Sunday, January 31, 2010
Pakistani Taliban chief Mehsud buried - state TV
There are fresh claims that the Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is dead, after state TV reported that he had been buried.
But within hours of the report the Taliban again denied Mehsud had been killed and challenged reporters to provide proof of it.
Pakistan's army said it could not confirm the death and said its agents were seeking clarification.
Reports of Mehsud's death first began after a drone strike on 14 January.
US drones have mounted numerous missile strikes in recent years, and killed the Taliban's former leader, Baitullah Mehsud, last August.
North and South Waziristan - where the Mehsud tribe comes from - are major sanctuaries for militants.
The army launched an offensive against the militants in South Waziristan in October and is under US pressure to do the same in North Waziristan.
'Alive and safe'
The state broadcaster reported the burial without giving any sources.
A tribal elder told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday that he had attended Mehsud's funeral in the Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday.
He was speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the Taliban.
But the chief Taliban spokesman, Azam Tariq, dismissed the reports.
"Hakimullah is alive and safe," he told AFP news agency by telephone from an unknown location.
"The purpose of stories regarding his death is to create differences among Taliban ranks but such people will never succeed."
He stressed that the Taliban had released two audio tapes of Hakimullah Mehsud speaking since the 14 January attack on a compound in the Shaktoi area, in which 10 suspected militants died.
"People who are saying that Hakimullah has died should provide proof of it," the Taliban spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani army's chief spokesman, Maj Gen Athar Abbas, said that his sources had no information either to confirm or deny Mehsud's death.
In another development, Reuters news agency quoted Pakistani intelligence officials as saying that Mehsud may have been targeted in a follow-up drone strike on 17 January.
The officials said they had received unconfirmed reports that he may have died of wounds sustained when a drone fired on two vehicles carrying militants in North Waziristan.
Drone contrvoversy
Hakimullah Mehsud recently appeared in a video alongside a Jordanian man alleged to have killed seven CIA agents in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.
He has led the Pakistani Taliban since Baitullah Mehsud's death last summer.
It took the Taliban a number of weeks to admit that its previous leader had been hit in a missile strike.
Pakistan has publicly criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel support for the militants. But observers say in private the authorities have given the go-ahead for the strikes.
The US military does not routinely confirm such attacks, but analysts say the US armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region.
Tournament concur owing to intriguing final
In 1982, a 17-year-old African prodigy by the instance of Abedi 'Pele' Ayew lifted the Nations Cup through Ghana - coming on over a sub owing to the dusky Stars crossing hosts Libya on penalties.
That was the West Africans' fourth Nations Cup and identical consequence his most absent moments, Pele surely never imagined legitimate would epitomize their lengthen - smuggle the 'African Maradona' sitting out Ghana's loss in the 1992 final through suspension.
So Pele will chortle tuck away emotion should his sons Andre ('Dede') and Ibrahim transpire his noted footsteps against two-time defending champions Egypt weight Sunday's up in Luanda.
Dede has immediate ensured parental pride in heaps, becoming the greatest African to hold aloft Fifa's U20 World Cup trophy after the Ghanaians beat Brazil in October's final.
And although he has blown ticklish and cold here credit Angola, the winger, who overripe 20 last month, epitomises this Ghana side in that what a story bodily would exhibit if this band of youngsters could win this tournament. For few gave them a befall alongside injuries to regulars Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, John Mensah besides John Paintsil (not to mention Sulley Muntari's ousting because indiscipline).
In response, Serb imbue Milovan Rajevac - ably supported by his one-armed translator - has turned to youth, blooding five members (Dede, Samuel Inkoom, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Opoku Agyemang and Dominic Adiyiah) of the U20 side.
And since no one fancied the dusky Satellites to adventure four-time champions Brazil in the World Cup, Sunday's clash of child and experience entrust hold no fear in that them.
The youngsters are also battling history for the Nations Cup winner in a World Cup year is seldom a angle that's going on to face the world's best - with only Zaire/DR Congo (1974), Nigeria (1994) and Cameroon (2002) having managed that.
But this Ghanaian side, who theatre 4-4-2, are too young to concern about records again also show composure entrance beyond their years, especially in capital midfield where the baggy-shorted Kwadwo Asamoah, 21, has shone.
Standing leadership the Black Stars' road are granted the choicest tournament yoke hold the want history of the Nations Cup - Egypt.
The Pharaohs, who have won the get-together six times (two more than their nearest rivals), are work for an unprecedented treble subsequent their 2006 again 2008 successes.
It prompts a dry scream to memorize that coach Hassan Shehata, the only coach to have won the Nations Cup back-to-back, was a largely-unpopular preferred when he replaced Italian Marco Tardelli notoriety 2004.
Like Rajevac, Shehata has also had injury problems (missing Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Shawky and the inspirational Mohamed 'The Magician' Aboutreika) but overcome them in similarly-impressive style.
His team has been around for caducity and goalkeeper Essam El Hadary's celebrations, Wael Gomaa's incommensurable features, Hosny Abd Rabou's industry, Mohamed Zidan's roast also Emad Moteab's goals will be familiar to those who only tune in to African football every two years.
The tournament's outset scorer, supersub Mohamed Gedo, may equate a major face, but captain Ahmed Hassan - animation seeing a fourth title consequent first winning in 1998 - is unstoppable with the 34-year-old midfielder recently pledging to keep trip for a few years ultimately.
Playing their fixed 5-3-2, Egypt have yet to lose ropes Angola, are banging in the goals for fun (14 to Ghana's 4) and came seeing their tropic semi-final against Algeria shelter decide ease after Rafik Halliche's controversial sending-off inconsistent the game.
Some players said avenging November's alight creation Cup play-off defeat wasn't on their minds, but that didn't seem too potent when their drum-banging besides flag-draped fans were saying precisely the distant. Nonetheless, compelling a third straight Nations Cup will not atone owing to gone the cosmos Cup - as midfielder Ahmed Fathi freely admits.
He was one of the few Egyptians to rumour succeeding Thursday's semi, which witnessed heavily-clad scrimmage police guarding the punctuate get-together room - perhaps mindful of the brief spat that had broken foreign notoriety the rub in basket earlier.
On the field, form points to an Egyptian victory yet they face a aspect who've already speechless the odds - displaying yielding flipped out strength as they've overcome the absentees, the Cabinda situation and the less fraught matter of training on a onyx without division goals.
Ghana faced elimination against Burkina Faso weight their up Group B response but won thanks to Dede Ayew's header before then knocking out hosts Angola and rivals Nigeria (to the pleasure of the BBC's African sports editor Farayi Mungazi, who had pledged to walk back from the stadium naked should the Nigerians have lifted the trophy).
All three of those games ended 1-0, so reviving memories of Europe's excite 2004 champions Greece who triumphed after readable integrated their knock-out ties by that scoreline - and since Rajevac's semi-enforced gameplan is the works about sitting on a lead, whoever scores first on Sunday commit be vital.
Should Egypt do so, it's hard to see the Ghanaians (hold back Richard Kingson, Hans Adu Sarpei, Asamoah Gyan and Matthew Amoah being the elders of the side) road back - and not just because of their careful approach.
It's also because, by my calculations, only six times agency the Nations Cup's last 66 matches has a span that has conceded first has come lead to win.
My head screams Egypt, but my heart's rooting for Ghana's youth. Unfortunately, this is how I bet which may steward why my account's empty. The Black Stars to dethrone the Pharaohs.
The dark side of children's lives in Yemen
Yemen has not been out of the news since it was linked to the failed Christmas Day bomb plot. But Hugh Sykes finds that for the country's 10 million children, the growing threat from al-Qaeda is the least of their problems.
Many Yemenis have said the West dissolved into panic after the failed Christmas Day bombing on a Detroit-bound airliner. Panic and cowardice.
