Missing Princetown cat home after four years

An "extremely timid" Willow spent the first night asleep on Mrs Worth's stomach

A missing cat has been reunited with her family in Devon - more than four years after disappearing.

Willow, a 10-year-old black moggy, went missing from Cristel and Mark Worth's home in Princetown in 2007.

On Tuesday, Gables Farm Dogs' and Cats' Home contacted the Worths to say a microchip scan had identified a stray cat found in Plymouth as Willow.

"It's really only sinking in now, but it's the best Christmas present ever," Mrs Worth said.

The loss of the cat, who Mrs Worth had rehomed from an RSPCA centre as a kitten, devastated the family.

'Lost for words'

"We opened the door one day to let her out to play as normal and she just vanished," Mrs Worth told BBC News.

"For a long while I used to go out to look for her... but after four years it's fair to say I'd almost given up hope of ever seeing Willow again.

"I was lost for words when I received the phone call from Gables Farm."

A family from the Elburton area of Plymouth found a "skinny, limping and unhealthy" cat about six months ago but, because Gables was full, it agreed to look after the cat until a space was available.

That happened earlier this week and when staff at Gables Farm scanned the cat they found her microchip and contacted the Worths.

Mrs Worth said the call came at 15:30 GMT - just 30 minutes before the centre was due to close.

Willow was a rescue kitten rehomed from an RSPCA centre by Mrs Worth

"By the time I'd answered the security questions, we'd only about 20 minutes to dart across the moor and get to Plymouth (about 16 miles/26km away).

"We'd been in our pyjamas watching a Disney film with the children - I didn't even change, so it was a bit embarrassing, but thankfully Gables stayed open for a few minutes until we arrived.

"Willow seemed extremely timid the first night, but she jumped up on the bed and slept on my tummy all evening, so I'm sure she knew me."

She said although her six-year-old daughter Izzy-May "vaguely" remembered Willow, the cat was a "delightful" new addition to the family for two-year-old Olivia-Rose.

"Willow's still a little bit nervous around children, but the girls have been helping to feed her and they've played with a ribbon with her."

After the holidays, Mrs Worth plans to take Willow to the veterinary centre she was registered with before she disappeared for a "full MoT", but she is in no doubt the cat will pass with flying colours because of the care she has received since she was found in Plymouth.

"I want to contact the family who looked after Willow so well for the past few months - she looks fantastic and I'll never be able to thank them enough," she added.

Sussex Police warn revellers over Brighton sex attacks

Women have been warned not to walk alone in Brighton during new year celebrations after two night-time sex attacks in the city in two days.

Det Sgt Chris Sherwell said the sexual assaults on women in the early hours of Thursday and Friday were thought to have been carried out by the same man.

The attacks were in quiet areas where there was no-one else around, he said.

Women have been warned to be cautious about walking alone, even for short distances.

Punched in face

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“Start Quote

We are working hard to identify this man and put a stop to his offending”

Det Sgt Chris Sherwell

Det Sgt Sherwell said: "In the middle of what should be an enjoyable festive season, I regret having to issue a warning of this nature and we are working hard to identify this man and put a stop to his offending.

"However, I must also suggest that women and girls should be extremely cautious about walking alone late at night, particularly in secluded areas and even for short distances where they might be separated from friends and other people."

In the first attack on Thursday at about 01:45 GMT, off Russell Square, an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man who punched her in the face before she managed to escape.

'Foreign accent'

In the second attack on Friday at about 02:30 GMT in Steine Lane - an alleyway behind the Pavilion Tavern - a 20-year-old woman was grabbed from behind by a man.

He pulled at her clothes and sexually assaulted her before she managed to break free and run away.

Det Sgt Sherwell said the suspect believed to have carried out both attacks had been described as black or dark-skinned, aged about 30, about 6ft (1.8m), with a medium or slightly tubby build, with very short or no hair.

He said the suspect had also been described as having "a very distinctive foreign accent".

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to contact Sussex Police.

