Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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Arizona, California blasted due to blizzard, heavy rain

Western parts of the United States are still struggling to resume their traffic amidst snowstorm. Major roads Arizona, California and Nevada have been shut down once again due to heavy rains following the snowstorm. Heavy snow carried by storms has covered hilly regions which have led to power cuts and traffic jams.

Phoenix desert which otherwise experiences pleasant winters had chilly rain continuously for an hour that resulted in temperature much below freezing point on Friday. Main road across Arizona –I-17 ahs been closed and commuters are stranded between the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff.

Visibility reduced to a mere half mile near Grand Canyon and it was only ¼ th of a mile at Flagstaff according to the officials of the National Weather Service.

The Highway 89A which links Sedona and Flagstaff was closed till Tuesday. routes which were opened also had many vehicle collisions in central Arizona. Forecasters said the blizzard might shift to New Mexico by Thursday.

The met department also predicted speedy winds up to 50 mil per hour  in parts of northern Los Angeles Few casualties were also reported due to snow storms and falling trees. There was also a boat lost in the strong winds with 4 people on board.

The storm also struck Sierra Nevada with winds speeding to 100 mph causing delayed flights in Reno, Nev.

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Jerry Brown plans to extend tax hikes in California

Jerry Brown

California is ready to welcome Jerry Brown, new governor elect with a a $28-billion budget deficit. Jerry Brown is all set with his plans to extend taxes and reduction in many programs.

He is formulating a budget to reduce state service that includes university funds and welfare programs. There will be a an extension on hike in temporary taxes on vehicles, income and sales.

Brown, had appealed voters to support him with the promises of not raising taxes. He had also stated that he would ask lawmakers to approve a budget in shortest duration –i.e. within 60 days to save the extra burden of time and expenditure.

Don Sipple, GOP strategist stated that a combination of tax cuts and inclusion of new taxes can make up for the budget shortfalls in long term. However, very few voters would like to bear the burden of extra taxes on their shoulders. The current temporary tax hikes are going to expire by July 1.

California is currently under a budget deficit of $28-billion by extending temporary tax hikes; Brown wants to compensate for$9.5 billion at least. Though there is a majority of Democrats in the Legislature, but still an extension in the tax hikes would require support of two third votes from the Republicans and it might be difficult for Brown to put the tax extensions in front of voters.

There will be tight vigilance over corruption and poor accountability on use of property taxes in California accounting for approximately $5 billion.

Brown wants to implement changes in the corporate tax plans to make them mandatory for every businessman while right now it gives choice to them.

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South Korea says ready for unification with North

S Korean President Lee

Unification of South Korea with north may sound good news to the international community but would only irritate North Korea, which is already aggressive against South Korea. It will only take it as a challenge for annexation by the South. Unification Ministry of South Korea stated that it would divert its strategy to initiate diplomatic talks for unification of the Korean Peninsula.

However, this is not likely to receive any friendly gesture from North Korea and its ally China, which may regard the statement as a threatening or preparation to enslave North Korea.

Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea stressed on resolving the issue of nuclear armament by North through six-party talks as well as preparing for military attack if required.  Recent few weeks have witnessed rising tensions between the two countries that began with aggression from North Korea, its attack on Yeonpyeong Island and following gunfire from both sides. The statement of South Korean ministry showing willingness for unification came in a policy report; however the two countries have always been in war like situation always since their inception.

S Korean President Lee revealed that there was growing willingness among North Koreans for getting reunited with the other part of peninsula and South Korea is ready to step forward. He stated this while on a visit to Malaysia in early December.

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Obama’s prospects are rising for 2012 presidential polls

Obama in good standing among Democrats

Republicans are losing grounds so far the campaign for 2012 presidential polls are concerned. Sarah Palin, the perspective rival to Obama is losing the center stage within Republican Party as leaders like Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are getting more focus now.

Presidential advisers haven given an indication that Republicans are likely to campaign from Chicago. A recent poll has shown Obama with less competition from Sara Palin as she is no more seen as a potential candidate for 2012 elections whereas Obama has gained more popularity among Democrats. The survey was an opinion poll and conducted between Dec 17 and 19 with 1008 American who were interrogated over phone..

The poll finds Obama is improving his standing with Democrats for their nomination for 2012 elections and despite the dissatisfaction over Tax-cut policy, 78 percent Democrats consider him as their candidate for 2012 polls.

At the same time, Sarah Palin who was considered a big rival earlier has now lost 18 points within the Republican Party and only 49 percent party members are likely to nominate her for the next campaign for presidency.

More than 60 percent Republicans are likely to choose Huckabee as their nominee in 2012. During the poll conducted by a news channel, Fifty-nine percent Republicans opted to mention Romney as their choice for 2012 polls.

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New Hawaii governor vows to end ‘Birther’ controversy

Neil Abercrombie, governor of Hawaii has pledged to resolve the “birther” controversy forever.

Birthers is a term used for those people who do not believe that Barack Obama was born in the US, despite of the facts supporting it. They have been asking the Hawaiian government to release Obama’s original birth certificate. However, the state of Hawaii does now allow it according to its laws.

Abercrombie, the new governor is however determined to find out the truth behind Obama’s birth place to finish the Birthers’ criticism. The governor said he wanted to do this to justify Hawaiian people’s love for President Obama and his family and also to honor the prestige of a president.

The governor, who has been a Democrat senator had joined office recently further stated that he has asked the Hawaii health department officials to find out if Obama’s birth certificate and other documents can be released legally. According to Abercrombie the controversy bothered him personally as he was friends with president’s parents and he was present at the time Obama was born.

