Officer killed and ran over with a car by suspect

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A man trying to avoid arrest shot a Florida police officer and then ran him over early Sunday, killing the officer, police said. The Tarpon Springs Police Department said officer Charles "Charlie K" Kondek was shot and killed Sunday while responding to a call regarding a noise complaint about 2 a.m. Investigators say the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Marco Antonio Parilla Jr., was banging on doors in the community about 25 miles northwest of Tampa, looking for a neighbor who he said "dimed him out" to police. When Parilla saw Kondek, he fired multiple rounds at the officer, striking him once above his bullet-proof vest. The shooting did not appear to have any connection to the ambush-killings of two New York police officers a day earlier. "We know we have the right guy in custody," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. "This guy knew what he was doing, he killed a cop and he needs to be held accountable for that." Parilla was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police say Parilla and a woman arrived at a home on Grand Boulevard. While Parilla was banging on doors, a neighbor asked the woman, who remained in the car, to lower the music in the car. When she refused, the neighbor called 911 with a noise complaint. Detectives said the woman then began to back out of the driveway. Kondek arrived and exited his vehicle.

 Detectives said Parilla walked toward him and opened fire. Kondek managed to return fire just before falling to the ground. Parilla ordered the woman out of the vehicle, took the wheel and as he fled the scene, ran over Kondek. Parilla fled in the vehicle. Tarpon Springs Police engaged in a brief pursuit before Parilla crashed into a pole and then into a parked vehicle. Parilla fled on foot and was apprehended short time later. Kondek was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Parilla served more than two years in prison for several offenses, including drug charges, and was released in March. He was listed as a fugitive for violating his probation. It wasn't immediately clear what the violation was. The sheriff said Parilla told investigators that when he saw the officer he "felt like a caged rat" and didn't want to go back to prison. "I apologize to the family" of the officer, Parilla told media outlets while being escorted to jail. "That was not my intention." Kondek served the city of Tarpon Springs as a sworn law enforcement officer for 17 years, many of which were on the midnight shift. Originally from New York, he previously served for more than five years as a New York City police officer before moving to Florida. In a statement released Sunday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said, "We are saddened by the death of Officer Charles Kondek who was killed in the line of duty early this morning. Ann and I pray that God provides comfort to his loved ones and all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy." Florida Sen. Marco Rubio also released a statement Sunday. It read in part, "Earlier today my wife and I were saddened to hear of the killing of Tarpon Springs police officer Charles Kondek, just hours after the nation was shocked by the horrific murder of two NYPD officers. These killings are stark and somber reminders of the risks our men and women in law enforcement take each and every day to keep us and our families safe."

Police killer was a nomad who had been arrested more then 14 times

 Ismaaiyl Brinsley , the gunman who killed two NYPD officers sitting in their patrol car Saturday before running into a Brooklyn subway station and killing himself had made "very anti-police" statements on social media before the shootings, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. Ismaaiyl Brinsley wrote in the caption of an Instagram post containing a photo of a handgun: "I'm putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let's take 2 of theirs," officials said. He used the hashtags "Shootthepolice," "RIPErivGardner (sic)," and "RIPMikeBrown." Police said he approached the passenger window of a marked police car and opened fire, striking Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in the head. The NYPD officers were on special patrol doing crime reduction in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Authorities said there is surveillance video of Brinsley walking up the street toward the squad car, but the shooting was off-camera. "They were, quite simply, assassinated — targeted for their uniform," said Bratton. Brinsley took off running as other officers pursued him down to a nearby subway station, where he shot himself in the head. A silver handgun was recovered at the scene, Bratton said. "This may be my final post," he wrote in the Instagram post, put online a few hours before the shooting. Bratton said they were trying to figure out why he killed the officers. Two city officials with direct knowledge of the case confirmed the posts to The Associated Press. Police say Brinsley had at least 15 prior arrests in the last 10 years in Georgia and Ohio.

The gun he used to kill the officers was bought in 1996 at a pawn shop in Georgia, but it's not clear who purchased it. Authorities are investigating how it came to be in Brinsley's possession. Brinsley is described as a nomad, given history in Georgia, Ohio and Baltimore. Law enforcement sources say his 11-month-old child lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant with the child's mother. Brinsley's mother is also thought to live in Crown Heights. Sources say that Brinsley's mother and sister both told investigators they were afraid of the man.

Check out the top ten American beaches by Travel channel

If you fancy a bit of time out at the beach when the season allows for it take a look at these wonderful beaches. The list was compiled by Travel Channel. This would surely be helpful to you. 



 10. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Stretching for 72 miles along the Atlantic coast on the Outer Banks, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a skinny strip of barrier islands from Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. The beach’s hallmark high, sandy dunes front frothy surf perfect for swimming, beachcombing and body-surfing. Visitors can climb up 248 steps to the top of the nation's tallest lighthouse -- towering at an impressive 196 feet -- for a spectacular view of the seashore.

