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8A Daily News – Saturday, January 28, 2012 WORLD BRIEFING American economy isn't truly healthy yet WASHINGTON (AP) — The American econo- my may not be truly healthy yet, but it's heal- ing. The 2.8 percent annual growth rate reported Fri- day for the fourth quarter was the fastest since spring 2010 and was the third straight quarter that growth has accelerated. Experts cautioned, however, that the pace was unlikely to last and that it's not enough to sharply drive down the unemployment rate. Unemployment stands at 8.5 percent — its low- est level in nearly three years after a sixth straight month of solid hiring. And Friday's Commerce Department report sug- gests more hiring gains ahead. For the final three months of 2011, Ameri- cans spent more on vehi- cles, and companies restocked their supplies at a robust pace. Children among 74 killed in Syrian turmoil BEIRUT (AP) — Two days of bloody turmoil in Syria killed at least 74 people, including small children, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad shelled residential build- ings and fired on crowds in a dramatic escalation of violence, activists said Friday. Video posted online showed the bodies of five small children, five women and a man, all bloodied and piled on beds in what appeared to be an apartment after a building was hit in the city of Homs. A narrator said an entire family had been ''slaughtered.'' Much of the violence was focused in Homs, where heavy gunfire ham- mered the city Friday in a second day of chaos. A day earlier, the city saw a flare-up of sectarian kid- nappings and killings between its Sunni and Alawite communities, and pro-regime forces blasted residential buildings with mortars and gunfire, according to activists. At least 384 children have been killed, as of Jan. 7, in the crackdown on Syria's uprising since it began nearly 11 months ago, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said Fri- day. The count, based on reports from human rights groups, included children under age 18. Most of the deaths took place in Homs and most of the victims were boys, UNICEF said. It said 380 children have Massachusetts governor whom many rank-and-file Republicans view with suspicion. ''The Republican establishment might not be wild about Mitt Rom- ney, but they're terrified by Newt Gingrich,'' said Dan Schnur, a former GOP campaign strategist who teaches politics at the University of Southern California. been detained, including some under age 14. The United Nations estimates that more than 5,400 people have died in the turmoil. GOP insiders mount effort to trim Gingrich sails ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Republican insiders are rising up to cut Newt Gingrich down to size, testament to the GOP establishment's fear that the mercurial candidate could lead the party to disaster this fall. The gathering criti- cisms are bitingly sharp, as if edged by a touch of panic, a remarkable development considering the target once was speak- er of the House and will go down in history as leader of the Republicans' 1994 return to power in Congress. The intended beneficiary is Mitt Rom- ney, a once-moderate The anti-Gingrich statements have come from conservative colum- nists, talk show hosts including Ann Coulter, former Reagan adminis- tration officials and oth- ers. One of the harshest was written by former Sen. Bob Dole, the party's 1996 presidential nomi- nee. ''I have not been criti- cal of Newt Gingrich but it is now time to take a stand before it is too late,'' Dole wrote in the conser- vative magazine National Review. ''If Gingrich is the nominee it will have an adverse impact on Republican candidates running for county, state, and federal offices.'' Twitter provokes global outcry NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censor- ship of tweets that might break local laws. It was a stunning role reversal for a youthful company that prides itself in promoting unfettered expression, 140 charac- ters at a time. Twitter insisted its commitment to free speech remains firm, and sought to explain the nuances of its policy, while critics — in a barrage of tweets — proposed a Twitter boy- cott and demanded that Friday. U.S. Embassy spokes- woman Deb MacLean told The Associated Press that the man had been released after being kidnapped in Warri in Delta state on Jan. 20. MacLean declined to offer any other details, cit- ing privacy rules. Delta state police spokesman Charles Muka said he had not been informed about the man's release, as his company refused to cooperate with local authorities. The freed hostage was identified as William Gre- gory Ock, 50, of Bowdon, Ga., by his sister, Dee Dee Patterson. Patterson told the AP on Friday that the family had no details of his release. ''The only thing we know is that he is safe and he is in a secure location,'' Patterson said by telephone. the censorship initiative be scrapped. ''This is very bad news,'' tweeted Egyptian activist Mahmoud Salem, who operates under the name ''Sandmonkey,'' Later, he wrote, ''Is it safe to say that (hash)Twitter is selling us out?'' In China, where activists have embraced Twitter even though it's blocked inside the coun- try, artist and activist Ai Weiwei tweeted in response to the news: ''If Twitter censors, I'll stop tweeting.'' One often-relayed tweet bore the headline of a Forbes magazine tech- nology blog item: ''Twit- ter Commits Social Sui- cide'' Obama warns colleges to rein in tuition ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — President Barack Obama fired a warning at the nation's colleges and universities on Friday, threatening to strip their federal aid if they ''jack up tuition'' every year and to give the money instead to schools showing restraint and value. Obama can't proceed, though, without the OK from Congress, where the reaction of Republican lawmakers ranged from muted to skeptical. High- er education leaders wor- ried about the details and the threat of government overreach, and one dis- missed it as mere elec- tion-year ''political the- ater.'' Average tuition and fees at public colleges rose 8.3 percent this year and, with room and board, now exceed $17,000 a year, according to the College Board. Obama delivered his proposal with campaign flair, mounting a main- stream appeal to young voters and struggling fam- ilies. He said higher edu- cation has become an imperative for success in America, but the cost has grown unrealistic for too many families, and the debt burden unbearable. ''We are putting col- leges on notice,'' Obama told an arena packed with cheering students at the University of Michigan. US citizen kidnapped in Nigeria delta released from captivity LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A U.S. citizen kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's oil- rich southern delta has been freed after a week in captiv- ity, the U.S. Embassy said Federal judge sentences 'Barefoot Bandit' to 6 1/2 years SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Friday sentenced ''Barefoot Ban- dit'' Colton Harris-Moore to 6 1/2 years in prison for his infamous two-year, international crime spree of break-ins, and boat and plane thefts that ended in 2010. Harris-Moore hop- scotched his way across the United States, authori- ties said. He flew a plane stolen in northwestern Washington to the San Juan Islands, stole a pistol in British Columbia and took a plane from Idaho to Washington state, stole a boat in southwestern Washington to go to Ore- gon, and took a plane in Indiana and flew to the Bahamas, where was arrested. The 20-year-old earned his nickname because he committed several of the crimes without wearing shoes and attracted fans across the nation for his ability to evade police. But on Friday, Harris- Moore apologized to his victims shortly before U.S. Judge Richard Jones imposed the sentence, which will be served con- currently with state prison time. 1705 Airport Blvd. Suite E, Red Bluff 530-528-1225 February is Reloading Month! Large selection of reloading equipment and components from RCBS, Lee & Hornady Over 20 types of powder in stock! Take the mystery out of reloading! 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