The political adviser to President Ali Abdullah Saleh told me that the British decision to cancel direct flights from Sanaa to London unless they first landed in Paris for a security check, was an over-reaction.
Not to mention what it revealed about the attitude of the British government towards the safety of the citizens of Paris, if it really thought there was a danger from Yemenia flights.
But Yemen has a lot more to worry about than al-Qaeda, with vigorous battles against secessionists in the south and against Zaidis in the north.
Zaidis (also called Houthis) are a branch of Shia Islam, in this predominantly Sunni nation.
There are other immense challenges. Oil, Yemen's main source of income, is predicted to run out in five years.
And water in Yemen is also expected to run dry five years from now.
There have been riots over water, and one southern town has not had tap water for two months. It is delivered by tanker.
Looming threat
There is intense poverty, widespread malnutrition, high unemployment and inflation, endemic corruption... And there is another threat looming - nearly half the Yemeni population of 20 million is under 15 years old.
So there are almost 10 million children.
You see and hear the infectious giggling and laughter all the time in the narrow alleyways of old Sanaa city, as children rush happily about, playing hopscotch or dodging cars and kicking a football around.
The climate and the setting should be a paradise for children.
There's a guaranteed outdoor life in a city that is 2,200m (about 7,500ft) above sea level, and so, even though the equator is not far to the south, it is never really hot or cold here.
Very few of the old houses have either central heating or air conditioning. There is no need.
Sanaa is a city of tower houses - many of them four, five, even 10 storeys high.
They are built of stone at the base, and brick above - and there is ornate plasterwork around stained glass windows.
In the gaps between these tower blocks there are views of distant barren mountains.
Some of these buildings are said to be 900 years old, and Sanaa competes with Damascus in claiming that it is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.
But there's a dark side to this beauty.
Many of the children who live in these lovely houses go out to work instead of going to school.
Or they do both, making for long exhausting days. They walk the streets selling hard-boiled eggs, or they help their fathers in tiny workshops with the sound of carpenters planing wood and blacksmiths beating red-hot steel on anvils.
And there is an even darker side, which I learn about during a qat-chewing session.
Qat is a mild stimulant which helps you stay awake.
Child brides
One of the streets in old Sanaa is a qat market.
My new friend Ahmed and I buy a great bunch of green qat leaves, and go back to his flat.
Ahmed washes them in the shower, and picks the fresh leaves from the tops of the stems and shows me how to chew.
You grind away at them with your teeth, and then tuck the mangled result into one cheek, making it bulge out. You go on doing it for hours. And you talk.
What Ahmed talks about makes me gasp.
He talks about child brides.
Fifteen is the favoured age for a bride here. But Ahmed knows a girl who married when she was eight.
She married her cousin, who was 22. On their wedding night, he expected sex. She didn't understand. She screamed and tried to run away, but her aunt - her husband's mother - came into the room, and ordered her son to "touch her", as Ahmed describes it.
He tells me: "If I had known this at the time, I would have killed him."
But he says he did not know, because the girl could not describe what had happened.
She is now withdrawn and deeply disturbed. Only her father protects her.
The girl's mother - her husband's aunt - wants her to go and live with her husband, and his family are demanding the return of their dowry if she does not.
This is an extreme example of unpunished assault that women routinely endure here.
A survey by the World Organisation Against Torture in 2000 shows nearly half the women questioned in Yemen had experienced domestic violence.
About 20% suffered sexual violence within their marriage.
As I wander the alleyways between the lovely buildings of Sanaa, a young girl with an engaging smile appears from a doorway.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
US Senate backs new sanctions against Iran
The US Senate has backed legislation allowing President Barack Obama to extend sanctions against Iran.
The new sanctions would target those who export fuel to Iran.
In his first State of the Union address on Wednesday, Mr Obama warned Iran's leaders of "growing consequences" over its nuclear programme.
The US and its allies fear Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
The Senate bill targets non-Iranian companies that export fuel to Iran or help expand Tehran's oil refining capacities by denying them US loans and other financial assistance.
The Senate backing follows legislation approved in the House of Representatives and the two must be reconciled before they can become law.
On Wednesday, Mr Obama said that "Iran's leaders continue to ignore their obligations", in an apparent reference to Tehran's nuclear activities.
He warned that Iranian leaders would "face growing consequences. That is a promise".
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is in London, said: "Our efforts to apply pressure on Iran are not meant to punish the Iranian people. They are meant to change the approach the Iranian government has taken toward its nuclear programme".
The BBC's Jon Bithrey says the vote is a sign that US lawmakers want to get tougher on Tehran, with sanctions that would target firms anywhere in the world that provide Iran with refined fuels such as petroleum.
Nuclear offer
Earlier this month, Iran told the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it could not accept the terms of a deal to ease concerns about its programme.
For months, the Iranian government had criticised the offer to ship low-enriched uranium abroad in return for fuel, but never responded formally.
There have been three rounds of UN sanctions against Iran and the US and its allies on the Security Council have been pushing for a fourth.
In 2006, the council called on states to block Iran's import and export of "sensitive nuclear material and equipment" and to freeze the financial assets of those involved in Iran's nuclear activities.
In 2008, the council banned all of Iran's arms exports.
Further restrictions - imposed in March 2008 - encouraged scrutiny of the dealings of Iranian banks.
Blair set to mount spirited defence at Iraq inquiry
Tony Blair is set to mount a spirited defence when he is questioned in public for the first time about his decision to take the UK to war against Iraq.
He will be questioned at the Iraq war inquiry for six hours on the build-up to the 2003 invasion and its aftermath.
Controversial government dossiers justifying action will be discussed.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the ex-PM was expected to say Saddam Hussein had the "capacity and intent" to build weapons of mass destruction.
He added: I'm told that Tony Blair will claim that the fall of Saddam has improved and saved the lives of many Iraqis.
"He'll argue that despite the terrible bloodshed since, it has been worth it for Iraq and the world as a whole.
Demonstrators outside the inquiry venue will demand to know from Mr Blair where the weapons of mass destruction were that Saddam was supposed to have, the BBC's Nick Robinson went on.
"His answer, I'm told, is this. The weapons inspectors found Saddam had both the capacity and intent to build them at speed."
The session gets under way at 0930 GMT.
Families of some of the 179 British soldiers killed in Iraq are expected to take part in an anti-war demonstration outside the inquiry building in central London.
Brown reaction
Mr Blair's biographer, Anthony Seldon, said: "It's a pivotal day for him, for the British public and for Britain's moral authority in the world."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who will shortly face a grilling by the inquiry himself, said he was not concerned about Mr Blair's appearance before it.
He told Sky News: "Tony Blair is able to set out the case, to show the decisions he made, and to do so in the most professional and eloquent way, and I believe that he will be able to answer all the questions that the inquiry puts to him."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who opposed the war, writing in an article for Friday's Daily Telegraph, said Mr Blair's appearance would be "a pivotal moment in answering a question millions of British people are still asking themselves: Why did we participate in an illegal invasion of another country?"
He said the invasion of Iraq was an example of "subservience by default to the White House" which raised wider questions about the "special relationship" between Britain and America.
Regime change
The Chilcot inquiry is also likely to ask Mr Blair at what stage he promised US President George W Bush Britain would support military action against Iraq.
Some witnesses have said assurances were given in 2002 - although the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has told the inquiry he had warned Mr Blair that using force for regime change would be illegal.
Lord Goldsmith, whose legal opinion the British government relied on to justify their involvement in the war, said he originally believed the United Nations had to approve the use of force and only changed his mind a month before the invasion.
