Obama wants action on gun control within year



The day a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn was the “worst day of my presidency,” President Obama said on NBC News's "Meet The Press” on Sunday, reaffirming his intention to address the issues of gun control in his second term.


“Anybody who was up in Newtown, who talked to the parents, who talked to the families understands that something fundamental in America has to change,” Obama said. “And all of us have to do some soul searching, including me as president, that we allow a situation in which 20 precious small children are getting gunned down in a classroom.”

Obama, who established a task force led by Vice President Biden to offer recommendations for how to best curb gun violence, said he would like move something through Congress within a year.

While the task force recommendations have yet to be issued, Obama has supported and continues to support background checks and bans on assault rifles and high-capacity clips.

He acknowledged the political difficulty of efforts that are likely to meet opposition from gun rights groups. But he suggested that the horror of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary could unite a majority in action.

“Will there be resistance? Absolutely there will be resistance,” Obama said. “And the question then becomes whether we are actually shook up enough by what happened here that it does not just become another one of these routine episodes where it gets a lot of attention for a couple of weeks and then it drifts away. It certainly won’t feel like that to me. This is something that ... that was the worst day of my presidency. And it’s not something that I want to see repeated.”

Likewise, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asked about how gun control measures might be viewed in rural America, said that the shooting leaves the national debate on gun control in a “different situation” from the past.

Vilsack said the debate must recognize that people “do hunt and that that’s important to them — 38 percent of America either hunts or fishes. So you know, it’s a big part of the population.”

But with the Connecticut shooting, the dynamics of the debate may have changed, he said.

“It’s a much deeper conversation,” Vilsack said on CNN’s State of the Union. “And it’s a good one to have for this country. . . . It’s potentially a unifying conversation. The problem is that these conversations are always couched in the terms of dividing us. This could be a unifying conversation, and Lord knows we need to be unified.”

Obama also pushed back against a proposal the National Rifle Association put forth following the mass shooting — that armed guards be placed in schools to deter acts of violence.

"I am skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools. And I think the vast majority of the American people are skeptical that that somehow is going to solve our problem," Obama said.

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Brazil, Mexico have most Latin American billionaires






MEXICO CITY: Brazil and Mexico have the most billionaires in Latin America but earn the least from estate taxes, according to a new study from a regional economic group.

Brazil tops the billionaires list with 30, followed by Mexico, with 11, said this month's report from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mexico's Carlos Slim is the richest in the world according to the annual Forbes magazine ranking.

Yet between 2005 and 2007, Mexico earned just 0.18 per cent of its GDP from estate taxes, and Brazil only 0.44 per cent, according to the report on economic elites, inequality and taxation.

That put them behind several other Latin American countries with far fewer billionaires, such as Colombia, which has three billionaires and earned 0.54 per cent from estate taxes.

And income disparities are vast.

More than two billion people live on less than US$2 a day worldwide, "revealing the extreme disparities in the global economy," wrote study authors Andres Solimano and Juan Pablo Jimenez.

The sharp concentration of income and wealth in the hands of a few "reduces the legitimacy of capitalism," they said.

The wide gap between the haves and the have-nots also undermines democracy, the authors added, because "winning an election requires financing, giving an advantage to those who have resources."

Earlier this year, the United Nations called for a "billionaires tax" of 1.0 per cent that could raise more than US$40 billion a year, as part of a package of global taxes that could help raise hundreds of billions of dollars for development.

- AFP/jc



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Two minors raped in UP in last 2 days

LUCKNOW: Two days after the Delhi bus gang rape victim breathed her last, crime against women continued unabated in Uttar Pradesh. Two minors were held hostages and raped in Sultanpur and Bareilly districts of the state. Elsewhere, miscreants threw acid on two women in Muzaffarnagar, a doctor tried to rape a patient in Bijnore, a housewife was allegedly molested by her neighbor in Bhadohi while an eight-month pregnant housewife was murdered allegedly by her husband in Bijnore. All incidents have been reported to the police over the past 48 hours on Sunday evening.

