International Community Pledges Support for Chile Following Quake

The international community is offering support to Chile in the wake of Saturday's devastating earthquake.

The European Union pledged $4 million in immediate aid to the South American nation. EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso described the money as a "first step" to "relieve suffering and to meet the immediate needs."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expressed his condolences for the loss of life in the earthquake. He said he is seeking an assessment on the situation from the U.N.'s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean which is based in Chile's capital, Santiago.

In the U.S., White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Obama administration also stands ready to help. He said officials are closely monitoring the situation, including the potential for a tsunami.

The British Red Cross released more than $75,000 from its disaster fund to support relief efforts in Chile. Aid groups, including Oxfam and Save the Children, are also organizing emergency teams and appealing for donations.

The U.S. State Department has provided a phone number for Americans seeking information about family and loved ones in Chile. That number is 1-888-404-4747.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been scheduled to travel to Chile as part of a South American visit next week. A department spokeswoman, Megan Mattson, said Saturday that no decision on changing the secretary's trip has been made.
VOA News

Israeli Troops Clash With Palestinians in Biblical Hebron

Israeli troops have clashed with Palestinians in the West Bank for the fifth straight day. Religious tensions are running high.

Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers in the biblical West Bank town of Hebron; troops responded with tear gas and stun grenades. It was the fifth day of clashes in Hebron, which is home to the Tomb of the Patriarchs. Abraham, the common forefather of both Jews and Arabs, is buried there and the site is a flashpoint of Jewish-Muslim tensions.

Palestinians declared Friday, the Muslim Sabbath, a day of protest in response to Israel's declaration of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem as "National Heritage Sites." Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad prayed at the Tomb of the Patriarchs on Friday and charged Israel with annexing the site. He vowed that the site would one day be controlled by a Palestinian state.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of trying to ignite a "religious war," and protesters took to the streets of Hebron.

One stone thrower told Israeli TV that Israel must give up control of the Tomb of the Patriarchs. He said it is a Muslim holy place which must be returned to the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to ease tensions. Mr. Netanyahu said nothing has changed at the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Israel would continue to guarantee freedom of worship for Jews and Muslims alike.

But in a strong rebuke from the United States, the State Department said Israel's decision on the holy places is "provocative" and harms efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
VOA News

Civilians die in Afghan offensive

Nato has confirmed that two rockets fired at militants during its offensive in Helmand, south Afghanistan, missed their target and killed 12 civilians.

The rockets struck a house in Marjah as thousands of Nato troops continued their operations to oust the Taliban.

Nato's commander Gen Stanley McChrystal said that "we deeply regret this tragic loss of life".

Coalition forces are aiming to build on gains in Operation Moshtarak, tackling snipers and booby-traps on day two.

A third Nato death related to the operation has also been confirmed.

Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001.

The operation is also the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan.

Rocket system suspended

Civilian casualties have been a key concern for the Nato-led offensive.
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ABC's Miguel Marquez embedded with US Marines as they journey into Marjah

The regions targeted were leafleted well in advance to try to minimise casualties.

President Hamid Karzai has called for an investigation into the civilian deaths, his office said.

ANALYSIS
Frank Gardner
Frank Gardner,
BBC News, Kandahar

Building by building, compound by compound, US Marines and British troops are trying to clear Marjah and Nad Ali district of hundreds, possibly thousands, of booby traps planted by insurgents. The US military told me they had started receiving tip-offs from local residents about where the bombs were hidden.

Many of those residents are believed to be cautious about welcoming government forces for fear they will soon depart again. Tribal councils are being held in both districts with the aim of persuading the population to back their government and not the Taliban.

According to a senior Nato officer joint Afghan-Nato patrol bases will soon be set up in the area, and 900 newly trained Afghan police are poised to come into re-establish government control.

The office said in a statement that it believed at least 10 of those killed were from the same family.

Nato said in a statement: "Two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launched at insurgents firing upon Afghan and [Nato] forces impacted approximately 300 metres (980ft) off their intended target, killing 12 civilians."

Gen McChrystal said: "The current operation in Central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan.

"It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost.

