Ethiopia enters Somalia, but avoids African Union joint operation

Unlike Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Djibouti, which have sent thousands of troops under the African Union banner, Ethiopia is intervening in Somalia unilaterally, and won't stay for long.

After weeks of denials, the Ethiopian government has used the advent of the new year to officially acknowledge it had rejoined the battle against militants in neighboring Somalia.

Skip to next paragraph

"Together with Transitional Federal Government forces the town of Beledwyne has been liberated from al-Shabaab," Communications Minister Bereket Simon said on Jan. 3.

The arrival of Ethiopian troops from the west ? who officially left in 2009 after deposing the Islamic Courts in a 2.5 year campaign ? buttresses the efforts of Ugandan, Burundian, Djiboutian and Kenyan forces, all now fighting under the banner of the African Union.

Unlike the Kenyans, who initially independently entered southern Somalia in October, Bereket says Ethiopia has no intention of becoming part of the African Union operation ? and so receiving funds for their efforts from the European Union and others. This self-reliant stance backs up official statements it has no intention of staying for long.

Ethiopian troops first crossed the border again in the middle of November, according to The New York Times. As the government denied the claims of multiple eye-witnesses, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development ? a group of seven East African nations chaired currently by Ethiopia's leader Meles Zenawi ? requested support from Ethiopian forces at a meeting a few days later.

The subsequent coyness about the operation is due to not wanting to hand Islamist extremists Al Shabab a propaganda coup about an invading Christian army, sources close to the Ethiopian government say. Although the diverse country of 82.9 million contains 25 million Muslims, Ethiopia has a long-standing connection to Orthodox Christianity and Christians comprise 62 percent of the population, according to a 2008 census.

While ethnic Somali rebels sporadically attack in Ethiopia's Ogaden region, which Somalia attempted to annex in an unsuccessful 1977 invasion, it does not fear a resurgent neighbour. "Ethiopia is not worried about a strong Somalia for many years," says an adviser to the Ethiopian government, privately.

Instead, the incursion ? which is described as closer to a continuation of cross-border raiding than a repeat of 2006 ? is a result of Ethiopia's desire to fulfil its role as regional powerhouse and exploit a unique opportunity to dispose of Al Shabab.

Even if the Al Qaeda-linked rebels are diffused, cutting off funds by controlling the likes of Kismayo port while attacking on multiple fronts could lead to demoralization, defections, and moves toward negotiations by moderate factions, it is believed. ??

As with the June deployment of Ethiopian peacekeepers in the flashpoint Sudanese region of Abyei, such action helps Ethiopia maintain its tight relations with influential Western allies.

Although there is little reason for optimism, the eventual onset of peace in Somalia would give land-locked Ethiopia the stable neighbour it desires, and access to its ports.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/world/~3/6VV65ORENms/Ethiopia-enters-Somalia-but-avoids-African-Union-joint-operation

dan henderson oregon ducks oregon ducks oregon football lana turner donald glover julio cesar chavez jr

How to Buy a Better Lightbulb

Contrary to rumor, the incandescent lightbulb is not going away?at least not right away. New U.S. regulations, starting January 1, cap energy consumption of a roughly 1,600-lumen bulb (equivalent to a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb) at 72 watts?which means the workhorse of home lighting will have to become about 30 percent more efficient overnight. The law will expand in the next two years to cover 75-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs. There is room for improvement: incandescent bulbs currently waste 90 percent of their energy as heat. Halogen incandescents provide a more efficient, if pricier, alternative and will give compact fluorescents a run for their money. A light-emitting-diode replacement for 100-watt bulbs is expected to reach market this year; dimmer LEDs are already available. Consumers will be able to check federally mandated labels that give performance specs, similar to nutrition labels on food, but here we illuminate the essential facts.

?

Graphic by George Retseck and Jen Christiansen
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy and Efficacy calculations based on currently available bulbs (traditional, halogen and compact fluorescent); SWITCH LIGHTING (led)

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=5c4fb7c05c4192b85df2b503a88f8174

patti labelle the weeknd the weeknd payroll tax payroll tax aisha khan alanis morissette

Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers

Ultrabooks might be the belle of the ball at this year's CES, but that doesn't mean you won't see a few desktops thrown in for variety's sake. Lenovo just unveiled a quartet of stationary machines, including two towers and a pair of touchscreen all-in-ones. Beginning with those touchscreens, the IdeaCentre B340 and B540 are essentially the same system, except the former has a 21.5-inch screen and the latter expands to 23. Both have 1080p displays and can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, an optional Blu-ray drive and 3D tech. The only variation in specs, so far as we can tell, is that the 21.5-inch version maxes out with a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 615M card, whereas for the 23-incher the top-shelf offering is the GeForce GT 650M with 2GB of video memory. Lenovo's also bundled its finger-friendly IdeaTouch software, whose OneKey TV feature lets you toggle between your desktop and TV mode using a picture-in-a-picture. Look for these in June, with an entry price of $699.

