tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42289691229100582772024-03-13T13:29:47.008-07:00TOP WORLD 2009World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-72617527911787450382009-08-16T06:18:00.001-07:002009-08-16T06:18:56.349-07:00Hazeltine, Minnesota - Tiger Woods came back towards the pack on Saturday in a pulsating third round of the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine National<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Michael.Hussey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 137px;" src="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Michael.Hussey.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span><span>London, Aug. 16 : Out of form <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Australian</span><span> <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">batsman</span> Michael Hussey has warned England''s rookie <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">batsman</span> Jonathan Trott that he will face a “stern examination” in the fifth and final </span></span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Ashes</span> Tests to be played at The Oval from next Thursday.</span></p> <p><span>"It''s a huge step up, particularly for <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Ashes</span> cricket. He will certainly know all about it if he makes his Test debut,'''' the Daily Telegraph quoted Hussey, as saying.</span></p> <p>"If he does play he is someone we will have to prepare well against. It is a big step up from first-class cricket to Test cricket. There is no question about that,” he added.</p> <p><span>"We haven''t seen a lot of him, a couple of us have played a bit of county cricket against him. I''m sure <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">the powers that be</span> will be working pretty closely getting some good plans against him,'''' Hussey said.</span></p> <p><span>Australia''s Mr. Cricket/Fixit is still searching for his best form - not having scored a Test century since last October. He spent some valuable time in the middle as he notched a patient 65 in the tour game against the <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">England</span> Lions at Canterbury.</span></p> <p>"What really matters is doing it out in the middle and unfortunately things haven''t quite gone as well as I would have liked for as long as I would have liked,'''' Hussey said.</p> <p>"Sometimes the difference between having a good series and an average series is being able to turn those 50s and 60s into a big 150 and unfortunately I haven''t been able to do that,'''' Hussey revealed.</p> <p>He said that he had pointedly tried to keep his game the same and structure his innings the same way as when he was in his golden patch of form and had a Bradmanesque average. (ANI)</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-39093394573994621202009-08-16T06:16:00.000-07:002009-08-16T06:17:55.257-07:00Woods comes back to the pack on moving day at Hazeltine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Tiger-Woods_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 219px;" src="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Tiger-Woods_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span><span><span>Hazeltine, Minnesota - <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Tiger Woods</span> came back towards </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">the pack</span> on Saturday in a pulsating third round of the US </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">PGA Championship</span><span> at Hazeltine National when defending champion <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Padraig</span><span> <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Harrington</span> moved right back into contention.</span></span></span></p> <p><span>Four shots clear overnight, world No 1 Woods endured a frustrating day on the greens, finishing with a 1-under-par 71 to end the day just two shots clear of <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Harrington</span> and little-known Korean YE Yang, who produced a superb 69.</span></p> <p><span>Irishman <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Harrington</span> would have been even closer but for a bogey at the last hole, which left a sour taste in his mouth, even if his 69 moved him back up the leaderboard.</span></p> <p>Sweden's Henrik Stenson, after a 68, and US Open champion Lucas Glover, who shot a 71, are two shots further back on 4-under-par, while South African Ernie Els (68) and Soren Kjeldsen of Norway are still within touching distance on 3-under-par.</p> <p>Woods picked up two birdies and one bogey but struggled over the closing holes, although he gave himself an excellent chance of birdie at the last, only to slide his attempt just wide.</p> <p>Woods is chasing his 15th career Major but his first this year and though his lead may have been halved, all 14 of his major triumphs have come when he either led, or held a share of the lead, going into the final round.</p> <p>Yang, who won the Honda Classic earlier this year, will partner Woods on the final day and will be hoping that lightning strikes twice.</p> <p>The Korean overtook Woods on the final day at the 2006 HSBC Championship in Shanghai to win the championship, and said that experience could help him on Sunday.</p> <p><span>"You never know in the world of sports and the game of golf," he said. "So just try to make every shot, just focus on every shot that I have. And then tomorrow I may end up inside the top 10, top three and even win the <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">PGA Championship</span>. You never know."</span></p> <p>Els birdied four straight holes from the 12th to get to 6-under at one point, only to bogey the final three holes to drop back to 3- under-par.</p> <p>Five shots is a lot to make up on Woods, but the South African said it was not an impossibility.</p> <p>"I've been playing good. Felt like I've been playing good all week," Els said. "The putter was okay today. I chipped in today. So a lot of good things happened.</p> <p>"The finish just wasn't great, but I'm not totally out of it. Probably need something like that tomorrow and obviously got to finish it off tomorrow." (dpa)</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-3039662380456786092009-08-16T06:15:00.001-07:002009-08-16T06:16:34.791-07:00Murray splits the ranking difference between Roger, Rafa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Andy_Murray_05_0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 165px;" src="http://www.topnews.in/sports/files/imagecache/article_thumb/files/Andy_Murray_05_0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span><span><span>Montreal - Andy <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Murray</span> split </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">the difference</span> between Roger </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Federer</span><span><span> and <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Rafael Nadal</span> as the Scot shot into the number two ATP ranking with his defeat of Jo-Wilfried </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 51); text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(153, 0, 51); font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE">Tsonga</span> 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) for a finals place at the Montreal Masters Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span>Murray's victory means the 23-year-old will stand second in Monday's list behind <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Federer</span>. Nadal, who missed two and a half months as he rested injured knees, was knocked down to third.</span></p> <p><span>"I played consistently well this year, so bar winning a Slam, I've done enough to justify being number two and getting closer to hopefully one day becoming number one - it's one of my goals," said <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Murray</span>.</span></p> <p>"I've put in a lot of hard work to get to this stage, and I keep working hard to go one step farther."</p> <p><span>"In terms of rankings it's the biggest step that I've made so far," said <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Murray</span>, who is bidding for a fifth title of the season when he plays the winner from Argentine Juan Del Potro or Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick.</span></p> <p><span>Nadal, beaten in the Montreal quarter-finals Friday by Potro, took over number one from <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Federer</span> last August before the Beijing Olympics but lost it after being beaten in the French Open fourth round by Robin Soderling.</span></p> <p>The Scot won the first set, firing a forehand winner on his second set point to take the opener.</p> <p>The second set went strictly on serve as Tsonga's big hitting determined the pace of play.</p> <p><span><span>The Frenchman took it into a tiebreaker, with <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Murray</span> forced to recover from 4-2 down before saving two </span><span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Tsonga</span> set points.</span></p> <p><span><span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Tsonga</span> saved a match point with a low lob, which Murray's racket touched, putting it out of play.</span></p> <p>The Scot third seed notched his third ace to set up another match point and leaped for joy at his achievement seconds later as the Frenchman returned long after just under two hours.</p> <p><span>"Andy's a very good player and it's tough to go to the net every time against him," said <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Tsonga</span>. "But that's fine, I'm okay with that."</span></p> <p><span>Murray's move will mark the first time in four years that someone other than <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Federer</span> or Nadal has entered the top two on the ranking list.</span></p> <p><span>Australian Lleyton Hewitt moved to second behind <span class="IL_SPAN"><input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">Federer</span> in July 2005 for a brief period. (dpa)</span></p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-46021018515584026142009-08-13T17:55:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:57:28.149-07:00We cannot afford to monitor all killer asteroids, warns Nasa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/13/article-1206237-01BD66460000044D-486_233x423.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 423px;" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/13/article-1206237-01BD66460000044D-486_233x423.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Nasa is charged with spotting most of the asteroids that pose a threat to Earth, but doesn't have enough money to complete the task, according to a new report.<br /><p>The space agency was charged with finding 90 per cent of the potentially deadly rocks hurtling through space by 2020.<br /></p><p>However, Nasa has not received the funding needed to build the necessary telescopes, according to the report by the National Academy of Sciences.<br /></p> <p>Nasa estimates there are around 20,000 asteroids and comets in our solar system - each exceeding 460ft in diameter - which are potential threats.</p><p> So far, scientists have found 6,000 of these objects using the current telescope system.<br /></p><p> </p><p>Disaster movies like Armageddon and near misses in previous years may have scared people and alerted them to the threat. But when it comes to monitoring, the academy concluded 'there has been relatively little effort by the US government'.