Ethiopian troops enter Somalia, take control of border town; residents reported to flee

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By Associated Press, Published: December 31

NAIROBI, Kenya — Hundreds of Ethiopian troops poured into a western Somalia border town on Saturday, opening a new front against the militant group al-Shabab, which now faces hostile militaries on three sides.

Resident Mohammed Abdi said hundreds of residents fled Beledweyne on Saturday after hundreds of Ethiopian and Somali troops moved in. Capt. Hashi Nor of the Somali military confirmed that Somali and Ethiopian troops had moved in.

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“I saw Ethiopian troops standing at the doors of neighboring homes. Somali soldiers are also searching the homes,” Abdi said. “Al-Shabab retreated back to Bulo Burte and also many of the residents fled, and those who remained are in their homes.”

The military movement appears to be a third front against al-Shabab, Somalia’s strongest militant group. Kenyan troops moved into Somalia in mid-October in a push against the militants in the country’s south. African Union troops from Uganda, Burundi and most recently from Djibouti have mostly pushed al-Shabab fighters out of the capital, Mogadishu.

“We are in full control of Beledweyne now and our troops will move forward in the coming hours,” Nor, the Somali military officer, said by phone from Beledweyne.

Abdi said the sound of gunfire could be heard in Beledweyne but that he did not believe actual battle was taking place. However, al-Shabab on its official Twitter feed said that a battle that began at 6 a.m. was still “raging” in the city as of midday.

Al-Shabab said that a “majority” of Beledweyne residents joined al-Shabab “to thwart the offensive.” It claimed that dozens of Ethiopian troops had been killed, but that was impossible to verify and was likely an exaggerated claim. It later said on Twitter that al-Shabab was executing a planned withdrawal and would surround the city.

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said in a statement that Somalia’s armed forces had taken over “strategic places” from al-Shabab in the central region of Hiran on Saturday. He did not make direct mention of involvement by Ethiopian troops.

“We are officially requesting the international community and the neighboring countries like Ethiopia to stand on our shoulders and help the Somali people and their government for the historic operation to liberate the country from this brutal terror group,” he said. “We are also asking the humanitarian aid agencies to reach and help people living in the areas liberated from al-Shabab.”

U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops moved into Somalia in 2006 at the invitation of the weak, U.N.-backed Somali government. But the incursion was seen by many Somalis as an unpopular invasion and actually helped give birth to the al-Shabab movement. Ethiopians pulled out in early 2009, and there are fears that a new push by Somalia could be a propaganda coup for al-Shabab.

Ethiopia in November said it was considering whether to contribute troops to the African Union force in Somalia. Kenya’s parliament recently voted for its forces to join the AU force. That move is awaiting approval by the United Nations.

The central Somalia town of Beledweyne lies about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the border with Ethiopia. A commercial hub, it lies on a key road that links Mogadishu with northern Somalia. Control of the town has changed hands frequently in recent months as different militias push to seize control of it.

___

A Somali employee of The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Man dies in County Antrim industrial accident

A man in his 50s has been killed in an industrial accident in County Antrim.

The incident occurred in the Townhill Road area of Ballymena at about 13:50 GMT on Saturday.

Police, fire-fighters and an ambulance crew were called to the scene when the man became trapped under a vehicle.

The victim's identity has not yet been released.

UK fireworks and parties welcome in new year

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in central London to watch the fireworks display

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• Revellers mark turn of the year
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Thousands of revellers have taken to the streets across the UK to herald the new year.

Hundreds of thousands gathered in London to watch the 11-minute fireworks display under the London Eye, triggered by Big Ben's chimes.

In Cardiff there was free live music at the Civic Centre, but no outdoor concert in Belfast this year.

People attended events across Scotland, including some 80,000 in Edinburgh for the Hogmanay street party celebrations.

Around 3,000 police officers were on duty in London, both at street level and on podiums to give them a bird's-eye view of any troublemakers among the crowds.

As midnight struck, it triggered a display of some 12,000 fireworks at the London Eye - producing 50,000 projectiles. The display lasted 11 minutes and 15 seconds.