A teenaged minor girl was allegedly kidnapped on December 14, by miscreants from Dharauli village in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh while she was on her way to school. She reached home after escaping from the clutches of the abductors on Saturday and narrated the events that happened during the fortnight as she was held hostage. The family lodged an FIR against three persons in connection with the incident.

Though police were suspicious the victim may have consented to accompany any or all the accused initially and later been held captive and raped, the girl was a minor and her consent had no significance in the eyes of law. Police have registered a rape case against one Raju while his aides Basantlal and Shahabuddin have been charged for criminal conspiracy to rape. The accused were yet to be arrested as they were said to be absconding since the incident came to light.

In a somewhat similar sequence of events reported from Cantonment police circle of Bareilly early Sunday morning, an 11-year-old student of class of class VI at a local school went missing after she left home for school on December 27. After she failed to reach home by evening, her family launched a search. After two days of extensive search, the family came to know that she was last spotted with a youth in the farm field besides the road in the vicinity of the village. After six hours of extensively searching the area, the girl was found gagged and her hands and legs were tied up. The girl was rescued after which she told her family that after she reached school in the morning on December 27, 2012 she came to know that the school has closed because of the sudden drop in temperature.

Usually she returned home with a batch of their students who live in the neighborhood but since the school closure was announced in the morning itself, she was returning all alone when a youth kidnapped her. Apart from being repeatedly raped, the girl was left behind bushes in the farm for two days and two nights under the open winter sky before she was rescued.

On the basis of description of the accused provided by the victim and locals of the area where she was held hostage, her family managed to nab one of the accused identified as Prem Singh of Babhiya village under Cantonment police station of Bareilly. The village is situated close to the hamlet where the girl lives.

In Muzaffarnagar, two women suffered severe burn injuries as masked motorcycle-borne youths threw acid on them in the middle of a busy market place under Kotwali police station of the district. The women, identified later as Usha and Gopi, were rushed to the district hospital where the doctors attending them referred Usha to Meerut after her condition began to deteriorate. The condition of the other girl was stable. Usha had reportedly suffered 60% burns on her face, neck shoulders and upper abdomen while Gopi suffered 45% burns mainly on her neck, face and shoulder.

Police said initial investigations revealed the accused were being followed by two other youths on another motorcycle and their informer network provided them clues that could lead to the arrest of the other duo.

In Bhadohi, a 21-year-old dalit woman was molested by her neighbor in Gopiganj locality. On her complaint, police arrested Ram Sajeevan (25) alias Baba. In Jhansi, a case was lodged with the Bardagaon police station against the doctor of a private clinic in which he was accused of a rape attempt. The complainant, a housewife, said she had visited the doctor for treatment along with two of her family members which the doctor tried to outrage her modesty. Police said investigations were underway into the complaint and action will be initiated against the accused on the basis of the inquiry findings.

In Bijnore, a pregnant woman was allegedly murdered on Saturday evening. Police have detained the woman's husband who was in the car with the victim when the incident took place. The victim had suffered sharp-edged injury wounds on her neck which resulted in her death.

Her husband initially claimed he was driving his wife Hemlata (23) to her parent's house on Nurpur Marg in the city when they were attacked by miscreants, but police were not convinced and suspected that her husband Arvind murdered her. During sustained interrogation Arvind broke down and confessed to his crime. He told police he had married Hemlata in February but was fed-up with the routine marital disputes.

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How to Banish That New Year's Eve Hangover


For those of us who enjoy the occasional cocktail, the holiday season would be incomplete without certain treats of the liquid variety. Some look forward to the creamy charms of rum-laced eggnog; others anticipate cupfuls of high-octane punch or mugs of warm, spiced wine.

No matter what's in your glass, raising one as the year winds down is tradition. What could be more festive? The problem is, one drink leads to two, then the party gets going and a third is generously poured. Soon, the music fades and the morning arrives—and with it, the dreaded hangover. (Explore a human-body interactive.)

Whether it's a pounding headache, a queasy stomach, sweating, or just general misery, the damage has been done. So now it's time to remedy the situation. What's the quickest way to banish the pain? It depends who you ask.