</p><p> Rocks between 460ft and 3,280ft in diameter can devastate an entire region, said Lindley Johnson, Nasa's manager of the near-Earth objects programme.</p><p>It is widely believed that an asteroid, possibly measuring 13,200ft, wiped out the dinosaurs 65million years ago.</p><div class="clear"> </div><p>Nasa calculated that to spot the asteroids as required by law would mean spending about £480million between now and 2020, either with a new ground-based telescope or a space observation system, Mr Johnson said.</p><div id="TixyyLink" style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1206237/We-afford-monitor-killer-asteroids-warns-Nasa.html#ixzz0OAoCzNQw">Read more</a>:<br /></div>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-91052225105587969072009-08-13T17:53:00.001-07:002009-08-13T17:54:20.231-07:00Oil settles above $70 as dollar falls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn2.wn.com/o25/vp/i/a5/7f2c85fd36d25d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 205px;" src="http://cdn2.wn.com/o25/vp/i/a5/7f2c85fd36d25d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span class="dateline">NEW YORK -- </span> Oil prices rose Thursday, holding above $70 a barrel as a weaker dollar pushed investors toward energy commodities.<div class="" id="storyBodyContent"><p>Benchmark crude for September delivery added 36 cents to settle at $70.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude prices climbed 59 cents to settle at $73.48 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.</p><p>Oil prices should be depressed right now, given the tepid demand for gasoline and a growing surplus of crude in the U.S. But Newedge analyst Antoine Halff said the tactic of buying oil contracts as a hedge against inflation is "back with a vengeance." </p> <p> Benchmark crude, which is priced in dollars, tends to rise when the dollar falls as foreign investors gain more buying power. It's recently become a convenient place to park large amounts of cash as the dollar loses ground to other currencies.</p><p>Investors also have been pumping money into oil based on general enthusiasm about the path of the global economy. This week, analysts with Barclays Capital went as far as predicting that the recession already has ended in many countries, and oil demand will surge in the second half of the year.</p><p>Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, said it's mostly wishful thinking.</p><p>"None of the statistics really point to anything happening on the ground in terms of demand," Kloza said. "It seems like there's very comfortable amounts of crude oil out there."</p><p>Meanwhile, government reports showed that the economy remains on shaky ground.</p><p>The Commerce Department said Thursday that retail sales fell 0.1 percent last month. Economists expected a gain of 0.7 percent. And the Labor Department said initial jobless claims grew more than expected to a seasonally adjusted 558,000.</p><p>The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration also said natural gas stockpiles grew last week. The country's natural gas inventory can be used to measure energy demand in the U.S., since many power plants use it to produce electricity.</p><p>The build in natural gas was less than expected, though inventory levels are now 20 percent above their five-year average for this time of year.</p><p>The U.S. Dollar Index fell Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve said it would hold interest rates at record lows.</p><p>The central bank also will continue an emergency program to buy Treasury securities until October. The program is meant to lower mortgage rates and other consumer debt, but some economists see it as inflationary, making it look like the government is printing money to fix the economy.</p><p>At the pump, retail gas prices ticked higher overnight to a new national average of $2.647 a gallon, according to auto club AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. A gallon of regular unleaded is 13 cents more expensive than it was a month ago, but it's $1.14 cheaper than last year.</p><p>In other Nymex trading, gasoline for September delivery gave up less than a penny to settle at $2.0192 a gallon. Heating oil rose 1.07 cents to settle at $1.9028 a gallon. Natural gas for September delivery lost 14.3 cents to settle at $3.336 per 1,000 cubic feet. </p> </div>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-74332106303253598292009-08-13T17:51:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:52:51.372-07:00The great popularity of chess<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.wn.com/o25/ph//2009/05/30/503de4f7b970c81095ea1af5da749199-grande.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 197px;" src="http://cdn.wn.com/o25/ph//2009/05/30/503de4f7b970c81095ea1af5da749199-grande.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> This piece is inspired by Florencio B. Campomanes, honorary president of the World Chess Federation, whom I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time a few days ago in Baguio City. We met through mutual friend Ed de Jesus, president of the University of the Cordilleras, who had invited me to lead a workshop with his faculty on the ABCs of survey research (which I will write on next time).<div class="KonaBody"> <p>Despite his age, the maestro is well-recovered from a recent bad car accident, and his mind is as sharp as ever. Campo (as he likes being addressed) asked me if there is any survey on how many Filipinos play chess, and at what age do they begin. He believes that national excellence in chess comes from mass participation in it, if possible starting at the age of five.</p> <p>Campo’s question can be answered, partially, from the national Survey of Leisure Time and Sports (LTS), done on March 30-April 2, 2008 for the International Social Survey Program, of which Social Weather Stations is a member. Such surveys only cover adults, which in the Philippines means people aged 18 and up.</p> <p>The LTS survey has separate items on sports which are also physical activities (of which the most popular among Filipinos is, naturally, basketball) and those which are non-physical, called “games” instead. It asks: “Thinking about games rather than sports or physical activities, what type of game do you play most frequently?”</p> <p>Chess is the No. 1 game. It turns out that chess is the Filipinos’ most popular game, meaning non-physical sport. Those citing it as the game they play most frequently are 15.6 percent in the country. This projects to 8.5 million adult chess players nationwide, based on a population of 54.1 million Filipino adults when the survey was done.</p> <p>Chess is relatively more popular in Metro Manila, where it is cited by 20 percent, than in the rest of Luzon (18 percent), in Visayas, and in Mindanao (the last two both 12 percent).</p> <p>Chess is much more a man’s game (26 percent) than a woman’s game (5 percent).</p> <p>Chess gets less popular as people get older—with percentages of 21 in the 18-24 age group, 20 in the 25-34 group, 17 in the 35-44 group, 13 in the 45-54 group, and 5 among those of 55 and up.</p> <p>The popularity of chess grows with education and socio-economic class. It is the favorite game of only 1 percent of those who didn’t finish elementary school, 10 percent of those with some high schooling, 20 percent of those with some college, and 26 percent of college graduates. Only 11 percent of class E adults, compared to 24 percent of class ABC adults, call chess their favorite game.</p> <p>I certainly agree with Campo that children should play chess. I learned it at age seven (and am a low-grade player) and recall that almost all my relatives and friends of the same age could also play chess. But another survey is needed to get numbers on chess-playing among children of age 5 to 17.</p> <p>Incidentally, another item of the LTS survey finds that 90 percent of Filipino adults agree, and only 5 percent disagree, that “Taking part in sports develops children’s character.”</p> <p>Other popular games: The second most popular is card games (of all types). This was cited by 9.5 percent, which amounts to 5.1 million players.</p> <p>Third are video games, a category including computer games, playstation, pinball etc., which was cited by 5.1 percent (2.7 million players).</p> <p>Tied for fourth, at 4.0 percent (2.2 million players) each, are gambling games (lotto, jueteng, casino games, etc.) and board games (scrabble, monopoly, etc.) At sixth, with 2.2 percent (1.2 million players), is word/number games (crosswords, sudoku). Seventh is dominoes: 1.4 percent or 0.8 million. Eighth is mahjong: 1.2 percent or 0.7 million. Fifty-five percent said they do not play any game.</p> <p>Sports and national pride. To the LTS question, “How proud are you when the Philippines does well in international sports or games competition,” 74 percent said very proud (talagang ipinagmamalaki) and 19 percent said somewhat proud (medyo ipinagmamalaki). Only 7 percent were either not very proud or not proud at all.</p> <p>National pride in sports tends to rise with education—from 63 percent among elementary dropouts to 78 percent among college graduates.</p> <p>On the statement “The Philippine government should spend more money on sports,” it turns out that opinions are divided—47 percent agreeing and 36 percent disagreeing. It seems to me that the Philippines has achieved so much in four international sports—billiards, bowling, boxing and chess—even without much help from the government.</p> <p>* * *</p> <p>Support agrarian reform. The other evening, I attended a screening of Ditsy Carolino’s “Lupang Hinarang,” a very moving documentary film of the struggles of the Sumilao farmers, who walked 1,700 kilometers from Bukidnon to Malacañang, and of Task Force Mapalad (of Negros), who went on a 29-day hunger strike in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform.</p> <p>By the standards of the early centuries of Christianity, the farmer-marchers and the hunger-strikers can be called saints, for having kept faith in the pursuit of justice through peaceful means. The farmers shot dead by goons of landlords are true martyrs. Rural unrest will simply not end without genuine agrarian reform—even if delayed by a hundred years, as in Mexico. The fruits of the farmers’ sufferings, as painfully recorded by Ditsy, will come sooner if Congress passes legislation for meaningful agrarian reform.</p> <p>To host a “Lupang Hinarang” screening, write lupanghinarang@gmail.com.</p> <p>To lobby Congress on agrarian reform, look up http://peace.net.ph/carpercampaign. More information is at http://carpernow.multiply.com and http://lupanghinarang.com.</p> <p><strong><em>(Contact SWS: www.sws.org.ph or mahar.mangahas@sws.org.ph.)</em></strong></p> </div>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-45026321331980692602009-08-13T17:42:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:47:57.514-07:00Mexico massacre convicts set free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46198000/jpg/_46198536_007783677-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46198000/jpg/_46198536_007783677-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>Mexico's Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of 20 men jailed for the massacre of 45 indigenous villagers more than a decade ago.<br /><br /></b><p>The judges said the basic rights of the jailed men had been violated, but made it clear they were not ruling on the men's guilt or innocence. </p><p>The 1997 attack took place in southern Chiapas state, which was deeply divided at the time over a Zapatista uprising. </p><p>The court's ruling was met with dismay by relatives of the victims. </p><!