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

Iowa Republicans launch US political year
The Midwestern US state of Iowa this Tuesday hosts the country’s first major electoral event of the year. Voters here will kick off the process to nominate which Republican Party candidate will run against Barack Obama for the presidency of the United States. Some of the candidates have largely ignored Iowa as they jostle for the top polling spot. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, however, has been doing the best in surveys, with Ron Paul and Rick Santorum next. Romney was the favourite in 2008 as well. The Mormon former Missionary and then businessman laid America’s economic problems squarely at Obama’s door. Romney said: “The median income in America has dropped 10 percent in the last four years. How in the world can the president call that anything but failure? He’s failed to get the economy going, he’s failed to help the middle class, and the reason he’s failed is because he’s looked to Europe, not to America.” The libertarian former obstetrician and gynaecologist, author and Texas Congressman Ron Paul is expected to appeal to independent voters and Democrats disillusioned by events of the last four years. Paul said: “There’s special interest that benefited. The Wall Street-ers get bailed out and the debt is being dumped on the people. That has to be reversed, let me tell you.” Staunch Catholic Rick Santorum, a former lawyer and former Pennsylvania Senator, a strong backer of the Iraq invasion and an America of traditional family values, may find good listeners among Iowa’s evangelist voters. Santorum said: “I believe we [sic] are the best person to not just execute that plan and get this country turned around across the board — morally, culturally, economically and fiscally, as well as in our national security. But I think we are the best folks to take on Barack Obama and win this election.” Newt Gingrich, author, political consultant, former history and geography teacher and Speaker of the House of Representatives, has enjoyed a lead position nationally, but suffered from criticism that he was an advisor to the mortgage company Fannie Mae, notoriously implicated in the subprimes crisis. Iowa-born Michele Bachmann, member of the US House of Representatives for Minnesota, with the libertarian Tea Party political movement, has seen her campaign bog down with the defection of its manager to her rival Ron Paul. Texas governor Rick Perry, a former Air Force transport pilot and cotton farmer who is also a former Democrat, has seen predictions for his success in the race for the Republican presidential nomination dive since August. Still, he is on record as saying “the best job in the world” is governor of Texas. euronews made contact with experts on the ground in Iowa for their immediate view. Tokunbo Salako, euronews: Joining me now from Iowa is Aaron Katersky, the ABC news correspondent. Aaron, can you tell me, it has almost been like a revolving doors for some of the Republican candidates here. They have enjoyed varying fortunes and reversal of fortunes for some. How decisive is this contest going to be? Aaron Katersky, ABC correspondent: “Seven different times the lead has changed according to public opinion polls here in Iowa over the course of this race. It’s the first time that actual Americans will have a chance to cast a ballot and in some cases here in Iowa it may be just a name written on a small scrap of paper and put into a hat. But however it’s done, it does give the public a sense of who is on top and who may have momentum going forward.” euronews: So you say, it does give a good indication of how the main riders are positioning… However, we have seen some of the main candidates such as Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, they’ve largely ignored Iowa, why do you think that is? Katersky: “Well, they never thought they had much of a chance. Mitt Romney has always had his roots in New England. His governorship was in Massachusetts, neighbouring New Hampshire – which is the first primary in the country – was always thought to be his strongest base of support. But then out of the sudden his rivals came and went, they flared up and then they flared out… and Mitt Romney suddenly found himself with the shot of winning Iowa. No candidate that has ever won both Iowa and New Hampshire has gone on to lose the nomination and so for Mitt Romney, if he can pull it off on Tuesday night, here in this State, he has a very good chance of becoming the Republican nominee.” euronews: And if he doesn’t? Do you think this is going to be a fatal blow for his campaign? Katersky: “Probably not. You don’t have to necessarily win in Iowa, but you do have to finish in the top three. No Republican has ever finished below third place in Iowa and gone on to get the nomination. So you do need the Gold, the Silver or the Bronze medal to perhaps do well… If history is any indication. But it has been more than 40 years since the Republican field had so many serious contenders for the party’s nomination for President. So this is a year unlike any other… anything is possible. euronews: “So given that most Iowans are undecided, who are you tipping?” Katersky: “Far be it from me to tip my hand… I am not a betting man… but there do seem to be a couple of ways this could go: Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are essentially tied for the top spot and Rick Santorum, a favourite among the cultural conservatives, has suddenly vaulted into the third place spot… And his support may be limited but it may be enough for him to get a victory here in Iowa… whether this carries him any further would remain to be seen… And no Republican candidate is talking about dropping out at this point – so we could still be in for weeks if not months of campaigning ahead. More about: Republicans, USA, USA presidential elections 2012