though analysts say Kim Yong Un is on the path toward cementing
his power and all moves in North Korea so far -- from
titles giving him power over the ruling party and military and his
leading position in the funeral procession, his age and inexperience leave questions
about Kim's long-term prospects. Whereas his father was groomed for power for
20 years before taking over, the younger Kim has had fewer than
two years.He also faces the huge challenges of running a country that
struggles to feed its people even as it pursues a nuclear weapons
program that has earned it international sanctions and condemndation.Kim Jong Il --
who led with absolute rule after his father Kim Il Sung's death
in 1994, through a famine that killed hundreds of thousands and the
controversial buildup of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs -- died of
a heart attack Dec. 17 at age 69.Mourners in parkas lined the
streets of Pyongyang, waving, stamping and crying as the convoy beari
ores of oil deals, mostly with mid-sized companies. Baghdad considers all of
these deals illegal and has blacklisted the companies involved.The Kurds and Exxon
Mobil appear to be betting the Baghdad government will be forced to
acquiesce.They "are now in a position where they could essentially force Baghdad
to accept the status quo and the two separate regulatory systems that
exist in the country," said Riani.
subscriptions to the pay cable channel, Yahoo! Sports reports.Tebow has made
it quite clear he believes in God, and some (including Tebow's own
pastor) have said God is due some credit for the Broncos' surprise
winning season with Tebow running the offense. Many were surprised when Tebow
was given the starting quarterback job as he is an unorthodox quarterback
with a below average arm, causing his team to run a college
type offense.The Broncos are 6-3 with Tebow as their quarterback. The prayer
he says in the end zone after scoring a touchdown has been
dubbed "Tebowing," helping to turn the Heisman trophy winner into a national
sensation.Maher is an avowed atheist. His "Real Time with Bill Maher," returns
with new episodes on January 13, 2012.
DULUTH, Minn. A man charged with opening fire in a Minnesota
courthouse and wounding two people after being convicted in a sex case
has died at a Duluth hospital.St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman tells
the Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/vvfDnf) that Daniel Schlienz fell ill Monday night
and died Tuesday. He says foul play is not suspected as there
were no signs of injuries, either self-inflicted or by someone else.The 42-year-old
Schlienz had been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder.The
criminal complaint says after Schlienz was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, he
retrieved a gun from his vehicle and shot Cook County Attorney Tim
Scannell and Grand Marais resident Gregory Thompson inside the Grand Marais (MUH-ray)
courthouse Dec. 15. Both were hospitalized for five days.
APDec. 19: Actor Tom Cruise attends the U.S. premiere of 'Mission: Impossible
- Ghost Protocol' at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York.LOS ANGELES
Tom Cruise's latest mission has won a holiday weekend that's shaping up
with some silent nights at movie theaters as business continues to lag.Studio
estimates Sunday placed Cruise's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" a solid No.
1 with $26.5 million domestically over its first weekend in full release.
The movie raised its total to $59 million since it started a
week earlier in huge-screen cinemas and expanded nationwide last Wednesday, and distributor
Paramount estimated that revenues will reach $72.7 million by Monday.Cruise's fourth "Mission"
flick was a bright spot over a Christmas weekend filled with so-so
tidings for Hollywood, whose usually busy holiday stretch since Thanksgiving has been
a bust.Generally well-reviewed movies from Steven Spielberg ("The Adventures of Tintin"), David
Fincher ("The Girl with t
Newton, Iowa, on Wednesday to a set of stops in Des
Moines before the end of the day.Paul also has a slick new
TV ad out in Iowa and New Hampshire that assails the "Washington
machine" while casting Paul as the race's "consistent" and "incorruptible" candidate.Without naming
names, the ad says "serial hypocrites and flip-floppers can't clean up the
mess" in Washington.