-- E SF --><p>They also warned of the risk of renewed violence if the freed men returned to their communities. </p><p><b>Prayer meeting</b></p><p>The brutal attack took place three days before Christmas in 1997 in the remote mountain village of Acteal. </p><p>Over several hours, the attackers used machetes and automatic weapons to kill 45 people, including pregnant women and children, many of whom were attending a prayer meeting.<br /></p><p>The victims were seen as supporters of the Zapatista rebels, who were fighting for greater rights for the area's indigenous population at the time. </p><p>Most of those arrested were Indians from a nearby town and of the same Tzotzil community as the victims. They were accused of being the government-linked paramilitaries blamed for the attack. </p><p>In its judgement, the Supreme Court cited a number of irregularities in the investigation and prosecution of the suspects, including the lack of proper legal representation and translators who spoke the Tzotzil language. </p><p>"During the investigation, their constitutional rights were violated," the court said in a statement. "The majority of cases... were based on the use of illegally obtained evidence." </p><p>As well as ordering the immediate release of 20 prisoners, the court has also ordered the retrial of six more. </p><p>The ruling was condemned by families of the victims as well as some human rights groups, who say that despite the botched investigations the right people were jailed. </p><p>"We feel a lot of pain in our hearts because we think it's unfair that after almost 12 years these people are being freed when we know they are responsible because we saw them," said Antonio Arias, who was wounded in the attack. </p><p>Arturo Farela, who has argued the innocence of those tried, warned of possible tensions if the men return to their home town of Chenalho. </p><p>"The social fabric of Chenalho is weak and the government needs to investigate and punish the people who are truly responsible but also those who ordered the killings," he told the Associated Press.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8198763.stm">BBC NEWS</a><br /></p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-7215795204155267022009-08-13T17:40:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:42:35.279-07:00North Korea Frees Worker Held From South<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EF974_nkorea_D_20090813110400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 174px;" src="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EF974_nkorea_D_20090813110400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>SEOUL -- North Korea freed a South Korean worker it had been holding for more than four months -- another sign Pyongyang is looking to restart international negotiations after a series of increasingly provocative acts and months of internal political maneuvering. <p>The worker -- who crossed the demilitarized zone dividing the Korean peninsula to return home late Thursday -- was let go a week after a visit to Pyongyang by former U.S. President Bill Clinton that helped secure the release of two American journalists imprisoned in the North for illegally entering the country in March.</p> <p>"It's a positive development," said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group. The release of the prisoners, he said, indicates the North Korean leadership is "ready to engage again with the outside world."</p> <p>Since dictator Kim Jong Il fell ill a year ago, North Korea, which conducted its second nuclear test in May, has taken a markedly harder line in its dealings with other nations while, analysts say, the North's political elite worked to solidify its control domestically.</p><br /><p>The South Korean freed Thursday, identified as Yu Seong-jin, worked as a maintenance supervisor at an industrial park in Kaesong, North Korea, where South Korean companies run factories employing low-cost North Korean laborers. Mr. Yu was accused of criticizing the North's political system and encouraging a North Korean woman to defect.</p> <p>"I am happy to be back safely," Mr. Yu said in brief remarks to reporters after arriving in the South. He expressed his gratitude to all who worked for his release and declined to give details about his detention.</p> <p>He was released after a visit to Pyongyang by the chairwoman of Hyundai Group, one of whose units manages the industrial park and employs Mr. Yu. Hyundai Group and its Hyundai Asan Corp. subsidiary in recent years have played an important role in facilitating commercial contacts between the North and South.</p> <p>Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office last year. Among other things, Mr. Lee ended a policy of essentially unconditional economic assistance for the North, instead insisting that aid be linked to progress on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs.</p> <p>It is unclear whether Mr. Yu's release will prompt much of a thaw. The North is still holding the four-person crew of a South Korean fishing boat seized after it strayed into North Korean waters late last month. North Korea Thursday told the South that it is still investigating their case, the South Korean government said.</p> <p>Mr. Yu's release "is fortunate for the family of Mr. Yu," said Cho Hyun-jin, a spokesman for the South Korean president's office. "Our government will maintain a consistent policy" toward the North, he added.</p> <p>U.S. officials have said Kim Jong Il, who met with Mr. Clinton, said he wanted to improve ties and hold bilateral talks with Washington. The U.S. has said discussions must take place within the framework of so-called six-party talks that for years have sought to persuade the North to give up its atomic ambitions. China, Japan, Russia and South Korea also participate in those talks.</p> <p>"To restart the dialogue with the U.S., Kim Jong Il knows that North Korea also needs to talk to South Korea, a U.S. ally," said Jeung Youngtae, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-funded think tank.</p> <p>Analysts also said they believed the freeing of Mr. Yu is part of an effort by the North to win new cash infusions from the South to shore up its tottering economy, which is under further pressure since the imposition of new United Nations sanctions after May's nuclear test.</p> <p>"They are absolutely short of money," said Mr. Jeung, and likely want to restart visits by South Korean tourists to a resort on the North's east coast. The visits provided the country with steady income before they were halted last year after a South Korean tourist was shot and killed by a North Korean soldier for reasons that are unclear. Pyongyang is also seeking more benefits from the Kaesong industrial park.</p> <p>In June, North Korea outlined a series of demands related to the industrial park, calling, among other things, for a $500 million payment to allow continued use of the land on which the complex is built. It also wants to bring forward, to next year from 2015, the start of previously agreed annual land-use payments.</p> <p>The North also wants Kaesong factory workers' wages to be raised to $300 a month from the current $75. That money is paid by South Korean employers to the North Korean authorities. It is unclear how much actually ends up in the pockets of the workers.</p> <p>Mr. Clinton's trip, and the release of the two American journalists, prompted some in the South to urge their government to do more to win the freedom of its citizens held in the North. More than 500 South Korean civilians are believed to have been abducted by the North since Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice in 1953.</p> <p>"Kim Jong Il is a terrorist. We shouldn't accept his behavior," said Choi Sung-yong, president of the Abductees' Family Union, which represents relatives of the missing. He said Seoul "shouldn't hold any dialogue with the North unless it first frees the South Korean abductees and gives up its nuclear weapons."</p> <cite class="tagline"></cite><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Write to</strong> Gordon Fairclough at <a class="" href="mailto:gordon.fairclough@wsj.com">gordon.fairclough@wsj.com</a></div><p> </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-8766406054350984062009-08-11T02:21:00.001-07:002009-08-11T02:22:22.159-07:00Dutch coach Advocaat dismissed by Zenit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/SPORT/football/08/10/zenit.advocaat.sacked.uefacup/art.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 219px;" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/SPORT/football/08/10/zenit.advocaat.sacked.uefacup/art.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Zenit St. Petersburg have sacked Dutch coach Dick Advocaat after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Russian league rivals Tomsk on Sunday.<br /><p> The defeat left Zenit seventh in the 16-team Russian league with 24 points from 17 games, 10 points adrift of leaders Rubin Zazan.</p><p> Advocaat led Zenit to the Russian title in 2007 and their greatest success a year later as they won the UEFA Cup, beating Glasgow Rangers in the final.</p><p> But the success led to the departure of several high-profile players, including Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal in the English Premier League, and results have suffered.</p><p> Advocaat was due to end his contract at the end of the current Russian season to take over as coach of the Belgian national team, but club officials lost patience with him.</p> <!--startclickprintexclude--> <!--endclickprintexclude--><p> "Unfortunately, after the (Advocaat's) decision to take over the Belgium national team, Zenit's results have noticeably gone down," the club said in a statement on their official Web site www.fc-zenit.ru.</p><p> "Both fans and the management are dissatisfied with the place Zenit holds in the Russian championships," it added</p><p> Anatoly Davydov, the club's reserve team boss, was appointed interim coach and will be charged with lifting them up the league to challenge for a place in European club competition next season.</p><p> Advocaat has previously coached the national teams of the Netherlands, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, as well as PSV Eindhoven and Scottish League champion Rangers. </p> The Dutchman had been at Zenit since 2006.World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-52406649307346519892009-08-11T02:18:00.000-07:002009-08-11T02:20:35.118-07:00Adolf Hitler 'did shake hands with Jesse Owens'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01459/Jesse-Owens_1459945c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 158px;" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01459/Jesse-Owens_1459945c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A veteran German sports reporter has claimed that Adolf Hitler did in fact shake hands with black US athlete Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. </span><br /><br />At the time, it was reported that Hitler had stormed out of the stadium furious that Owens, who had just run his way to the first of four gold medals in the 100 metres, had beaten his Aryan sportsmen.<p>However, Siegfried Mischner, 83, said that Owens carried around a photograph in his wallet of Hitler shaking his hand before he left the stadium.<br /></p><p>Owens, who felt the newspapers of the day reported "unfairly" on Hitler's attitude towards him, tried to get Mischner and his journalist colleagues to change the accepted version of history in the 1960s, the Daily Mail reports.