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9. East Hampton, New York

Strolling along the broad stretches of white sand, listening to roaring waves and passing the glorious mansions of Lily Pond, it's easy to see why East Hampton is a beloved New York destination any time of year. The picturesque town is a favorite with A-listers, and at the end of Main Street ,past sprawling yards and fences surrounding huge homes, is Main Beach, where perfect white beaches and incredibly tasty lobster rolls await.
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 8. Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

As summer commences, crowds swarm Martha's Vineyard in droves, but respite can be found in the Vineyard's far eastern reaches -- up-island, as it's known locally -- at Moshup Beach. Tucked beneath the infamous Gay Head Cliffs, Moshup Beach is an unspoiled paradise of soft, white sand framed by red, brown and tan striated cliffs looming from above.
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 7. Cape May, New Jersey

As the farthest point south on the Shore, Cape May is the crown jewel of the region with gorgeous beaches and a quaint town center filled with gingerbread Victorians and colorful bed and breakfasts. Bring your binoculars to the beach to spy the playful dolphins jumping in the wake.
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6. Coronado, California

Coronado Central Beach, stretches 1.5 miles behind the great houses along Ocean Boulevard in front of the glamorous Hotel Del Coronado. Swimmers, bodysurfers, boogie boarders, sand sculptors, tide poolers and, from December through February, whale watchers all take to the sand and sea. North Beach attracts surfers in the morning, and at the extreme north is Dog Beach, where leashless canines can frolic in the surf. ____________________________________________________________



5. Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach has lured countless families and couples to its broad, sandy shores and beachfront hotels. Spread along a narrow, 3-mile stretch of the Pinellas Peninsula on the Gulf Coast, Clearwater Beach straddles the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and tranquil Tampa Bay to the east. Visitors enjoy sunbathing on white sandy beaches, diving into a game of beach volleyball, renting fishing boats, taking a dolphin-watching cruise, parasailing or heading to a mainland museum or aquarium. Clearwater Beach has lured countless families and couples to its broad, sandy shores and beachfront hotels. Spread along a narrow, 3-mile stretch of the Pinellas Peninsula on the Gulf Coast, Clearwater Beach straddles the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and tranquil Tampa Bay to the east. Visitors enjoy sunbathing on white sandy beaches, diving into a game of beach volleyball, renting fishing boats, taking a dolphin-watching cruise, parasailing or heading to a mainland museum or aquarium.
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 4. Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii

Picture Hawaii and you're probably conjuring images of Kauna'oa Bay without even realizing it. Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha-state's Big Island, Kauna'oa Bay is quintessential, picture-postcard Hawaii. With its abundant white sand, palm trees and clear, calm blue water, the crescent-shaped beach is a natural draw for sun worshipers, water sport enthusiasts and families in search of safe, sandy fun.
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 3. Nantucket, Massachusetts

 A trip to Nantucket is like visiting a faraway fairytale land -- one set against a bright blue backdrop of ocean and bay in a community of simple, weathered white cottages surrounded by wild roses. This former whaling community has quaint neighborhoods and a beach for everyone, including Surfside Beach and Children's Beach, both of which feature calm waters and no shortage of sandcastles.
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 2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

As the largest resort along South Carolina's 60-mile Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is the East Coast's ultimate vacation hub. The town teems with summertime action: beaches dotting the Strand, amusement and water parks, restaurants and live entertainment. Myrtle Beach's actual beach is an extensive stretch of silky white sand, with opportunities for fishing, swimming, sunbathing, sailing and surfing.
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 1. Manele Bay, Hawaii 

Hulopo'e Beach on the island of Lana'i, long considered one of the world's most perfect stretches of sand, lies at the base of the Four Seasons Lana'i at Manele Bay. The resort overlooks the bay, a designated marine preserve filled with colorful fish and the occasional spinner dolphin. In fact, snorkeling and diving spots here are considered some of the finest in Hawaii, making a swim in the 70-degree water all the more tempting.

Cuba - "No to capitalism''

NOT SO FAST

Cuban President Raul Castro told his National Assembly Saturday that detente with U.S. President Barack Obama doesn't mean Cuba will bend to U.S. efforts to change his communist government. "No one should pretend that in order to improve its relations with the United States, Cuba would renounce the ideas it has fought for," Castro said.

"OBAMA, TRAITOR"

Several-hundred anti-Castro protesters waved Cuban and American flags and chanted "Obama, traitor" Saturday in Little Havana, expressing their anger that the U.S. president used executive orders to declare an end to a half-century's efforts to isolate Cuba.

POLITICAL GAMBIT

Democratic and Republican analysts alike see Obama's overtures to Cuba as an effort to break the GOP's claim on the Cuban-American vote, saying that if tensions ease between the two countries, Florida's Cubans will be more likely to focus on other issues that Democrats use to appeal to Hispanics nationwide.

A FUTURE IN CUBA?