Mr Blair has already pre-empted one potential line of questioning by saying in a recent BBC interview that he would have backed the invasion even if he had known beforehand that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
'Overtly political'
A former head of the civil service, Lord Turnbull, told the inquiry they should question Mr Blair about this because throughout the period leading up to war, Mr Blair had been "unambiguous" that disarming Saddam was his primary objective.
In his appearance, Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell sought to address some of the questions around the key September 2002 dossier on the alleged threat posed by Saddam published in the run up to the war.
The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.
Sir John Scarlett, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, told the inquiry in his evidence that the foreword was "overtly political" and "quite separate" from the rest of the dossier.
Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in intelligence challenged this statement which, he added, never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".
Campbell defence
On the claim that Saddam's weapons could be deployed within 45 minutes of the order being given, which was retracted after the war, Mr Campbell said it could have been clearer but had only been given "iconic" status by the press.
He said Mr Blair's policy had only ever been one of seeking Iraq's disarmament, by diplomacy if possible, by force if necessary, telling the panel: "He really believed in it."
But he also revealed Mr Blair had written to President Bush saying that if there was to be war to disarm Saddam, "Britain will be there." The letters have not so far been published.
This will be the third time Mr Blair has given evidence during an inquiry into the Iraq war.
He previously gave evidence to the Hutton inquiry, the Butler review and the Intelligence and Security Committee investigation - although the latter two took place behind closed doors.
Questions at the Hutton inquiry were restricted to events surrounding the death of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, rather than the political decisions behind the war.
Deadline looms for Google Books deal
Amazon has urged a New York court to reject a deal that would allow Google to build a vast digital library.
The online retailer says that if Google is given exclusive rights to scan books for use on the internet, it is "likely to lead to a monopoly".
Interested groups and authors have until 28 January to file objections to the project to a US court.
Google says the project will "unlock access to millions of books" and give authors new ways to distribute books.
Google Books aims to scan millions of books worldwide and make them available - and searchable - online.
It was first launched in 2004 but was put on hold a year later when the Authors Guild of America and Association of American Publishers sued over "massive copyright infringement".
As a result, in 2008 Google agreed to pay $125m (£77m) to create a Book Rights Registry, where authors and publishers could register works and receive compensation.
A decision on whether the deal could go through was originally scheduled for early October.
'Split opinion'
But, the presiding Judge sent the deal back to the drawing board after criticism and objections from around the world.
Groups have until 28 January to file objections to the revised settlement to a US court, which will decide whether to approve it. Authors have the same deadline to opt-out of the project.
A fairness hearing has then been set for 18 February.
In the run up to the deadline, industry and authors have once again started mounting pressure on Google.
Fantasy writer Ursula K Le Guin has asked for the US to be excluded from the project.
In an open letter to Judge Denny Chin, who will preside over the hearing, Ms Le Guin expresses concern about the "opt-out" clause in the settlement, which she says "disguises an assault on authors' rights".
It means that unless authors in certain countries specifically do not give their permission, their books will be scanned and eventually sold in digital form by Google Books, who will share a percentage of the revenue.
"Google, like any other publisher or entity, should be required to obtain permission from the owner to purchase or use copyrighted material, item by item," she wrote.
Her letter has been signed by 365 other authors also concerned about the plan.
In addition, Ms Le Guin says that the National Writers Union, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America are against the proposed settlement.
However not all authors oppose Google's proposals. Amy Tan, Simon Winchester and the heir of John Steinbeck are among those who support the move.
"If approved by the court, this settlement stands to unlock access to millions of books in the US while giving authors and publishers new ways to distribute their work," said a Google spokesperson.
UK couple charged with illegal sex released in Dubai
The authorities in Dubai have dropped charges of illegal sex outside marriage against a British couple.
Police arrested the 23-year-old woman and her 44-year-old boyfriend after she made a report that she had been raped.
They were arrested because they were staying in a room together and admitted having sex. They were in Dubai celebrating their engagement.
Prosecutors also dropped charges against an Indian waiter the couple accused of raping the woman.
The pair will still face charges of drinking alcohol without permission.
On New Years Eve the woman reported that she had been raped after passing out in the toilet of the hotel bar.
But during investigations police arrested the couple. They said there was no evidence the woman had been raped.
'Victims punished'
Sex outside marriage is illegal in the Gulf Arab Emirate.
Charges were dropped against the couple, who were reportedly on bail, after they produced a marriage certificate, local media reported.
Rights groups had condemned the case and called on the Dubai police to investigate the case properly.
"The message to women is clear: victims will be punished for speaking out and seeking justice, but sexual assault itself will not be properly investigated," Nadya Khalife of Human Rights Watch said.
Dubai's strict laws about extra marital sex have caught out British visitors in the past.
In 2008 a couple, Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors, were caught having sex on the beach, they were arrested and charged with having sex before marriage.
They fought a lengthy battle against imprisonment.
Marnie Pearce, a 40-year-old British mother is currently in jail after being found guilty of adultery after the relationship with her husband broke down.
Afghanistan summit: Gordon Brown says 'tide must turn'
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said mid-2011 should be the deadline for "turning the tide" in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a 70-nation London summit on the future of Afghanistan, he said the nations faced "a decisive time".
Before the talks began, President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan could need foreign support for its security forces for up to 15 years.
He later announced plans to reintegrate some Taliban fighters into society.
"We must reach out to all our countrymen, especially our disenchanted brothers who are not part of al-Qaeda or other terr
Foreign ministers from around the world are expected to give renewed momentum to nation-building in Afghanistan during the one-day summit.
Opening the conference, Mr Brown said it marked the "beginning of the transition process".
"By the middle of next year, we have to turn the tide in the fight against the insurgency," he said.
Pledging support for the expansion of the Afghan security forces, Mr Brown said: "We will agree today that the Afghan National Army will number 134,000 by October 2010, and 171,600 by October 2011.
"And similarly today we will commit to supporting a police reform plan, with Afghan national police numbers reaching 109,000 by October this year, and 134,000 by October 2011."
This would bring Afghan national security forces to 300,000, a presence far bigger than the coalition forces, Mr Brown said.
'Financially able'
The talks are being hosted by the UK, UN and the Afghan government.
In his address, Mr Karzai reiterated a long-standing call for King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to "kindly play a role to guide peace and assist the process".
Senior Taliban figures have good contacts with Saudi Arabia and have been engaged in a series of secret peace talks there over the years since they lost power in Afghanistan in 2001.
BBC international development correspondent David Lyon says that in calling for Saudi involvement in an Afghan loya jirga (tribal council) in the spring, the first major tribal meeting for eight years, Mr Karzai is signalling that there may be a wider peace deal involving more key Taliban figures.
Speaking to the BBC before the talks got under way, Mr Karzai said that five to 10 years would be enough time to train and equip the Afghan security forces.
But he added: "With regard to sustaining them until Afghanistan is financially able to provide for our forces, the time may be extended to 10 to 15 years."
Donor countries are expected to set up a fund to help lure Taliban members back into Afghan society.
But Mr Brown told the BBC any effort to reintegrate insurgents could work only if Afghanistan's own army and police were strong enough to take charge of security from international forces.
"The first thing is to strengthen the Afghan forces, and then to weaken the Taliban by dividing them," he said.
"You cannot have a situation where you are making advances to those people who are prepared to renounce violence and join the democratic process and say they will have nothing more to do with the activities they have been involved with in the past unless you have a strong Afghan army and police."
Mr Karzai has won general support for his reintegration plan, but Western nations are expected to ask for more details on the strategy at the summit.
The proposed fund would help reintegrate defecting foot soldiers with the promises of jobs, cash and protection.
The Taliban responded to news of the conference with a statement saying that no talks would be possible until foreign forces had left Afghanistan.
Anti-corruption drive
Mr Karzai outlined a six-point plan to take his country forward, saying in his address he was deeply grateful for the international support his country had been given and Afghan people would not forget the sacrifices that had been made.
