Recent downturn in oil markets has meant a rare relief to consumers in the form of cheaper fuel.
According to a Reuters report oil prices are at a three year low as it touched 42$ US a barrel on Friday the 5th of December.
The latest dip was attributed to grim jobs reports out of world’s largest economy.
The US reported largest monthly drop in jobs in the last 34 years when more than half million jobs were lost, far worse than any analyst expectation.
This follows on from general grim economic news from across the world for last few months.
Analysts now expect oil prices to dip even lower as demand sinks and supply plentiful.
OPEC and changing markets
In the past few weeks, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting OPEC tried unsuccessfully to put a floor under the falling price of
OPEC Symbol (Source:Wikipedia)
crude oil.
AFP quoted the OPEC president Chakib Khelil “the level of global oil inventories should be reduced by four days to stabilize the price of crude and has planned supply cuts over coming months”.
The press association reports that the average UK price of petrol has fallen to 90.78p a litre and 105.88p for diesel.
It is not easy to forget that just four months ago oil touched all time high of 147$ US and was predicted a 200$ US barrel of oil, citing accelerating growth in Emerging Markets like China, India etc.
Nine migrant workers in Hangzhou, south-east China were hospitalised for food poisoning after eating lunch at a small restaurant near their building site thisafternoon.
Photographer: Ian Britton-sourced:FreeFoto.com-available for non-commercial purpose
According to Doctor Mao Jianjie, one of their attending doctors, all patients are out of danger after the emergency treatment.
The nine workers, from Jiangxi province, began vomiting and suffering stomach pains and diarrhea at around 13.00 pm local time, half an hour after this morning’s meal.
And then they have been sent to the Oak Hospital by their colleagues immediately, according to Doctor Mao.
“Patients were very sick when they arrived,” Doctor Mao said. “The situation wasn’t getting better until they accepted gastric lavage and oxygen therapy”. And all victims will hopefully be discharged in one week.
The restaurant owner went to the hospital with his wife and eight-year-old son, and says he feel sorry to victims and will compensate them for the losses with money.
Yu Mingqiang, the labour contractor suffered worst in this case. It was he brought the group of workers from their hometown Jiangxi Province for working on a fit-out project in Hangzhou City. And they just arrived at last night.
Unidentified cause
After carefully examining and inquiring to patients, poisonous mushrooms are believed to be the cause of the illness.
While one of the victims says, “the rice smells as if it is a bit off” and Dr Mao suggests the possibility that vegetables contained pesticide residues cannot be ruled out until the final laboratory results are known.
According to Socialistparty.org, after fish, pork, and chicken contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, along with milk and eggs. China’s food contamination crisis deepens by the day.
This is the fifth reported food poisoning incident in Hangzhou this year. The sanitation department says it will enforce the related laws and strengthen the food sanitation management.
Youths disguised attacked with stones and incendiary bombs the installations of the riot police in Athens, to the time that demonstrators collided with the police in the city of Salónica, upon being resumed a wave of violence untied by the death of an adolescent by hand of police officers.
Grade school children groups blocked streets and many adolescents concentrated on the the complex of courts in the capital and a prison of maximum security, where some threw stones against the police.
The demonstrators demanded the retreat of the streets the riot police officers, the disarmament of the police and measures against the growing social inequality.
The focus of the protests is changing now the students of secondary, that were shaken by the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, of 15 years, in a police cross-fire, and they have expressed besides worry by the social, educational, and economic politics of the government.The classes have been suspended in more than 100 secondary schools that are busy by the students.
Numerous university buildings in every Greece have been busy also by the students, reported AP.
After the cross-fire of December 6, furious youths destroyed stained glass windows and incendiary scores of stores and other buildings in the main commercial area of Athens, and they attacked the riot police, that responded with massive use of tear gas.
More victims
Scores of people were injuries in the disturbances that were registered in several cities of the country, to the time that more than 300 people were arrested.The accused police to kill the adolescent has been accused of murder and is person under arrest in wait of judgment.
The disturbance continued to a judicial decision that declared eight guilty police officers to abuse a student during disturbances two years ago.
The police officers received sentences suspended from among three years and three months by causing bodily harm and 15 months by collaborating with the abuse.