Cuban law forbids foreigners from buying property on the island, but once diplomatic ties are re-established, some Cuban-Americans hope this will change as well. "This could completely change my future expectations about my relationship with Cuba, says Jovan Rodriguez, a young architect in Miami. "The truth is, I hope to be able to return soon."

A FUTURE IN OIL?

The thaw raises the possibility of Cuba getting its share of offshore oil in the Gulf of Mexico. There's real potential just off the island's northwest coast and Cubans desperate for economic growth welcome the opportunity, but analysts say a Cuban oil boom is unlikely anytime soon because of low oil prices and better drilling opportunities elsewhere.

SPLIT OPINIONS:

A poll published Saturday shows Cuban-Americans almost evenly split on re-establishing US ties to Cuba: 48 percent disagree with Obama and 44 percent agree. It also shows wide divisions: U.S.-born Cubans strongly support Obama's plan, while those born on the island strongly oppose it. Cuban-Americans under 65 widely support it, while those over 65 strongly oppose. The phone survey of 400 Cuban-American adults, done Wednesday and Thursday by Bendixen & Amandi International for the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, has an error margin of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

North Korea denies US cyber attacks

North Korea says it can prove it is not behind the massive Sony Pictures cyber attack that has led to several e-mail leaks, threats on movie theaters and the cancellation of the release of the movie “The Interview.”
The country has also said it proposes a joint investigation with the U.S. on the attack and if the U.S. does not agree, North Korea warns of “grave consequences,” state media says.

The announcement comes as a response to the FBI's statement saying it has enough information to “conclude that the North Korean government is responsible” for the actions.
The bureau said its findings were the result of an investigation that involved multiple departments and agencies, and were based in part on technical analysis of the malware used in the attack. The FBI said the malware "revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed."

 

Further, the FBI noticed "significant overlap between the infrastructure used in this attack and other malicious cyber activity the U.S. government has previously linked directly to North Korea." For instance, the FBI said several IP addresses with "known North Korean infrastructure" communicated with IP addresses "hardcoded" into the malware that ripped through Sony's systems, deleting data and swiping sensitive
The FBI also said the "tools" used in the attack are similar to those in a North Korea-led attack against South Korean banks and media outlets last year.
"We are deeply concerned about the destructive nature of this attack on a private sector entity and the ordinary citizens who worked there," the FBI said in its statement. "Further, North Korea's attack on SPE reaffirms that cyber threats pose one of the gravest national security dangers to the United States. Though the FBI has seen a wide variety and increasing number of cyber intrusions, the destructive nature of this attack, coupled with its coercive nature, sets it apart.

"North Korea's actions were intended to inflict significant harm on a U.S. business and suppress the right of American citizens to express themselves. Such acts of intimidation fall outside the bounds of acceptable state behavior."
Obama said in a press conference Friday that there was no indication that points to any other country working with North Korea in the attack.
Obama vowed Friday: “We will respond.’

Is North Korea telling the truth or a blatant lie? Let us hear from you

European court orders compensation payments to Somali pirates

 Europe's top human rights court has ordered Paris to pay damages to Somali pirates who hijacked two French ships in 2008 for failing to present them to a judge “without delay,” as soon as they were captured and delivered to France. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accused France of "violation of [the pirates’] rights to freedom and security." According to the Strasbourg-based court, French authorities shouldn’t have kept the pirates in custody for an additional 48 hours before bringing them before a judge. France has been ordered to pay between $6114.75  and $2445.90 to each pirate for "moral damages," plus amounts varying from  to $11006.55  to $ 7337.70 to cover legal costs, AFP reported. The arrests took place kilometers from French territory.

 The ECHR acknowledged that there were "completely exceptional circumstances" to justify a long detention without the case being heard before a judge. Apart for the 48 hours in France, one group was held at sea for almost five days, and the other for nearly a week. "Nothing justifies such an additional delay," the ECHR stated in its verdict, which came as a surprise to many. According to a court statement, the convention's Article 5.3 was not meant to “give the authorities the opportunity to step up their investigations for the purpose of bringing formal charges against the suspects.” In 2008, French luxury yacht the Ponant was hijacked off the coast of Somalia by a dozen men armed with rocket launchers. They kept about 30 hostages for a week until they received a $2 million ransom. The day the ransom was delivered to the port town of Garacad, six Somalis were arrested and detained for a week in mid-April. In another accident in September, the French yacht Carre d'As was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and two French citizens kidnapped, with the pirates demanding another $2 million in ransom. They had originally demanded $4 million, but subsequently halved their price, demanding the release of six other pirates held in Paris. Ten days later, a French commando squad freed the hostages and arrested six suspects. Those men were held from September 16 to September 25, before formally being brought before a judge in France. Nine of the 12 suspects were convicted in the hijackings. At their peak of their activity, in January 2011, Somali pirates held 736 hostages, some onshore and others aboard their vessels, as well as 32 seized boats, according to AFP. In the last three years Somali piracy has declined thanks to armed international vessels conducting anti-piracy patrols off the Somali coast.