Evidences prove that Barak Obama was born on Aug 4, 1961 at the Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Hawaii. Local news papers also support this in two separate birth announcements published.

Abercrombie, also clarified that the matter was of no concern to the White House but he had raised the issue for the sake of Hawaiian people.

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Alaskan Senate race ends with Republican leader’s changed strategy

Ms. Murkowski

Republican candidate, Joe Miller fighting a legal battle for Alaska seat in the House has just taken a U-turn now. He stated that he was no longer interested in preventing certification of the Senate race however; he did not greet his rival candidate Senator Lisa Murkowski who will be declared successful now.

Ms. Murkowski is ahead in the race for a seat in US Senate by 10000 votes according to exit poll results. She would begin her term from January 5. A complain by Joe Miller, a Republican candidate, over charges of fault in vote counting methods had obliged the electoral officials to issue a stay order on her certification.

There were repeated concerns raised by Alaskan authorities and Ms Murkowski over Mr. Miller’s allegations that left no option for the state except representing itself with a single candidate in the next session of the Congress in January.

However, Ralph R. Beistline, judge of the Federal District Court clarified that Ms Murkowski   could get her certification despite the challenge made by Joe Miller. The same judge had ordered stay on the particular Senate seat.

Though Joe Miller stated that he was no longer interested in opposing the cancellation of stay order, his claims continued repeating the allegation over inconsistency in state’s vote counting.

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Hamas’ anti-aircraft missiles seized by Egypt

Egyptian security officials have seized many explosives, ammunition and arms hidden by Palestinians a warehouse facility in desert reportedly. The Egyptian force found a large store of ammunition that was meant to be smuggled to Gaza Strip from Sinai Peninsula and other adjacent areas.

The seized weapons include many anti-aircraft artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles, reportedly the arms were to be smuggled to Gaza strip via tunnels. The security forces have destroyed many tunnels after firing on Israel across border with rockets and missiles

Nine weapons store were found in Sinai Peninsula prior to this in Rafah, El-Arish and also in northern and central part of the peninsula. All of them were stored and hidden in Sinai for smuggling into Gaza strip for Palestinians.

The security personnel of the Egypt revealed that there were machine guns, ammunition, 90 artillery shells, bullets of various sizes that counted 200 in number and several anti-tank landmines. There was also 100 kilograms of TNT found on the site. All ware houses are located in an isolated desert and security persons could not find anybody to interrogate regarding the ammunition found. The Egyptian authorities suspect more weapons hidden in Sinai Peninsula and they are looking for it.

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Flights resume in New York following worst blizzard in 60 years

Main airports in New York City have restarted all their flight operations after the last blizzard. It has been the heaviest December in last 60 years as per the meteorological department with snowstorm and snowfall reaching 51 centimeters and above. Entire Northeast, California and many states in the Midwest and South too faced gush of high speed winds and freezing temperatures.

According to the National Weather Service, New York had a 20 inches thick snow cover but sky was clear by morning.

Around 6,000 flights have been cancelled since yesterday due to blizzard.  LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty airports in New York and New Jersey resumed their service last night, airport authorities revealed.

People regarded this snowstorm as worst than ever before. The authorities of New York city also stated that repairing work and clean up cost after the snowstorm will toll much on the city budget while also bear the loss due to loss of revenue due to activities hampered in storm.

The storm speeding winds at a speed of30 to 40 miles per hour arrived to New York on December 26.After Christmas sales were badly affected due to blizzard as most of the shoppers preferred staying home.

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WikiLeaks chief obliged to write autobiography to pay legal bills

Julian Assange

Julian Assange is forced to write down his autobiography to pay his legal bills, he stated. WikiLeaks chief has agreed to a deal of $1.5 million to write his story for a US publisher.

Assange further stated that to keep the website going and pay for the legal battle he is fighting, he needed funds. Most of the banks and paypal have either stopped financial transactions for WikiLeaks or banned Julian Assange and he can not even receive any donation. His visa cards and credit cards have already been cancelled.

The controversial website owner told media that he had already spent $307,400on legal fights and needed money for his survival as well as continue the website. He would also get $796,654 from Alfred A Knopf, his U.S. publisher. Another deal with a British publisher Canongate would give Assange $501,000 And he expects to earn at least $1.5 million by selling the book in international markets.

Assange is living in United Kingdom on bail presently and he is wanted in cases in a Swedish court for charges of sexual assault and rape. Assange and his lawyer have continuously denied all charges and stated that this was a way to silence the controversial media person in reaction to his disclosure of US confidential documents.

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US Intelligence agency decodes civil war message after 147 years

Central Intelligence Agency of America or CIA  finally succeeds in decoding a message sent during civil war in a bottle. The American civil war took place 147 years ago.

The message was sent to Lt Gen John C Pemberton arrested in Mississippi city by the Soviet Union forces under the command of Ulysses S Grant. The original message was–

“After nearly six weeks people in Vicksburg had resorted to eating cats, dogs and leather, and making soup from wallpaper paste.” The message was sent on July 4, 1863. The real message behind this encrypted code was

: “You can expect no help from this side of the river.”

Pemberton expected that General Joseph E Johnston, would help him with his 32,000 Confederate troops but Walker’s message clearly said that it could not be possible.

Catherine Wright says that Walker said in this message,”I can’t help you. I have no troops, I have no supplies, and I have no way to get over there.”

The bottle containing message also had a bullet in it to sink it down into the water to protect from enemies.

It was kept in the Museum of the Confederacy since 1896It has been finally deciphered by David Gaddy, who is a retired CIA code breaker.