More demonstrations of students in Athens are expected, while the schools remain the entire day closed and, some of them, busy by the students
On the 2nd of December, Basque separatist terrorist group ETA killed Ignacio Uría, a 71 year-old businessman. The reason was because his company was one of the builders of the high-speed train (HST).
Basque social groups, such left ideological associations, ecological NGO’s and so on, have also been affected by this murder. They are against the building of the HST, and they try to prevent it by social and peaceful acts. So, everything that ETA does with their violence is only distorting their intentions, as they don’t approve the use of violence.
Basque Country Map
During the last few months, some of the most important ETA heads have been arrested, and one thing is for sure; they are much younger than used to be. The reason of that is because older militants are betting for a peaceful solution rather than violence, but youngsters are much violent.
INTERNAL DIVISION
After 2006’s permanent ceasefire announcement, the terrorist band has suffered an important division. Some of the heads of the organisation wanted to quit the violence forever but some of them wanted to continue.
The negotiations with the Spanish government weren’t successful despite the feeling of the people was positive. In the middle of the deal the hard section of the group decided to put a bomb in Madrid’s airport. As a result, the negotiations broke up.
After that the Spanish Department of Homeland Security has prosecuted and arrested several terrorists, whereas ETA has continued with their killings. Specially cruel was the assassination of Isaías Carrasco, the day before the Spanish elections.
THE NEED OF A POLITICAL FIGURE
With Arnaldo Otegi on prision and Batasunaillegalized, the Basque separatists haven’t any representation at all. Due to an anti-terrorist act were all the political parties that don’t condemn ETA’s terrorism are likely to be banned; a big part of the populationin the Basque Country does not have political representation.
And the actual problem of the abertzale society right now is that there’s not a political figure, they don’t have a leader. And more importantly, they don’t share ETA’s violence but they want independence. There’s a big gap between the citizen and the terrorist. And a politician should fit that gap. The big problem is military branch of ETA is feared by even abertzale politicians. And that’s because current ETA think there’s only one-way to win and that’s the fight through the army.
ETA's symbol
OPEN FUTURE
However there’s hope. Zapatero, the Spanish president, tried to end with the terrorist when 2006’s permanent ceasefire, and for sure he will try again before his term ends.
Once the abertzales find a leader (if they don’t get Otegi back) the scenario for a solution will be as best as desired:
-ETA is weak and divided
-Basque supporters of the independence are tired of violence and want a peaceful resolution
-Zapatero’s government will be rewarded when time to vote again
With the sight on Ireland and South Africa, the peace to the Basque Country will come sooner or later. People’s unity and desire for justice and peace is primary to achieve it.
Basque singer Mikel Laboa, who passed away last week, contributes with his music to make people think and love rather than killing. Here’s one of his most famous songs.
On 3rd October 1995, the Jury of Los Angeles Superior Court found O.J. Simpson not guilty of the murders of his ex wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.
Considered to be one of the lengthiest criminal trials in the U.S. legal history, O.J. Simpson’s prosecution is undeniably the most publicized court cases of the 20th century.
His trial began in January 1995 and its proceedings were broadcasted directly from the Superior Court.
News channels from around the world covered this legal battle that lasted almost 18 months.
According to the Frontline, more than 150 million American viewers watched his trial.
The story unfolds:
On 12th June 1994, Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her luxury townhouse in south Bundy.
Soon after the murders took place, O.J. Simpson was arrested but he insisted that he was “100% not guilty”, reported the BBC .
Eye-opening evidence:
The evidence found at the crime scene led the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) to believe that O.J. was the real killer.
Simpson’s white Bronco was also seen leaving the south Bundy crime scene by a few neighbours who recognised him instantly.
Moreover, the blood stains found on the Bronco’s interiors; the killer’s glove and other DNA reports only belonged to three people – and two of them were already dead.
Its interesting to note that even though the evidence collected by the police confirmed O.J. Simpson’s involvement in the murders, his attorney’s accused the LAPD of tampering with the evidence.
1992 Riots
The defense team also tried to turn this into an ‘International Racism’ issue and asserted that only the jury had the power to amend it.