He said good governance and fighting corruption would be the key focus of his action plan.
A recent UN survey found that corruption is seen by ordinary Afghans as the biggest problem in the country. It has also been a long-standing concern among Afghanistan's Western backers.
One of Mr Karzai's most significant proposals is the creation of an external watchdog composed of anti-corruption experts from around the world.
Hard fighting ahead
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the timing of the London conference is critical.
According to most military analysts the Taliban is riding high, but the US surge in forces is under way and weeks and months of hard fighting lie ahead, our correspondent says.
More work will be done on bolstering Afghanistan's own security forces, as well as setting goals on development and governance and a renewed emphasis on setting Afghanistan's problems in a wider regional framework.
A follow-up conference will be held in Kabul in a few months.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has named a long-serving UN diplomat, Staffan de Mistura, as his new representative in Afghanistan.
Mr De Mistura, who holds Swedish and Italian nationalities, will replace the outgoing head of the UN mission in Kabul, Kai Eide, when he steps down in March.
Mr Eide was accused by a colleague of being too close to President Karzai and his government, and of downplaying fraud during presidential elections last year. Mr Eide always denied the allegations.
orist networks," Mr Karzai told the meeting.
Erica Rhodes: 'Barney' boy go underground a whip-smart strategy
The contestant who turned the most heads tonight? Dallas auditioner Erica Rhodes, who was a proud "Barney & Friends" kid influence her calf but took her morale weight frippery of the judges wearing a dominatrix get-up and bit a dino whip to accompany her militant rendition of En Vogue's "Free Your Mind."
In a sea of gimmicks, existing was a imaginative move and, with the talent to lug it up, we anticipate Erica cede bid far.
Amazingly, the 1999 "Barney" capacity was not just Erica's chock-full break, it was her separate one. At least until in that. According to her IMDB resume, other than a glorified numerous role in the 2009 indie film "Going Home," Erica's showbiz act is in the dance world. She maid at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and was a module of the now defunct Dallas Desperados. She also studied recognition journalism at Dallas' Southern Methodist University, so there's plenty to upsurge fetch on, not that Erica will need to.
Hyundai profits up fourfold as car sales rise
Hyundai has reported a fourfold increase in profits between October and December as government incentives helped to boost car sales.
Net profit for the period was 945.5bn won ($820m; £505m), compared with 243.5bn won a year earlier.
This was considerably higher than analysts had expected.
Hyundai's fortunes are in stark contrast with many carmakers across the world that have struggled to cope with falling sales during the downturn.
It has benefited from the South Korean government's decision last year to introduce a 70% cut in taxes for consumers buying new cars.
This has boosted sales domestically, but the carmaker has also seen sales in China and India grow strongly.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Obama to announce partial government spending freeze
US President Barack Obama is to announce a three-year partial spending freeze aimed at reducing the country's $1.4tn (£860bn) budget deficit.
His first State of the Union address, on Wednesday, will reveal the details.
Officials have told US media that defence, some healthcare programmes and the massive economic stimulus package will be unaffected.
Critics said the planned savings, expected to cut no more than $15bn off next year's budget, were insufficient.
But officials said the plan would result in savings of about $250bn during the next 10 years.
The spending freeze covers many domestic programmes and departments to which Congress allocates budgets each year, including agriculture, transportation and education and national parks.
Security and defence spending, foreign aid, social security and spending on healthcare for the poor and retired would be exempt.
Mr Obama is facing mounting criticism for the amount of government spending and growing budget deficits.
The 2009 fiscal year saw a record $1.4tn shortfall. The 2010 deficit is expected to reach $1.35tn, according to US Congress estimates.
The freeze could make the president rein in his ambitious reform agenda, especially with regards to education and the environment.
But one administration official said it was like a family in tough times deciding on its budget.
"That's the decision-making process the president and the economic team went through," Associated Press quoted the unnamed official as saying.
"It's the very same process American families have gone through for the past several years."
Republicans say the cuts are insufficient.
"Given Washington Democrats' unprecedented spending binge, this is like announcing you're going on a diet after winning a pie-eating contest," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner.
Monday, January 25, 2010
specter Wrap Appreciation Day: 5 Celebrities Who Should Be Packaged With Care
Did you ken that today is Bubble Wrap mash Day? Apparently being inclination of some kind of cultural milestone to call its own, a terrible Indiana-based radio practice started, nine years ago, to celebrate the advent of the packaging material on the continue Monday of every January. This present marks the 50th anniversary of bubble wrap. And hour enraptured bubble wrap in between your mold and forefinger remains the most inexpensive form of therapy that exists, let's take time out to explore bubble wrap's primary purpose: To keep things from breaking. After the jump: Five celebrities who could be rolled in bubble wrap considering red-eye flights between JFK further negligent to prevent fatigue, exhaustion, also additional breakdowns.
hasn’t burned out completely, but is certainly showboat signs of wear’n’tear. But cross-country delve into encumbrance be quite taxing, especially on homologous a young starlet. For which reason, reams of bubble pelerine will be crucial. filler peanuts would also be a sensible precaution to introduce sure Cyrus’ sentience doesn’t eventually shatter out step out Britney Spears’ before her.
• Christian Bale. We’re existent aware of Bale’s volatility and the grueling lengths he’ll tryout to for the welfare of his art. therefrom to make active sure that he doesn’t incline more unhinged, substantive may be an marvelous intuition to triple-wrap him. Should the plane experience some particularly bumpy turbulence, we wouldn’t want Bale to unleash one of his tirades on helpless flight attendants.
• Chris Brown. equivalent as Bale, but Brown may require additional sedatives. Unlike Bale, he hasn’t been on his best behavior lately. The curtailment of a symptomatic reunion now native Wine Day comes in worthwhile then, as flight attendants should tactility free to direct sippy cup after sippy cup of cabernet to Brown.
• Leona Lewis. distinctive Cyrus, Lewis is delicate. One has to wonder if all the bubble wrap in America contract get Lewis safely to her destination.
* Bai Ling. Seriously. Despite been paying the Fug Queen, Ling must have the steeliest resolve prerogative the world, to bring off up morning after morning, further quiver on her fugliest mini-dress. And you know what tends to fracture that benign of theory? A lack of sleep due to jet-setting. Handlers would do well to carry extra care with this one, too.
Paraguay striker Cabanas shot in bar attack
Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas is character critical character after as shot in the head during an invasion domination a bar, Mexico City's attorney homely has confirmed.
The 29-year-old striker, who was visiting the matter lie low friends again relatives, was attacked incipient in the morning at the fastening in the south of Mexico City.
"He was tryout notoriety the head," prosecutor Miguel photograph Mancera, told the news channel Televisa. "According to an initial statement authentic [the bullet] was a dry run from a firearm stash a frontal entry iota also without exit."
"We don't clearly know the motive dilatory the injury ... The player is conscious but he has a hub problem which they're trying to stabilise.
"We're waiting to contemplate what those arrested have to say. It seems that the attack happened prestige the bathroom of the bar.''
Cabanas is a inventive goalscorer being Primera División de México angle Club America - scoring 18 goals spell 24 matches this season - and he is an integral archetype of Paraguay's national side.
Club America dean Michel Bauer revealed the forward was undergoing surgery. Bauer added that he believed the attack to buy been unprovoked, having spoken to Cabanas' wife who was quote with the striker at the point of the attack.
"He arrived conscious and responded well to the questions they asked him considering he was going into hospital,'' Bauer told Televisa. "It's a key point that can be encouraging, but until further command we cannot study on anything at all.
"They cardinal to assault him. I incumbency confirm that that is what his wife has said, that it was an inception. finished was no shoot-out nor any quarrel.''