All travel in London is free from 23.45 GMT until 04:30 GMT on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, about 20,000 revellers gathered in the centre of Weymouth, Dorset, for its New Year's Eve fancy dress party. The event has been running for the past 20 years.

Firework shows

Cardiff's annual Calennig celebrations at the Civic Centre also featured a firework display at midnight.

In the absence of an official city council-run event, revellers in Belfast were advised by the council to attend events in local clubs and pubs.

Some 80,000 people gathered in Princes Street, Edinburgh, to see in the new year at the city's world-famous Hogmanay street party.

Around 5.5 tonnes of fireworks were to light up the sky above the castle - the most ever for a Hogmanay celebration.

And more than 20 acts played on seven stages ahead of the midnight fireworks display.

A huge free party was held in Inverness, while in Aberdeen a free firework display was set off from the roof of His Majesty's Theatre in the city centre.

Glasgow hosted a family day, which ended at 22:00 GMT, with traditional music and children's activities.

The city council had previously said it was not holding a street party this year due to the cost.

Somalia: Puntland clan blames Al Shabaab for scholar’s killing

BOSSASO, Somalia Dec 6, 2011 (Garowe Online) -- Islamic leaders in Somalia have blamed Al Shabaab terrorist group for the targeted assassination of well-known Muslim scholar Sheikh Ahmed Haji Abdirahman who was killed by unknown assailants in the Puntland port city of Bossaso Monday morning, Radio Garowe reports.


“The men responsible for the killing are: Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys; Hassan Mohamud Takar; Abdullahi Ali Hashi; and Abdullahi Raabi,” said Al-Ictisam chairman Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad in Mogadishu.

Puntland blames Al Shabaab

On Monday, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole condemned terrorists for killing Sheikh Ahmed in Bossaso moments after the late scholar walked out of a mosque.

President Farole named several Al Shabaab leaders, including some from Puntland such as Hassan Mohamud Takar, Abdullahi Ali Hashi and Jama Abdisalam, as being responsible for the killing of the Islamic scholar in Puntland. President Farole said Al Shabaab leaders “met in Baidoa and declared to target scholars and increase the violence across Somalia.”

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, an Islamist hardliner who is on U.S. and U.N. watch-lists, said Puntland’s leader had a “quick reaction” by blaming Al Shabaab group.

Aweys said Al Shabaab’s meeting in Baidoa was about “liberating Somalia from African invaders,” a reference to the 9,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force serving in Mogadishu.

Al Shabaab denies killing scholar

Also on Monday, Hassan Mohamud Takar, a member of Al Shabaab group who is a British citizen, told supporters that “PIS killed Sheikh Ahmed Haji Abdirahman.”

The PIS, whose name was reestablished in 2010 as the Puntland Intelligence Agency (PIA), is Puntland’s elite counter-terrorism unit that is supported by foreign intelligence services.

Takar’s son is currently serving jail time in Puntland on terrorism charges.

Takar and other Al Shabaab leaders concluded a meeting in the southern town of Baidoa last week, where they declared to bolster their war against the UN-backed TFG of Somalia and its allies, such as Puntland, Ethiopia, Kenya and the African Union.

Further, the Al Shabaab leaders said they changed the group’s name to Islamic Emirate of Somalia, vowing to establish an Islamist state in areas of southern Somalia controlled by Al Shabaab.

The Baidoa meeting excluded Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Godane and the foreign fighters, who form a sizeable component of Al Shabaab’s fighting ranks.

In 2010, Puntland security forces fought a three-month war against Al Shabaab militants in Galgala mountains which concluded after government forces overrun the militant bases. The government enacted a Counterterrorism Law and several Al Shabaab members have been jailed, sentenced or executed under the new law.

GAROWE ONLINE

Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah

Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah, a well-respected Islamic scholar in Puntland, told the VOA Somali Service that the late Sheikh Ahmed Haji Abdirahman was a great scholar and a good friend.