Shifting gears to towers, the IdeaCentre K430 is aimed at gamers and other users of the powerful sort, with room for up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and either a 128GB SSD or as much as 4TB in HDD storage, with optional twin hard drives arranged in a RAID0 configuration. And, unlike with Lenovo's more mainstream desktops, you'll get a choice of graphics: a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX660 or, from AMD's camp, a 2GB Radeon HD 7750. Don't need that much muscle? The H520 tower has a compact shape and still accommodates up to 2TB of storage space and 8GB of RAm, along with either a 2GB AMD Radeon HD7570 or a 2GB GeForce GTX630 card. Expect the K430 to arrive in May for $599, and the H520s to follow in June for $499 and up.

Continue reading Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers

Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Vic-_9OvdL0/

tom brady packers green bay packers chiefs kc chiefs kc chiefs judy garland

abcgrandstand: Melbourne Victory appear to be lining up ex-Northern Ireland international Jim Magilton as their new coach http://t.co/nxaMni1M #aleague

  • Passer la navigation
  • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
  • Passer cette ?tape
  • Connexion
Loader Twitter.com
  • Connexion
Melbourne Victory appear to be lining up ex-Northern Ireland international Jim Magilton as their new coach bit.ly/yiZ52O #aleague abcgrandstand

ABC Grandstand

Pied de page

Source:

new orleans jazz fest dwight howard louis ck michelle duggar heisman cp3 lakers news

Resolve to Take Colon Cancer Test, Experts Say - iVillage

FRIDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDay News) -- If you're 50 or older, consider making it a new year goal to get screened for colorectal cancer, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy suggests.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers because most cases arise from precancerous growths in the colon called polyps. These can be found during a screening exam and removed before they turn into cancer.

Recent research has confirmed that screening is one reason why colorectal cancer death rates are declining, according to an ASGE news release.

Compared to 2002, about 66,000 cases of colorectal cancer were prevented and 32,000 lives were saved in the United States between 2003 and 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half of the prevented cases and deaths were the result of screening.

However, one in three U.S. adults isn't screened for colorectal cancer, which is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

In many cases, colorectal cancer causes no symptoms until it is too late to treat. Age is the most important risk factor for the disease, so even older people with healthy lifestyles need to get screened.

If you're 50 or older, talk to your doctor about colorectal cancer screening and the method that is best for you, the ASGE advises. Screening methods include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, stool blood tests, stool DNA, CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) and barium enema.

Screening should begin at an earlier age for people with risk factors such as a family history of polyps or colorectal cancer. Some experts recommend that black Americans being screening at age 45.

Colonoscopy is considered the preferred method because it is the only test that both detects and removes precancerous polyps during the same exam. A person at average risk with normal colonoscopy results shouldn't require another exam for 10 years. Screenings may be more frequent for patients found to have polyps or cancer.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about colorectal cancer screening.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/resolve-take-colon-cancer-test-experts-say/4-a-416382

pepper spray storage auctions storage auctions les miles les miles beyonce dance for you video beyonce dance for you video

Get debt collectors to leave you alone

Steve BucciQuestionDear Debt Adviser,


My problem is collection agencies keep calling my home number asking for people who not only don't live here, but they have never lived in my apartment. People show up at the house demanding to see the person who owes money, but it is not me. I live in an apartment complex, and after months of harassment and convincing the agency they have the wrong person, they simply sell the debt to another debt collector, and it starts all over again! The people they are looking for moved about five blocks away three years ago, and I gave them their new address and telephone numbers. However, they still come here and harass me. How can I make this stop?
-- Bob

AnswerDear Bob,
I feel your pain. Unfortunately, some collection agencies treat oral debt disputes, such as yours, as an immediate signal to sell the debt before it is formally disputed. By selling informally disputed debts, collectors can skirt the legal obligations imposed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. You see, once you formally dispute a debt, the act requires the collectors to cease collection efforts or validate the debt. For some sleazy collectors, selling disputed debts is their way to cease their own collection activities while recouping at least part of the price paid for such debts in a subsequent sale. To their way of thinking, it may be cheaper to sell a debt quickly than to take the time to validate it. The net effect is what you are experiencing. The debt goes back into collections to a new agency without validation. This unintended consequence of the FDCPA creates a situation in which debts are sold and resold to the next collector, and this subjects you to an unending cycle of collection and dispute.