The jury feared that a guilty verdict would spark off fresh riots in LA that had previously occurred in 1992.
This was the year when violent riots engulfed the city of Los Angeles following the acquittal of four white police officers who were caught on camera while beating up a black motorist named Rodney King.
Therefore, the jury was under tremendous pressure to make the right decision while keeping the political and racial sentiments of people in mind.
Neither Simpson nor the defense team had good enough explanations to crush the strong allegations against Orenthal James.
Despite the amount of incriminating evidence against him, Simpson was eventually let off scott-free by the then Superior Court judge Lance Ito.
The Trial that divided America:
The Simpson trial received mixed reactions from people belonging to different communities and races.
According to the 1995 CNN USA polls, 78% of the African American crowd believed that O.J.Simpson was innocent.
On the other hand 49% of the white Americans felt that Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were slaughtered by none other than O.J. himself.
The family members of the victims were absoluttely shocked by the the jury’s verdict.
Victim’s father, Fred Goldman was terribly disappointed. The BBC quoted him saying,”I deeply believe that this country lost today. Justice was not served.”
O.J. in prison
Finally, on 5th February 1997 a civil jury in Santa Monica, California found Simpson guilty of the two murders
He was ordered to pay a sum of £19 million as damages to the victim’s families.
Luck seemed to be running on his side as he successfully managed to argue his way out of it and also retained the custody of his two children.
Of course, fate had other plans for him.
Clad in a prisoners blue uniform, shackled and chained, O.J. Simpson blew him cheeks out as the County Court judge Jacky Glass declared him guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping last friday.
13 years after his acquittal, O.J. seems to have finally run out of luck as he faces the possibility of life sentence at the Clark County Court in Las Vegas.
American actor and football prodigy, O.J. Simpson has been sentenced up to 33 years in prison by a Las Vegas District court.
The 61 year- old National Football League star was found guilty on 12 counts of robbery that included conspiracy to kidnap and assault with a deadly weapon.
Simpson was accused of holding up two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in their hotel room while he tried to recover personal possessions which, he believed still belonged to him.
The verdict
According to the BBC, Judge Jacky Glass described Simpson as arrogant and ignorant while announcing the verdict.
She also said that the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Simpson’s co-defendant and golfing partner, C.J. Stewart has been sentenced up to 27 years in prison.
According to Reuters, but would be eligible for parole in about 7 1/2 years.
On the other hand, Simpson will be eligible for parole in nine years.
Stewart did try to get a separate hearing to distance himself from O.J.’s notoriety but unfortunately, he was given a chance to do so.
O. J. apologises
The BBC also issued a couple of video’s showing the retired star pleading for leniency as he fought back his tears.
He said in a quivering voice, “In no way did I mean to hurt anybody or steal anything from anyone. I thought I was confronting friends in retrieving my property.”
However, the County District judge Jacky Glass ignored his apology.
She blamed him for storming into the hotel room with weapons and obtaining property by threats, which is considered a robbery.
“And Mr. Stewart, you got caught up in something. I’m not sure how much you knew. But clearly Mr. Simpson knew.”, she added.
Fall of a Hero
American Football legend, O.J. Simpson was one of the most successful players of his generation and enjoyed a sparkling career in the 1970’s.
Popularly known as the juice in his hay days, O.J. was the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
His charming personality and natural charisma landed him several roles in Hollywood flicks as well as promotional adverts.
Unfortunately, Simpson became a victim of his own fame.
In 1995, he was a prime suspect in the murder case of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman who were brutally stabbed to death.
However, the Jury took only took a few hours to reach a unanimous decision that proved O.J. Simpson not guilty!
This was described as the most controversial trial of the 20th century.
His acquittal received mixed reactions from the general public.
While some fans cheered for him after his release, his ex-wife’s and Goldman’s family were distraught and terribly upset.
O.J. Simpson’s arrest has put a smile on the victim’s father’s face.
Fred Goldman seemed ‘thrilled’ by the sentence given to O.J. and was quoted saying, “this monster is where he belongs.”, the Telegraphreported.
Simpson’s lawyers have pleaded with the Clark County District Judge for a light sentence of six years over the Palace station hotel kidnappings.
