EXTRA: Merkel: Germany will double development aid to Afghans

Berlin - Germany is to double its aid to Afghanistan for reconstruction and development, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Tuesday. Germany would now provide some 430 million euros (606 million dollars) until 2013 to improve infrastructure, education and employment opportunities.

"Without reconstruction, we cannot have security," Merkel said.

In addition, Berlin would provide 10 million euros per year for a Taliban-reintegration program, thought to be part of a 500-million- dollar program that will be agreed at a major NATO conference on Afghanistan to take place in London on Thursday.

The number of police and army trainers would also be boosted, Merkel said.

Merkel announced earlier Tuesday that Germany would send up to 850 extra troops to its contingent in Afghanistan, mostly in the north of the country.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305848,extra-merkel-germany-will-double-development-aid-to-afghans.html.

Bahrain sentences two in planning attacks on US Navy

Manama, Bahrain - A Bahraini court Tuesday sentenced two Bahraini men to five years prison on grounds of planning to carry out attacks in the Gulf island and neighboring countries, including the targeting of the US Navy. The two - aged 21 and 22 - were caught by police in April 2009 smuggling machine guns and ammunition into the country, which the authorities said was intended to be used in the attacks.

Police also cited evidence seized in raids on their homes, including swords, knives, and books on building explosives, as well as pictures of the US Navy 5th Fleet Command headquarters in Bahrain.

According to court documents the weapons and ammunition were smuggled from Jordan.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305847,bahrain-sentences-two-in-planning-attacsk-on-us-navy.html.

Opium cultivation up in northern Myanmar, addiction problem grows

Bangkok, Thailand - Opium cultivation has increased as much as fivefold in some parts of Myanmar's northern Shan State the past three years, and addiction is a growing problem in local communities, a non-governmental organization said Tuesday. Where Myanmar's ruling military government is in control, local authorities, army and pro-government militia are profiting by taxing opium farmers, the Palaung Women's Organization (PWO) said.

Official "anti-drug teams" are extorting large sums from local farmers and leaving the crop intact instead of eradicating poppy fields, the group said Tuesday on releasing their report "Poison Hills: Surging Opium Cultivation under Government Control in Burma."

When the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA) controlled the region, they outlawed poppy cultivation. But cultivation and addiction started increasing after the PSLA signed a ceasefire with the government in 1992, and grew worse after their surrender in 2005.

Government forces with the help of local militia have since taken control and file false poppy eradication data with police, the report said.

"Today more of the regime's troops and militias are everywhere. For us this has meant more drugs and more addiction" said Lway Nway Hnoung, principal researcher of the report.

Global demand for opium, which heroin is made from, has driven farmers to supply the product for decades, if not centuries. But the local Palaung drug problem is relatively new, said Lway Aye Nang with PWO, which was established in 2000 to empower and advance the social status of Palaung women.

"In 1992 (before the ceasefire) there was one drug user in my village. Now, in that village of a bit more than 1,000 people, there are 66 drug users," she said, adding the story is similar across most of her area in northern Shan state.

There are a bit more than 1 million Palaung in Shan State, which borders China, Thailand and Laos and has a total population of about 6 million, she said.

Locals must pay a tax to support the local militia and government forces in the area, and have increasingly turned to poppies as the best-paying crop to do it with, the report said.

The price of tea, which is the area's traditional cash crop, is controlled by the government and has fallen in recent years, while the price of opium has increased, Lway Aye Nang said.

The PWO said the increase in opium cultivation was greater than the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report late last year.

After years of crop-substitution and development projects that reduced the acreage under cultivation in the region, including Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, the UN office acknowledged in December a "worrisome" trend towards increased cultivated in the illicit crop since 2006.

The PWO said resolving the issue depends on ending Myanmar's civil war and political reform in the country controlled by a military dictatorship.

"As long as this regime remains in power, drugs will continue to poison people in Burma and the region," Lway Nway Hnoung said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305843,opium-cultivation-up-in-northern-myanmar-addiction-problem-grows.html.

India celebrates its 60th Republic Day amid tight security - Summary

New Delhi - India showcased its military might and vibrant cultural heritage Tuesday in the capital as the country celebrated its 60th Republic Day amid militant and secessionist violence. Security forces foiled attempts by separatist militants to infiltrate India-administered Kashmir, Indian border security officials said.