Australia faces terrorism threats

 THE siege on December 15th in the Lindt Chocolate Café in Martin Place, in the heart of Sydney’s business district, was the first terrorist act in Australia based on a political message about Islam. The morning had started with regulars queuing for coffee on their way to work. Shortly before 10am the doors were locked from the inside. For the next 16 hours, a gunman held 17 staff and customers hostage, forcing them to display a black flag with an Islamic creed against the window. Some but not all managed to slip out. In the early hours of the following morning, police stormed the café, apparently responding to shots inside. In a heavy exchange of gunfire, the gunman and two hostages died. For some time Australian authorities have warned of a possible terrorist event. Islam has been a fast-growing religion. The number of Muslims in the country grew by two-thirds in the decade to 2011. Muslims now account for just over 2% of the country’s population of 23m, many of them in the outer suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne. In a recent speech to journalists David Irvine, a former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the country’s domestic spy agency, insisted that violent extremists comprise a tiny minority—“a few hundred aberrant souls”.

ASIO and police, he claimed, have thwarted plans for “a number of mass-casualty attacks on our soil”. But his “recurring nightmare” had always been an attack by a “lone wolf”: someone who had failed to come “across our radar”. As it happened, the gunman in the Sydney siege was well-known to the authorities—who nevertheless underestimated his danger to society. Man Haron Monis, aged 50, was born in Iran and moved to Australia after receiving political asylum more than a decade ago. Via a website, Mr Monis had recently announced his conversion from Shia to Sunni Islam. Greg Barton, a terrorism expert at Monash University in Melbourne, believes Mr Monis was attracted by the way Islamic State (IS), the jihadist group in Iraq and Syria, encourages lone-wolf attacks against Westerners. But he doubts that IS would have recruited such a lost, disturbed individual. Mr Monis was facing charges of sexual and indecent assault, and of being an accessory to the murder of his former wife last year, for which he was out on bail. He had also been convicted of sending offensive letters to the families of Australian soldiers who had died in Afghanistan; a few days before the siege Australia’s High Court had refused his bid to appeal against the conviction. For many Australians absorbing the shock of the siege, questions may centre less on Mr Monis’s jihadism and more on how he was out on bail for his various charges, as well as how he had access to weapons. The prime minister,

 Tony Abbott, says it will take time to find out exactly what happened at Martin Place, and why. Political debate is certain to be stirred about tough anti-terror laws that the conservative coalition government has passed, as well as about its hard approach towards asylum-seekers making for Australia by boat. The anti-terror laws expand ASIO’s powers, including its ability to demand access to computers, while journalists disclosing intelligence operations face up to ten years in prison. Constitutional and human-rights lawyers are uneasy over the laws. Others will question the impact of the siege on disaffected young Muslims, some of whom may see themselves as targets of the tougher security laws. But with Mr Monis’s refugee background, the Sydney siege is also likely to entrench some Australians in their views that asylum policy is bound up with security. ASIO has identified about 60 Australians fighting with IS and Jabhat-al-Nusra, another extremist group, in Iraq and Syria; another 100 people in Australia are said to be supporting them and recruiting new fighters. Whether by a lone wolf or not, another attack in broad daylight is now a new worry for Sydneysiders.

Putin lashes out at the West for Russian economic problems

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out at the West on Thursday for causing his country's economic crisis, saying it would take two years to recover.

"Sometimes I think, maybe they'll (the West) let the bear eat berries and honey in the forest, maybe they will leave it in peace," Putin said at a news conference in Moscow, using a metaphor to refer to Russia's famed symbol. "They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they tear out his fangs and his claws."

Putin's address comes amid plunging oil prices, sanctions from the West over his actions in eastern Ukraine and a ruble currency that has lost more than half of its value in recent months. Sternly warning the West it cannot defang the metaphorical Russian bear, a confident-looking President Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to shore up the plummeting ruble and revive the economy within two years.

While he issued a litany of sharp rebukes against the West, Putin struck a conciliatory note on Ukraine, saying that the rebellious east should remain part of the country, backing a quick exchange of war prisoners and praising his Ukrainian counterpart.

The mixture of blistering anti-Western rhetoric and constructive signals appeared to indicate that Putin is eager to negotiate a face-saving solution to the Ukrainian crisis, but has no intention of conceding defeat in his standoff with the West.

In his first public appearance since the crash of the ruble’s value this week, Putin accepted responsibility for the economic crisis.

He said Western sanctions accounted for at least 25 percent of the ruble’s fall, but the main reason was Russia’s failure to ease its overwhelming dependence on energy.

The man who has led Russia for 15 years sought to soothe fears, saying the country has sufficient currency reserves and wouldn’t resort to administrative controls, such as fixing exchange rates or requiring exporters to sell non-Russian currency.