"We extend our heartfelt sympathies and will ensure we do all we can to avoid future incidents."

The use of the the rocket system involved has been suspended pending a review.

The BBC's Frank Gardner in Kandahar says the deaths are very damaging for a campaign aimed at protecting the local population and driving a wedge between them and the insurgents.

MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD'
Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar Gah
Population of town estimated at 80,000; Marjah district: 125,000
An area of lush vegetation and farmland
Last remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand
Considered a centre for assembling roadside bombs
Lucrative supply centre for opium poppies, a Taliban revenue source
Estimates of Taliban numbers ranged from 400 to 1,000

A question of trust
In pictures: Moshtarak
Details of the operation
Operation Moshtarak: Diary

He says it is exactly the kind of incident that Afghanistan leaders had said must be avoided and which they know can play straight into the Taliban's hands.

The Ministry of Defence has said that British troops were not involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, US, UK and Afghan forces have faced gun battles and numerous booby-traps on day two of the offensive in Marjah and Nad Ali in Helmand province.

In Marjah, US Marine commander Brig Gen Larry Nicholson told Agence France-Presse his forces had "blown up a lot of IEDs" and come up against "a lot of sniper fire".

He said it could take up to 30 days to make the area safe.

Marines were fired upon during a ceremony to raise the Afghan flag in Marjah.

Another Marines spokesman, Lt Josh Diddams, told Associated Press US forces were in the "majority of the city".

"We're starting to come across areas where the insurgents have actually taken up defensive positions. Initially it was more hit and run."

Nato officers and Afghan troops are holding shuras (meetings) with tribal leaders, and plan to bring in hundreds of Afghan police in the coming days to help secure the captured areas.

Casualties

Operation Moshtarak began before dawn on Saturday when more than 15,000 troops flew into central Helmand.
HAVE YOUR SAY

The "surge" approach drove most of the insurgents out of Iraq and there is no reason why it shouldn't work in Afghanistan

Alan Trent, London
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American forces, led by 4,000 Marines, are focusing on Marjah, while 4,000 British troops are in Nad Ali.

A large Afghan force, as well as Canadians, Danes and Estonians, is also involved.

Three Isaf deaths related to Operation Moshtarak have been confirmed.

On Saturday, a British soldier, Lance Sergeant David Greenhalgh of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, while a US soldier was killed by gunfire in Marjah.

On Sunday, another service member was killed in an IED attack.

At least 20 Taliban fighters were killed and another 11 detained on Saturday, an Afghan commander said.

'Going well'

At a Ministry of Defence briefing in London on Sunday, Maj Gen Gordon Messenger said the operation overall had so far "gone to plan".

"Nothing has stopped the mission from progressing," he said, although UK troops had taken small-arms fire.

AFP quoted President Obama's top security adviser, Gen James Jones, as also saying the offensive was "going well".

President Obama will be briefed on Sunday by the US commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal.

OPERATION MOSHTARAK: DAY TWO - 14 FEBRUARY 2010
Map of operations (Source: MoD)
1: British forces find cache of IEDs, along with tunnels and ammunition dumps in this area
2: UK/Danish troops continue to disrupt Taliban movements; small arms contacts reported
3: US and UK forces operating either side of Canal 56 crossings consolidate their hold on the area
4: Bulk of British operations going on in this area; clearing and holding village-by-village
5: US forces continue air and ground assaults; On the outskirts of Marjah two rockets miss their targets, striking a house and killing 12 civilians
Source: UK Ministry of Defence
BBC News

Haiti marks one month on from the earthquake

Haiti has held ceremonies for the victims of the devastating earthquake which hit the country a month ago, killing at least 217,000 people.

Thousands prayed at the exact time the quake struck, on 12 January.

Earlier, Catholic and Voodoo leaders joined other religious figures for a service near the ruined National Palace in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

More than a million Haitians remain homeless, just as the rainy season is due to begin.