Troops exchanged fire at two places in the southern region of Jammu and the intruders fled back into Pakistani territory, they said.

In the troubled north-east, secessionist rebels carried out three bombings in Manipur, injuring four people, while troops killed three guerrillas in Assam Monday night, the IANS news agency reported.

Insurgents abducted seven policemen and wounded five in an attack in eastern West Bengal and torched vehicles and ransacked offices in Orissa and central Chhattisgarh, the report said.

Separatist groups in north-eastern India and Maoists had called for a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations.

India celebrates January 26 every year to commemorate the day it adopted its constitution in 1950. It is marked by military parades and cultural pageants across the country.

The main celebrations were held in fog-bound New Delhi with a parade on the avenue that links the Presidential Palace and the India Gate.

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak was the guest of honor. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, dignitaries and chiefs of India's armed forces were in attendance.

The military displayed its armory, including the indigenous Arjun tank, the Smerch multiple-launch rocket system and the Samyukta electronic warfare system.

India's most powerful nuclear-capable Agni III missile with a range of up to 3,500 kilometers, the hypersonic Shaurya missile and the light-combat Tejas aircraft were also showcased.

Colorful tableaux depicting the diverse culture of India's states and performances by folk dancers and school children followed the marching troops.

The parade ended with an aviation display by huge IL-76 transport aircraft, and Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar combat jets.

The celebrations were held amid heavy security after intelligence agencies warned of terrorist threats and possible aircraft hijacking attempts by Islamist militants. More than 18,000 police and paramilitary troops were deployed in New Delhi.

Other Indian cities and towns - particularly in India-administered Kashmir and the country's financial hub, Mumbai - were also on high alert and held celebrations under heavy security.

Nearly 42,000 police were on guard in Mumbai, which witnessed a militant attack in 2008 that killed 166 people.

Indian Kashmir's state capital Srinagar observed a shutdown in response to a call by the main separatist alliance, the Hurriyat Conference which described it as a "Black Day."

Security forces in Kashmir earlier said they foiled a major attack by separatist rebels with the recovery of a huge cache of arms and explosives, which they claimed were to be used on January 26.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305840,india-celebrates-its-60th-republic-day-amid-tight-security--summary.html.

Over 300 arrested from Christian-Muslim unrest in Nigeria - report

Nairobi/Abuja (Earth Times) - Nigerian police have arrested over 300 suspects in the wake of last week's bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims in the city of Jos, The Punch newspaper reported Tuesday. The paper cited a police spokesman in reporting the figure, with 139 of those arrested having been taken to the capital Abuja.

The number of those killed in the unrest was put at 362. Meanwhile some 40,000 people have fled Jos and surrounding towns, according to Nigeria's national crisis center.

Police chief Ikehukwu Aduma condemned what he called "senseless violence" committed in which religion was just used as an excuse.

Jos has repeatedly been the scene of such clashes in recent years, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Human rights groups and the Nigerian lawyers' association over the past few days have criticized the fact that not a single person involved in such past violence had ever been charged or sentenced.

It's official: 'Avatar' is king of the world

By Russ Britt, MarketWatch

Last Update: 5:47 PM ET Jan 26, 2010

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- "Avatar" has made it official; it now is the No. 1 worldwide hit of all time, box-office watchers said Tuesday.

The feature from director James Cameron beat the old box-office mark, set by Cameron's "Titanic" in 1998, on Monday, by raking in $1.859 billion in global receipts. "Titanic's" mark was $1.843 billion, according to Hollywood.com and BoxOfficeMojo.com.

"Avatar" came close to beating the mark over the weekend, falling about $4 million short. Avatar is distributed by Twentieth-Century Fox, a division of News Corp. NWS News Corp. also is parent of MarketWatch.com, publisher of this report.

"It was just a smidgen behind on Sunday," said Brandon Gray, president of BoxOfficeMojo.

Now the film is trudging toward uncharted territory, and could reach the $2 billion mark as early as this weekend, Gray said.

"Avatar" beat "Titanic's" mark in just 39 days, a mark achieved over a period of several months. "Titanic" stood atop the box office for more than three months on its way to setting the record. "Titanic" was jointly distributed by Fox and Viacom Inc.'s VIA Paramount Pictures.