“I send my condolences to the family of the deceased who was killed by a hand of injustice. He was a great scholar,” said Sheikh Abdulkadir, who was one of the leaders of the Al-Itihad Al-Islami (Islamic Unity) movement of Somalia in the early 1990s.

Sheikh Abdulkadir said: “Al Shabaab group is responsible for killing the Sheikh. We will not accept false reasons such as Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) killed the Sheikh. The Sheikh's killing is linked to the conclusion of the meeting in Baidoa city.”

Another Somali Islamic leader, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad in Mogadishu, told the VOA Somali Service that Al Shabaab is responsible for Sheikh Ahmed’s killing. Sheikh Bashir is chairman of Al-Ictisam group – which is made of former Al-Itihad Al-Islami members.

Sheikh Dahir Ahmed Haji

DEG DEG: Dagaal Xoogan oo ka Socda Duleedka Magaalada Baledweyne

Muqdisho (RBC Radio) Deegaan kuyaala dhinaca koofur Galbeed ee Magaalada Baledweyne ayaa xiligaan waxaa ka bilowday dagaal xoogan oo u dhaxeeya ciidamada dowlada iyo kuwa Al-Shabaab.
Dagaalkaan ayaa waxaa lagu waramayaa in uu ka socdo deegaanka Luuq Jeelow oo ka mid ah deegaanada hoostaga magaalada Baledweyne, waxaana la sheegayaa in dagaalkaan uu yahay mid xoogan.
Wali lama oga in uu khasaaro geestay dagaalkaan iyo waliba in kale inkstoo uu haatan wali halkaasi ka socdo dagaalka xoogan ee u dhaxeeya Al-Shabaab iyo Dowlada KMG.
Wararka ayaa sheegaya in ciidamada dowlada ay isku fidiyeen gudamaha magaalada Baledweyne,waxaana deegaanka uu haatan ka socdo dagaalka uu yahay mid ay ku sugan yihiin wali ciidamada Al-Shabaab.
Wali ma jirto wax war ah oo ka soo baxay Al-Shabaab oo ku aadan dagaalkaan wali ka socda qaybo ka mid ah gobalka Hiiraan iyo waliba ciidamada dowlada oo kala wareegay gacan ku haynta xarunta gobalka.

RBC Radio
Xafiiska Wararka Muqdisho

Koox ka Tirsan Jameecada Takfiir oo Ciidamada Puntland Shalay ka Qabteen Magaalada Boosaaso (Warbixin)

Boosaaso (RBC) Koox ka tirsan jameecada Takfiir oo ku nool magaalada Boosaaso ee gobolka Bari ayaa maalintii labaad ku jira saldhig boolis oo ku yaalla magaalada Boosaaso ka dib markii maalintii shalay ay xabsiga u taxaabeen ciidamada amaanka Boosaaso.
Dadka la qabtay ayaa gaaraya 60 nin waxaana laga soo qabtay masjid ku yaalla xaafada Raf iyo Raaxo oo lagu magacaabo Al-Ikhlaas xilli ay ku tukanayeen salaadii Jimcaha maalintii shalay.
Kooxda 60 nin ah ayaa illaa shalay lagu hayey saldhiga booliska ee xaafada Raf iyo Raaxo oo ay xalay ku hoydeen.
Warar ku dhow taliska ciidamada booliska ayaa sheegaya in xariga kooxdan ay ka dambeeyeen ka dib markii eedo ay u jeediyeen culimada magaalada Boosaaso oo sheegay in kooxdaasi ay wadaan dhibaatooyin dadka ka dhan ah.
Hase yeeshee taliska booliska iyo maamulka gobolka Bari ayaan illaa hadda ka hadlin xariga kooxdan Takfiirka loo geystay.  Waxaana xariga kooxdan aad looga hadalhayaa magaalada Boosaaso.
Jameecada Takfiirka ayaa masaajido gaar ah ku leh magaalooyinka Boosaaso iyo Qardho halkasoo ay iyaga si gaar ah ugu tukadaan.
Hore culimada waaweyn ee Puntland ayaa ka qeylo dhaamisay kooxdan iyagoo ku tilmaamay inay wadaan qalaanqal dadka lagu hayo.
RBC Radio

Jamaica People's National Party secures big poll win

Portia Simpson Miller said there was plenty of work ahead

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Jamaica's opposition People's National Party has secured a big election victory after a campaign dominated by the economy.