Doctors typically recommend water for hydration and ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. Taking B vitamins is also good, according to anesthesiologist Jason Burke, because they help the body metabolize alcohol and produce energy.

Burke should know a thing or two about veisalgia, the medical term for hangover. At his Las Vegas clinic Hangover Heaven, Burke treats thousands of people suffering from the effects of drinking to excess with hydrating fluids and medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"No two hangovers are the same," he said, adding that the unfavorable condition costs society billions of dollars-mostly from lost productivity and people taking sick days from work.

Hot Peppers for Hangovers?

So what's the advice from the nonmedical community? Suggestions range from greasy breakfasts to vanilla milkshakes to spending time in a steamy sauna. A friend insists hot peppers are the only way to combat a hangover's wrath. Another swears by the palliative effects of a bloody mary. In fact, many people just have another drink, following the old "hair of the dog that bit you" strategy.

Whether such "cures" actually get rid of a hangover is debatable, but one thing's for sure: the sorry state is universal. The only people immune to hangovers are the ones who avoid alcohol altogether.

So for those who do indulge, even if it's just once in awhile, see our interactive featuring cures from around the world (also above). As New Year's Eve looms with its attendant excuse to imbibe, perhaps it would be wise to stock your refrigerator with one of these antidotes. Pickled herring, anyone?


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Fiscal Cliff-Hanger: No Vote Tonight, Reid Says













With less than two days remaining for Congress to reach a budget agreement that would avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," a senior White House official tells ABC News that President Obama is still "modestly optimistic" that a deal can be struck to prevent middle class taxes from increasing on New Year's Day.


But a resolution to the ordeal won't come tonight.


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid adjourned his chamber just before 6 p.m., ensuring a potential deal could not be voted on before senators return to business Monday morning.


The Nevada lawmaker vowed despite the recess, the parties' leadership would continue negotiations throughout the night.


Vice President Biden has now re-emerged as a key player, back in Washington and playing "a direct role" in trying to make a deal with Senate Republicans. Biden has been tapped because of his long-standing relationship with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.


A Democratic source says that McConnell seems to be genuinely interested in getting an agreement. The news dovetails with reports that the GOP has backed off a key Social Security measure that had stalled negotiations.


According to sources, the row was sparked when the GOP offered a proposal that included a new method of calculating entitlement benefits with inflation. Called the "chained consumer price index," or Chained CPI, the strategy has been criticized by some Democrats because it would lower cost of living increases for Social Security recipients.


"We thought it was mutually understood that it was off the table for a scaled-back deal," a Democratic aide said. "It's basically a poison pill."


Obama has floated chained CPI in the past as part of a grand bargain, despite opposition from the AARP and within his own party.


Also in the Republican plan brought today: An extension of the current estate tax and no increase in the debt ceiling. Higher income earners would see their taxes increase, but at levels "well above $250,000," the sources said.


That "major setback" in the talks was evident on the floor of the Senate this afternoon.


"I'm concerned about the lack of urgency here, I think we all know we are running out of time," McConnell said, "I want everyone to know I am willing to get this done, but I need a dance partner."


McConnell, R-Ky., said he submitted the Republican's latest offer to Reid, D-Nev., at 7:10 p.m. Saturday and was willing to work through the night. Reid promised to get back to him at 10 this morning, but has yet to do so.


Why have the Democrats not come up with a counteroffer? Reid admitted it himself moments later.


"At this stage we're not able to make a counteroffer," Reid said noting that he's had numerous conversations with Obama, but the two parties are still far apart on some big issues, "I don't have a counteroffer to make. Perhaps as the day wears on I will be able to."


McConnell said he believes there is no major issue that is the sticking point but rather, "the sticking point appears to be a willingness, an interest, or frankly the courage to close the deal."






J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo











Sens. Charles Schumer and Jon Kyl on 'This Week' Watch Video











Fiscal Cliff Negotiations: Could Economy Slip Back into Recession? Watch Video





Reid said late this afternoon that the fiscal cliff negotiations were getting "real close" to falling apart completely.


"At some point in the negotiating process, it appears that there are things that stop us from moving forward," he said. "I hope we're not there but we're getting real close and that's why I still hold out hope that we can get something done. But I'm not overly optimistic but I am cautiously optimistic that we can get something done."