But "Avatar" has sold little more than half the tickets that "Titanic" sold, thanks to inflation and higher admissions for "Avatar's" 3D screenings.

Despite the price inflation, Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office analysis for Hollywood.com., says setting the mark was "unthinkable six weeks ago."

"For James Cameron to break his own longstanding record in just 39 days is unprecedented," Dergarabedian said. "Cameron's rewriting the record books."

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId={F75B6947-451B-48F5-B1F2-6644AFAE5AE3}&src=NLEN.

Survey: Trust in government, banks and media is higher in the UAE

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Trust in government in the UAE is among the highest in the world at 67 per cent, a survey shows.

The Global Trust Barometer Survey carried-out by internationally-known public relations firm Edelman, which for the first time included the views of opinion formers from the UAE, revealed UAE opinion formers have relatively high levels of trust across most institutions, including government, business and media.

The survey showed trust in the UAE banks is high at 75 per cent, compared to levels as low as 29 per cent in the US and 19 per cent in Germany.

The 2010 Edelman Trust Barometer survey sampled 4,875 informed public in two age groups (25-34 and 35-64) in 22 countries. The sample comprised college-educated; household income in the top quartile for their age in their country; read or watch business/news media at least several times a week; follow public policy issues in the news at least several times a week.

As is common across the globe, technology is the most trusted industry sector in the UAE, among all surveyed age groups, the firm said in a Press release.

UAE trust in media is higher than in most Western countries, but lower than other regional emerging markets such as Singapore, Indonesia, 
and India.

Social networking sites were among the least credible sources of information in the UAE, while traditional channels such as company websites and newspaper articles were highly rated, it said.

Commenting on this year's global survey, Ben Morton, General Manager of Edelman Middle East and Africa said that while global trust in business is up, it remains fragile.

"The recent short-term actions by companies are largely seen as reactions to the crisis and there is concern that lessons will not have been learnt and companies will return to old habits," he said.

For the first time, this year's survey shows that trust and transparency are as important to corporate reputation as the quality of products and services. In the United States and in much of Western Europe, those two attributes rank higher than product quality, and far outrank financial returns, which sits at or near the bottom of 10 criteria in all regions. This is in stark contrast to 2006 when financial performance was in third place in a list of 10 attributes shaping trust in the United States.

"We are seeing across the globe that the development of trust is a critical driver in any business model," 
added Morton.

"The UAE findings are no different. Companies need to engage their stakeholders directly, and through a variety of channels - one-way, one-channel communication will no longer work." For the third straight year, NGOs are the most trusted institution in eight countries, including the US, UK, Germany, and France.

In China, trust in NGOs has surged by 25 points since 2004 from 31 to 56 per cent - possibly a reflection of growing affluence and the demand for environmental responsibility and public health.

UAE's trust in non-governmental organizations is relatively low at 45 per cent (US: 63 pc; Netherlands: 74 pc). Technology remains the single most trusted industry sector, with 79 per cent saying they trust this sector to do what is right, up from 76 per cent in 2009. Banks, however, are third from the bottom, barely above media companies and insurance.

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093299635&src=NLEN.

GCC holds plan to solve Yemen, Afghan problem

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will present certain ideas regarding means of resolving the crises in Yemen and Afghanistan at the two conferences due to be held on these two issues in London on Wednesday and Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, also the Foreign Minster, said in a statement to journalists ahead of his departure to London to take part in the two conventions, that the first meeting on Yemen would be attended by delegates representing the GCC countries, Arab states and permanent member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

This conference is scheduled to address conditions in Yemen that pose a danger to the stability and security not only in the GCC countries but also in other parts of the world, the deputy premier and foreign minister said.

The GCC states have prepared certain ideas for resolving this crisis, he said, adding that the foreign ministers of the member states of the council would hold a coordination meeting ahead of the convention.

Sheikh Mohammad denied that donations will be declared for Yemen at the convention.

Donations for Yemen were declared three-four years ago and they were not disbursed due to the unstable conditions in this country, "because we wanted to ensure that these funds would be spent in a manner that would realize the set objectives such as aiding the development process, combating poverty, hunger and diseases." As to the other meeting, he indicated that it would group representatives of states that maintain friendly ties with Afghanistan, and that it was aimed at ensuring that the nation would not plunge into wide-scale chaos again.