HAITI QUAKE
Magnitude seven quake strikes south-west of Port-au-Prince at 1653 local time (2153 GMT), 12 January
Government now reports between 217,000 and 230,000 dead, 300,000 injured
About three million affected, one million homeless, 250,000 homes destroyed
Quake sparks massive international aid effort - more than $500m (£320m) donated from US
UN says 53 million tonnes of rubble must be removed
US has assigned 13,000 military personnel

In pictures: Haiti mourns
Aid effort one month on
Audio slideshow: Haiti's camps
'Neglected' quake-hit town

Haiti's President Rene Preval has vowed that his country will live on.

"Haiti will not die, Haiti must not die," he told mourners at the main service in Port-au-Prince. "Wipe away your tears to rebuild Haiti.

"Today, allow me as citizen Rene Preval, the man, the father of a family, to address you to say that I cannot find the words to speak of this immense pain.

"It is in your courage that we will find the strength to go on."

Other prayer services were held across the country, including one at the site of a mass grave north of the capital which is believed to hold tens of thousands of victims.

To the north of the capital, in Titanyen, mourners prayed on top of a mass grave where tens of thousands of people were hastily buried after the earthquake.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge says the act of national reflection comes as one of the largest humanitarian operations ever mounted grapples with challenges on many fronts.

He says a heavy downpour on the eve of the anniversary provided a foretaste of the misery that lies ahead for the many people who still have only the flimsiest shelter in impromptu camps, if the pace of getting out more tents and stronger shelter materials is not stepped up before the start of the rainy season.


AT THE SCENE
Mike Wooldridge
By Mike Wooldridge, BBC News, Titanyen

Amid scrub-covered hills to the north of Port-au-Prince, some 50 worshippers led by a Haitian bishop celebrated mass on the graves where tens of thousands of the earthquake victims lie buried.

A small wooden table atop one of the mass graves in the scrub-covered low hills served as the altar.

Swinging incense above the graves and sprinkling water on them, the bishop said he aimed to give dignity to their hasty burial.

"Tend to your brothers and sisters, calling out from under the ground," he said.

In the biggest of the camps that sprang up in the capital after the earthquake, people are still living under sheeting strung across wooden poles.

The government says the seasonal rains could be the biggest threat now to the nation's attempts at recovery.

The European Union has proposed a military mission to step up the provision of shelter before the rains worsen.

The UN aid co-ordinator for Haiti, former-US President Bill Clinton, said Haiti could get through the crisis with the help of international donors.

"Though conditions are improving each day, countless people remain in urgent need of shelter and building materials, water and sanitation, food and clothing, and essential medical supplies," he said in a statement.

The White House warned that the situation in Haiti "remains dire", but added that the US "continues to stand with our Haitian friends as they recover".

This week's Haitian government figures suggesting up to 230,000 dead means the quake toll is approaching that of the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed 250,000 people.

BBC News

Volkswagen recalls 200,000 cars in Brazil

Volkswagen (VW) is recalling nearly 200,000 cars in Brazil because of a rear wheel problem.

The company wants to determine whether rear wheel bearings are sufficiently greased on the Novo Gol and Novo Voyage models made before July 2009.

VW says there is a possibility that a lack of lubrication could cause wheels to lock. In extreme cases they could loosen and even fall off.

The vehicles were made in Brazil for the local market, VW's third-largest.

This latest recall comes a day after car maker Honda added another 437,700 cars, mainly in North America, to its existing global safety recall over airbag inflation problems.

On Tuesday, Toyota announced the recall of about 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius model, to fix brake problems.
BBC News

Ill Nigeria President Yar'Adua must quit - media chiefs

Nigeria's ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua must hand over power to his deputy within seven days or resign, a group of media chiefs has warned.

Owners of 17 newspapers and media organisations said in a joint statement that Mr Yar'Adua should be impeached if he fails to comply with the deadline.

The embattled president has been in a Saudi Arabia hospital since November.

There have been various legal cases challenging the president's ability to rule from his sick bed.

In the latest ruling, the high court said there was no constitutional requirement for an interim leader to be appointed.

Last week, the cabinet issued a statement that President Yar'Adua was "not incapable" of running the country, following a previous court ruling giving ministers two weeks to make such a declaration.