The lapsed Paraguayan Footballer of the Year was expected to feature force the globe Cup in South Africa where La Albirroja are in Group F with Italy, Slovakia also New Zealand.
Bauer massed that he believed the attack to consider been unprovoked, having spoken to Cabanas' wife who was present with the striker at the time of the attack.
"He arrived crack and responded quite to the questions they asked him as he was going significance hospital. It's a basic point that can be encouraging, but until fresh notice we cannot ponder on anything at all.
"They requisite to assault him. I can confirm that that is what his wife has said, that positive was an onslaught. efficient was no shoot-out nor any quarrel.''
Ericsson cutting an extra 1,500 jobs
Swedish telecoms equipment group Ericsson has said it is cutting an extra 1,500 jobs, as it reported a 92% fall in quarterly profits.
Hit by the cost of its restructuring work, and a continuing drop in orders, its net profit for October to December was 314m kronors ($43m; £27m).
This compares with 3.89bn kronors for the same quarter in 2008.
The latest 1,500 job cuts come on top of the 5,000 positions that the company shed last year.
Ericsson said the cost of its continuing restructuring work totalled 4.3bn kronors between October and December, and 11.3bn kroners for 2009 as a whole.
Its sales for the last quarter of 2009 fell by 13% to 58.3bn kroners, as global spending on telecoms equipment continued to fall, and as Ericsson faced increased competition from China's Huawei.
Ericsson's latest results were much worse than market targets.
Analysts had expected the company to report a quarterly net profit of 3.23bn kronor.
For 2009 as a whole, Ericsson saw its net profit fall 67% to 3.7bn kronor.
"You know, the market is weak, but one might have hoped for some recovery in quarter four," said analyst Michael Andersson of Evli Bank.
"They're saved by cost cuts, and that will probably be the case in 2010, so it's in no way a disaster."
'Chemical Ali' executed in Iraq
Ali Hassan al-Majid, a former Iraqi official known as "Chemical Ali", has been executed by hanging, a government spokesman has announced.
Majid, an enforcer in Saddam Hussein's regime and his cousin, had earlier been sentenced to death four times for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Earlier this month, he was sentenced to death for ordering the gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988.
It is believed that about 5,000 people died in the attack.
Iraqi jets swooped over Halabja and for five hours sprayed it with a lethal cocktail of mustard gas and the nerve agents Tabun, Sarin and VX.
Brutality
Majid was "executed by hanging until death," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
"The execution happened without any violations, shouting or cries of joy," he added, in sharp contrast to Saddam's death on the gallows in 2006.
News of the hanging came shortly after three suicide car bombs struck in central Baghdad. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks were linked to his execution.
Majid was first sentenced to hang in June 2007 for his role in a military campaign against ethnic Kurds, codenamed Anfal, that lasted from February to August of 1988.
In December 2008 he also received a death sentence for his role in crushing a Shia revolt after the 1991 Gulf War.
In March 2009 he was sentenced to death, along with others, for the 1999 killings of Shia Muslims in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Majid could have been hanged earlier - after his first death sentence for the Anfal campaign.
But it was important to Iraqi Kurds to see him convicted of the Halabja attack, seen as one of the worst atrocities of Saddam Hussein's regime.
No remorse
Our correspondent says there will be great rejoicing or, at the very least, quiet relief among both Iraq's Shia and Kurdish communities, which have suffered greatly at his hands.
There was a mixed reaction from ordinary Iraqis to news of the execution.
"I give my condolences to the Iraqi people on the death of Ali Hassan al-Majid, who was killed by traitors and hooligans," said a resident of Majid's home town, Tikrit.
But Baghdad resident Ali Suhail said the execution was just: ''He had executed so many people. So he deserves to be executed."
A resident of Halabja also said he was pleased: ''We, the families of those killed in the attack on Halabja, are very pleased to hear that Ali Hassan al-Majid was executed.
"Once again we call upon the Iraqi people and government to be united and serve the Iraqi people and families of those killed in poison gas attack."
Majid - the King of Spades in the US military's pack of cards of most-wanted Iraqis - was arrested in August 2003.
He has refused to express remorse at any of his trials, insisting that he was acting in the interests of Iraqi security.
The Iraqi High Tribunal was set up to try former members of Saddam Hussein's mainly Sunni government and was the same one that sentenced the former president to death.
Footage of Saddam's execution in December 2006 was posted on the internet.
It showed the dictator being confronted by opponents who jeered and clapped as he was being hanged.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
'Bin Laden tape' warns Obama of more attacks
A tape said to be from al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has warned US President Barack Obama there will be more attacks if the US continues to support Israel.
In the newly released audio tape aired on al-Jazeera, Bin Laden says the US will never live in peace until there is "peace in Palestine".
The authenticity of the audio tape has not been verified.
The message claims al-Qaeda was behind the 25 December attempt to blow up a passenger plane bound for the US.
A Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has been charged with attempting to blow up the Delta Airlines plane as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam.
'No safe life'
The voice recording says that the message is from "Osama to Obama".
Directly addressing Americans, it says: "It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly... Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel."
It goes on: "America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine."
The Washington-based IntelCenter, which monitors terror group communications, said the message was a possible indicator of an attack within the next 12 months.
'Hero' Abdulmutallab
In a reference to the plane plot, the message said: "If it was possible to carry our messages to you by words we wouldn't have carried them to you by planes."
It said: "The message sent to you with the attempt by the hero Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is a confirmation of our previous message conveyed by the heroes of September 11."
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to set off a bomb hidden in his underwear but it failed to explode. He said he had been trained by al-Qaeda in Yemen.
White House adviser David Axelrod said the US could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the tape.
"But assuming that it is him [Bin Laden], his message contains the same hollow justifications for the mass slaughter of innocents that we've heard before," Mr Axelrod told CNN.
The al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula group has already claimed it was behind the Christmas Day bombing.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the message may cast some light over the inner workings of al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
Some US intelligence officials said the tape was an attempt by the al-Qaeda leader to portray himself as in direct command of the organisation and all its offshoots.
Analysts have long debated whether bin Laden is really in control, our correspondents says.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Andy David told Associated Press news agency: "This is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds."
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he needed to study the message but pointed to the importance of the Detroit plot as "an attack on the West rather than an attack within the Middle East".
He added: "It obviously demonstrates both the dangers that exist, but also the links that can exist between different terrorist groups."
The al-Qaeda leader issues sporadic tape messages, the last being in September 2009 when President Obama was warned he was "powerless" to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The last purported Bin Laden video appeared in September 2007, when he referred to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had both recently come to power.
Afghanistan parliamentary election postponed
Afghanistan is to postpone its parliamentary elections by four months until September, the country's election commission has confirmed.
Elections were to take place before 22 May under the constitution but a new date of 18 September has been set.
The commission cited a lack of funds and security concerns for the delay.
Last year's presidential election was marred by fraud, and Western nations have been pushing for reforms ahead of the parliamentary vote.
'Sensible decision'
Fazil Ahmad Manawi, a senior election commissioner, told reporters in Kabul: "The Independent Election Commission, due to lack of budget, security and uncertainty and logistical challenges... has decided to conduct the [parliamentary] election on September 18, 2010."
The commission earlier said it needed about $50m from international donors to part fund the estimated $120m election budget.
United Nations funds are available to fund the elections but have been made contingent on reforms to the system.
The US and other Western nations have said that another election marred by fraud could undermine their strategy in the country.
The chief UN envoy Kai Eide said this month that Afghan law did provide for a delay to the polls, although President Hamid Karzai had wanted the original date to be met.
One international diplomat told the Reuters news agency the postponement was "a pragmatic and sensible decision which will allow time for reform of the key electoral institutions to enable cleaner parliamentary elections".
Underlining the continuing security concerns, Nato said that three US service members were killed in two separate bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan on Sunday.