Meanwhile, the British Charge d' Affaires to Kuwait Tim Stow emphasized the essence of the international press conference to be held Wednesday in London to discuss the current situation in Yemen and Afghanistan, which indicates the level of Britain's concern to incidents taking place in the two countries.

During a press conference at the British Embassy in Kuwait Tuesday, Stow said Yemen is facing economic crisis due to administrative failure, and that instability, terrorism and poverty are on the rise in the country.

He noted the challenges facing Yemen have serious adverse impacts on its security and the entire region, saying the United Kingdom is concerned about the unpleasant situation in the country, hence the decision to cooperate with the Yemeni government and the relevant international bodies to increase aid to the country.

He explained there is limited opportunity for rescuing the situation in Yemen, while the European Union, US and GCC nations have to combine efforts to assist President Abdullah Saleh and his government. "The basic problem in Yemen is about the economy, so the government should stand firm against corruption and division, because terrorism will continue to strive if urgent solution is not proffered," he warned.

Stow noted Britain has been at the forefront of assisting Yemen since the 1970s. "We spent 20 million sterling to support Yemen's development in 2008/2009, while we have allocated 105 million sterling to help the country through 2008-2011," he added.

Concerning the Afghanistan issue, Stow revealed the London summit will focus on coordination and offering of assistance to enhance actualization of President Karzai's extensive agenda, which he emphasized in the inaugural speech at the inception of his second term of office.

President Karzai had specifically mentioned security, administrative restructure, and clampdown on corruption, besides the strengthening of relations with neighboring countries, reintegration, and social and economic development as major areas of serious concern.

In the meantime, the British envoy expressed concern over the possible spread of terrorist activities in Yemen and Afghanistan beyond the region, and disclosed Britain is worried that about 70 percent of terrorist activities emanate from Afghanistan.

By: Shawqi Mahmoud

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093299631&src=MOEN.

Australians keen to send camels to Saudi Arabia

(MENAFN - Arab News) Australians have welcomed the proposal to send their wild camels to Saudi camel-lovers instead of shooting them. At the same time, they warned that the process of transferring the animals would be expensive.

Some Saudis have initiated an Internet campaign calling for the transportation of Australian camels to the Kingdom. The initiative followed an announcement by the Australian government that it would use helicopters and marksmen to corral and kill 6,000 feral camels in a small northern town.

"The cull is unfortunate. We're happy to put Saudis in touch with camel exporting companies in Australia. However, it's very expensive to bring them to Saudi Arabia," said Michael Kavanagh, counselor and senior trade commissioner of the Australian Embassy in the Kingdom.

In order to transport the camels, there are logistical problems to be considered such as the lack of roads, the vast desert distances and the large size and number of the animals. Kavanagh said his office in Australia was producing some figures on how much it would cost to transport the camels to Saudi Arabia.

"Australians don't want to see camels die. We're willing to look at available options," he added.

In August 2009, the Guardian website polled readers about the camel cull and whether it was really necessary. This was done after animal welfare groups had criticized the idea; 51.3 percent of the people supported the cull saying it was the only effective solution while 48.7 percent said that there were better ways of managing the population.

According to the website, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Animals Australia said the cull would cause "terrible suffering" to the animals.

The problem began when camels caused chaos more than five months ago in the Northern Territory town of Docker River, smashing water tanks, destroying fences, coming up to houses and antagonizing people. Online readers and poll participants also proposed solutions on how to make use of the camels instead of killing them and some have welcomed the Saudi initiative to provide a home for the wild animals.

"Australian feral camels eat 80 percent of plant species in Australia - including many wild plants that Aborigines traditionally harvest for food. In times of drought when they are thirsty, they also destroy well taps, pumps, and toilets," commented Peter, one of the poll's participants. His idea of solving the problem was to sell the camel meat to Malaysia, "where camel is a delicacy."

Robin Thomas, another commentator, was thankful that there were plans to save the animals from being culled by snipers on the ground and in the air.

"Madness! Why kill thousands of camels when there are those who would take them for sale, milk, and food or because they simply love them? I hope they are saved," said Thomas.

