THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2012
PAGE 3
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Because the world is bigger than your oyster
AFRICA
BAMAKO, MALI — A new Tuareg rebel group, whose members include former pro-Gadhafi fighters, launched its first attack on at least one town in Mali on Tuesday. Government forces fought back.
Associated Press
Rebel group sparks violence in Mali
Many ethnic Tuareg fighters who had fought for Moammar Gadhafi returned to Mali with their weapons after the Libyan strongman was killed in October. Some joined a rebel group called the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, formed in the same month.
Most of the fighting was in MENaka, a town in eastern Mali, said Moussa Ag Acharatouane, an NMLA leader who spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from Paris.
"Operations are continuing in Menaka and some other towns as well.
Our aim is to liberate these towns," Ag Acharatoumaune said.
Bakine Ag Bambalo, a trader in Menaka, said residents heard gunfire and explosions erupt in the morning.
"We heard rifles being fired and some heavy weapons too," the trader said, adding that Malian helicopters then came and fired at the attackers. The fighting tapered off by midday, and people returned to the streets, he told AP.
"We've taken this action because we tried to open a dialogue with the government, but they reacted by denying there's a real problem and sending their army to occupy our towns." Ag Acharatouane said.
The group is fighting for the independence of north Mali, he said.
ASIA
Mukarram Khan Atif was shot in the head while praying in a mosque close to the city of Peshawar, said police officer Jahan Zada Khan.
Anti-Taliban reporter shot in Pakistan
According to his profile on LinkedIn, Atif was a reporter for Voice of America's Pashtu language Deewa radio station and a Pakistani television station. Pashtu is the language spoken in much of northwest Pakistan.
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN — Islami militants on Tuesday killed a Pakistani journalist who was working for an American government-funded broadcasting service, according to police, a militant spokesman and a colleague.
VOA reported the death on its website and said Atif provided stories for
A spokesman for the Taliban called an Associated Press reporter to claim responsibility for the killing.
Inansulah Ihsan of the Taliban said the militants had warned Atif a "number of times to stop anti-Taliban reporting, but he didn't do so. He finally met his fate."
A colleague said Atif, 40, had received threats from militants in the Mohmand tribal region and moved away from there several months ago. The man didn't give his name for security reasons.
the service.
Last year, seven journalists were killed in Pakistan, making it the deadliest country for journalists for the second year in a row.
BEIJING China appears on track to avoid an abrupt economic slowdown with possible global repercussions after growth eased to a still robust 8.9 percent in the last quarter of 2011.
China's economy braces for inflation
ASIA
The expansion in the world's second-largest economy was the slowest in 2 1/2 years, but December retail sales and factory output accelerated, data showed Tuesday.
"Today's outcome seems to confirm a 'soft landing' scenario," said Frances Cheung of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong.
China is one of the biggest importers, and slower growth could have global repercussions if it cuts demand for iron ore and other goods from Australia, Brazil, Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
Growth slowed in 2011 as Beijing hiked interest rates and tightened investment curbs to prevent overheating and tame politically dangerous inflation. Communist leaders reversed course and started easing lending late in the year after plunging U.S. and European export demand raised the threat of job losses and unrest.
The slowdown was in line with government plans, said Ma Jiantang, commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics. He said it would be ideal to keep growth between 8.5 percent and 9 percent, with inflation low.
In 2012, China faces challenges due to global malaise and pressure for prices to rise, Ma said at a news conference. Still, he said, "The fundamentals of China's long-term steady economic growth have not changed."
ASIA
Pressure to reduce imports from Iran
SEOUL SOUTH KOREA
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — A senior U.S. official urged South Korea on Tuesday to reduce its crude oil imports from Iran, ratcheting up pressure on Washington's close ally to help confront Tehran over its nuclear
program.
South Korea restricts financial dealings with more than 200 groups and individuals with suspected links to Iran's nuclear program. But
Seoul relies on Iran for up to 10 percent of its oil supplies.
Japan and the European Union are considering reducing their oil imports
from Iran.
Einhorn
"We're urging all of our partners to help us, to work with us in putting pressure on the government of Iran, to get it to negotiate seriously," Robert Einhorn, the State Department's special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, told reporters in Seoul after a meeting with senior South Korean Foreign Ministry officials.
Einhorn also visited Seoul last month to push South Korea to stop buying Iranian petrochemicals.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the government hasn't decided on the U.S. request to cut oil imports from Iran.
CAMPUS
Members of Occupy KU meet every Friday at 4 p.m. in the Kansas Union. The group has yet to spend its $200 fund from last semester
Occupy KU wants to expand
BOBBY BURCH/KANSAN
Group aims for diversity in its members to accurately represent student body
LCODY KUIPER
ckuiper@kansan.com
An extra $200 might burn a hole in the pockets of some students, but one KU group has created a nice nest egg for itself while it tries to grow in numbers.
Occupy KU received $200 in general funding from Student Senate last semester, but it has held off spending any of the money until it gains a group that fully represents the University in both numbers and diversity, according to Occupy KU student representative John Weissmiller, a senior from Lawrence.
