Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/102382
Tuesday, January 8, 2013 – Daily News 5A WORLD BRIEFING Obama nominates Hagel for top Pentagon post WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite Republican misgivings, President Barack Obama announced Monday he will nominate former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary, calling him ''the leader our troops deserve.'' He also chose White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Controversy surrounds both choices, but the president called on the Senate to quickly confirm both. ''The work of protecting our nation is never done. We've got much to do,'' Obama said at the East Room announcement. ''My most solemn obligation is the security of our people.'' Obama announced his choice of Hagel, a political moderate who represented Nebraska in the Senate, even as critics questioned the pick over issues including Hagel's views on Israel and Iran. Facing a potential fight to get Hagel confirmed by the Senate, Obama praised his independence and bipartisan approach, and said that Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, understands war is not an abstraction. He also praised Hagel, 66, as one who could make ''tough fiscal choices'' in a time of increasing austerity. Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel causes jitters in Israel JERUSALEM (AP) — President Barack Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense is causing jitters in Israel, where some circles view the former Nebraska senator as unsympathetic or even hostile. Hagel's positions on Israel's two most pressing foreign policy issues — Iran's nuclear program and relations with the Palestinians — appear to be at odds with the Israeli government, and critics here fear the appointment could increase pressure on the Jewish state to make unwanted concessions. The appointment could also signal further strains in what is already a cool relationship between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to win reelection later this month. ''Because of his statements in the past, and his stance toward Israel, we are worried,'' Reuven Rivlin, the speaker of the Israeli parliament and a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, told The Associated Press. But, he added, the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel is strong and ''one person doesn't determine policy.'' Netanyahu's office refused to comment on the appointment, as did officials in the Israeli foreign and defense ministries. But Rivlin's comments reflected what has been a common sentiment among analysts and commentators here in recent days. In their evening news broadcasts, Israel's three main TV stations on Monday all portrayed Hagel as cool toward Israel. Known as a maverick in the Senate, Hagel has raised eyebrows in Israel with a series of comments and actions over the years that some here have deemed insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state. Fighting in Syria as world slams Assad speech BEIRUT (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed disappointment with Syrian President Bashar Assad for rejecting the most important elements of an international roadmap to end the country's civil war — a political handover and establishment of a transitional governing body. Assad in a rare speech Sunday outlined his own vision for ending the country's conflict with a plan that would keep him in power. He also dismissed any chance of dialogue with the armed opposition and called on Syrians to fight what he called ''murderous criminals.'' U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Monday the secretary-general is disappointed that Assad's speech ''does not contribute to a solution that could end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people.'' Nesirky said Ban and U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi will continue to work for a political transition that leads to U.N.-organized elections. The West, including the U.S. and Britain, denounced Assad's speech, which came amid stepped-up international efforts for a peaceful settlement to the Syrian conflict. On Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also criticized the Syrian leader's initiative. He accused Assad of ''state terrorism'' and called on him to relinquish power. ing a school after Victoria Soto, a teacher who was killed in last month's elementary school massacre and hailed as a hero. Soto, a 27-year-old resident of Stratford, was killed as she tried to shield her students from the gunman inside Sandy Hook Elementary School. The shooter killed 20 children and six women at the school on Dec. 14 before committing suicide. ''In the days since the tragedy in Sandy Hook, the stories of bravery and heroism by Stratford's own Victoria Soto have been both heart-wrenching and abundant,'' Stratford Mayor John Harkins said. ''She gave her life protecting children, and we must make sure her sacrifice is never forgotten.'' Some of the children from Soto's classroom escaped harm, and there have been reports that Soto hid some of her students from the approaching gunman. Harkins said he had met with Soto's family and discussed how the town could honor her memory. Families of shooting victims listen as police describe trying to save wounded CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Police officers who arrested James Holmes after the Colorado movie theater massacre described the suspected gunman, clad in body armor, as unusually relaxed but fidgety at times. Holmes didn't resist arrest behind the theater and volunteered that his apartment had been booby trapped, the officers testified during the opening of a hearing in which prosecutors began laying out their case against the former neuroscience graduate student. Officer Jason Oviatt said Holmes seemed ''very, very relaxed'' and didn't seem to have ''normal emotional reactions'' to things. ''He seemed very detached from it all,'' he said. When Oviatt first saw Holmes in his gear standing next to his car behind the theater, he thought he was a fellow officer but then realized Holmes was standing still, and not rushing toward the theater. 