James Frederick also shared his comments despite saying that camels and kangaroos were becoming the scourge of Australia. "I know because I have seen them first hand. There are hundreds of poor countries where people are starving for lack of food and protein. It's better to ship the surplus animals to those countries," said Frederick.

By Hassna'a Mokhtar

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093299577&src=NLEN.

Muslims helping Haiti

by Wajahat Ali
26 January 2010

Fremont, California - Haiti is experiencing unimaginable suffering from its devastating earthquake, with more than 150,000 dead and one to three million individuals displaced. Individuals, groups and governments from around the world have stepped in to do what they can. United by their religious tradition of charity, Muslims have emerged as effective partners in aid and relief work.

The international effort to aid Haiti by individuals, Islamic relief organizations and the governments of Muslim-majority countries reflects a proactive generosity and empathy espoused by the Prophet Muhammad and the teachings of the Qur'an. Charity, in fact, is one of the five obligations for Muslims, and Muslim organizations have been working alongside other faith-based groups to fulfill this duty.

Islamic Relief, one of the most respected and successful disaster relief charities in the world, has used technology, new media and social networking sites to mobilize people. Along with “Seekers Digest”, a popular Muslim community blog run out of Canada, Islamic Relief hosted the “Muslim Online Haiti Fundraiser” and raised over $100,000 in two hours. The organization also used its existing partnership with the Mormon Church to send hygiene kits and temporary shelters to Haiti, in addition to pledging a total of $2.5 million.

Islamic Relief also sent an emergency response team to directly assist victims in Haiti. These Muslim aid workers have been updating a daily blog with sobering first-hand accounts of the tragedy.

Assisting Islamic Relief, Muslim American artists and community activists convened to put on a concert in New York City, hosted by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), and used the opportunity to raise donations for Haiti. In Chicago, IMAN partnered with a local synagogue and church to raise aid money.

Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGO) of countries that are more often known as recipients of aid have also reached out. Two Pakistani NGOs, Al-Khidmat Foundation and Edhi Foundation, are mobilizing relief efforts to help Haitians despite the country’s own political and economic volatility. Both organisations have considerable expertise in this area due to the massive 2005 earthquake that killed nearly 80,000 in northern Pakistan. The Edhi Foundation has already pledged $500,000 to assist Haiti.

Speaking on Haiti’s catastrophe, the president of Al-Khidmat Foundation, Niamatullah Khan, said, “Islam exhorts us to help those who are in trouble…. Humanity comes first.”

In the Middle East, Dubai Cares, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring education for young children, is providing immediate assistance to 200,000 children in Haiti through its international partners who are already on the ground. And the governments of Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco and Turkey have each pledged $1 million in aid, in addition to sending cargo planes filled with medical supplies, food, tents and blankets.

Iran donated 30 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, tents and medicine through its Red Crescent Society. And Palestinians, through the Red Cross, have begun an effort to send donations.

Furthermore, Lebanon sent a plane with 25 tonnes of tents and three tonnes of medical supplies. And Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation, sent $2.1 million in aid. “As a country that has been itself devastated by a similar situation, we are absolutely saddened by what’s happening in Haiti,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Vietnam. “We call on the ASEAN community, including ourselves, of course, to do what we can do to assist them.”

According to Habiba Hamid, a Fellow of the Center for the Study of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, this pattern of charity is not an aberration but the norm for Muslim communities. She says, “Without [Muslim countries], we would not have the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) today, which is proving critical in Haiti currently.” In 2008, when the WFP issued an urgent call for funds in light of increased food and fuel prices that raised global hunger and poverty levels, Saudi Arabia pledged $500 million, leading the WFP to recognize King Abdullah as a “Champion in the Battle Against Hunger.”

Although the journey to rebuilding Haiti is long and painstaking, Muslim relief efforts worldwide prove that sometimes our most reliable and effective partners in humanitarian endeavors are not always the ones we expect.

Source: Common Ground.
Link: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=27166&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1.

A Jewish voice against the "burqa ban"

by Joshua M. Z. Stanton
26 January 2010

New York, New York - Even as a Jew in New York, I know what it is like to be Muslim in France.