The result means a return by veteran PNP politician Portia Simpson Miller to the post of prime minister.
Current PM Andrew Holness said it was a "humbling" defeat for his Jamaica Labour Party.
The snap election was called earlier this month by Mr Holness who succeeded Bruce Golding as JLP leader in October.
Despite forecasts of a close race, preliminary official results showed that Mrs Simpson Miller's party had won 41 seats out of 63 for a big majority in parliament.
Mrs Simpson Miller, 66, was first elected to parliament in 1976 and became Jamaica's first woman prime minister in 2006-07.
Debt burden
She will face deep problems, with debt running at approximately 130% of GDP and unemployment at more than 12%.
At her party headquarters in Kingston, Mrs Simpson Miller thanked her supporters.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Nick Davis BBC News, Kingston

---

It was a sea of bright orange - the colour of the PNP - at their headquarters, as flags were waved in celebration of their victory.
It had been expected to be a close race, but in the end the PNP secured a big win. The economy was key to the campaign, with unemployment running at over 12% - many of the PNP's core supporters are those who have been directly affected by the downturn.
Mrs Simpson Miller, also known as Sister P by supporters, appealed l to the working class and mobilised their vote. The JLP is more conservative, and more closely-linked to Jamaica's business community.
The JLP leader, Andrew Holness, was only sworn in a couple of months ago. At 39, Mr Holness was Jamaica's youngest PM. His leadership of the party is now in question with his loss at the polls.

"I am humbled as I stand before you and I wish to thank the Jamaican people for their love, for their support and for giving the People's National Party and the leader of the party her own mandate," she said.

Conceding victory, Mr Holness, in office for just over two months, said he wished the new government well.
"There are challenges that they will face, challenges that we are quite well aware of. And we hope for the benefit of the country and for the interest of the people of Jamaica that they will do a good job," he said.
Monitors said polling got off to a relatively smooth start on Thursday in a country where previous elections have been marred by violence.
Later some glitches were reported, such as fingerprint scanners working intermittently, leading to long queues at some of the country's polling stations.
But Lisa Shoman, the head of the observer mission for the Organization of American States, said her 25-member team has not reported "any disturbances or any issues that would cause us any serious concern".
The BBC's Nick Davis in Kingston says while violent crime used to dominate election campaigns, the economy and unemployment have now become the main issues.
Mr Holness stressed the JLP's record in reviving an economy which he said was badly managed during the PNP's long years in office.
However the PNP said the JLP itself was guilty of economic mismanagement and has allowed the country's debt to balloon.

Turkey regrets Kurdish civilian deaths in air raid

The civilian deaths raised tensions in the already volatile Kurdish region

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Turkey has expressed regret over the deaths of 35 civilians in a Turkish air strike near the border with Iraq.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday's attack near a Kurdish village, in which young smugglers died, was "unfortunate and saddening".
President Abdullah Gul also expressed condolences and spoke of Turkey's "pain" over the incident.
Turkey's military said earlier it had targeted suspected Kurdish militants. An official investigation is under way.
A Kurdish rebel commander, Bahoz Erdal of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), called on Kurds to "react after this massacre and hold the perpetrators to account through their uprising".
The attack by F-16 jets on Wednesday night took place near the town of Uludere, in Sirnak province in south-eastern Turkey.