ISIS terrorists apply rape rules

 The rape and trafficking of women now has rules, according to a short explanatory pamphlet released recently by the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL). According to this publication, which appears in Q&A format, a man may take a woman as a slave and have sexual intercourse with her if she has reached puberty. However, if a man is only part-owner of a woman, he must purchase her fully from his co-owners before he can have intercourse with her. If the slave becomes pregnant, she may not be sold. However, if her owner dies, she goes free. A man may not have intercourse with his wife’s slave, because the latter is another’s property. One may sexually enjoy a slave without having full intercourse with her if she has not reached puberty. A slave should be treated as property, as long as that property is not damaged. A woman must not be separated from her child when she is bought or sold, except if her children have reached adulthood. These rules are presented together with quotes from the words of the prophet Mohammed and verses of wisdom from Islamic luminaries. Not only is the abduction of women and selling them as sex slaves an inseparable part of the strategy of terror imposed by ISIS in areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, the butchering of women is also an accepted act. This week, the Human Rights Ministry in the Iraqi government published information about ISIS activist Abu Ans al-Libi, who murdered 150 women in Fallujah because they rejected the principle of “jihad marriage” – where women are obligated to marry the organization’s activists. Libi was arrested about a year ago by U.S. commandos after Palestinian intelligence gave information to the CIA on his whereabouts. It is interesting that some of the tribal leaders in the Fallujah area deny the reports of the murder, saying they would not have allowed it if they knew about it. The murder and rape of women marked the beginning of ISIS activities last June, when it took the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

Later, similar reports emerged from the Al Anbar district in western Iraq and in cities in Syria taken by ISIS. Hair-raising stories of women’s horrific experiences fill the Internet daily and, from time to time, human rights groups release worrisome data about the extent of rape, noting that the price of a woman or child is no more than a few dozen dollars each. Nevertheless, no practical plan has been devised to prevent this abuse, and any psychological assistance they receive is occasional and not systematic. Most international efforts are devoted to providing food for besieged citizens or attacks on ISIS bases. Within the cities, the trafficking in women goes on, part of ISIS’ income in the areas it controls. In contrast to Al-Qaida, ISIS does not make do merely with trafficking women; it also drafts them. According to Egyptian researcher Abed al-Rahman al-Qaadeh, who is publishing a book about ISIS’ treatment of women, at first the organization did not call upon women to join, but then changed its policy and invited women doctors, nurses and engineers to join and help manage civilian services. The dress-code police ISIS also established a female police force in the Syrian city of Ar-Raqqah, whose role is to enforce modest dress on women. In exchange for their services, these women receive approximately $200 a month, and only women between the ages of 15 and 18 may join. ISIS then started building up a cadre of women volunteers from abroad through social network sites, offering potential female members “a life of morality and economic security, instead of being whores in Western countries.” One of these women, a Saudi who goes by the name “Umm Jalibib,” is very active on Facebook, along with “Umm Lith” from Scotland, both of whom produce films and interviews with Western women who have volunteered for ISIS, in which they talk about the good life they enjoy. The organization provides them with a house and furnishings, and they can take items from the houses that ISIS commandeers. All they have to do is marry an ISIS activist. An ISIS activist said on a website that the import of foreign women and trafficking of local women is intended to provide sexual release for fighters, and thus prevent infighting in the ranks.

However, it seems that abduction and rape also have a strategic purpose. As in other countries where minority women have suffered brutal attacks, the humiliation of women in Iraq and Syria is a means also of creating an ethnic and religious boundary between the occupied and the occupiers. Thus, rape becomes a weapon and not only a means of punishment and show of power. ISIS is not the only organization that uses rape as a weapon. The abduction of more than 200 Nigerian girls this year by Boko Haram militants and the rape of some 200 women in the village of Thabit in Darfur by Sudanese militias in November are only the latest examples. Doctors Without Borders note the widespread rape of Muslim women in Bosnia in the 1990s by Serbian soldiers, who made clear to their victims that they had been raped “to bear Serbian children” and thus annihilate the Muslim minority. And 20 years earlier, in 1971, some 200,000 women from Bangladesh were raped by Pakistanis to “establish a new race of Punjabis.” ISIS’ torment of non-Muslim women apparently has another purpose: Like the beheadings and posting of executions on the Internet, it uses terror as a means of control. That is because even if the latest estimates of the number of ISIS fighters, 30,000, is correct, this is still a relatively small number compared to the population it controls. According to a report this week, ISIS controls about a third of Syria and is expanding its hold on areas of western Iraq. The main threat against it now is not aerial bombings, which have indeed struck a blow against its oil income, but from civilian uprisings of Sunni tribes and Shi’ite militias. Hence its need for mass terror. The rape of women has a deterrent effect whose magnitude is comparable to beheadings, because rape also threatens men and destabilizes the society of the occupied peoples. It will probably be a long time before the extent and impact of the damage to minority groups in Iraqi society from attacks on women can be assessed. Meanwhile, Iraqi women have begun to organize in armed groups to protect themselves against ISIS. Last month, an armed women’s militia was established in Ramadi. The goal of the group, according to one of its volunteers, is to fight alongside the state security forces and the men’s militias to stop ISIS. The women’s militia sees Kurdish women fighters as role models, and hopes to establish more branches elsewhere in the country. However, it seems that the women’s militia is already worrying male tribal members, who worry that the women may have political aspirations and will even export the idea to Syria. The opposition to such organizing may also stem from the men’s sense that their ownership and responsibility toward women in Iraqi tribal society is being threatened. Consequently, the men feel trapped in a narrow place – between the threat of ISIS against women, and concern over their status in society.