</p><p>Mischner, who was a reporter at the time, claimed Owens showed him the photograph and told him: "That was one of my most beautiful moments."</p><p>He said: "It was taken behind the honour stand and so not captured by the world's press. But I saw it, I saw him shaking Hitler's hand.</p><p>"The predominating opinion in post-war Germany was that Hitler had ignored Owens.</p><p>"We therefore decided not to report on the photo. The consensus was that Hitler had to continue to be painted in a bad light in relation to Owens."</p><p>Mischner's claims cannot be verified because all other witnesses, including Owens, are dead.</p><p>Owens, who died in 1980 aged 66, was the son of sharecroppers and won four track and field gold medals - the 100m, the long jump, the 200m and the relay race - at Berlin.</p><p>He insisted that he had not been snubbed by Hitler but made no reference to meeting him and shaking hands.</p><p>"When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad taste in criticising the man of the hour in Germany," he said.</p><p><br /></p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-31663431252899847212009-08-11T02:13:00.000-07:002009-08-11T02:18:07.647-07:00Indonesia police concede Noordin Top evaded death<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01459/NoordinTop_1459560c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 174px;" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01459/NoordinTop_1459560c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Two days after announcing that they had killed their most wanted terrorist, Noordin Top, Indonesian police now believe he fled the scene before a raid was carried out. </span><br /><br />The police shooting in central Java was initially hailed as a triumph. The operation came less than a month after deadly Jakarta hotel bombings that Noordin was believed to have ordered. He has evaded the authorities while carrying out a series of high profile attacks since at least 2003.<p>But police have now conceded doubts about the identity of the dead men appear credible. One policeman said: "It's not him.</p><br /><p>We know from his facial structure as well as his fingerprints. We're continuing to track his whereabouts."</p><p>According to the police spokesman, Nanan Soekarna: "Whoever the man is, it should be proved in a scientific way." DNA test results could take two weeks.</p><p>The bullet riddled body of the dead man was photographed by the media as it was removed from the scene of the 17 hour siege on Saturday.</p><p>According to Sidney Jones, a regional security expert with the International Crisis Group: "The picture of the guy doesn't bear any resemblance [to Noordin Top]."</p><p>"It's a huge disappointment, the police were convinced they had Noordin in that house," Ms Jones said.</p><p>According to the police, they received intelligence that Noordin Top was in the building and during the siege a man inside shouted "Yes, I'm Noordin Top".</p><p>Ms Jones said that the escape means Noordin's "legend grows".</p><p>Meanwhile, the Indonesian authorities have made several successful raids against his network since the hotel bombings on July 17, when 9 people including 2 bombers died.</p><p>Noordin is sometimes linked to the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 202 people, but many experts believe his prime responsibility is for attacks on Bali in 2005 and on hotels and the Australian embassy in Jakarta since 2003.</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-50470180713302247882009-08-10T04:55:00.001-07:002009-08-10T04:57:27.464-07:00Colombia 'incursion' riles Chavez<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46181000/jpg/_46181988_alopresidenteafp226b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46181000/jpg/_46181988_alopresidenteafp226b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused Colombia of carrying out a military incursion into Venezuela.<br /><br /></b><p>Mr Chavez said Colombian soldiers had recently been seen crossing the Orinoco river, which forms part of the border, and entering Venezuelan territory. He said the incursion - which Colombia denies happened - was a "provocation". </p><p>South American leaders are gathering in Ecuador for a summit which is set to discuss Colombia's planned accord to allow the US use of its military bases. </p><!-- E SF --><p>Mr Chavez has been embroiled in a diplomatic row with his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, since news of the plan emerged. </p><p><b>'Growing threat'</b></p><p>During his weekly TV show on Sunday, Mr Chavez ordered his troops on to a war footing along the border with Colombia.<br /></p><p>"The threat against us is growing," he said. "I call on the people and the armed forces - let's go, ready for combat!" </p><p>He said Colombian soldiers had "crossed the Orinoco river in a boat and entered Venezuelan territory", but when Venezuelan troops arrived, they had gone. </p><p>"This is a provocation by the government of Uribe," he said. "The Yankees have started to command Colombian military forces." </p><p>Venezuela's foreign ministry would file a formal complaint, he added, warning that its military would "respond if there's an attack". </p><p>The Colombian foreign ministry said it had been in contact with its military commanders in the border area, who said there had been no such incursion. </p><p>Mr Chavez, who is now in Ecuador for the inauguration of President Rafael Correa and a summit of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), is expected to urge his allies in the region to press Mr Uribe to reconsider the planned accord with the US. </p><p>Ecuador, which has no diplomatic ties with Colombia, and Bolivia have also attacked the plan. Other countries in the region, including Brazil, have sought guarantees that US-Colombian military operations will not spill over Colombia's borders. </p><p>The US is leaving its previous regional hub, the Manta air base in Ecuador, after Mr Correa refused to renew the lease. </p><p>The deal with Colombia would give the US, which already has forces in the country as part of the anti-drugs programme Plan Colombia, access to air bases in Colombia to gather intelligence and support operations against drugs production and terrorism. </p><p>Mr Uribe has said the accord will not infringe Colombia's sovereignty and that there would be no more than 1,400 troops and civilian contractors based there, the maximum permitted under the current military accord between Colombia and the US. </p><p>Correspondents say this is not the first time tensions have risen between the Venezuelan and Colombian presidents. </p><p>Last year, a war of words culminated in the Venezuelans despatching tanks and heavy armour to the border. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-8639253861246976152009-08-09T04:37:00.001-07:002009-08-09T04:39:47.897-07:00Consumer protections lost in health care debate<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 180px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090809/capt.e0289ebaba914397b322066a7bbb4134.obama_campaigning_again_wx103.jpg" alt="" border="0" />WASHINGTON – It's one issue in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_0">health care debate</span><p> that nearly everyone — even the insurance lobby — seems to agree on: Better consumer protections are needed to end the nightmare of not being able to get covered for a treatable, if costly, illness.</p> <p>Yet such practical considerations are being overlooked in a debate that's become a passionate argument about the government's reach and role in medical matters.</p> <p>Experts say the bills before Congress include significant consumer protections that would end denial or cancellation of coverage for medical reasons, from <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_1">high cholesterol</span> to cancer.</p> <p>Insurers no longer could base premiums on a person's medical history, although they still could charge more to 50-year-olds than to people in their 20s.</p> <p>People buying their own policies, and those working for small businesses, would gain many of the advantages employees of Fortune 500 companies now have. That would eliminate "job lock," the fear of leaving employment that provides medical benefits.</p> <p>"It would bring insurance and insurabilty standards into line with medical practice and with the way people live their lives," said Dallas Salisbury, president of the nonprofit <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_2">Employee Benefit Research Institute</span>. "When people are in the doctor's office, they're worried about that day's issue. You're not thinking, 'If I take this pill for my cholesterol, will it cause me to be denied <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_3">insurance coverage</span> in the future?'"</p> <p>If <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_4">President Barack Obama</span>'s effort to remake the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_5">health care system</span> implodes, chances are slim that such protections could be enacted on their own. What consumer groups call discrimination by <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_6">insurance companies</span>, the industry sees as self-defense against people who put off getting coverage until they're seriously ill.</p> <p>Major insurers will accept a rollback of the industry's <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1249816148_7">restrictive practices</span> only if they're guaranteed that all Americans would be covered — a central goal of Obama's approach and a potential financial boon to the industry.</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-26237468440804571162009-08-09T04:33:00.001-07:002009-08-09T04:35:55.225-07:00Espanyol stunned by Jarque death<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46178000/jpg/_46178660_candle_466_afp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 180px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46178000/jpg/_46178660_candle_466_afp.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque has died after he suffered a heart attack following a training session, the club have confirmed in a statement.<br /></b><br />The 26-year-old midfielder had been training in Coverciano, Italy, where the squad are on a pre-season camp. <p>Club doctors and Italian paramedics tried to revive Jarque without success. </p><p>His death comes two years after Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta, 22, died of heart failure after collapsing during a Spanish league game. </p><!-- E SF --><p>Jarque joined Espanyol at the age of 12, making his debut in 2002, and the Spaniard was handed the club captaincy this summer.</p> <!-- S IIMA --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td> <div> <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46178000/jpg/_46178699_jarque_getty_226.jpg" alt="Daniel Jarque" border="0" vspace="0" width="226" height="170" hspace="0" /> <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" class="cap"><span style="font-size:78%;">Jarque was a product of Espanyol's youth academy</span></div> </div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- E IIMA --> <p>"Tragedy struck Espanyol and the family of Dani Jarque this evening. The player died from a cardiac arrest," said a club statement. </p><p>"The doctor carried out CPR on the player and used a defibrillator, which showed that the arrest was non responsive. </p><p>"RCD Espanyol, broken with pain, wish to put themselves at the absolute disposition of the family of our captain Dani Jarque, to whom go our warmest thoughts." </p><p>Espanyol, who had been due to play Bologna on Sunday, have suspended their pre-season tour of Italy and will fly back to Barcelona. </p><p>"We are returning to Barcelona on Sunday but we can't come back with the coffin because they have to do an autopsy to confirm the cause of death," added club director German de la Cruz. </p><p>"The players are destroyed. One minute he was there with them, and the next he's gone. It's terrible."