong, then why political parties are not passing an anti-conversion law?” asked Togadia.

He criticised leaders of those political parties which had been disrupting Parliament over reports of conversion in Agra recently.

Togadia reiterated the VHP’s long-standing demand for construction of a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya, saying the issue is linked to the “honour” of the majority community.

–PTI

Aitor Karanka: 'Everything was wrong with our performance, this is an alarm to wake us up'

Aitor Karanka said he was "embarrassed" by his team's performance against Ipswich Town.

The hosts ran out emphatic 2-0 winners at Portman Road as Boro slipped from second to fourth in the Championship table.

It was only the club's second defeat in 17 matches and the result ended an eight-game unbeaten run.

Ipswich took the lead through Daryl Murphy in the 25 minute and Jay Tabb made it 2-0 in first half stoppage time.

Karanka pulled no punches in his assessment of his team's performance but did admit the result could proved to be a useful reality check after several impressive victories.

"I have two feelings about this game," he said.

"Firstly, I am embarrassed because the performance was very, very poor and, secondly, I am – not pleased, because when you lose a game you can't be pleased or happy – but I think we needed a result like this.

"That's because one week ago we were at the Riverside and I think the players were thinking we are a Premier League team or a Champions League team, but now I think this is a good alarm for us to wake up and know where we are and who we are."

What particularly angered Karanka was the nature of Ipswich's goals and the fact that 18-year-old Teddy Bishop was one of their best players.

Action Images

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka

"Everything was wrong," said the Boro boss.

"We showed the players many images of Murphy and told them for 10 or 15 minutes in a meeting that he is their top scorer. Then, the first ball he gets, he scores one goal.

"Then, Bishop, 18-years-old, is the best player on the pitch and he is joking with our players because he was playing in the way that he wanted to play.

"Also, the player who scored with a header (Tabb) was something like 5ft 5 ins. They wanted to win the game and we again have thought we are better than we are.

"That's the most important message, the attitude has to be right.

"The attitude was not good and that is something that we have to change for the next game on Friday.

"We have seen that when this team has a bad performance the following one is good so I would like to think we will be good against Nottingham Forest.

"It's impossible to take anything good from today - but this is a good alarm to wake us up."

Recap: Ipswich v Boro at Portman Road

The victory over promotion rivals Derby may have only been worth three points, but the manner of the win showcased how strong a force Boro are this season.

The 2-0 scoreline hardly flattered the hosts, and it’s now two wins in a row for Aitor Karanka’s men after the 5-1 demolition of Millwall.

A stunning recent run has seen Ipswich Town soar into the Championship promotion picture and a win tomorrow could send Mick McCarthy’s dark horses top of the division.

US, West Europe largest arms producers in 2013: Report

A recent study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that the United States and Western European countries were the biggest producers of weapons and military hardware in 2013, Press TV reports.

According to the data released by SIPRI during a press conference in the Belgian capital, Brussels, the weapon manufacturing industry was worth 325 billion euros last year, a figure 45 percent higher than it was a decade ago.

The study suggests that the US and Britain were the biggest suppliers of arms in 2013, with France and Italy also playing a major role in the industry.

“Yes, it is very clear that some of the transactions, especially on the international sales level, make it very difficult to see where the money [and] how the money is being employed. But again, companies report their sales and then we estimate the real value of the arms sales in this revenue and we publish it,” SIPRI arms and trade expert Aude Fleurant told the Press TV correspondent.

The independent international institute also said that there was a serious lack of transparency and corruption in the global arms industry.

Previous reports show that corruption in the industry is worth about 16 billion euros annually, as American and British weapon manufacturers are supplying arms to countries with records of corruption on government levels.

Meanwhile, analysts and anti-war campaigners say the US, the UK, and France are also the most morally bankrupt nations as far as arms trading is concerned, and that they are willing to provide any country with military hardware in return for the right price.

The US and the UK have been slammed for supplying arms to the Israeli regime, which repeatedly carries out deadly attacks against Palestinians, and a number of African countries with poor human rights records.

SZH/HJL/MHB

Frozen-themed activity day brings joy to autistic children at Norton based charity

For most children, Christmas means taking part in and enjoying a variety of festive activities.

From school nativities and concerts, to Christmas parties and pantos.

But children affected by autism can often miss out on all of these magical moments, as they are unable to cope with the noise and occasional chaos that comes with them.

Today, Norton based charity Daisy Chain, gave some of these children and their families the opportunity to take part in a special Frozen-themed activity day.