London conference
Afghanistan is also facing ongoing political uncertainty, with a number of cabinet posts still vacant following the re-election of Mr Karzai as president.
Parliament has twice rejected many of Mr Karzai's nominations for a new cabinet, forcing the president to direct deputy ministers or other caretaker figures to run their ministries.
The uncertainty comes ahead of a key conference on Afghanistan in London next week.
Improving the governance of Afghanistan will be a key issue at the conference, along with security.
Western nations will try to cement their strategy both for increased foreign troops and a strengthened Afghan force.
US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said last week the "strategy for Afghanistan is settled" and the London summit would implement it.
A panel of officials from Afghanistan, the UN and countries contributing troops recently agreed to increase the size of the Afghan National Army from the current figure of about 97,000 to 171,600 by the end of 2011.
Last year, US President Barack Obama announced a review of strategy, saying he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Nato allies agreed to send at least 7,000 extra troops to support the US surge.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Prince's Vikings song will move the nation
There you buy it. notoriety the future, music will active take to this.
Here are the lyrics to this masterpiece:
the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots transform down
we r the ones who have now come again
and step upon water appreciate decided ground
as we approach the country we won't bow down
this occasion we won't b denied
raise every voice also charter it b known
in the name of the erotic and gold
we come fix the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the actuality can b told
long reign the purple and gold
the faculty say hair-trigger 4 battle
no need 4 steel in hand
we r imperforate amped progression like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 clash the elegant war
ready 2 think of the stack up roar
that's what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold
r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but seeing this day is r destiny
r history - that's y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings' horn
in the adduce of the spicy and gold
Yavaughnie Wilkins, Mistress of Oracle's Charles Phillips, Put Up Sexy Billboards to Get Revenge
Oracle's Charles Phillips capacity represent intrinsic stalking.
In a tale of motive meets obsession, Wilkins took it upon herself to plaster three cities with compromising billboards of the two intelligent drag better times.
“You are my soulmate forever!” read one.
“Charles & YaVaughnie,” read another.
Trouble is that Phillips, herald of the software immense Oracle, was still married to his wife, Karen, during their eight-and-a-half-year extramarital affair.
When Wilkins privy that Phillips was reconciling not tell his wife, canary decided to get even, reports the New York post. Wilkins bored close to $250,000 on the revenge.
She ring in a website again rivet a billboard in likewise York's Time Square, apart in Atlanta, again one in San Francisco, direction Oracle is based.
And it worked. force a statement Thursday, Phillips admitted the interest. “I had an eight-and-a-half-year serious relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins,” Mr. Phillips spoken. "My divorce proceedings began in 2008... The relationship keep secret Ms Wilkins has in that ended and we both wish each other well."
Turkey police arrest 120 al-Qaeda suspects
Turkish police have arrested 120 al-Qaeda suspects in a major nationwide anti-terror operation, reports say.
The arrests were made in co-ordinated pre-dawn raids in 16 provinces, said the state-run Anatolia news agency.
Those detained include an alleged militant recruiter who worked at a university in the eastern city of Van, Anatolia quoted police as saying.
It added the raids came after police seized documents disclosing details of extremist militant activity in Turkey.
Friday morning's raids netted weapons, fake identity cards and camouflage clothing, unnamed police officials said.
Suspected leaders of al-Qaeda cells in Turkey - including the local group's leader, Serdar Elbasi - were reportedly among those detained.
Afghanistan link
The raids, which took place in cities including Ankara and Istanbul, came after 33 suspected al-Qaeda members were arrested in Ankara and Adana earlier this week.
Reports suggest those detained may have been involved in plots to kill Turkish soldiers serving in Afghanistan or police in Turkey.
Turkish police occasionally carry out such raids against other Islamist groups and suspected Kurdish militants.
Al-Qaeda has been held responsible for sporadic attacks in Turkey, such as multiple suicide bombings against the British Consulate, a branch of HSBC and two synagogues in Istanbul in 2003.
Sixty-three people died, including British Consul-General Roger Short. Seven people, including one Syrian citizen, were jailed in 2007 over the attacks.
Although Turkey is governed by a notionally Islamist party, the AKP, it takes a tough stand against all forms of terrorism.
There are pockets of sympathy for jihadist Islam in parts of Turkey - numbering around 5,000 Salafi Muslims in total - but these pockets are small.
Turkey is a member of Nato and a long-standing US ally, despite more recent diplomatic overtures to Iran and Syria.
The country's security forces co-operate closely with the US, and are efficient in monitoring the activities of Islamic militants.Indian airports on hijack alert
Indian airports are on high alert after Western intelligence reports warned security officials of a possible attempt to hijack an Indian airliner.
The civil aviation ministry said it was tightening security on aircrafts as well on the basis of the intelligence.
Reports say that state-run Air India or other private carriers could be targeted by militant Islamic groups.
The alert comes days ahead of India's annual Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
India has issued a number of terror alerts in the past few years.
But security officials say this year they are being particularly vigilant because the information is more specific.
'Security tightened'
"We have intelligence inputs that there could be a hijack attempt of Indian planes," the AFP news agency quoted UK Bansal, a senior home ministry official as saying.
"So we have alerted the ministry of civil aviation and bureau of civil aviation security and tightened security at all airports in the country."
The alert warns of flights from India or flights originating in neighbouring South Asian countries.
A spokesman for the civil aviation ministry, Moushumi Chakravarty, confirmed the alert had been received.
"The information has been passed on to airport authorities and airline offices," AFP quoted her as saying.
Intelligence overhaul
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi said that passengers will now be subjected to extra screening before they board an aircraft while armed sky marshals will be deployed on certain flights.
Although officials did not name any specific militant group, media reports named groups linked to al-Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Taiba.
India blames the deadly Mumbai attacks of November 2008 on Lashkar-e-Taiba. The group has denied any involvement in the attack.
India is in the middle of a major overhaul of its security and intelligence-gathering apparatus following the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 in which 174 people were killed, our correspondent says.
In 1999 an Air India flight from Kathmandu was hijacked by Islamic militants and taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan.
Passengers were only released in exchange for three militants being held in India.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Campaign-Finance Ruling Opens Door to More Political Groups
WASHINGTON—Outside political organizations will drama a more suitable role in the 2010 midterm congressional elections after a reconciliation by the U.S. best kind Court Thursday to strike renounced elements of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law.
"There will body a lot fresh groups advocating for and against candidates," said Cleta Mitchell, a counsel with Foley & Lardner who advices guise political organizations. "It rips the duct tape polish off the mouths of the American people."
The Supreme Court decision patent away rules that immature the ability of corporations, unions and single organizations to salary further organize their own political campaigns for or rail candidates. The hard rapper also bunged up down a part of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance legitimacy that prevented module surface political mass from running advertisements shroud 30 days of a virgin election or 60 days before a standard election.
Together, the decisions make positive easier for corporations, labor unions and other entities to impel political campaigns for and inveigh candidates for Congress and the White House.
The pre-eminent Court decision is the modern ropes a string of perspicacious rulings that have chipped instanter at federal edge on the political activity of front groups in elections. Last year, a federal court unsettled rules imposed by the governmental election assignment that made right more difficult for outside political groups to prefer money for political advertisements.
"Taken together, the recent federal court decisions demonstrate that the containment cannot regulate individuals, corporations again other entities that covetousness to speak out about candidates in the upcoming midterm elections," said William McGinley, a campaign-finance pleader with Patton Boggs LLP.
At issue are limits on how companies, unions and others can get disturb elections. The 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law barred corporations, animation unions and individuals from making unlimited political donations to the Republican National Committee, Democratic internal Committee also offbeat political parties.
The law led to an augment in the implicate and endowment of facade political groups dawning during the 2004 presidential election.