Bill Cosby now faces a full force police investigation

 Bill Cosby now faces a full force police investigation, news sources have reported. Several more women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by comedy legend Bill Cosby have come forward sparking a ‘definitive open investigation’ by Los Angeles Police Department, a lawyer for one of the victims has told Daily Mail online. The new victims claim to have been subjected to sex attacks by Cosby but have asked to remain anonymous. Significantly, in another blow for the star, it is believed a number of the latest raft of allegations fall within the statute of limitations meaning he can be prosecuted if enough evidence is found.

This comes as a model who accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her at the Playboy mansion six years ago tells Daily Mail Online that she is scheduled to meet with LAPD detectives to give a formal statement against the comedian. Chloe Goins, 24, claims Cosby, 77, spiked her drink with a sedative before luring her into a room and launching a sordid attack on her in 2008. Goins' case is being handled by experienced attorney Spencer Kuvin - we can reveal - the man who represented four victims of notorious billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The complaint will be a huge blow to Cosby – who already faces more than 25 historic accusations of sexual assault and rape – as Goins is the first accuser to go public whose allegations are not covered by the statute of limitations. But news that several other victims may also fall in to this same category will further rock Cosby and his legal team. Florida attorney Mr Kuvin told MailOnline: ‘I have sat down with my client and have a full understanding of the issues involved and what has occurred. I have had lengthy communications with the Los Angeles Police Department and there is now a definitive open investigation which is ongoing for, it’s my understanding, not only with Chloe’s case but other unnamed victims who have yet to be revealed publicly. ‘The police will be doing additional investigative work which will include things like issuing search warrants. ‘They want to get all their information first before sitting down and having an interview with Chloe about her incident.


  Chloe is willing to speak with the police as soon as possible, she is fully cooperating with them and she wants to tell her story to the authorities so that he is held accountable for what he’s done. ‘She fully understands her role in this, in that until now, she is the only victim who has been able to come forward who can likely prosecute him both criminal and civil.’ This comes after it emerged earlier in December that the LAPD plans to search Hugh Hefner's famous Playboy mansion as part of their investigation. Police are hoping Hugh Hefner, long a dear friend of the embattled 77-year-old comic, and his people will be of some help as they seek to gather evidence in several cases which are linked to the Playboy mansion. Last week prosecutors in LA decided not to charge Cosby over a similar sexual assault complaint made against him by Judy Huth - as that alleged offence took place too long ago. The stand-up comic – known as America’s favorite TV dad after his long stint in sitcom The Cosby Show – was investigated by police after accuser Huth claimed she was drugged and raped at the Playboy mansion in 1974, aged just 15. The LAPD opened an inquiry into Huth’s allegations but prosecutors announced that they would not be prosecuting him as the alleged attack took place over 30 years ago, and the statute of limitations had passed. However Goins, who last week told MailOnline how she woke up naked in a drug haze as Cosby licked her toes, was allegedly attacked in 2008 - meaning Cosby could face a criminal prosecution. If convicted, Cosby could face up to 48 months jail as well as a possible $10,000 fine. Mr Kuvin said his client is determined to seek justice despite being ‘very afraid of a powerful, influential man who clearly took advantage of her in a situation’. He said Goins, a lap dancer and model who lives in Las Vegas, only garnered the courage to come forward after seeing Cosby’s other accusers come forward. Kuvin said: 'Only now when she saw others speaking out does she feel comfortable speaking out. 'The one thing that I thought was very important is that Chloe was very adamant that she come out now because she could possibly be the one that is within the statute of limitations to be a able to bring a criminal action against Bill Cosby, so she felt a duty to come forward. 'Seeing these many other, much older, women with events that happened many, many years ago, she felt a duty to come forward and possibly - and hopefully - bring this man to justice where others cannot. 'She wants to see justice served and unfortunately all these other woman are unable to do that.