</p><p>The president of city neighbours Barcelona, Joan Laporta, offered his club's condolences. </p><p>"We are filled with extreme dismay at this tragic event which we deeply regret," he told the Barcelona club website. </p><p>"We are all in mourning. I want to send, on behalf of FC Barcelona, our deepest sympathies to RCD Espanyol for the painful loss of their captain Dani Jarque, and to his family." </p><p>As news of Jarque's death spread, tributes continued to pour in, with Real Madrid captain Raul also speaking of his shock. </p><p>"That such a young man, a great professional and sportsman, has suffered this has left us very upset," he said. </p><p>Other players who have died of heart failure include Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe and Motherwell midfielder Phil O'Donnell. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-46458660630951357332009-08-09T04:28:00.001-07:002009-08-09T04:30:25.834-07:00Why consumers won't buy tablets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20090803/appletablet_270x168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 168px;" src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20090803/appletablet_270x168.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Rumors have it Apple is a month away from announcing a tablet computer. Another tablet, the Crunchpad, is also due for imminent release. These and other fine keyboardless computers get great play on gadget blogs (including our own Crave), but in the real world, I believe this whole category is a nonstarter. Why we keep waiting for the killer tablet computer is beyond me. Few people really want one, especially at the prices that they will have to sell for. <p> Tablet computers--elegant slates that you operate with a touch screen--are attractive if you're a sci-fi fan. There's something functionally beautiful about a computer that's all screen and nothing else, and where your interaction is directly through that screen, not an intermediary like a keyboard or mouse. And the concept works great on smartphones.<br /></p><p> But what you can do with a screen-only computer gets really limited when you expand the device beyond pocket size. There are two big limitations. First, you need a keyboard for doing real work. At least most people do. Perhaps a generation of kids will grow up that are as speedy on a virtual keyboard as they are on a real one, but until then anyone who does more than write quick e-mails and Twitter messages on a computer will want to take a keyboard with them. And typing on the screen, even if you can do it, is an ergo disaster. Either you have to keep your hands up in the air (if the computer is mounted vertically in front of you) or you have to hunch over your screen to see it. Maybe it's the national chiropractors association that's pushing this form factor. See also: Jeremy Toeman at Live Digitally. </p><p> While a tablet may be great for browsing the Web and viewing media, it's too big to replace a phone and too limited to carry around as a work computer. People will need their keyboarded Netbooks and notebooks for real work. Tablets, like other tweener devices, ultramobile PCs and Netbooks, are accessories to real computers. You can't do enough on them to justify the price, although they're sure nice to have if you have extra money for a gizmo that sits between your big computer and your phone, both in size and function. </p><p>So as an accessory, tablets are too expensive. If Apple releases a tablet in the rumored $700 to $800 price range, it will die. Not because people won't love it and lust for it, but because they won't be able to justify it. </p><p> I actually have higher hopes for the Crunchpad due to its Web focus and its lower price. But even then, at the rumored $400 price point, I still believe it's too dear for real human beings on a real budget, and it will reportedly lack local resources (storage) to make it a workable solution in a world of spotty connectivity (see also: Silicon Alley Insider). Geeks might like it, and buy them as living room couch Web-surfing computers, but for families looking to address real technology needs, a Netbook like a $200 Acer Aspire One offers a better bet: it has a real keyboard, its own storage, and you can take it on the road and do real work on it, like a notebook computer or a Netbook. </p><p> Of course, you'll probably be able to plug a keyboard into any of these yet-to-be-released tablets (see the Always Innovating tablet Netbook), but you'll pay extra for the hardware and it'll mean more gear to keep track of and prop up on your desk. </p><p> For specialized applications, tablet computers can and do work. The Aeryon spybot uses a tablet computer to control it. And in the consumer space, Amazon's Kindle, a tablet by form factor even though it has a vestigial keyboard, works because it but does things no other device can do at all: it can buy books instantly, almost anywhere, and display them on a screen nearly as easy to read as a printed page. </p><p> I love beautiful and elegant tech toys as much as any other geek, but geek love isn't enough to make a real market. Tablets need to cost a lot less and do a lot more before they establish a foothold in the consumer market. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-5789233182586296452009-08-09T04:22:00.001-07:002009-08-09T04:23:43.179-07:00Birthmark baby cure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/155.$plit/C_71_article_1130428_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?07%2F08%2F2009%2009%3A45%3A47%3A751"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 189px;" src="http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/155.$plit/C_71_article_1130428_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?07%2F08%2F2009%2009%3A45%3A47%3A751" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="caption">WONDER DRUG ... Madeeha Sheikh and her daughter Alayna, undergoing treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital</span><br /><br />A MUM who claims she was sent away from her local hospital has saved her baby from being permanently disfigured - after turning to the internet for help.<div class="article-text"> <p>Madeeha Sheikh says her four-month-old daughter Alayna Yakub would be facing years of plastic surgery if she had put her faith in doctors at Rochdale Infirmary.</p> <p>She told how her nightmare began after little Alayna was delivered by forceps following a tough 33-hour labour at the hospital.</p> <p>She spotted a pale pink mark on the side of her face but claims she was reassured by a paediatrician that it was just a forceps’ mark which would fade in two to three weeks.</p> <p>But, as the weeks passed, the 29-year-old legal adviser and her partner Shahraz Yakub, also 29, began to suspect something was seriously wrong when the mark became darker, her tiny lips began to swell and painful sores grew on her face.</p> <p>After carrying out research on the web, they raised their concerns with midwives and doctors at Nye Bevan House, but claim they again insisted there was nothing to worry about.</p> <p>Eventually she was referred back to the Infirmary and diagnosed with a haemangioma - a type of birthmark - but said she was told to go away for two months as the child was ‘too young’ for treatment.</p> <p>But devastated Madeeha was unhappy with their advice and instead emailed photographs of Alayna to Great Ormond Street Hospital.</p> <p>The next day she received a phone call from the world famous children’s unit warning that she needed to travel to London immediately for urgent treatment.</p> <p>Since treatment began in May, Madeeha has stayed with Alayna at her parents’ house in Essex and says she won’t return to the family home in Marland until her condition improves.</p> <p>She said: "I did my own research on the internet and knew that any birthmark as extensive as my daughter’s should be looked at as early as possible.</p> <p>"I felt as if I had to fight to get a referral and was told it wasn’t urgent and I had nothing to worry about.</p> <p>"I was concerned that it could cause blindness if my daughter did not receive urgent treatment as I had been researching the condition and read that it could spread rapidly.</p> <p>"My daughter was struggling to feed as she had ulcerated lips and was screaming in pain. Seeing my baby like this breaks my heart.</p> <p>"If I had waited it would have got worse and she would have been looking at plastic surgery, no doubt.</p> <p>"I fear if we had waited for treatment then it would have left her disfigured and destroyed her life."</p> <p>Now, she has written a letter of complaint to the Pennine Acute NHS Hospitals Trust, which runs the Infirmary and is demanding an apology from health bosses.</p> <p>She added: "I clearly do not want any parent or child having to suffer what we have had to go through.</p> <p>"Alayna is receiving brilliant treatment at Great Ormond Street and is in the right hands.</p> <p>"She is being given a wonder drug so we hope she will be fine within a year and will have no permanent scarring."</p> <p>She now hopes to set up a meeting with Pennine bosses and local MP Paul Rowen to discuss the handling of her daughter’s treatment.</p> <p>Mr Rowen described the case as ‘heartbreaking’ and has written to the secretary of state for health Andy Burnham to demand a full investigation.</p> <p>He added: "I am alarmed that Miss Sheikh has had to take such drastic action just to ensure that her daughter receives the best health care.</p> <p>"Seeing the pictures was heartbreaking and must never happen again. Miss Sheikh deserves an apology and heath bosses must ensure that the shortcomings are reviewed as a matter of urgency."</p> <p>John Lindars, Pennine’s divisional director for women’s and children’s services, said: "We take all comments and complaints regarding patient care and our services very seriously. </p> <p>"Although we are unable to comment or disclose details on individual cases, I can confirm we have received a formal letter of complaint from Miss Sheikh regarding her daughter’s treatment and assessment following her birth at Rochdale Infirmary and have responded accordingly. </p> <p>"We have investigated the concerns raised by Miss Sheikh thoroughly and fairly and are in the process of arranging a meeting with doctors and the family."</p> </div>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-15609018052693274652009-08-09T01:31:00.000-07:002009-08-09T01:33:49.397-07:00Sotomayor joins US Supreme Court<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46176000/jpg/_46176784_sm2_ap226x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46176000/jpg/_46176784_sm2_ap226x.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>Sonia Sotomayor has been sworn in as America's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, after a summer of debate over her nomination.<br /><br /></b><p>Ms Sotomayor, 55, becomes only the third woman to sit on the court. </p><p>On Thursday, the Senate voted 68-31 to approve her with 59 Democrats and nine Republicans voting in favour. </p><p>The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, with the power to strike down unconstitutional laws. Once appointed, justices serve for life. </p><!