Reid said there were serious difference between the two sides, starting with Social Security. He said Democrats are not willing to cut Social Security benefits as part of a smaller, short-term agreement, as was proposed in the latest Republican proposal.


"We're not going to have any Social Security cuts. At this stage it just doesn't seem appropriate," he said. "We're open to discussion about entitlement reforms, but we're going to have to take a different direction. The present status will not work."


Reid said that even 36 hours before the country could go over the cliff, he remains "hopeful" but "realistic," about the prospects of reaching an agreement.


"The other side is intentionally demanding concessions they know we are not willing to make," he said.


The two parties were met separately at 3 p.m., and before going in Reid said he hoped there would be an announcement to make on a way forward afterwards. But as of this evening there was no agreement and no counterproposal.


McConnell said earlier today he placed a call to Vice President Biden to see if he could "jump start the negotiations on his side."


In an interview aired this morning -- well before the breakdown -- Obama suggested that a smaller deal remained the best hope to avoid the perilous package of spending cuts and tax increases.


On NBC's "Meet the Press" the president said if Republicans agreed to raising taxes on top income earners it should be enough to avoid the triggers that would execute the $607 billion measure. Economists agree that going over the cliff would likely put the country back in recession.


"If we have raised some revenue by the wealthy paying a little bit more, that would be sufficient to turn off what's called the sequester, these automatic spending cuts, and that also would have a better outcome for our economy long-term," he said.


Saying the "pressure is on Congress to produce," the president did not specify what income level his party would deem acceptable as the cutoff for those who would see their tax rates remain at current levels.


The president has called for expiration of the "Bush-era" tax cuts to affect household earnings over $250,000 since the campaign, but has reportedly floated a $400,000 figure in past negotiations.


House Speaker John Boehner once offered a $1 million cut-off in his failed "Plan B" proposal, which failed to garner enough support among the House Republicans.


"It's been very hard for Speaker Boehner and Republican Leader McConnell to accept the fact that taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up a little bit as part of an overall deficit reduction package," the president said.


Domestic programs would lose $55 billion in funding should sequestration pass, including $2 billion to Medicare and unemployment benefits. The Pentagon would take a $55 billion loss as well, or 9 percent of its budget.


Repeating remarks he made Friday after a meeting with congressional leaders,
Obama said that should negotiations fail he has asked Reid to introduce a stripped-down proposal to Congress for a straight up-or-down vote -- if it isn't blocked.


"If all else fails, if Republicans do in fact decide to block so that taxes on the middle class do in fact go up on Jan. 1, then we'll come back with a new Congress on Jan. 4, and the first bill that will be introduced on the floor will be to cut taxes on middle-class families," he said of the worst-case scenario. "I don't think the average person is going to say, 'Gosh, you know, that's a really partisan agenda.'"


The interview with the president was taped Saturday while Reid and McConnell scrambled to their offices for a solution behind closed doors. Press staking out Capitol Hill reported little public activity from the leaders or their surrogates. If negotiations are successful, the lawmakers could introduce a bill for vote this afternoon.


The Republican leaders immediately bit back at the president's remarks. In a written statement Boehner said casting blame was "ironic, as a recurring theme of our negotiations was his unwillingness to agree to anything that would require him to stand up to his own party. "






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Yen rebounds slightly against dollar






NEW YORK: The yen edged higher against the dollar Friday after days of declines on expectations Japan would implement more monetary easing under its new prime minister.

The dollar stood at 85.98 yen around 2200 GMT, down from 86.09 late Thursday.

In Asian trade earlier in the day, the yen sat at more than two-year lows against the greenback.

Investors have been selling the yen on expectations newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will carry out his promises of more aggressive monetary easing and big government spending to lift inflation and kickstart the economy.

While noting that Abe and members of his government have "made it abundantly clear" that they won't back away from their promises, BK Asset Management noted that "dollar/yen appears to be nearing exhaustion and a move down to 85 is likely."

"After climbing to a fresh 2-year high overnight, dollar/yen staged a sharp intraday reversal that left the pair near the day's lows," they said.