Held at Calf Fallow Farm, 80 children of all ages - many of them in fancy dress - enjoyed an indoor snow storm, arts and crafts and a sing-a-long session with characters from the hit Disney film.

Mum-of-three, Jacquie Mealing, enjoyed the day with her 10-year-old son Ben Bosomworth.

The 45-year-old from Eston said: “Events like this are really important because Ben and the others can just be themselves.

“The whole atmosphere and sheer happiness you can see and feel is amazing.

“We have been coming to the Saturday sessions for the last four years and what is also good about today, is that the staff have kept to the same routine as usual which is very important for people with autism.

“For example, Ben always has a computer session when he is here in the afternoon and he will still get that.”

Claire Carter from Thornaby took her three children for some frozen fun.

The 31-year-old said: “It really has been fantastic but they always do really good days here.

“It is really important for us to have a day like this.

“The children can be themselves and it really has been a godsend for us to be able to come.”

Daisy Chain Team Leader, Laura Leaf, spent the last five months organising the day but has no regrets.

The 32-year-old said: “All the hard work is worth it when you see the looks on the children’s faces.

“It really has been good and so far the children have loved it.

“To see them out there having so much fun is really great, especially at this time of year as they can miss out on things at school.

“Today is more autism friendly and it is also a nice day out for the families as it is more stress free for parents.”

Amanda Dalkin, Care Manager, said: “It is really important that our families have somewhere they can feel comfortable.

“Most of the families here today come every week, this is just an extra special day.

“We have kept the routine and activities the same but given them a Frozen theme.”

Local estate agent Michael Poole, who sponsored the event, added: “We try to do as much as we can for local charities and if we can do something, we can make a difference.

“Today, you can see how much the children are enjoying themselves and it has gone really well.”

Bogus builder preys on elderly Ormesby woman instructing her to hand over £800

An elderly lady fell prey to a bogus builder who convinced her to hand over £800.

The incident happened between 10am and 11am on Friday, when the suspect went to a house in Spring Garden Lane, Ormesby.

He convinced a pensioner she needed to pay for work, which police believe was never carried out.

The bogus builder - described as being in his late 40s, stocky build with curly, ginger hair - then drove the vulnerable lady to Yorkshire Bank, on the High Street in Eston, in a blue, saloon car and instructed her to withdraw £800.

Vigilant bank staff alerted the Police but unfortunately the man left the scene before police were called.

Anyone with information should call 101 or contact PC 2214 Lightowler on brian.lightowler@cleveland.pnn.police.uk.

There’s a gai in nilgai so BJP in a fix, both in Centre and state

Written by Jay Mazoomdaar

When Vasundhara Raje visited Ranthambore early this year, she was confronted by angry farmers complaining about the large-scale destruction of their crop by herds of nilgai. The Chief Minister promised action, saying there were rules that clearly permitted culling in such cases. And yet, Asia’s biggest antelope remains a nagging headache for the BJP government — how do you cull an animal that has ‘gai’ (cow) as part of its name?

The state government has now approached the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for an answer, putting Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a spot.

According to sources, Javadekar was ready to take action after Raje sought an order from the Centre on the issue during a meeting in New Delhi on November 24. But his advisors then pointed to the potential political fallout of allowing the culling of a species belonging to the bovine sub-family, and called nilgai, the sources added.

“Nilgais raiding crop has become a big problem in the state. It is a different animal but many call it a ‘gai’, there are sentiments involved. I am a Brahmin and killing any animal doesn’t feel right. So we are looking for a solution. Maybe the animals can be moved to areas away from crop land,” Rajasthan Forest Minister Rajkumar Rinwa told The Indian Express.

According to Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden of a state is empowered to allow culling in such cases. Besides, an order was issued in the late 1990s by the then Congress government of Rajasthan, allowing the culling of wild animals considered pests under certain circumstances.

– See more at: http://ift.tt/1zgpZGW

Live: Ipswich v Boro at Portman Road

The victory over promotion rivals Derby may have only been worth three points, but the manner of the win showcased how strong a force Boro are this season.

The 2-0 scoreline hardly flattered the hosts, and it’s now two wins in a row for Aitor Karanka’s men after the 5-1 demolition of Millwall.

A stunning recent run has seen Ipswich Town soar into the Championship promotion picture and a win tomorrow could send Mick McCarthy’s dark horses top of the division.

Birds can sense, flee impending storms: Study

A recent research suggests that songbirds and some other types of birds can sense impending powerful storms from hundreds of miles away and fly away before they hit.