What you need to do to stop the harassment is to get everything you can in writing, keep good notes of the phone calls and personal visits and then armed with that ammunition, take action.

First, the FDCPA requires that you dispute an invalid debt in writing within 30 days of first being contacted regarding the debt. You can learn more about your rights under the act by visiting the Federal Trade Commission's website.

You'll need to find out what company is calling you and their mailing address. To get the information you might try answering the caller's first inquiry with, "Who is calling?" They should provide you with their name and the company name. Then, write a letter stating you dispute the debt based on the fact that you are not the person who owes the debt. Send the letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested. Do not give out your personal information to the company in the letter. The debt collector does not have the right to your Social Security number and date of birth. The burden of proof is on the collection agency to prove you are the person who owes the debt, not on you to prove you are not that someone. Upon receiving your letter, the collection company must provide proof that you, not the other person, owe the debt. The debt collector will obviously be unable to produce proof for a debt in your name, so they must stop contacting you per the FDCPA. They must also mark the debt as disputed until the dispute is resolved. A disputed debt has virtually no resale value, but it has a possible liability for the collector.

Should the calls continue, which they may, then file a complaint on the company with your state attorney general's office and the Federal Trade Commission. Send a copy of your complaint to the collection agency, so they know you mean business.

Next, you have the option of contacting a consumer rights attorney in your area to determine if you have a case to sue the collection agency for noncompliance of the FDCPA. This is when you will need to give your attorney your meticulously kept records of phone calls and visits from the collection agency. You could be entitled to damages.

Good luck!

Get more news, money-saving tips and expert advice by signing up for a free Bankrate newsletter.

To ask a question of the Debt Adviser, go to the "Ask the Experts" page and select "Debt" as the topic. Read more Debt Adviser columns and more stories about debt management.

?

Bankrate's content, including the guidance of its advice-and-expert columns and this website, is intended only to assist you with financial decisions. The content is broad in scope and does not consider your personal financial situation. Bankrate recommends that you seek the advice of advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy. Please remember that your use of this website is governed by Bankrate's Terms of Use.

Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/get-debt-collectors-to-leave-you-alone.aspx

will kopelman bill o brien joseph kennedy iii dakota fanning leann rimes casey anthony video diary joe johnson

UAAA: Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, just hours after taking the oath of office, expressed his commitment to the... http://t.co/gmB6Tjkz

  • Passer la navigation
  • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
  • Passer cette ?tape
  • Connexion
Loader Twitter.com
  • Connexion
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, just hours after taking the oath of office, expressed his commitment to the... fb.me/1gONH8rm0 UAAA

Arizona Alumni

Pied de page

Source:

bonjovi bonjovi kim jong un antonio brown james harrison james harrison lil kim

Beach-Born-Boy [ARRIVAL]

Hey there, Beach-Born-Boy! M'name's Sato, and welcome to RolePlayGateway!

I confess, I don't know what SEM is, or what's happening there that brought you here. Regardless of the circumstances, it's still great to meet you, and have you joining our lovely community of storytellers!

As for recommending roleplays for you, check out these two forums!

The Roleplayers Wanted is a forum for existing RPs. GMs post in there when they need a specific character role to be filled before they can start or continue their story. These threads always have a link to existing IC content.

The Interest Checks forum is a place for prospective roleplayers to cast a wide net and try to get a feel if anyone wants to create a world for a roleplay. It's always better to browse open requests rather than make your own, so keep that in mind!

(: Hope that helps. Any more questions about the forum, please don't hesitate to ask!

-VV

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/3ojRRW9-tNE/viewtopic.php

iron chef bath and body works coupons jeff probst jeff probst king jong il dead south korea baron davis

TFMTweets: NPR: Japan To Issue New Limit On Atomic Reactor Use-More at http://t.co/fcvgcTeY

  • Passer la navigation
  • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
  • Passer cette ?tape
  • Connexion
Loader Twitter.com
  • Connexion
NPR: Japan To Issue New Limit On Atomic Reactor Use-More at n.pr/ylcJqV TFMTweets

TFM newshounds

Pied de page

Source:

curmudgeon daylight savings time 2011 selena daylight savings bobolink bobolink breeders cup