Although winter break put the group on hiatus. Weismiller said he had spoken with members since their last meeting, and they already have plans for this semester to continue beyond the basic chalking
Matt Schwabauer, a 26-year-old Lawrence resident, is a member of Occupy Lawrence and has attended Occupy KU events as well. He said the group's ability to meet in the Union along with the $200 in funding gives it a better chance to expand.
"We are planning on publishing some short magazines as well as having teach-ins, movie screenings and other direct education avenues for raising awareness for the world we are set to inherit" he said.
and tabling most groups do.
"The last general assembly I went to in November was the last one before winter break," he said. "And the idea was, 'Everybody go take care of yourselves and meet back here when school starts up again.' I see them more of a growing group than Occupy Lawrence
because of that scenario."
student group, but
Student Rights
Comm itie e
Chairman Aaron
Harris said
no matter its
political views;
the group met the
requirements.
During the debate to fund them, some senators raised concerns about Occupy KU's validity as a
ing to take the money away from them," he said, "They have met the rules, they are following the rules, so why should they be kept from getting it?"
"We are planning on[...] raising awareness for the world we are set to inherit."
In December, The University Daily Kansan reported that along with the money, Occupy KU agreed it would not start any large
disturbances on campus. Harris said Senate cannot add any extra stipulations to the group's funding, and if it has, it is a violation of the
"I'm not go.
rules.
JOHN WEISMILLER Occupy KU member
"We can watch to make sure things are going correctly, but with our rules we can't be like, 'Well, we're only going to give this money to you if
you don't protest," he said.
Occupy KU has no specific events on schedule as of today other than its weekly meeting at 4 p.m. on Friday on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union.
Edited by Gabrielle Schock
LOCAL
Change is imminent for local trailer park
LUKE RANKER
Iranker@kansan.com
Nick Jamison grew up in Gaslight Village, the mobile home park at 31st Street and Ousdahl Road.
As a boy, he lived near what is now Home Depot, and he still lives in the same trailer. At that time, the park was twice its current size, extending to Iowa Street.
Jamison, a nursing student at NeoSho County Community College, said that the park included a pool, community building and basketball court.
"This used to a pretty big place," he said, standing on the end of a row of rusted mobile homes. "It was a nice community."
With the developer Aspen Heights seeking a contract to buy and redevelop the park, the diminished mobile home community could vanish all together. Aspen Heights, based in Austin, Texas, plans to replace the approximately 150 mobile homes with rental homes for students.
Before that can happen, the city must first re-zone the area. Then, Aspen Heights can negotiate a price with the owner of the mobile home park and begin construction.
A difficult decision looms
Jamison inherited his childhood home, a 1982 Skyline, from his grandparents, and he is currently remodeling it. Last month, park owners were scheduled to visit residents to discuss their options.
Mid-America Manufactured Housing Communities, which owns Gaslight Village, sent a letter to residents in November assuring them that space was available in other local mobile home parks. The letter also said that funds would be available to help with moving costs. A message left with company officials was not returned and repeated attempts to speak with them were unsuccessful.
Ideally, Jamison would like to buy some land in another county for the trailer as his parents had done years before. If that's not an option, he'll most likely move to another park.
Jamison's trailer has already been moved twice: when his parents built a new home in Ottawa and when he moved back to the mobile home park. He paid $600 for just the towing fee. He leveled the trailer himself along with installing the plumbing and electrical.
"I used to work in construction, so it was pretty easy," he said.
Jamison said it was unlikely that he would sell his trailer.
"It's a lot like buying an automobile," he said, "It's not a good
investment."
Despite the low value, Jamison said it was perfect for a student.
Easier decision for others
"This is one of cheapest places to live, especially if you own your own trailer," jamison said. He estimated his lot rental was around $285 a month.
"It's in my blood to move," he said.
For 34-year-old Santiago Zaragoza, who has been a resident of Gaslight Village since July 2009, the decision to move his family was easier. He said Kansas was the sixth state he had lived in and had no problem re-adjusting.
Zaragoza said he had already visited with the manager of Riverside Mobile Home Community in north Lawrence. He said the manager was understanding of Zaragoza's need to re-locate and offered a discount in rent for the first year.
Development on the horizon
"We're very early in the review process." Day said.
She said the only major issue she saw with re-zoning the area would be securing adequate water access
Sandy Day, project planner for the city, said the 45-acre area of Gaslight Village would have to be re-zoned from single-family zoning to multi-family zoning before construction could begin. The developer will also need a permit to allow additional access to surrounding streets and utilities.
In December, the city received a special needs permit request. That request will go before a public hearing on Jan. 25 and then a vote by the City Commission around Feb.14.
Jason Sherman, chief marketing officer at Aspen Heights, said the company chose the location because it provides easy access to campus, retail and other amenities. Aspen Heights plans to connect to the Naismith Valley Park Trail to provide a link for students who bike to campus.
The new housing complex should accommodate 994 students in two-, three- and four- bedroom duplexes and homes.
Though the future of Gaslight Village is still unclear, Zaragoza remains optimistic.
"We'll move and be fine," he said.
However, Jamison said he still has a lot to consider.
"I'm weighing my options," he said.
- Edited by Taylor Lewis
- BIGWORDS lowest price vs. average lowest price from each online store
* BIGWORDS lowest price with shopping vs. retail without shipping
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