YAR'ADUA ILLNESS TIMELINE
23 November 2009 Goes to hospital in Saudi Arabia
26 November Presidential doctors say he has pericarditis - inflammation of the heart lining
23 December First court case filed urging him to step down
5 January 2010 Two more court cases filed, rights group wants president declared "missing"
12 January President gives first interview from Saudi Arabia
27 January Cabinet declares president fit
29 January Court says no need for formal transfer of power

Yar'Adua absence still rankles
Profile: President Umaru Yar'Adua

The media owners said they were calling for the president to formally transfer power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan because he had been away for more than 70 days.

"The stakeholders hereby demand that the president cede power to his deputy or resign within seven days," their statement said.

"If he fails to take these obvious constitutional steps... the National Assembly should commence impeachment proceedings against the president for endangering the country."

Owners of several of the country's best-selling newspapers - including the Punch and the Vanguard - put their names to the communique.

Since Mr Yar'Adua left the country, fears of a power vacuum have surrounded the government.

The legal wrangling has focused on the country's constitution - which some people believe is ambiguous in its provisions for a prolonged absence by the president.

Mr Yar'Adua flew to Saudi Arabia in late November for medical treatment and has not been seen in public since.

In his only broadcast interview since he left Nigeria, he told the BBC's Hausa Service on 12 January that he would return to resume his duties as soon as his doctors would allow.

The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems.

BBC News

Christmas Time Celebration And New Year Regrets

The time is here once again. It is a time of merriment. It is Christmas period. It is a time of celebration of achievements for the year. It is a period when it dawns on every body that the year is almost gone and another knocking at the door. Hence it is a time when those who did not accomplish anything try most, by fair or foul means, to within the short range of time achieve all, acquire all the wealth they would have gotten from January. Therefore cheating, robbery, accidents and every manner of evil one can think of are at their peak because men want to meet up.
To this set of people Christmas time is not just a time to get all. It is also a period to spend all in celebration. That is to say that all efforts they are making to get rich quick is just like a mission to nowhere. For these people Christmas is simply a squander-time.
It is the same set of people that suffer hardship at the beginning of the year. What is a lesson for us here is how they live the next year to regret the wrong choices of previous year’s Christmas period. Of course hardship and regret are sure for them because they spent all in the name of merriment without saving for the coming year. The majority of the world population belongs to this category. That is why the majority complain at the beginning of every year.
What then is the gain we have in celebrating when we know that we shall regret it? Do not get it twisted here. I am not against Christmas celebration. But it should be done in a wise manner. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but do not loot your treasure. Have a plan for next year. Economic activities are usually low at the beginning of every year. So beware to store up or save for next year to avoid had I known.
Do you want to empty your bank account/s this season for celebration? Have a rethink today!
Please, try to remember this: there is no day as wonderful as the Christmas day, but it is good to know what to overlook in every situation. This is what makes you wise. Christmas should be a moment of solemn reflection and reconciliation with the only Almighty God, who created heaven and earth, and made man in his own image. Nothing can take away the joy that Christmas brings, but try to be wise in your spending. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE!!!

Another Crushing Defeat For The Red Devils

Bobby Zamora's golden spell of form continued as Fulham cruised past a desperately disappointing Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

Zamora - touted for an England call-up in some quarters - scored his 10th goal of a prolific season and was Fulham's spearhead as they gave an injury-hit United side a harrowing afternoon.

Danny Murphy, a scourge of United when at Liverpool and now again with Fulham, put the skids under United with a low finish after 22 minutes and the champions, with Michael Owen anonymous up front, never looked like mounting a recovery.

606: DEBATE
This season is virtually a write off as far as the league is concerned and we're not even at Christmas - Ferguson has got a lot of explaining to do...

rusholmeruffians

Zamora was on the scoresheet seconds after the interval when he provided a comprehensive finish from Clint Dempsey's header, and Damien Duff's powerful drive completed a hugely-deserved victory for Roy Hodgson's side after 75 minutes.

But it was Zamora who took the honours as he terrorised a makeshift United rearguard, with Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick pressed into service in unaccustomed roles.

The striker has had a chequered relationship with Fulham's fans, but there was no doubting he has won over his critics and he was greeted with a well-earned standing ovation when he was substituted in injury time.

