Mistrial declared in Microsoft-Novell suit, over hung jury

A federal judge declared a mistrial in Novell's antitrust suit against Microsoft after jurors told the court they could not reach a verdict.
Novell filed the case in 2004, alleging that Microsoft, while developing Windows 95, promised to support Novell's WordPerfect and Quattro Pro products, but held back key technical information required to make them compatible with Windows 95. Novell sought more than $1 billion in damages as a result of Microsoft's alleged anticompetitive behavior.

Microsoft's Bill Gates

(Credit: Microsoft)

The jury trial, which lasted two months, saw Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates travel to the Salt Lake City courtroom to testify. According to an Associated Press article, jurors told the judge presiding over the trial that they were "hopelessly deadlocked" after deliberating for three days.

Jim Lundberg, an attorney for Novell, told Bloomberg that the company is "terribly disappointed." The article didn't say if the company intended to continue with the litigation.

Microsoft, too, expressed disappointment in the mistrial.

"We are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a verdict," Microsoft Associate General Counsel Steve Aeschbacher said in a statement. "We remain confident that Novell's claims here do not have merit, and look forward to the next steps in the process."

Samsung Electronics is hoping to kill Apple in the courtroom with a smile.

Samsung tacked on four new patents in fresh complaints brought against Apple in a German court, according to legal blog. One of the patents involves a method of entering an emoticon on the screen.
The patents were brought up amid deliberations in two separate trials in German court, one in which Apple is suing Samsung, and vice versa. Given the new patents, which resulted in the creation of two new Samsung v. Apple lawsuits, the patent showdown in Germany is likely to continue for awhile.
The legal battle in Germany is just one of many conflicts between the two companies that have touched down in the U.S., Australia, South Korea, and several countries in Europe.
The other patents involve one that sends data on the screen to the loudspeakers for speech output, a method of configuring how data is sent to the network, and a way to report inter-frequency measurement during the communications uplink.
The patents represent an escalation of the legal wrangling between the two companies. FOSS Patents author and legal consultant Florian Mueller said he expects similar action from Apple.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Apple decided to respond to this escalation by bringing several additional patent infringement lawsuits against Samsung in Germany," he said in his blog.
Apple is already suing HTC and Motorola Mobility in the same court in Germany.

Nafees, Shakib take Bangladesh out of trouble

DHAKA: Shahriar Nafees and Shakib Al Hasan hit unbeaten half-centuries to steady Bangladesh on the opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Dhaka on Saturday. Nafees was unbeaten on 66 and Shakib 63 not out as Bangladesh reached 153-4 in their first innings at tea after losing four wickets for 43 runs in the morning session. The left-handed pair denied Pakistan any success in the afternoon, having so far added 110 for the unbroken fifth-wicket stand. Nafees, who swept and pulled off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for two fours in an over, reached his seventh Test half-century when he fluently drove Gul through the covers for a boundary. Shakib also completed his fifty in style, hitting off-spinner Saeed Ajmal through the covers for four. He had so far hit 10 boundaries, including three in an over off paceman Aizaz Cheema, in his 10th Test half-century. Bangladesh were in deep trouble following Cheema s three-wicket burst in the morning before being steadied by Nafees and Shakib. Cheema dismissed opener Mohammed Nazimuddin and Mohammad Mahmudullah for no score, and Nasir Hossain for seven runs in a sharp eight-over opening spell after the tourists won the toss and elected to field. Fast bowler Umar Gul was the other wicket-taker in the morning session, removing Tamim Iqbal for 14. Cheema and Gul exploited the conditions well after a delayed start due to fog, reducing Bangladesh to 21-3 in the opening eight overs. Nazimuddin, who scored 31 and 78 on his debut in the last Test in Chittagong, failed to open his account this time as he was trapped leg-before by Cheema in the second over of the day. Tamim hit two successive fours off Gul before falling to the same bowler, caught hooking at fine-leg by Cheema, while Mahmudullah was bowled by a delivery that cut in sharply. Pakistan retained the side that won the opening Test by an innings and 184 runs, while Bangladesh brought in pacemen Robiul Islam and Nazmul Hossain in place of Mohammad Ashraful and Rubel Hossain.

Joleon Lescott believes Chelsea's reaction shows that Manchester City are favourites for the Premier League title

Joleon Lescott has revealed that Manchester City have found the positives in their defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The 2-1 loss last Monday scuppered chances of the club becoming the second side in the Premier League era to grind out an unbeaten season, but Lescott says the reaction of the Chelsea players showed his team-mates were seen as the favourites for the title.