While studying abroad in the French city of Strasbourg in 2007, I decided to grow a bushy beard. Little did I know that in France only traditional Jewish and Muslim men don anything but the most finely trimmed mustache or goatee. Since I did not wear a yarmulke or other head covering, people who saw me on the street assumed that I was Muslim.

I felt that police officers and passersby treated me with suspicion, and even on the crowded rush hour bus few chose to sit next to me if they could avoid it. On one occasion someone followed me home and tried to start a fight, only to find I was a bewildered American, not a French Muslim.

Never before, and never since, have I experienced disdain of this sort. On a daily basis, I was made to feel badly because of my appearance–and what was presumed to be my corresponding religious affiliation. So when I read of the impending effort by parliamentary leader Jean-François Copé and his supporters to criminalize the burqa (and other garments that fully cover a woman's body, head and face) in France, I understood it to be far more than a measure to protect women’s rights or preserve the concept of a secular society, on which the modern French state is built.

In my opinion, it is easy to see how the “burqa ban” might be misused as a part of a broader effort to stigmatize a religious population, one that already perceives itself to be on the margins of society.

Admittedly, I am fundamentally opposed to any garment or religious practice–including those found in my own Jewish tradition–that suggests women hold a different or subservient position than men. But the burqa ban in France will not achieve the aim of gender equality. If anything, it will strengthen religious conservatives in France's Muslim population by convincing members of the moderate majority of Muslims that the rest of French society will never accept them.

While there are said to be only 2,000 women who wear burqas in all of France today, the entire Muslim population, estimated to be around five to six million, will take umbrage at another measure that singles out their community.

If we assume that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is genuinely motivated by the belief that burqas are a “sign of subservience, a sign of debasement,” according to the 16 January edition of The Economist, his best response would in fact be to enact measures welcoming Muslim citizens more fully into French society. Such affirmations would undercut efforts by the small minority of religiously conservative Muslims to gather a following among disaffected coreligionists who feel unable to overcome anti-Muslim prejudice.

The need for the French government to treat religious minorities with respect is bolstered by its own history. In 1781, the enlightened German thinker Christian Wilhelm von Dohm made what at the time was a revolutionary suggestion: “Certainly, the Jew will not be prevented by his religion from being a good citizen, if only the government will give him a citizen’s rights.”

But it was the French who first put Dohm’s prophetic vision into action.

In 1806, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte emancipated French Jews by passing laws to improve their economic and social status. He invited them to live anywhere they pleased, as opposed to confinement in crowded city slums and frequent itinerancy in the countryside. He also officially recognized their religion and affirmed its permanent place within the private sphere of French life.

Through these acts of profound tolerance over 200 years ago, France set an example for all of Europe and proved that its open-mindedness was more than rhetorical.

Modern France would do well to follow its own admirable example and truly treat Muslim citizens as equal participants in society. Foregoing the burqa ban would be a sensible first step.

Source: Common Ground.
Link: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=27164&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1.

End of the Road for NASA's Mars Rover 'Spirit'

The roving days are over for NASA's Mars rover Spirit after more than six years rolling across the Martian surface, the space agency announced Tuesday.

The roving days are over for NASA's Mars rover Spirit after more than six years rolling across the Martian surface, the space agency announced Tuesday.

NASA engineers have decided to abandon efforts to rescue the Spirit rover from the deep Martian sand that snared it in May 2009. Instead, they are trying to prepare the rover to survive the harsh winter ahead in Mars' southern hemisphere. If the rover survives, it will serve as a fixed science outpost, mission managers said.

SLIDESHOW: Mars Rover Spirit's Best Photos

"This is not a day to mourn Spirit. This is not a day of loss," said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA's Mars exploration program, in a teleconference. "Its driving days are likely over, however its contribution will continue."

Spirit is stuck up to its wheel tops in Martian sand and slightly tilted back in a spot on Mars that scientists have named "Troy." The rover got stuck on May 6, when its wheels broke through a hard crust covering the soft sand and sunk into the sand trap.

"Spirit has encountered a golfer's worse nightmare," McCuistion said.

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., spent months working on ways to extract Spirit from its sandy predicament. Those efforts - which began in November - have been unsuccessful. Making matters worse, two of the rover's six wheels are broken, hampering its escape attempts.