-- E SF --><p>They are nominated by the president, but must receive approval from a majority of senators before they can take up their post. </p><p>Ms Sotomayor was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at a brief ceremony that was the first one open to television cameras in the court's history.</p><p>Standing next to her mother and brother, she pledged to "faithfully and impartially" discharge her duties. </p><p>The public ceremony followed a private one minutes earlier in which she promised to support and defend the constitution. </p><p>Sonia Sotomayor is President Barack Obama's first nominee to the nine-member court. </p><p>Her appointment - as a successor to liberal Justice David Souter, who retired - is not expected to change its ideological balance. </p><p>Ms Sotomayor was born to poor Puerto Rican parents on a New York public housing project, rising to become a respected judicial scholar and judge. </p><p>Some Republicans had been critical of her record of speeches - and some rulings - saying they had revealed that she allowed her opinion to affect her decisions. </p><p>During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she was asked repeatedly about a speech in which she had remarked that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion" than a white male judge. </p><p>Critics said the remark could have been perceived as racist, but Ms Sotomayor maintained the comments had been an attempted "play on words" that "fell flat". </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-15645721216078682322009-08-09T01:28:00.000-07:002009-08-09T01:30:05.664-07:00Malagasy leaders agree transition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46158000/jpg/_46158360__45565351_two_afp_226-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46158000/jpg/_46158360__45565351_two_afp_226-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>The leaders at the centre of Madagascar's political crisis have reached agreement on a power-sharing government, the UN special envoy says.<br /><br /></b><p>The accord would see a transitional period of 15 months, during which legislative and presidential elections would be held, Tiebile Drame said. </p><p>Ousted President Marc Ravalomanana said he would return to Madagascar but not personally take part in the process. </p><p>The deal follows days of negotiations in the Mozambican capital, Maputo. </p><!-- E SF --><p>Mediators hope it will bring an end to the months of crisis which culminated in the opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina, forcing Mr Ravalomanana to resign as president on 17 March and flee. </p><p>Mr Rajoelina and his allies, who accused the president of being a tyrant who misspent public money, were accused by the African Union of taking power through a coup and foreign aid was frozen. </p><p>The power struggle led to the deaths of more than 100 people in violent riots and crippled the island's tourist industry. </p><p><b>Amnesties</b></p><p>The leaders of Madagascar's four main political groups, including Mr Rajoelina, Mr Ravalomanana, and their predecessors as president, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, began the power-sharing negotiations in Maputo on Wednesday.<br /></p><p>The talks were mediated by the former Mozambican leader, Joaquim Chissano, on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). </p><p>Earlier, Mr Ravalomanana said that under the terms of the agreement, he would not take part in the transitional period, although his party would. </p><p>"In the interests of the nation, and following consultations, it seems reasonable to me to not participate personally," he said. </p><p>But he added that he would return to Madagascar, where he would be granted an amnesty from a conviction for abuse of power handed down in June. He was also fined $70m by the court in Antananarivo. </p><p>Mr Ravalomanana has been living in exile in South Africa since March. On Friday, Mr Rajoelina any deal should not allow him to return. </p><p>An amnesty has also been agreed for Mr Ratsiraka, who has been living in exile in France since a crisis over the disputed results of the 2001 presidential election, which was won by Mr Ravolamanana. </p><p>He was sentenced to 10 years of hard labour and five years in jail in 2003 for misusing public funds and threatening state security. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-66219094799196231322009-08-09T01:25:00.001-07:002009-08-09T01:27:13.933-07:00Eta responsible for police deaths<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46134000/jpg/_46134781_majorcablastafp226b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46134000/jpg/_46134781_majorcablastafp226b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>The Basque separatist group, Eta, has claimed responsibility for a series of recent bombings in Spain, including one which killed two Civil Guards in July.<br /><br /></b>n a statement sent to the Basque newspaper, Gara, Eta said it was also behind a car bomb attack which killed a police inspector two months ago. <p>It said the policeman, Eduardo Puelles Garcia, was a "despicable torturer". </p><p>Eta has been blamed for more than 820 deaths during its campaign for an independent Basque homeland in Spain. </p><!-- E SF --><p>The most recent bombings, on the island of Majorca and the northern town of Burgos, came ahead of the 50th anniversary of its founding. </p><p><b>'Political solution'</b></p><p>The two Civil Guards who were killed in the Majorcan resort town of Palmanova on 30 July, Diego Salva and Carlos Saenz de Tejada, had been inside a patrol car parked outside their barracks when a bomb planted underneath it exploded. </p><p>Several people were also injured by the powerful blast on the busy road, which sent the vehicle flying through the air and set it on fire. </p><p>The attack was the deadliest since two Spanish undercover policemen were shot during an operation in France in December 2007.<br /></p><p>Although Eta did not claim responsibility for the Majorca blast at the time, Spain's government said it had born the hallmarks of the separatists. </p><p>Experts say a similar method was used in Eta's fatal bombing in June, when a Mr Puelles Garcia was killed by a car bomb in Bilbao. </p><p>Eta said Mr Puelles Garcia had been "the chief of police operations against numerous leftist independence activists and against pro-independence youths for the past decade, and the co-ordinator of different operations against Eta". </p><p>"Sometimes, as the most experienced and despicable torturer in the commissariat... he also pressured independence activists into collaborating by threats," it said. </p><p>Eta also claimed responsibility for the car bomb which exploded outside a police barracks in Burgos on 29 July, injuring 40 people, and an attack on the offices of the governing Socialist Party in the Basque town of Durango on 10 July. </p><p>But the group insisted that it was not seeking "to impose any project, unlike successive Spanish leaders". </p><p>"It is Eta, which has over the long decades sought dialogue and political solutions," the statement added. </p><p>The Socialist Party-led Spanish government declared the peace process "finished" after a bomb planted by Eta killed two Ecuadorean men at a Madrid airport car park in December 2006. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-70195849871428577882009-08-09T01:22:00.001-07:002009-08-09T01:24:11.333-07:00Ministers deny torture collusion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45505000/jpg/_45505832_binyamcar_ap226b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45505000/jpg/_45505832_binyamcar_ap226b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>Two cabinet ministers have strongly denied allegations of collusion in the abuse of terrorist suspects overseas.<br /><br /></b><p>But Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Home Secretary Alan Johnson said it was impossible to remove all risk when using intelligence obtained overseas. </p><p>This came as a committee of MPs urged a probe into the transfer of terror suspects through UK territories. </p><p>Last week a committee of MPs and peers called for an independent inquiry into claims of UK complicity in torture. </p><!-- E SF --><p>The Joint Human Rights Committee said on Tuesday the government had not done enough to investigate these claims, because it had been unable to establish whether British officers were involved in mistreatment. </p><p>Now the Foreign Affairs Select Committee has also said it has grave concerns that British officers were complicit in torture. </p><p><b>'Hard choices'</b></p><p>But in a joint article in the Sunday Telegraph Mr Miliband and Mr Johnson said the UK "firmly opposed" torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. </p><p>They said there was "no truth" in suggestions it was official policy to "collude in, solicit, or directly participate in abuses of prisoners". </p><p>But "difficult judgments and hard choices" had to be made, they added, and while anyone detained in the UK would be treated well, the same guarantee could not be made about those held by foreign authorities. </p><p>"Operations have been halted where the risk of mistreatment was too high. But it is not possible to eradicate all risk," they wrote.<br /></p><p>The pair, whose departments are responsible for Britain's intelligence services, were responding to Tuesday's report, but MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee also want action to ensure Britain is not complicit in torture. </p><p>Its chairman Labour MP Mike Gapes said: "The government has a duty to use information that comes into its possession, from whatever source and however obtained, if it believes this will avert the loss of life. </p><p>"At the same time, we strongly recommend that the government should continue to exert as much persuasion and pressure as possible to try to ensure world-wide that torture is not employed as a method of interrogation." </p><p><b>Rendition</b></p><p>The committee also said there had been inadequate investigation into the transportation of two men through the American airbase on the small British Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia. </p><p>It said the government had a "moral and legal obligation" to ensure UK airspace and airports were not for rendition - which is the transfer of suspects to countries where torture is carried out. </p><p>And it urged ministers to pile pressure on the US to carry out a comprehensive check of its records to establish whether there have been other cases beyond two from 2002 it admitted last year. </p><p>The report warned of the dangers of turning a blind eye while using information obtained in countries known for their human rights abuses. </p><p>It said: "There is a risk that use of evidence which may have been obtained under torture on a regular basis... could be construed as complicity in such behaviour." </p><p>The committee had particular worries over Britain's relationship with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, whose practices give "cause for great concern". </p><p>It also accused the Foreign Office of "pulling its punches" over the "massive scale" of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. </p><p>Mr Gapes also called on the government to publish the previous guidelines given to intelligence officers on the questioning of detainees overseas.