According to a new research on golden-winged warblers in the United States, the tiny birds in the mountains of eastern Tennessee knew in advance that a massive storm was approaching the region.

The tracking data show that the delicate birds fled their breeding grounds just before the storm swept through the central and southern United States in late April 2014.

“The warblers in our study flew at least 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) total to avoid a severe weather system. They then came right back home after the storm passed,” said ecologist Henry Streby at the University of California.

“We know that birds can alter their route to avoid things during regular migration, but it hadn’t been shown until our study that they would leave once the migration is over and they’d established their breeding territory to escape severe weather,” the ecologist said.

Experts say Mother Nature’s early warning system may be better than the advanced technology developed by human beings.

Some studies indicate the sixth sense that birds possess has to do with their ability to hear sounds that humans cannot. Birds and some other animals have been shown to hear infrasounds, which are acoustic waves that occur at frequencies below 20 hertz.

Scientists say events like winds blowing, ocean waves crashing and volcanoes erupting at faraway distances can create infrasounds that birds may be able to sense, even when the events themselves are thousands of kilometers away.

JR/MKA/KA

Black Eye Friday: 'No significant increase in trouble', says Cleveland Police

It would appear that partygoers out celebrating Black Eye Friday mostly kept themselves out of trouble.

Extra patrols were put on across the Cleveland Police force areas including Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar town centres last night, and it seems to have paid off.

Official figures have not yet been released, but a spokesman for Cleveland Police confirmed there was nothing out of the ordinary for officers to handle.

This morning, Sergeant Coulson said: “It was not a lot different to a typical Friday night to be honest.

“It was busy but just like every other weekend.

“There was not a significant increase in trouble.”

Hindu outfit plans to “finish” Islam, Christianity by 2021

Stoking a fresh controversy after conversion plans in Aligarh, Hindu outfit Dharm Jagran Manch, which had planned a conversion programme in Aligarh, said that it plans to “finish” Islam and Christianity by 2021.

“We have so far ensured ‘ghar wapsi’ (reconversion) of three lakh Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism. By 2021,

we will finish Islam and Christianity,” Manch head Rajeshwar Singh Singh said here yesterday.

“We have not done any conversion. We have ensured ‘ghar wapsi’. Why they (political parties) did not utter a word when

Hindus are converted? What’s their objection when we ensure that they come back to the religion?” he asked.

His organisation had planned a mass conversion programme in Aligarh on the Christmas day but later called it off.

On Agra conversion, he said that those converted were Indians and not Bangladeshis and they had affidavits of those

who participated in the programme.

—————————–PTI

1,045 Egyptians referred to military courts in less than a month

Haitham Abu Khalil, general manager of the Victims Centre for Human Rights, condemned the referral of 1,045 Egyptians to military courts in less than a month, noting that human rights organisations have remained silent on the matter.

In a post on Facebook he said that the tragedy is that hundreds of these Egyptians were “referred retroactively, which violates the illegitimate Egyptian constitution. It is farcical that all of those referred to the military courts have not committed any crimes against any military establishments.”

He added that the policy of changing courts is a mockery which is regularly practiced by the military. Ousted President Mohamed Morsi was held and the naval base in which he was held was transformed into a ministry of interior prison, while government hospitals, universities and buildings were turned into military hospitals.

Abu Khalil said that the goal behind such unjust referrals is to alleviate pressure from the civil judiciary after hundreds of innocent people were convicted and several people resigned due to the awkwardness felt in some departments. Using military judges stops authorities having to deal with civilian courts

Source: MEMO

Aitor Karanka wanted to sign Patrick Bamford when he was on loan at MK Dons

Aitor Karanka has revealed that he first spotted Patrick Bamford’s talent when the Chelsea striker was on loan at Milton Keynes last season.

The Boro boss wanted to sign the then 20-year-old striker on loan a year ago but missed out to Derby County.

“He was in my mind when he was playing for Milton Keynes,” Karanka said.

“Last season it wasn’t possible (to sign him) but we managed to get him in the summer.

“Since I arrived here I wanted to bring Patrick here but he went to Derby. This season he was one of my first choices.”

Bamford scored 18 goals at MK Dons before going on to impress at Derby in the Championship.

He joined Boro after a protracted pursuit in the summer.

Last week Bamford told Boro and Chelsea he wanted for the remainder of the season.

"I think it’s just finalising the details now, which shouldn’t be hard," Bamford said.