The euro also slipped slightly against the yen around 2200 GMT, reaching 113.62 yen around 2200 GMT, compared to 113.97 yen a day earlier.

The common European currency lost a little ground to the dollar, standing at $1.3217 after hitting $1.3235 late Thursday.

In other currencies, the dollar inched up to 0.9134 Swiss francs, while the pound rose to $1.6167.

-AFP/ac



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Centre won’t encroach upon states' rights on water, PM says

NEW DELHI: The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) on Friday approved the new National Water Policy in its meeting here after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured states that the Centre did not intend to encroach upon the constitutional rights or to centralize the regulation over water resources.

The new policy envisages a National Framework law for water resources that will set general principles of water management under which the Centre, states and local authorities would be required to regulate both surface and groundwater.

The policy sets the tone for creating a tariff mechanism for all kind of water uses in the country, a politically-sensitive move if it is implemented. It also requires a change in existing laws to turn groundwater into a community resource, and not a private right as it currently exists.

"The central government, I repeat, does not wish to encroach, in any manner, upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights of states or to centralize water management," the PM said.

The strong statements, demands and sentiments expressed at the meeting made it abundant that an issue that has most often remained on political backburners — save perhaps when it comes to riparian rights of states — is set to boil over into a serious governance concern.

The policy was adopted by the Council meeting attended by several CMs and state water resource ministers who also put forth their concerns. The policy pushes for differential pricing of water — the need for which was flagged earlier in the day by Union water resources minister Harish Rawat.

He also warned that India would need around 450 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water storage in the country by 2050 to meet the requirements of various sectors. Now, India has only 253 BCM storage capacity.

The Centre will amend the policy, tweaking it to address the worries expressed by state governments. "The policy will not be re-drafted. Some modifications will be made to address the states' concerns," Rawat said after the meeting.

The policy requires the state governments to set up a Water Regulatory Authority (WRA), which aided by technical experts, would subsequently impose and regulate water tariff charges.

The policy could lead to dramatic changes in the way groundwater resources are controlled. TOI had reported earlier on the move to change existing norms and do away with private ownership of groundwater which allows individuals to dig a well almost at will and draw out unregulated levels of water. The new policy seeks for these laws and regulations to be altered suitably.

Times View

It is about time we had a water policy that takes a comprehensive view of how to utilise this precious natural resource. The importance of efficiently using water has been repeatedly underscored by several global experts who have predicted that if ever there is another World War it is likely to be a fight over water resources. For far too long, we have treated it as if it were a limitless resource. That has to stop. The policy must, therefore, focus on how ensure maximum efficiency in water utilisation. At the same time, it must ensure that there is an equitable distribution of water. Meeting both goals would require a combination of market and non-market driven incentives. Getting that combination right is the key.

Read More..

How to Banish That New Year's Eve Hangover


For those of us who enjoy the occasional cocktail, the holiday season would be incomplete without certain treats of the liquid variety. Some look forward to the creamy charms of rum-laced eggnog; others anticipate cupfuls of high-octane punch or mugs of warm, spiced wine.

No matter what's in your glass, raising one as the year winds down is tradition. What could be more festive? The problem is, one drink leads to two, then the party gets going and a third is generously poured. Soon, the music fades and the morning arrives—and with it, the dreaded hangover. (Explore a human-body interactive.)

Whether it's a pounding headache, a queasy stomach, sweating, or just general misery, the damage has been done. So now it's time to remedy the situation. What's the quickest way to banish the pain? It depends who you ask.

Doctors typically recommend water for hydration and ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. Taking B vitamins is also good, according to anesthesiologist Jason Burke, because they help the body metabolize alcohol and produce energy.

Burke should know a thing or two about veisalgia, the medical term for hangover. At his Las Vegas clinic Hangover Heaven, Burke treats thousands of people suffering from the effects of drinking to excess with hydrating fluids and medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"No two hangovers are the same," he said, adding that the unfavorable condition costs society billions of dollars-mostly from lost productivity and people taking sick days from work.

Hot Peppers for Hangovers?