<br /></p><p><b>'Pointed questions'</b></p><p>Scotland Yard is conducting a criminal investigation into claims MI5 was complicit in the abuse of Binyam Mohamed, a British resident who says he was tortured while being held at sites in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan. </p><p>Amnesty International UK campaigns director Tim Hancock described the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report as "yet another voice in a growing chorus demanding greater transparency over the UK's involvement in 'war on terror' human rights abuses". </p><p>He also demanded a full, independent inquiry. </p><p>"The committee rightly asks some very pointed questions about the use of UK airspace and territory, particularly Diego Garcia, in US rendition operations," he said. </p><p>"Britain should stand firm in its opposition to torture, both through our words and our actions." </p><p>Andrew Tyrie, the Tory MP who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition, said an inquiry should be held immediately. </p><p>"Neither the investigation by the police into the Binyam Mohamed case nor the other civil actions brought should stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this," he said. </p><p>"It is the only way to give the public confidence that we have got to the bottom of all of this, to draw a line under it and to move on." </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-91670226332310612009-08-09T01:18:00.001-07:002009-08-09T01:21:21.798-07:00Indonesian president was targeted<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/art.yudhoyono.afp.gi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 219px;" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/art.yudhoyono.afp.gi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A police raid averted an assassination plot against Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, authorities said, as they waited for official DNA confirmation of the death of suspected terrorist Noordin M. Top in another raid. <!--startclickprintexclude--> <div id="imageChanger1"> <!-- PURGE: /2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/art.yudhoyono.afp.gi.jpg --><!-- KEEP --><div class="cnnStoryPhotoBox"><div id="cnnImgChngr" class="cnnImgChngr"> <div style="opacity: 0.999999;" id="cnnImgChngrNested"> <br /> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"> <div class="cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad"> <p> President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the House of Representatives on Monday </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoBoxNavigation"> <div id="cnnImgChngrPrvsLbl"> <a style="cursor: default;" href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/index.html#" onclick="CNN_ArticleChanger.CNN_navChngBack(); return false;" onmouseout="CNN_changeImg('cnnImgChngrPrvsBtn')" onmouseover="CNN_changeImg('cnnImgChngrPrvsBtn',1)"><br /></a> </div> </div><div class="cnnWireBoxFooter"><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif" alt="" width="4" height="4" /> </div> </div></div><!-- /PURGE: /2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/art.yudhoyono.afp.gi.jpg --> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var CNN_ArticleChanger = new CNN_imageChanger('cnnImgChngr','/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/09/indonesia.terror/imgChng/p1-0.init.exclude.html',2,1); //CNN.imageChanger.load('cnnImgChngr','imgChng/p1-0.exclude.html'); </script> <!--endclickprintexclude--><p> The plot against the president was uncovered Saturday during a raid on a house on the outskirts of Jakarta, where police found a cache of explosives allegedly intended for the attack, said National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso.</p><p> Police found about 100 kg (220 lbs) of explosives along with bomb-making materials and a truck, which they did not immediately open for fear it might have been rigged to explode, said Hendarso.</p><p> Indonesian police killed two militants believed to be connected with the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta in which 16 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded, Hendarso added.</p><p> In the other raid on Saturday, Top was killed during an 18-hour firefight that began Friday in the Central Java town of Temanggung, said a police source and a security analyst with close ties to the police. </p><p> <span class="cnnInlineTopic">Indonesia's</span> anti-terrorism forces had been hunting Top for the past six years. He is also the main suspect in last month's twin hotel bombings in Jakarta.</p> A statement attributed to Top, 40, a Malaysian-born explosives expert, claimed responsibility for the attacks that targeted Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. The coordinated bombings killed seven people and the two suspected bombers, and wounded more than 50.<br /><p> It was the first major terrorist attack in Indonesia in more than three years.</p><p> <span class="cnnInlineTopic">Top</span> is reportedly an officer, recruiter, bomb-maker and trainer for a splinter group of the militant organization Jemaah Islamiyah, which has ties to al Qaeda. He allegedly was involved in a previous attack on the Marriott in <span class="cnnInlineTopic">Jakarta</span> in August 2003, as well as attacks on a Bali nightclub in 2002 and the Australian embassy in Jakarta in 2004, according to the FBI.</p><p> In February 2006, the FBI added Top to its list of 10 suspected terrorists who have not been charged in the United States, and are wanted only for questioning.</p><p> The ramifications of Top's death were not immediately clear.</p><p> "This is a huge advance in Indonesia's fight against terror," said Sidney Jones, a senior Asia adviser for the International Crisis Group, a global nonpartisan advisory organization. "But this is not the end of it because we still don't know the extent of the network and the funding source of Noordin's network."</p><p> Three to four people were believed to be holed up in the house in Temanggung, police said.</p><p> Security forces had launched a raid on the house after two people believed to be nephews of its owner were arrested earlier in the day, according to the official ANTARA News Agency.</p><p> "Police officers entered the house and fired profusely inside the house while other policemen surrounded the house and opened its windows by force," ANTARA said.</p><p> After the gunfire ended, local television showed police with their helmets off, shaking hands and carrying caskets into the house, suggesting that those inside the house had been killed or captured. Also, a man identified as Suryana, who uses the aliases Yayan and Gepeng, was arrested in north Jakarta on suspicion of terrorism charges, said Nanan Soekarna, police inspector general.</p><div class="cnnStoryElementBox"><div class="cnnStoryElementBoxAd"> <div id="cnnDefault180Space"><!-- ADSPACE: asia/intg_story/lft.180x150 --> <!-- CALLOUT|http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_international&cnn_intl_pagetype=intg_story&cnn_intl_position=180x150_lft&cnn_intl_rollup=asia&page.allowcompete=yes¶ms.styles=fs|CALLOUT --> </div> </div> </div> <!--endclickprintexclude--> Soekarna could not say whether Suryana was connected with last month's hotel bombings or other incidents.World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-53812202103131635412009-08-06T23:34:00.000-07:002009-08-06T23:35:27.765-07:00'NANO KOREA 2009' Comes to Korea on August 26th<h2>The Nano Korea Symposium will be held in conjunction with Nano Korea Exhibition and Micro Tech World </h2><br /><p>SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- "NANO KOREA 2009" (The 7th International Nanotech Symposium & Exhibition in Korea, <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Ajyfrkd0FjPxj8R9l0dJbOqxcq9_;_ylu=X3oDMTE3ZHNzN2tmBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNuZXdzQXJ0U3RhcnQEc2xrA2h0dHB3d3duYW5vaw--/SIG=110tgqk8r/**http%3A//www.nanokorea.or.kr/" class="yltasis">http://www.nanokorea.or.kr</a> ), the 2nd largest nano technology event in the world, will be held at KINTEX located in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea from August 26th through the 28th.</p> <!-- Article Related Media --> <p>(Logo: <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AlIDjksOwYxpao25zy3jId.xcq9_;_ylu=X3oDMTE2NDIwaDcxBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNuZXdzQXJ0Qm9keQRzbGsDaHR0cHd3d25ld3Nj/SIG=11ssfmhhn/**http%3A//www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090805/HKW002LOGO" class="yltasis">http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090805/HKW002LOGO</a> )</p><p>Under the theme of "Orienteering for Nano Convergence", the event will showcase cutting-edge nano micro technologies, the core technology for all industries, and present ideas for converging with other industries and ways to foster new trends for convergence.</p><p>Especially, this year the International Printed Electronics Expo 2009 will also be held along with the Nano Korea Exhibition, the Micro Tech World (co- hosted by Korea, Japan and Germany), and the Nano Korea Symposium. This year's event will feature printed electronics as well as nano and micro technology.</p><p>The Nano Korea Exhibition will showcase nano materials converging diverse industries, nano device/component technologies and products related to nano processes (measurement/analysis). The Nano Korea Symposium will feature speeches and sessions with distinguished scholars such as Prof. Zhores Alferov (Vice Chairman of the St. Petersburg Science Center), who won the Nobel Prize in physics in 2000.</p><p>Programs for foreign participants include an "Online Matchmaking" system for arranging meetings with participating companies in advance, and an official reception where they can interact with more than 500 nano experts for the sake of networking.</p><p>NANO KOREA 2009 is the largest such event ever. 200 enterprises from 10 countries will participate in the exhibition, and about 10,000 people from 35 countries are expected to come and visit this event. Large corporations in Korea, such as Samsung Electronics and LG Chem will also put their products and technologies on display.</p><p>To pre-register at no cost, please visit the official website of NANO KOREA 2009 ( <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AolpM_lb.f6YX4kAb2YYdSmxcq9_;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aWdraW1oBHBvcwMyBHNlYwNuZXdzQXJ0Qm9keQRzbGsDaHR0cG5hbm9rb3Jl/SIG=1109qbhto/**http%3A//nanokorea.or.kr/Eng/" class="yltasis">http://nanokorea.or.kr/Eng/</a> ).</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-8650638867479168602009-08-04T02:24:00.000-07:002009-08-04T02:26:09.243-07:00Confidential Kaupthing corporate loan details leaked on the internetConfidential loan details relating to failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing and its largest customers have been leaked on the internet, revealing some of the risks the bank was taking just weeks before the Icelandic financial meltdown last October.<p>The 210-page presentation, showing a snapshot of outstanding corporate loans of more than €45m (£38m) as of September 25, has been posted on the <a href="http://wikileaks.org/" title="Wikileaks">Wikileaks</a> website.</p><p>Many of the largest exposures are to British-based businesses and entrepreneurs including property investors Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz, their former brother-in-law Vivian Imerman, Simon Halabi, Nick and Christian Candy, Peter Shalson and Aneel Mussarat.</p><p>The leaked document also reveals the extent to which Kaupthing had been lending to those with a major economic interest in the bank's shares. For example it sets out a complex web of loans and shares posted as collateral between the bank, holding company Exista, which owned 23% of Kaupthing, and Exista's controlling shareholders Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson.</p><p>Total Kaupthing loans to Exita and its subsidiaries reached €1.43bn, with considerable sums extended without security or covenants.</p><p>Robert Tchenguiz, the second largest borrower from Kaupthing, with loans of €1.37bn, is also among those who had an interest in Kaupthing shares, as he was a major shareholder in Exista. Meanwhile veteran British retailer, Kevin Stanford, was said to rank as the fourth largest investor in Kaupthing, with 30.9m shares. Kaupthing loans to him and his companies totalled €519m, according to the leaked document.</p><p>While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing, several Icelandic authorities and Kaupthing's resolution committee are examining the complex and multi- faceted relationship between the bank and some of its largest customers prior to its collapse. They are looking to rule out conflicts of interest.</p><p>The leaked document provides a snapshot of Kaupthing's loans at a critical moment before the bank's demise. Many of the borrowing arrangements shown will since have been refinanced or revalued.</p><p>Kaupthing's resolution committee has sought to have the presentation removed from the internet and has secured a temporary injunction against its publication by certain Icelandic media. A source at the bank insisted it was keen to see all questions about its collapse answered, but it was still bound by a duty of confidentiality to customers.</p><p>Alongside each loan, the leaked presentation provides a brief assessment of the risk tied to the loans and, on occasion, the state of relations with the customer. "Asset rich and frequently cash poor, limiting his ability to meet margin calls", reads one summary. Another states: "Relationship ... has become strained as downturn has impacted their business model. They build for the uber-rich but sales are slowing".</p><p>A third loan risk summary states: "There is a glut of apartments in Manchester and it is questionable whether construction should be commenced. It is probable that an updated valuation would lead to a breach of covenant."</p><p>In March Kaarlo Jännäri, former head of the Finnish financial regulator, published a damning independent analysis of the Icelandic banking system and its collapse. Commissioned by the <a href="http://www.government.is/" title="Icelandic government">Icelandic government</a> and <a href="http://www.imf.org/" title="International Monetary Fund">International Monetary Fund</a>, the report highlighted a series of concerns about the conduct of the banks, including large exposures to individual clients and business conducted with related parties, such as those with an interest in bank shares.</p><p>Jännäri noted that at the end of June 2008, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iceland">Iceland</a>'s big three banks – Kaupthing, Glitnir and Landsbanki – had a total of 23 loan exposures to individuals or corporate groups that were equivalent to more than 10% of the respective bank's funds."What is striking about these exposures is that the majority of them are to holding companies, or other institutions, or individuals whose main activity is investing in shares or other venture-capital or speculative activities," he said.</p><p>"In most cases, the assets pledged as collateral for these loans are shares in the companies in which these customers had invested the funds borrowed... My judgment is that their behaviour in this regard has been very imprudent."</p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-69097246022345632492009-08-04T02:21:00.000-07:002009-08-04T02:24:27.473-07:00Fatah seeks renewal in first conference since 1989<div class="article_text"> <div class="art_main_pic"> <a href="http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090804/API/908040527?Title=Fatah-seeks-renewal-in-first-conference-since-1989#" onclick="window.open('/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=*&Date=20090804&Category=API&ArtNo=908040527&Ref=AR&AvisData=SR','','scrollbars=no,menubar=no,height=20,width=200,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no');"> <img style="width: 218px; height: 295px;" src="http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=*&Date=20090804&Category=API&ArtNo=908040527&Ref=AR&AvisData=SR&MaxW=250&border=0" alt="" /></a></div><p><i>BETHLEHEM, West Bank</i> - The Palestinians' Fatah movement came together Tuesday for its first convention in 20 years, trying to rise from division and defeat with a pragmatic political program and new leaders in what its supporters hope will be the final push toward Palestinian statehood.</p><p>Fatah's leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expects the three-day convention to boost his standing and strengthen his hand in dealing with his Hamas rivals and with Israel's hawkish prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.</p><p>"Fatah '65 is the launch of revolution," read a banner in the conference hall, referring the year the movement was founded by the late Yasser Arafat. "Fatah of 2009 is the launch of independence."</p><p><br /></p><p>Yet the gathering opened in disarray, with most Gaza delegates unable to attend because of an increasingly acrimonious standoff between Abbas and Hamas. The Islamic militants, who wrested control of Gaza from Abbas in 2007, prevented Fatah delegates from leaving the territory for the conference.</p><p>Fatah's internal wrangling, including a bitter generational conflict, seem just as corrosive. Only about one-fourth of the more than 2,200 delegates were elected by the rank-and-file. The rest were picked by Abbas and a small committee, in what could turn out to be an obstacle to sweeping leadership change.</p><p>Abbas' job as party leader is not up for a vote. Candidates are competing for two leadership committees, one with 18 seats and the second with 120.</p><p>Ahmed Qureia, a senior Fatah official and the chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel, said Fatah must emerge from the conference with a show of unity and a clear path toward independence.</p><p>"It's very important to go out of this conference and show the people how you will manage the struggle with Israel, the interior situation (with Hamas) and also, how to manage the (peace) negotiations," he said in an interview.</p><p>Abbas is to open the conference Tuesday with a speech describing Fatah's transformation from a guerrilla group to champion of a peace deal with Israel.</p><p>Fatah's popularity has dwindled in recent years, largely because of the failure of peace talks, but compounded by the stain of corruption. In 2006, Fatah was defeated by Hamas in parliamentary elections.</p><p>The last conference was held in 1989, in Tunisian exile, under Arafat's leadership. The political program at the time still called for "armed struggle" against Israel.</p><p>A banner in the conference call showed a boy in a military uniform and a Kalashnikov assault rifle, with the slogan, "Resistance is a legitimate right of our people."</p><p>However, the political program presented this week for convention approval marginalizes that idea, and instead emphasizes negotiations and civil disobedience as the path to statehood.</p><p>It also sets conditions for a resumption of peace talks with Israel, including a complete settlement freeze. Abbas has said he will not go back to negotiations without such a freeze, but enshrining the position in the Fatah program would protect him against possible pressure. For now, the Obama administration is also pushing for a settlement freeze.</p><p>The proposed program is a thorough rewrite of the 1989 program, reflecting the dramatic events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since then, including the establishment of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza in 1994, two Palestinian uprisings against Israel and several rounds of peace talks.</p><p>The international community and Israel will watch the convention closely, particularly Fatah's continued commitment to negotiations. Israeli officials have so far declined to comment on it.</p> </div> <!--<br />AC =<br />--> <!-- GRAY BOX ARTICLE CONTENT--> <div id="article_text"><style> .art_main_pic { width:250px; float:left; clear:left; } </style> <div class="art_main_pic"> <a href="http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090804/API/908040527?Title=Fatah-seeks-renewal-in-first-conference-since-1989#" onclick="window.open('/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=*&Date=20090804&Category=API&ArtNo=908040527&Ref=AR&AvisData=SR','','scrollbars=no,menubar=no,height=20,width=200,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no');"> </a></div></div>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228969122910058277.post-42287915714591178562009-07-23T18:53:00.000-07:002009-07-23T18:56:48.375-07:00NASA Earth pictures show extent of eclipse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/solar.eclipse.nasa.pictures/art.eclipse1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 219px;" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/solar.eclipse.nasa.pictures/art.eclipse1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><p> <b>(CNN)</b> -- NASA has released new pictures of the Earth showing the vast extent of Wednesday's spectacular solar eclipse.</p> <!--startclickprintexclude--> <div id="imageChanger1"><div class="cnnStoryPhotoBox"><div id="cnnImgChngr" class="cnnImgChngr"><div id="cnnImgChngrNested"> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"><div class="cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad"> </div> </div> A Japanese satellite took this image of the eclipse an hour before totality. </div> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoBoxNavigation"><div class="cnnStoryPhotoMoreLnk"> </div><a href="javascript:CNN_changeMosaicTab('cnnPhotoCmpnt','photos.html');">more photos »</a> </div> <div class="cnnWireBoxFooter"> <img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif" alt="" width="4" height="4" /> </div> </div></div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var CNN_ArticleChanger = new CNN_imageChanger('cnnImgChngr','/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/solar.eclipse.nasa.pictures/imgChng/p1-0.init.exclude.html',1,1); //CNN.imageChanger.load('cnnImgChngr','imgChng/p1-0.exclude.html'); </script> <!--endclickprintexclude--><p> The longest solar eclipse of the century cast a wide shadow for several minutes over Asia and the Pacific Ocean, luring millions outside to watch the spectacle.</p><p> Day turned into night, temperatures turned cooler in cities and villages teemed with amateur stargazers. </p><p> The total eclipse started in India on Wednesday morning and moved eastward across Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, China and parts of the Pacific. <span class="cnnEmbeddedMosLnk"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/tabs/video.gif" alt="Video" width="16" border="0" height="14" /> <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/solar.eclipse.nasa.pictures/index.html#cnnSTCVideo" onclick="CNN_changeMosaicTab('cnnVideoCmpnt','videos.html',true,'/video/tech/2009/07/22/chang.china.eclipse.timeline.cnn');">Watch the 'exceptional' eclipse »</a></span> </p><p> NASA said the two images, left, were taken from a Japanese satellite.</p><p> The first showed the Earth at 8.30 a.m. local time in Taiwan and the second, an hour later, when the moon completely overlapped the sun (called totality) casting a huge shadow over the area. </p>World Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00604023968951968182noreply@blogger.com