These events happened when she was 18 and she's now only 24, so hopefully she will be able to bring him to justice when no one else could.' Goins says she felt compelled to come forward after reading the accounts of other women who claim Cosby drugged and assaulted them in the media. In an emotional interview with MailOnline, she told how their stories had brought back chilling memories of the night she was allegedly assaulted at one of Hugh Hefner’s infamous summer parties. Goins, originally from San Diego, and a girlfriend, were introduced to Hefner and Cosby shortly after arriving at the party and the then-70-year-old comedian began lavishing the blonde with attention. He then went to get her an alcoholic drink, but soon after drinking it, Goins started to feel ‘foggy’ and ‘sick’ and Cosby offered to show her to a bedroom where she could rest. The next thing the model remembers is waking up completely undressed while a half-naked Cosby licked her toes and masturbated. Goins said she is sure Cosby had been licking her breasts and groping her body as well. She said: 'I remember waking up and feeling moist all over, like he had been licking all over me. 'He wasn't on my breasts when I woke, but I could feel, you know, the saliva on them and that he'd been licking on me. 'I felt embarrassed, it was a gross, icky feeling, I felt very violated and humiliated. 'I was scared, I was just 18 and he was an old man, I was not very sexually experienced and I didn't really know what had happened, it was violating.' Cosby quickly jumped up when she woke, pulled his pants up and left without saying anything, Goins claims. She didn’t report it at the time as she was scared of getting into trouble or ruining her modeling career. I remember waking up and feeling moist all over, like he had been licking all over me.'He wasn't on my breasts when I woke, but I could feel, you know, the saliva on them and that he'd been licking on me.'I felt embarrassed, it was a gross, icky feeling, I felt very violated and humiliated. Chloe Goins Experienced attorney Kuvin, who represented four victims of billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, described the two cases as similar. Epstein, a friend of UK royal Prince Andrew, was arrested for soliciting underage prostitutes and jailed for 18 months in 2008. Although he only pleaded guilty to a single charge of soliciting an underage girl, the financier also made 17 out-of court settlements to other victims who brought civil suits against him, while more are ongoing. Speaking about the Cosby case, Kuvin said: ‘Through the representation in the past of the victims of sexual abuse by powerful people, this is a typical kind of case. 'In the past I have represented victims of Jeffrey Epstein who is a multi-billionaire. ‘And the girls that are subjected to rich, powerful men like this seem to fall within the same class of victim, they become very frightened and afraid of rich and powerful men and as a result they are fearful of speaking out because they don't know what the consequences will be if they say anything. 'So as a result you find victims who really don't feel comfortable until they see others speak out as eel and there is power in numbers.’ Goins and Huth are among dozens of women who claim Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them, with some allegations dating back 40 years. Former Playboy bunny P.J. Masten, who claims she was raped by Cosby at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1979, believes there are 12 other former Bunnies who are too ashamed to come forward with their own stories.

 Other accusers include supermodel Janice Dickinson, who told in an interview how Cosby invited her to Lake Tahoe to talk about a television role in 1982, but ended up drugging and raping her. Cosby has not yet commented on the accusations but did break his silence at the weekend to praise his wife for her ‘love and strength’. The comic also told Page Six, 'Let me say this. I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind.’ Los Angeles police declined to comment.

Do you think Bill Cosby is really a rapist or they are just conspiring against a famous celebrity ? Give us your view by commenting on this story.

Has the missing Malaysian MH370 plane been found?

In what is turning out to be the most bizarre turn of events in the history of aviation as the world awaits to see what has unfolded. The hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has found little evidence of what has taken place since the plane went missing on March 8, leaving fertile ground for conspiracy theorists, but little comfort for the bereaved going into 2015. The only silver lining? Even the weirdest theories offer some hope of shedding light on the mystery. Nine months after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing, the very first image of the underwater search was shared to the public. "The image is a synthetic aperture sonar acoustic image of the seafloor gathered by GO Phoenix. This is indicative of the resolution and quality of the data and that it is revealing important detail of the seafloor," reads a statement from Australian Transport and Safety Bureau, as cited by The Epoch Times. However, the search that covered 9,000 square kilometers (16 percent) of the seafloor found no wreckage from the missing plane. Assuming that there will be no holdup with vessels, equipment and weather, The Guardian reported that combing the priority zone will take five more months, as it is set to be concluded by May next year. For the second week of December, ATSB has enumerated its key vessels for the search mission. Fugro Equator has scoured 200,000 square kilometers of the search area to date and she will continue on with its bathymetric survey operations until she completes this month's phase. Meanwhile, Fugro Discovery and GO Phoenix resumed their underwater search operations after returning to the search area on Dec. 4 and Dec. 9, respectively. The ships are employed to inspect the Indian Ocean floor, 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) beneath the surface using multibeam sonar for highly-detailed data acquisition. "In addition to locating the aircraft, the underwater search aims to map the MH370 debris field in order to identify and prioritise the recovery of specific aircraft components, including flight recorders, which will assist with the Malaysian investigation," the ATSB statement reads. On its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, the aircraft vanished on March 8, along with all its 239 passengers and crew on board. As per abc.net.au, families (who suspect a cover-up) of the passengers onboard the ill-fated airliner launched a drive in Indiegogo that aims to raise a reward for anyone who can give the much-needed answer that will pave way to the resolution of the missing plane. It has garnered about $100,000 to date.