Mr Erdogan said it had been established after the raid that the victims were smugglers, not rebels.
The pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party condemned the air strike as a "massacre", saying that all the victims were civilians aged between 16 and 20.
The victims were buried at a cemetery in Gulyazi village.
Mourners accompanied the coffins in a long convoy from nearby Uludere, some shouting "Erdogan is a murderer!" and flashing V for victory signs, AFP news agency reported.
Condolences from military
On Friday the website of the Turkish General Staff carried a message of condolence for the families of the 35 victims - a gesture described by correspondents as highly unusual.
Earlier, the general staff had said the area attacked was inside northern Iraq and had no civilian population. It added that the raid was launched following information that suspected militants were planning to attack Turkish security bases.
Fighting has escalated between Turkish forces and PKK rebels in recent months.
Since 1984 the PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US, has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state, in which more than 40,000 people have died.
In October Turkey launched a major air and land offensive against the rebels near the Iraqi border after 24 of its troops were killed in a night ambush by rebels.
Supporters of the main pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) demonstrated on Thursday over the botched air strike, and some clashed with Turkish police.
There were also violent protests in the mainly Kurdish towns of Diyarbakir and Sirnak.
Kurds demand answers
"They openly massacred us. Why was this blood spilled? They must answer this question," said Kitan Encu, who lost 11 family members in the raid.
Quoted by AFP, she said all the victims were "burned completely" and "the oldest one was 20 years old, they were all students".
Mr Erdogan said "images transmitted by drones showed a group of 40 people in the area, it was impossible to say who they were".
"Afterwards it was determined they were smugglers transporting cigarettes and fuel on mules."
Lashing out at some Turkish press coverage of the blunder he said "no state deliberately bombs its own people".

Iran denies test-firing long-range missiles in Gulf

Iran has been conducting naval drills in the Gulf since last week

Continue reading the main story

Iran nuclear crisis

• Q&A: Iran sanctions
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Iran has denied reports by state media that it test-fired long-range missiles during military exercises in the Gulf.

"The exercise of launching missiles will be carried out in the coming days," Iran's senior navy commander is quoted as telling Iran's Press TV.
Earlier the semi-official Fars news agency and other outlets reported that land-to-sea missiles had been fired.
The naval exercises come at a time of increased tensions between the West and Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
On Tuesday Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil export route, if new sanctions were imposed over its nuclear programme.
The US and its allies believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Iran denies. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes. Iran has maintained that it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity to meet growing domestic demand.
'No preconditions'
The European Union has meanwhile restated that it is open to talks with Iran, as long as no pre-conditions are set by Tehran.
"We continue to pursue our twin-track approach and are open for meaningful discussions on confidence-building measures, without preconditions from the Iranian side," foreign policy spokesman Michael Mann told Reuters news agency by email.
Officials had not yet had a response to a letter sent to nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in October, Mr Mann added.
Earlier, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency quoted a senior official as saying that Mr Jalili was planning to write to express readiness for fresh nuclear talks.
The latest round of naval exercises began last week and are taking place in international waters to the east of the Strait of Hormuz. They are set to last 10 days.
"All kinds of surface-to-sea, sea-to-sea and surface-to-air as well as shoulder-launched missiles will be tested in the coming days," navy commander Mahmoud Mousavi told Iran's English-language Press TV, according to Reuters.
Furious response
Western nations recently unveiled new sanctions against Tehran following a UN report in November that said Iran had carried out tests related to "development of a nuclear device".
Reports that further measures were being considered to target Iran's oil and financial sectors drew a furious response from Tehran.
Iran's vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi on Tuesday warned that "not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz" if sanctions are widened.
Iran's navy chief has said that closing the strait would be easy.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf - and the oil-producing states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - to the Indian Ocean. About 40% of the world's tanker-borne oil passes through it.
The US also maintains a naval presence in the Gulf, largely to ensure the transport of oil remains open.
Washington played down the Iranian threat with a state department spokesman describing it as an "attempt by them to distract attention from the real issue".
In 2009, Iran test-fired its Sajjil and Shahab missiles which could travel 2,000km (1,243 miles), drawing condemnation from the international community.
Those tests were also carried out amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions, coming just weeks after Iran revealed the existence of a previously secret nuclear facility in the mountains near the city of Qom.