Amigurumi patterns

Sundance showcases crisis-hit American dream
The fractured American dream, the housing crisis and the sluggish economy feature prominently in the opening films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, now underway in the US state of Utah. The ski resort of Park City east of Salt Lake City is playing host to the 10-day event that will showcase more than 100 independent low-budget fiction and documentary films. Small movies, but some big names from the world of cinema are present – including of course, the festival’s founder Robert Redford. “It’s no secret that times are dark and grim,” the 75-year-old actor told a news conference. “In addition to that we’re suffering from a government that’s in paralysis. And so that makes it all a pretty grim time. But I think the happy thing that we’re pretty proud of is that here for this week we’re going to see work from artists… that’s reflective of these hard times. There’s not paralysis here.” Much of the pre-festival attention focused on ‘The Queen of Versailles’, a documentary about the crumbling of the American dream of home ownership amid a reality of job losses and bankruptcies. Despite the crisis some festival-goers have come from far and wide. “I’m an avid movie buff and it’s kind of nice to be here first and see things before everybody else gets a chance and it’s just the people, the people are so friendly and from everybody that’s been here who’s experienced it, they want to come here every year, so I figured we should try,” said Mandi Hornickel from Chicago. For years some have seen Sundance as a victim of its own success. Robert Redford says the festival is still a place for indie film-makers to find their feet. More about: Film festival, Robert Redford, USA

North Korean state funeral gets underway
North Korea has begun a two-day funeral for its late leader Kim Jong-il who died of a heart attack on December 17, according to state media. Through thick snow, the funeral cortege processed along the capital Pyongyang’s streets. Despite the harsh weather, thousands lined the route. North Korean television is broadcasting live from the scene with added pictures of distraught mourners. Few details of the exact proceedings over the next two days are known but it is expected that the ceremony will firmly establish the line of succession with Kim’s son, Kim Jong-un, as the new leader. More about: Communism, Funerals, Kim Jong-il, North Korea

Back in the Day: Egypt begins its quest to control the Nile
January 9, 1960 Work begins on the construction of the Aswan High Dam, Egypt’s plan to control the power of the world’s longest river, the Nile. The High Dam was built just upstream from an existing, less effective dam completed in 1902, with the intention of preventing yearly floods and occasional droughts as well as to provide the hydro-electric power needed for Egypt’s industrialisation. Both the USSR and the USA initially hoped to help finance the dam as a means of winning favour with Egypt, which was neutral in the Cold War. In the end Egypt chose the Soviet Union as its partner for the project and the USSR sent technicians and engineers to oversee construction. Since opening in 1970, the dam and the resulting Lake Nasser reservoir have succeeded in controlling the Nile’s water and generate an enormous 2100 megawatts of electricity through hydro-electric power. But there have been negative consequences: more than a hundred thousand Nubian peasants had to be relocated, many of them hundreds of kilometres away from their homes. It has also impacted on the environment by depriving local soil of rich natural nutrients and eroding Mediterranean coastlines. Also on January 9: Admiral Horatio Nelson is given a state funeral in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral (1806); Umberto I becomes King of Italy (1878); the ocean liner RMS Queen Elizabeth is destroyed by fire in Hong Kong (1972). Born on January 9: Simone de Beauvoir (1908), Richard Nixon (1913), Lee Van Cleef (1925), Joan Baez (1941), Dave Matthews (1967), Sergio Garc?�a (1980). More about: Back in the Day, Egypt, History

Generation Y wants change and now
In this edition of The Network with Chris Burns — Generation Y, how are Europeans born in the 1980’s and 90’s facing the financial crisis? How would they like to change the world? More about: Debt crisis, Euro in crisis, Europe, Financial Crisis

Syria: Arab League mission head stirs opposition fears
He says he saw “nothing frightening” in the flashpoint city of Homs. However, it is Mustafa al-Dabi’s appointment as chief of the Arab League’s monitoring mission that has made opposition activists fearful. Dabi has held senior Sudanese military and government posts, including in the Darfur region, where the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says the army carried out war crimes. The UN says 300,00 people may have died in Darfur, a figure disputed by Khartoum. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted by the Hague-based ICC for genocide and crimes against humanity. He refuses to surrender, dismissing the charges as baseless and political. Syria’s opposition fears Sudan’s own defiance of a war crimes tribunal means that Dabi is unlikely to recommend strong action against the Assad regime. More about: Arab League, Bashar al-Assad, Clashes and riots, Syria

Jungfrau railway marks 100-year anniversary
A giant light installation of the flag of Switzerland, by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter, illuminates the north face of the Jungfrau mountain, in the Bernese Oberland. The installation commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Jungfrau railway, which first began operations in the year 1912. REUTERS/Markus Zimmermann More about: Anniversary, Public transport, Switzerland

Arab League considers future of Syria mission
Arab League leaders will decide on Sunday if they are to extend their monitoring mission in Syria. The mission’s chief has arrived in Cairo to present his report to Arab foreign ministers. Monitors have been observing events on the ground in Syria for several weeks. In that time hundreds of people have been killed, as both an insurgency and government crackdown intensify. The mission’s been criticised as ineffective by some, and its members have been occasionally subjected to hostility themselves. Supporters say the mission reduced violence to some degree, but critics say it provided diplomatic cover for President Bashar al-Assad to pursue a nationwide purge of his opponents. The Arab League itself is divided over what role the mission should have. More about: Arab League, Bashar al-Assad, Cairo, United Nations, Urban violence

Syrian military in retreat, says Arab League Chief
The Secretary General of the Arab League said on Monday that the Syrian military has withdrawn from residential areas and is on the outskirts of the country’s cities. Speaking in Cairo, Elaraby said his monitors think snipers are still a issue but its “hard to say who’s shooting who”. Arab League monitors have spent the last week in Syria to determine whether President Bashar Al Assad is keeping to an agreed peace plan following a deadly anti-democracy crackdown. Elaraby said the number of monitors will be increased and reiterated his call for all violence to stop. Arab League officials said those monitors already in Syria have achieved the release of nearly 3,500 prisoners and helped improve food supplies to the city of Homs, a hotbed of anti-government protests. But commentators are sceptical that the monitor’s mission is really working. Since their visit began a week ago, 315 civilians including 24 children have died in clashes between the military and activists. More about: Arab League, Bashar al-Assad, Military, Syria