Spirit and its robotic twin Opportunity have been exploring different parts of Mars since they landed in January 2004. Since then, the long-lived rovers have far outlasted their initial 90-day mission plans and discovered new insights into the history of water on Mars. Opportunity is currently working fine and is studying an odd rock called "Marquette Island" – which appears to have been ejected from deep inside Mars during an impact – as it heads toward a giant crater called Endeavour.

McCuistion called the Spirit's situation "inextractable." He didn't rule out that Spirit could free itself by accident, but that's not the goal anymore.

"Right now, our plan is to worry about getting through the winter," McCuistion said.

Recent attempts to drive Spirit backwards have made some improvement to its tilt toward the sun, which is vital for the rover's solar arrays to generate the power to stay alive.

During winters on Mars, the sun is low in the sky, so engineers try to perch Spirit and Opportunity on north-facing slopes to maximize the amount of sunlight their top-mounted solar panels can collect. NASA is hopeful that Spirit can be wiggled into a favorable position before the full brunt of winter arrives in a few months.

If successful, Spirit could continue to operate through the Martian winter, or possibly enter a hibernation-like mode until the season passes and springtime returns, bringing with it more favorable levels of sunlight.

"We have hope that Spirit will survive this cold, dark winter that we have ahead of us and be ready to do more science come springtime," said the rover mission's principal investigator Steven Squyres of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Squyres said Spirit can still study the Mars dirt around Troy. There is also a tantalizing chance for scientists to determine if the core of Mars is liquid or solid iron. They could do that by using Spirit's radio signals to record the motion of Mars and deduce if the red planet's core is molten or not, he added.

"Totally new science," Squyres said.

But first, Spirit must survive the next winter on Mars.

Rover project manager John Callas of JPL said that, in the end, it will all come down to power. If Spirit does not find a good sunward tilt for the coming winter, it could experience a so-called "low-power fault" and shut down all non-essential systems.

"The rover will be like a polar bear, hibernating," Callas said. "It could be for many months...on the order of six months, that the rover will be in this state."

Unlike NASA's long-silent Phoenix lander in the Martian arctic, Spirit is designed to hibernate through winters on Mars and will experience temperatures of minus 45 degrees Celsius, Callas said. But Spirit is not a new rover, so its systems could be susceptible to damage due to age, he added.

"There's no guarantee that the rover will be able to survive these colder temperatures," Callas said.

It will likely be frustrating for NASA engineers as they await word from Spirit to determine if the rover survives the coming winter. After all, NASA has spent $900 million on the Mars rover mission, and typically spends $20 million a year to support Spirit and Opportunity during their extended treks on the red planet.

"That'll be challenging for the team, but it's just something we'll have to be disciplined about," Callas said.

Source: Fox News.
Link: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/26/end-road-nasas-mars-rover-spirit/.

Guinness World Records and Paladone Products Announce New Licensing Partnership

LONDON, January 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking, and Paladone Products, the leading gift suppliers in the UK, are delighted to announce a new partnership which will see the launch of the first range of Guinness World Records(TM) toys and gifts in 2010 and 2011.

The products, from juggling sets to bus-jumping motorbike kits, will be on sale in gift and toy shops from next summer across the UK. The combination of this globally renowned brand and unique quality of the designs look to inspire and encourage would be record breakers to join in the fun - whether it's breaking a record yourself or getting a true understanding for the feats of previous record breakers. Record breaking packs will also include a Guinness World Records mini book packed with records, facts and tips on how to be the best, and cover areas from circus skills to stunt jumping to chocolate eating!

Hannah Scroggs, New Product Developer for Paladone said, "For years Guinness World Records has been fascinating and inspiring people of all ages. With our range of products we are hoping to engage people in record breaking feats, and encourage them have a go themselves. Working with such a great brand is inspirational, and a perfect foundation to create a range of products that inspire 7-70 year olds to get active and break a record".

Beatriz Fernandez, International Licensing Manager for Guinness World Records said "Paladone was the right partner for us as they shared view of how serious attempts at record breaking can provide a lot of fun along the way. It was important to us that each product contains factual information on records and how to measure them, and links to the official Guinness World Records website and adjudication teams"

The deal, which was brokered by Start Licensing, will see new and exciting record breaking products available from the summer 2010 at top retailers in the High Street.