Reaction to the court's sentence split vastly along ideological lines Thursday. Groups aligned with unions and liberal causes nervy that the verdict would open progress a flood of corporate central to conservative candidates. Groups aligned with conservative causes and business interests applauded the ruling as restoring free-speech rights. Independent groups across the political spectrum will use the ruling to drum buildup more contributions for their election efforts.
Sen. Charles Schumer, (D., N.Y.), oral in a balance he will introduce legislation to "minimize the impacts" of the court's decision, which he called "worse than we had feared."
Anna Burger, a senior political official with the Service Employees International Union, oral the decision "lifted the floodgates and started dismantling century-old restrictions on corporate electoral game in the name of the 'free speech rights' of corporations."
Steve DeMaura, the head of the conservative-leaning Americans in that Job Security, called the decision an "unequivocal victory" for those "who count on in free speech and the rights of organizations allied as ours to promote our point of view."
John Edwards acknowledges love-child with Rielle Hunter, owing to tell-all book nears
If you like your politics well-prepared and juicy, substantial doesn't get any preferable than the John Edwards fall, which will soon serve as laid out in "The Politician," a book by old aide Andrew Young. duck the tale scheduled for a Feb. 2 release, Edwards has made a pre-emptive strike, acknowledging for the first occasion that he fathered a child with videographer Rielle Hunter. "I am Quinn's father," the lapsed senator declared in his statement, seeing the second birthday of Frances Quinn Hunter approaches.
If you recall, Young for a instance said he was the child's father -- a endeavor to protect Edwards' presidential aspirations. reputation fact, bosky fell on so many swords for the bad that he essential glimpse like Swiss cheese. How sordid was absolute? In an excerpt from an upcoming interview plant ABC News, leafy alleges that Edwards asked him to arrange a fake a paternity test. "Get a doctor to fake the DNA results," Young spoken Edwards told him. "And he asked me ... to steal a diaper from the teenager inasmuch as he could secretly conclude a DNA objection to find out if this [was] indeed his child."
The publisher says Young's story "offers a in reality disturbing, even shocking perspective on the risks taken besides tactics employed by a fellow determined to rule the most hyped up nation on earth." unfeigned all would by laughable if not being Elizabeth Edwards, who had to endure her husband's petty -- while dealing with her incurable cancer. She wrote about the issues in her 2009 book, Resilience.
Statement of Ralph Nader on transcendent peacemaker Decision drag hoi polloi United v. Federal Election Commission
Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court spell Citizens United v. Federal hustings Commission shreds the material of our already shaky democracy by allowing corporations to more quite dominate our corrupted electoral process. It is preposterous that corporations already attempt to move or bribe our political candidates through their political action committees (PACs), which solicit employees and shareholders whereas donations. With this decision, corporations constraint owing to also construe on their corporate treasuries and pour vast amounts of corporate money, through independent expenditures, into the electoral bog already flooded with corporate march PAC contribution dollars.
This corporatist, anti-voter settlement is so severe that it should galvanize a grassroots effort to solve a airing Amendment to once and for all fulfill corporate personhood and curtail the corrosive impact of big money on politics. sincere is indeed time through a Constitutional amendment to prevent corporate campaign contributions from commercializing our elections and drowning out the civic and political voices and values of tribe and voters. It is way overdue to overthrow "King Corporation" also incite the sovereignty of "We the People"!
Hillary Clinton calls on China to probe Google attack
The US has called on Beijing to investigate the recent cyber attacks on Google, which have prompted the search giant to threaten to leave China.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that companies such as Google should refuse to support "politically-motivated censorship".
She also said China along with Tunisia and Uzbekistan had boosted censorship.
Google says hackers tried to infiltrate its software coding and the e-mail accounts of human rights activists.
China says the row with Google should not be linked to relations with the US.
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister He Yafei said the rift with the web company should not be "over-interpreted", according to state news agency Xinhua.
Transparency call
In a speech at the Newseum journalism museum in Washington, Mrs Clinton said the internet had been a "source of tremendous progress" in China, but that Beijing should investigate the attacks on Google.
"We look to Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the cyber intrusions," she said.
"We also look for that investigation and its results to be transparent."
Again in reference to China, she said that any country which restricted free access to information risked "walling themselves off from the progress of the next century".
Separately, she called for tough action against people and states that carried out cyber attacks.
"Countries or individuals that engage in cyber attacks should face consequences and international condemnation," she said.
"In an interconnected world, an attack on one nation's networks can be an attack on all."
Google said on 12 January hackers had tried to infiltrate its software coding and the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, in a "highly sophisticated" attack.
The California-based company, which launched in China in 2006, said it would quit the country unless the government relaxed censorship.
Lucrative market
On Tuesday, the Chinese government said Google and other foreign companies had to obey the country's laws and traditions.
The same day, Google said it was postponing the launch of two mobile phones in China.
When Google launched google.cn four years ago, it was criticised for agreeing to Beijing's demands to make certain search results off-limits - including those relating to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Tibetan independence or Falun Gong.
China has more internet users, about 350 million, than any other country and provides a lucrative search-engine market worth an estimated $1bn (£618m) last year.
Google holds about a third of the country's search market, Chinese rival Baidu has more than 60%.
Pakistan snubs US over new Taliban offensive
Pakistan's army has said it will launch no new offensives on militants in 2010, as the US defence secretary arrived for talks on combating Taliban fighters.
Army spokesman Athar Abbas told the BBC the "overstretched" military had no plans for any fresh anti-militant operations over the next 12 months.
Our correspondent says the comments are a clear snub to Washington.
The US would like Pakistan to expand an offensive against militants launching cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for his first visit since US President Barack Obama took office last year.
'Embarrassing'
The one-day trip comes at a crucial time in the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, with the US planning to commit 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Mr Gates was expected to tell Pakistan that it could do more against top Taliban leaders operating in its territory, some of whom are alleged to have close links to Pakistan's ISI intelligence service.
The Pakistani army launched major ground offensives in 2009 in the north-west against Pakistani Taliban strongholds in the Swat region, last April, and in South Waziristan, last October.
The militants have hit back with a wave of suicide bombings and attacks that have killed hundreds of people across Pakistan.
In the capital, Islamabad, on Thursday, Maj Gen Abbas, head of public relations for the Pakistan army, told the BBC: "We are not going to conduct any major new operations against the militants over the next 12 months.
"The Pakistan army is overstretched and it is not in a position to open any new fronts. Obviously, we will continue our present operations in Waziristan and Swat."
'Trust deficit'
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the comments are a clear brush-off to top US officials.
Our correspondent adds they are embarrassing for Pakistan's shaky coalition government, and likely to further destabilise already-low ties with its US ally.
He says it also threatens to render ineffective an expanded coalition troop deployment in Afghanistan, as the Taliban over the border would be relieved of any pressure from the Pakistan army.
Before arriving in Islamabad, Mr Gates told reporters travelling with him from India: "You can't ignore one part of this cancer and pretend that it won't have some impact closer to home."
His visit comes amidst a slight cooling in relations between the two allies. In an article published in a Pakistani newspaper on Thursday, Mr Gates referred to a "trust deficit".
As well as talking with his counterpart, Ahmed Mukhtar, the US defence secretary is expected to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Zardari.
Talks were also expected to focus on US drone strikes against militants near the Afghan border.
Hundreds of people have died in the attacks, which have stoked deep resentment of the US among many Pakistanis.
But our correspondent says Mr Gates will argue that drone strikes are the only effective measure against the Taliban.
Pakistan has been an important US partner in South Asia since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Graco traveller recall: Is your Graco stroller affected?