So what's the advice from the nonmedical community? Suggestions range from greasy breakfasts to vanilla milkshakes to spending time in a steamy sauna. A friend insists hot peppers are the only way to combat a hangover's wrath. Another swears by the palliative effects of a bloody mary. In fact, many people just have another drink, following the old "hair of the dog that bit you" strategy.

Whether such "cures" actually get rid of a hangover is debatable, but one thing's for sure: the sorry state is universal. The only people immune to hangovers are the ones who avoid alcohol altogether.

So for those who do indulge, even if it's just once in awhile, see our interactive featuring cures from around the world (also above). As New Year's Eve looms with its attendant excuse to imbibe, perhaps it would be wise to stock your refrigerator with one of these antidotes. Pickled herring, anyone?


Read More..

'Cliff' Summit Brings Hope for a Deal













Washington brinkmanship appears to have created a last minute chance for the White House and Congress to agree on a plan to avoid sending the country over the fiscal cliff.


President Obama emerged from a White House summit this evening to say "we had a constructive meeting today" and that he was "optimistic" that they could devise a proposal ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline that would otherwise automatically trigger a wide range of higher taxes and steep budget cuts. Economists fear that such a combination could throw the country into a recession.


The president lamented that a deal is coming down to the final hours.


"The American people are watching what we do... (their) patience is already thin," the president said. "It's deja vu all over again."


He added later that for Americans the repeated last second efforts to dodge economic crises "is mind boggling to them. It has to stop."


After leaving the summit, the Senate Democratic and Republican leaders announced on the Senate floor that they're aiming to have a proposal on the fiscal cliff drawn up by Sunday, with the potential to put it on the Senate floor that afternoon.






Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images











Sen. Harry Reid Says 'US Headed Over Fiscal Cliff' Watch Video









Fiscal Cliff: Congressional Leaders Squabble at the Last Minute Watch Video







"We had a good meeting down at the White House," Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said. "We are engaged in discussions, the majority leader, myself and the White House in the hopes that we can come forward as early as Sunday and have a recommendation that I can make to my conference and the majority leader can make to his conference."


McConnell said that he is "hopeful and optimistic" and they'll be "working hard" over the next 24 hours "to see if we can get there."


Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., echoed those sentiments.


"We certainly hope something will come from that," Reid said of today's White House meeting. "The Republican leader and I and our staffs are working to see what we can come up with. We shouldn't take a long time to do that."


The Senate will come in at 1 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a caucus meeting in the afternoon. Reid says he hopes by that time on Sunday there will be a determination if a proposal can be brought to the floor.


"There was not a lot of hilarity in the meeting. Everyone knows how important it is, it was a very serious meeting," Reid said on today's White House meeting.


Reid warned that whatever they come up with it will be "imperfect."


"Some people aren't going to like it," Reid said. "Some people will like it less but that's where we are. And I feel confident that we have an obligation to do the best we can, and that was made very clear at the White House."



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Egypt's Mubarak back in hospital as health worsens






CAIRO: Egypt's state prosecutor on Thursday ordered imprisoned former dictator Hosni Mubarak transferred to a military hospital after his health deteriorated, a source at the prosecutor's office said.

Mubarak, serving a life sentence over the killings of protesters, was briefly taken to hospital on December 19 for scans after he fell in his prison bathroom and hurt his head.

Mubarak, 84, will be returned to prison after he is treated, the source said.

A court sentenced the veteran strongman to life in June for failing to prevent the killings of protesters during the 18-day revolt that ended his three-decade rule in February 2011. Some 850 people died in the uprising.

Since his fall from power, Mubarak's health has appeared to deteriorate significantly, and he has suffered repeated health scares.

He spent nearly a month in hospital after he fell unconscious on June 19, with state media declaring him clinically dead on arrival. Medical sources however said he appeared to have fallen into a temporary coma.

During his time in power, the subject of his health was very much off-limits.

In 2004, he underwent surgery in Germany for a slipped disc, and he returned to Germany in March 2010 for the removal of his gall bladder and a growth on the small intestine.

During his time in power, he survived 10 attempts on his life.

-AFP/ac



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