We've come a long way declares proud Hodgson

United, under-strength or not, were awful and fell woefully short of taking advantage of an opportunity to put pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Sir Alex Ferguson was without Nemanja Vidic, sidelined by a calf injury, and Ryan Giggs was also out with a hamstring problem. How the champions missed them.

Tomasz Kuszczak rescued United after 17 minutes with an instinctive one-handed save from Zoltan Gera after Zamora chested the ball into his path 12 yards out.

But the goalkeeper should have done better when Fulham took the lead five minutes later.

United did not handle the pressure - Phelan

Paul Scholes was guilty of conceding possession 25 yards out and Murphy - scorer of Fulham's opener in their 2-0 home victory over United last season - sent a low shot past Kuszczak, who reacted late to the danger.

Scholes was then guilty of more carelessness on the ball that almost saw Fulham double their lead 14 minutes before half-time. Gera was able to find space on the right flank, but Zamora could only direct a header wide under close attention from Fletcher.

Ferguson's hopes of a fast start to the second half were in shreds within seconds of the restart as Fulham swept forward instantly to double their lead. Duff's cross was met by Dempsey at the far post, and he set up Zamora to hammer past Kuszczak.

Schwarzer hails fantastic start to season

United made a double change after 57 minutes, with Ritchie de Laet and Darron Gibson making way for Fabio da Silva and Dimitar Berbatov.

Owen had suffered a miserable afternoon, starved of any meaningful service and unable to make the slightest impact on events, and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Danny Welbeck.

If the move was designed to revive United, it failed and Fulham extended their lead after 75 minutes when Duff cashed in on Zamora's excellent lay-off to strike a crisp finish low past Kuszczak.

There was still time for the keeper to deny a rampant Zamora one more time before referee Howard Webb put United out of their misery.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson:
"It gives us an awful lot of pleasure. We were fortunate in that we played against a very wounded United but we couldn't do more than try to take advantage of that.

"The reward is a result of the hard work we put in week after week in training and matches - it's not just because we hyped ourselves up for one superhuman effort.

"Before Bobby gets seriously considered for and England call-up he has a lot of work to do. But if Fabio Capello wants to look at him he know where he is.

"I will never push a player in the direction of a national team coach but If he needs any information on Bobby I'm happy to help out."
BBC Sport

Iran troops 'seize Iraq oil well'

An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section.

Iranian soldiers crossed the border and raised an Iranian flag over the Fakkah oil field, a US military spokesman told the AFP news agency.

But an Iranian oil company spokesman denied the accusation, saying no troops had taken control of any oil well.

"The company denies Iranian soldiers taking control of any oil well inside Iraqi territory," the National Iranian Oil Company spokesman was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Confirmation

Iraq's Deputy Interior Minister confirmed the Iranians stayed in Iraq and were in control of the well.

We are awaiting orders from our leader
Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji
Deputy Interior Minister

Earlier it was reported that they had withdrawn back across the border.

Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji initially told the Reuters news agency the reports of the Iranian incursion were not true.

But Mr Khafaji later confirmed the incursion had taken place, and said 11 Iranians had dug-in at the oil well and had not left.

"At 3:30 this afternoon, 11 Iranian soldiers infiltrated the Iran-Iraq border and took control of the oil well. They raised the Iranian flag, and they are still there until this moment," he told the Reuters news agency.

He said there had been no military response from Iraqi forces..

"We are awaiting orders from our leader," he said.

The incursion is one of several that have occurred in the last few days, he said.

The well is about 500m from an Iranian border fort and about 1km from an Iraqi fort, US Colonel Peter Newell told AFP.
BBC News

Boys aged 10 charged with raping eight-year-old

Two 10-year-old boys have been charged with raping a girl in west London.

Each faces two counts of attacking a female under the age of 13 following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police said.

They were arrested after an eight-year-old alleged she had been assaulted while playing in a park off College Way, Hayes, on 27 October.

The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Police were called by the girl's family after she returned home from the park.

Officers from the specialist Sapphire Unit, which investigates allegations of rape and sexual assault, have been dealing with the case.
BBC News