Campaign group calls for the Queen to be censured

Campaign group Republic has called on parliament to reprimand the Queen for making a direct intervention in the Scottish referendum. The call comes after the Guardian revealed the deliberate intent behind comments made by the Queen in the run up to the September vote on Scottish independence. On September 14, four days before the historic vote, the Queen spoke to a well-wisher outside Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Estate on Deeside. “Well, I hope people will think very carefully about the future,” she said, in a remark that was interpreted by many at the time as her giving her backing the Union. It was reported yesterday that the move followed a suggestion from senior UK Government figures that an intervention by the Queen would help their cause. Delicate negotiations were said to have been held between Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet secretary, and Sir Christopher Geidt, the Queen’s private secretary. Downing Street and Buckingham Palace both declined to comment on the reports yesterday. Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: “The report makes clear that the Queen was prepared to take deliberate steps to encourage people to vote No in the referendum. “Regardless of how people feel about Scottish independence we should all be alarmed at such a political intervention by a hereditary monarch.” On social media, the SNP’s Glasgow convener, Natalie McGarry, wrote: “When the Queen allows herself to become a political tool, she undermines the role she has carved out.” After the Queen made the remark at Crathie, a palace spokesman said that any suggestion that the Queen would wish to influence the outcome of the referendum was “categorically wrong”. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was reported earlier this month as saying: “I have no issue with anything the Queen did or did not say during the referendum.” In 1977, as she marked the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Queen made remarks which were seen as an attempt by Jim Callaghan’s Labour government to warn of the dangers posed by the SNP. She said: “I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “Perhaps this jubilee is a time to remind ourselves of the benefits which union has conferred, at home and in our international dealings, on the inhabitants of all parts of this United Kingdom.”

The new king of basketball

"I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next." The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant entered the game needing nine points to pass the icon with whom he is often compared. He got the mark with two free throws with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. Now only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone have scored more points than Bryant. Bryant didn't break a record Sunday night. Abdul-Jabbar is still more than 6,000 points ahead of him and in no danger of being caught. But moving past Jordan was cause for celebration (see full recap). Warriors top Pelicans in OT, run now 16 NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Golden State Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories. Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime. Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation (see full recap). Dunleavy has 19 in 3rd, Bulls rout Heat MIAMI -- Derrick Rose was fouled on a fast break, staggered off the court and kept going out a tunnel. He came back unhurt, but the Chicago Bulls hardly needed him. Mike Dunleavy led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Bulls overcame a sloppy start Sunday to beat the offensively challenged Miami Heat, 93-75. The Bulls had their lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21 and still won easily, building a 26-point lead in the second half. Dunleavy said the makeup of the team lends itself to scoring consistency (see full recap). Wizards start slow but beat reeling Jazz WASHINGTON -- For a while, the Washington Wizards seemed determined to make the game live down to its billing. That turnover-filled first half? It looked more like a bad practice. "One of the guys here in the locker room said, `Let's treat the first half like it was a shootaround, and in the second half let's play a basketball game,'" center Marcin Gortat said. That suggestion came from sage veteran Drew Gooden, and his words were well-heeded. The Wizards overcame the sluggish start Sunday night and put away the slumping Utah Jazz, 93-84. "We came out a little flat, on our heels a little bit," guard Bradley Beal said. "But I think we did a great job retaliating, The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant entered the game needing nine points to pass the icon with whom he is often compared. He got the mark with two free throws with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. Now only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone have scored more points than Bryant. "I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next." Bryant didn't break a record Sunday night. Abdul-Jabbar is still more than 6,000 points ahead of him and in no danger of being caught. But moving past Jordan was cause for celebration (see full recap). Warriors top Pelicans in OT, run now 16 NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Golden State Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories. Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime. Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation (see full recap). Dunleavy has 19 in 3rd, Bulls rout Heat MIAMI -- Derrick Rose was fouled on a fast break, staggered off the court and kept going out a tunnel. He came back unhurt, but the Chicago Bulls hardly needed him. Mike Dunleavy led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Bulls overcame a sloppy start Sunday to beat the offensively challenged Miami Heat, 93-75. The Bulls had their lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21 and still won easily, building a 26-point lead in the second half. Dunleavy said the makeup of the team lends itself to scoring consistency (see full recap). Wizards start slow but beat reeling Jazz WASHINGTON -- For a while, the Washington Wizards seemed determined to make the game live down to its billing. That turnover-filled first half? It looked more like a bad practice. "One of the guys here in the locker room said, `Let's treat the first half like it was a shootaround, and in the second half let's play a basketball game,'" center Marcin Gortat said. That suggestion came from sage veteran Drew Gooden, and his words were well-heeded. The Wizards overcame the sluggish start Sunday night and put away the slumping Utah Jazz, 93-84. "We came out a little flat, on our heels a little bit," guard Bradley Beal said. "But I think we did a great job retaliating,