'State of Palestine' remains largely on paper RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — With U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state in his pocket, President Mahmoud Abbas wants official documents to carry a new emblem: ''State of Palestine.'' But scrapping the old ''Palestinian Authority'' logo is as far as Abbas is willing to go in provoking Israel. He is not rushing to change passports and ID cards Palestinians need to pass through Israeli crossings. The very modesty of Abbas' move to change official stationery underscores his limited options so long as Israel remains in charge of territories the world says should one day make up that state. ''At the end of the day, the Palestinian Authority won't cause trouble for its people,'' Nour Odeh, a spokeswoman for Abbas' self-rule government, said of the need for caution. Abbas won overwhelming U.N. General Assembly recognition for a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in late November, a rare diplomatic victory over a sidelined Israel. The U.N. nod was important to the Palestinians because it affirmed the borders of their future state in lands Israel captured in 1967. Chicago lottery winner died from cyanide poisoning CHICAGO (AP) — With no signs of trauma and nothing to raise suspicions, the sudden death of a Chicago man just as he was about to collect nearly $425,000 in lottery winnings was initially ruled a result of natural causes. Nearly six months later, authorities have a mystery on their hands after medical examiners, responding to a relative's pleas, did an expanded screening and determined that Urooj Khan, 46, died shortly after ingesting a lethal dose of cyanide. The finding has triggered a homicide investigation, the Chicago Police Department said Monday. ''It's pretty unusual,'' said Cook County Medical Examiner Stephen Cina, commenting on the rarity of cyanide poisonings. ''I've had one, maybe two cases out of 4,500 autopsies I've done.'' In June, Khan, who owned a number of dry cleaners, stopped in at a 7Eleven near his home in the West Rogers Park neighborhood on the city's North Side and bought a ticket for an instant lottery game. He scratched off the ticket, then jumped up and down and repeatedly shouted, ''I hit a million,'' Khan recalled days later during a ceremony in which Illinois Lottery officials presented him with an oversized check. He said he was so overjoyed he ran back into the store and tipped the clerk $100. Mayor proposes naming school in honor of slain teacher STRATFORD, Conn. (AP) — The mayor of a city near Newtown, Conn., on Monday proposed nam- KWIK KUTS Sleepless in space WASHINGTON (AP) — Astronauts have a down-to-Earth problem that could be even worse on a long trip to Mars: They can't get enough sleep. And over time, the lack of slumber can turn intrepid space travelers into drowsy couch potatoes, a new study shows. In a novel experiment, six volunteers were confined in a cramped mock spaceship in Moscow to simulate a 17-month voyage. It made most of the would-be spacemen lethargic, much like birds and bears heading into winter, gearing up for hibernation. The men went into a prolonged funk. Four had considerable trouble sleeping, with one having minor problems and the sixth mostly unaffected. Some had depression issues. Sometimes, a few of the men squirreled themselves away into the most private nooks they could find. They didn't move much. They avoided crucial exercise. Insurance Family Hair Salon 20 % off ANY RETAIL PRODUCT with any chemical service of $50 or more 2 Regular $ Haircut 00 off Reg. $13.95 Not good with other offers Expires 12/31/12 With coupon 1064 South Main St., Red Bluff • 529-3540 5am to 11pm ONE STOP ✓Check out our selection of beer, wine & tobacco Your One Stop Convenience Store 714 Walnut St., Red Bluff Steve Thomas Insurance Agent AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah 151 Sale Lane Red Bluff, CA 96080 Office 530-529-9025 FAX 530-529-1488 Email Stephen.Thomas@goAAA.com California License No. 0693182 Membership \ Insurance \ Travel WHY I ❤ CORNING! An Olive City essay contest! A fun opportunity for residents and visitors alike to share why they love living, working or visiting California's Olive City in 300 (three hundred) words or less. First, second and third place winners will be published in "Corning 2013," the annual community resource guide and information directory, published January 31, 2013. Digital version will be published online for a full year, with links to the interactive edition posted on the Corning Chamber, City of Corning and Tehama County websites. Deadline for receipt of entries: Friday, January 11, 2013 THANKING THE COMMUNITY We would like to thank the many different organizations that helped man the food drives, donations of food, participated in the "Tis the Season" food drive, donation of toys for our angel trees. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who helped with bell ringing and every other event. AAA INS, Del Taco, Job Training Center, Sheriff Explores, Wal-Mart D.C. (18,151 lbs of food), Cal Fire, Driscoll's, Kremer Chiropractic, Lassen Medical Group, Wal-Mart, Tehama Tires, Sacred Heart Women's Guild, Elks Lodge, Raley's, Grocery Outlet, Rabobank, Latimer's Pharmacy, Bidwell School, Red Bluff High School, Red Bluff Fire Dept, Red Bluff Sheriffs Dept., Tri Counties Bank, Jamie Hess, Gleaners, Inc (Dan). The Salvation Army would like to thank all financial donors and all gifts and kind donors. 1ST Prize: 2ND Prize: 3RD Prize: $200 $100 $50 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY and T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 HOW TO ENTER: Via Email: Send c/o tehama.up@gmail.com Via Mail: I love Corning c/o The Daily News, PO Box 220, Red Bluff CA 96080 Entries must be accompanied by name of author, address, telephone number and email address if any. Original work only. All entries become the property of The Daily News and cannot be returned. Entries may be republished by The Daily News in whole or part, and may be afforded to the Corning Chamber of Commerce for community promotional purposes. Selection of winners will be made by a committee composed of representatives of The Daily News and Corning Chamber of Commerce.