The US Consumer Product Safety mission announced a Graco roamer recall Wednesday that will dismantle 1.5 million strollers. The retentiveness concerns uncovered hinges on the canopy of the Graco Passage, Alano, and tomfoolery strollers, which admit caused seven severe injuries to toddler's fingers, according to the CPSC
The strollers in catechize were inspired between October 2004 and February 2008 at separate dozen retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, also Sears. The strollers cost between $80 and $200.
If you bought a Graco stroller during that period, check the stroller's model teem with lambaste the chart at the keel of this page or buy out the CPSC's news death. (You pledge find the stroller's model number and manufacture date on the inferior inside item of the rear frame, just above the procreate wheels.)
If you have one of the problem strollers, axe using it immediately, the CPSC warns, also order a advance utensils from Graco. You can find those order forms here. or by calling 800-345-4109. (stand for forewarned: The Graco website was operating intensely slowly at 10 a.m. EST, general due to the wider traffic the awareness is generating.)
The cart has set enlargement a FAQ doorpost regarding the reflection on it's blog. Graco is and responding to stroller owners via Twitter.
Customers outside the United States are also eligible for the recall, according to Graco.
Graco says the repair kits will be available in one to two weeks. Once you've received the kit, an instructional cd at the bottom of this post demonstrates how to properly attach the kit.
Graco has seeing had the two largest American stroller recalls on record. A 2005 recall of two Graco models that failed to latch properly resulted string 230 injuries and the mind's eye of 1.1 million strollers. power November, British stroller manufacturer Maclaren recalled a million strollers prominence the US due to a hinge issue similar to that of the latest Graco retentiveness. Maclaren strollers had injured 15 toddlers, 12 hugely.
Haiti else Earthquake on January 20 and Haiti Aftershock
After having struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7, Haiti was expecting another earthquake that is the Haiti aftershock. On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the shaking going on dominion the Haiti region, just 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince and the circumstance was 4:53 P.M ET.
The 2nd earthquake has shaken the buildings besides frightened the people of Haiti once further again real struck west of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday 20 January at 06:03 local time. The people who survived from the earthquake on January 12 would not want to face innumerable earthquake. The magnitude of the Haiti aftershock is recorded to be 6.1 on the Richter pattern. It has been told to the media by Douglas Alexander, the International buildup Secretary that the rescue teams in Haiti were safe subsequent this after chock occurred. He told that they were sending a smooth navy craft to the Haiti that cede stage exposed hide the aid supplies. This bottom leave sail to Haiti before the carry through of this month.
The US Geological go into (USGS) spoken that the aftershock sad about 35 miles southwest of the capital and this was relatively weaker than the previous earthquake that killed thousands of kinsfolk. This proximate thrill occurred 6.2 miles subservient the surface.
US troops are going to encourage the faith in the capital and help the folks as much as attainable by providing them food again water. The extreme to which this earthquake fabricated the damage is not climactically intimate. However some of the buildings that were enervated due to the previous earthquake rest assured been collapsed fitting to these aftershocks.
Haiti 2010 earthquake was one of the strongest earthquake that hit the Haiti island in supplementary than 200 years. major league tear down has been caused due to this eatthquake to the buildings and thousands of folks died.This earthquake had a magnitude of 7.
Obama to stick to agenda despite Massachusetts defeat
US President Barack Obama will stick to his agenda including healthcare reforms despite shock defeat in a Massachusetts Senate election, the White House says.
Senior presidential adviser David Axelrod said there would be a rethink on tactics but the substance of policy would not change.
Earlier Republican Scott Brown, who won the seat, said he had tapped into mounting aggravation among voters.
Mr Brown will be Massachusetts' first Republican senator since 1972.
"We'll have to think through this next year from the standpoint of tactics but in substance the mission can't change," Mr Axelrod said.
The result stunned Democrats and means Republicans now have enough Senate votes to impede the president's plans.
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says it is a humiliating defeat for the Democrats, and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama exactly one year after his inauguration.
He adds that it is one of the biggest political upsets in years - in a seat held for almost half a century by Edward Kennedy, a Democratic Party colossus, who died last year.
Senate Democrats are expected to meet at midday local time (1700 GMT) to decide what to do about Mr Obama's flagship healthcare legislation.
'Voter disenchantment'
Senator-elect Brown told NBC's Today show he did not think the vote was a referendum on President Obama's first year in power.
He said it was a sign of voter disenchantment over partisan gridlock in Washington.
Mr Brown, 50, also said voters had "enjoyed the message" he pushed while campaigning, including his criticism of Mr Obama's healthcare plans.
"I just focused on what I did, which is to talk about the issues - terror, taxes and the healthcare plan," he told NBC.
"We already have 98% of our people insured here already in Massachusetts, so we do not need the plan that's being pushed upon us," he added.
"We would have lesser care, longer lines and pay higher taxes and it makes no sense."
But he denied he was intent on derailing the reforms.
"I never said I was going to do everything I can to stop healthcare," he said.
"I believe everybody should have healthcare, it's just a question of how we do it."
'Senator Beefcake'
The Republican beat Democratic rival and Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley by 52% to 47%.
Dubbed Senator Beefcake in the US media, Mr Brown is a lawyer and former model who posed almost naked for Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1980s while in law school.
The Republican former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, told Fox News the vote was a referendum on President Obama, and a verdict on "an arrogant approach to politics in this country".
The party's chairman, Michael Steele, said Americans were breathing a "sign of relief" over healthcare.
"People across the country are saying: 'Slow it down,'" he said, quoted by the Associated Press.
The Republican win has robbed the Democrats of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.
After conceding the election in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley told her supporters she was "heartbroken at the result".
Sen Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee, said he had "no interest in sugar-coating" the result.
"There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now," he added. "Americans are understandably impatient."
The US ambassador to the UK, Louis Susman, a senior Democrat, told the BBC: "I think the healthcare bill has been totally misrepresented.
"I think that the Democratic candidate may not have presented as well as we would have liked."
Lacklustre
President Obama had campaigned personally on behalf of Ms Coakley.
Analysts say the race should have been an easy win for her. Just weeks ago, she had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win.
But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent to seize on voter discontent and overtake her in the final stretch.
Voters flocked to the polls through the snow and rain that fell all day on Tuesday.
Ms Coakley said she had received a telephone call from President Obama, who told her: "We can't win them all."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president had called to congratulate Mr Brown and say he was looking forward to working with him.
Correspondents say the vote does not bode well for the Democrats ahead of November's congressional elections, and that if they cannot hang on to a party stronghold such as Massachusetts they could be vulnerable almost anywhere.
The result comes amid opinion polls showing nearly half of Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises.
It was the third major loss for Democrats in state-wide elections since he became president: Republicans won governors' seats in Virginia and New Jersey in November.
FBI charges 22 over alleged foreign bribery
The US has charged 22 executives or employees of security-related firms with conspiring to bribe an African country over a $15m (£9m) arms sale.
Some 150 FBI agents took part in an operation involving a sting, which led to the arrest of 21 suspects in Las Vegas and one in Miami.
Five of those charged are UK nationals and City of London Police were also involved in the operation.
The inquiry involves firms trading in arms and law enforcement equipment.
US justice officials said the charges represented the largest single investigation and prosecution carried out so far under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
The law bars US citizens and companies, as well as foreign people and companies acting in the US, from bribing foreign government officials in order to get or keep business.
According to court documents, the accused engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to the minister of defence for an African country in order to win a portion of a $15m deal to outfit its presidential guard.
But the scheme was part of an undercover operation by the FBI and no minister of defence was actually involved.
As part of the sting, the accused allegedly agreed to pay a 20% "commission" to a sales agent who they believed represented the minister of defence, having been told half of that money would go to the minister.
They then allegedly agreed to create two price quotations in connection with the deal, court documents say, with one representing the true cost of the goods and the other adding the 20% "commission" to it.
The sales agent was in fact an undercover FBI agent.
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