'If teams like Chelsea are seeing us as a big scalp then it can only be good for us. We took it as a compliment - not as a sign of disrespect,' he told The Mirror.

'We saw them go into a huddle [of celebration] on the pitch at the end and we had heard their manager say that if they didn’t win then their title hopes were over. That’s not the case now, but we’re still top of the league and that’s where we intend to stay.

'We could see it meant so much to them, and Chelsea, like the other teams, know if they do finish above us they are going to have a great chance of winning the league. And that is a massive compliment to us.'

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is rumoured to have taunted the City players about their exit from the Champions League after the game but Lescott revealed that this will only serve to inspire Manchester City.

'They were supposed to have said something - I was already in the dressing room, so I didn’t see what was going on in the tunnel, but I wouldn’t be surprised,' he said.

'We are not fazed by that [Cole's alleged taunts of 'Thursday night, Channel 5' - a reference to City's Champions League failure and slide into the Europa League]. We’re going into that competition looking to win it and if we do win, then it’s a major accomplishment for the club. But the title is what we are aiming at.'

With such heady ambitions, Lescott is quick to point out the advantage of Roberto Mancini's attention to detail.

'There were always going to be doubters at first when the manager arrived. But he has been so professional with us and he has made the club progress.

'We won the FA Cup last year and we’re doing well in the league this season and other competitions so it is a good time.

'He’s very demanding. If he’s not happy with what you are doing in games, he’ll show it in training; he’ll show where you’re going wrong.

'We tend to do a lot of work in training on the tactical side so that when situations do occur in games we can deal with them.

'Even when we’ve won 5-1 he’s not happy with the goal we conceded. He says it’s a gift and that we like to give the other team a present, stuff like that. He has made us progress, and that is what the club needed.'

Philippines storm toll hits 119

MANILA: The death toll from tropical storm Washi rose to 119 on Saturday as it raked across the southern Philippines, causing widespread flash floods, officials said.Military spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said they had found 71 bodies in Cagayan de Oro, a major port on Mindanao island, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 48 people were killed elsewhere on the island.

Nearly 600 dead, missing in Philippines storm

ILIGAN: Tropical storm Washi raked across the southern Philippines, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas that left 180 people dead and nearly 400 others missing, officials said Saturday.They said 20,000 soldiers had been mobilised in a huge rescue and relief operation across the stricken north coast of the island of Mindanao, where the major ports of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were worst hit.Iligan mayor Lawrence Cruz described rampaging floodwaters from swollen rivers that swamped up to a quarter of the land area of the city of 100,000.'It s the worst flood in the history of our city,' Cruz told GMA television. 'It happened so fast, at a time when people were fast asleep.'The station showed dramatic pictures of a family escaping out of the window of their home in the town as the floods rose, and rescue workers in orange vests shepherding survivors to safety above chest-deep waters.Marlyn Manos, an Iligan resident, recounted how she and her children watched in terror from their rooftop as flash floods demolished neighbours homes. 'All the small houses behind ours were destroyed, and many of my neighbours are missing,' she said.The region s military spokesmen said 97 bodies were recovered in Cagayan de Oro, with another 75 bodies found in Iligan. In Iligan another 250 people remained unaccounted for, they said, with 125 people missing in Cagayan de Oro, a city of half a million people.Three people also drowned in the town of Polanco and five were killed in a landslide in mountains near the town of Monkayo, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in Manila.Benito Ramos, the council s executive director, suggested some residents had underestimated the threat posed by the approaching storm, in a region which is outside the country s typhoon belt.'Storms rarely hit this area and people probably became complacent even though they knew it was heading their way

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Strunz warns against Basel threat: 'Whoever beat Manchester United have quality'

Former Bayern Munich player Thomas Strunz believes the Jupp Heynckes' team have been handed a manageable task in the Champions League round of 16 afetr being drawn against Basel, but insists that there is no place for underestimation.

The retired midfielder warned the Bavarians that the Swiss outfit are a quality team as proven by their impressive run to the knockout stage of Europe's elite tournament at the expense of Manchester United.

'They [Basel] are obviously manageable opponents, especially since the first match will be played in Switzerland. This should be no stumbling block for Bayern,' the 43-year-old told Goal.com.

'From the first knock-out round, we must not under-estimate any team. Whoever beat Manchester United certainly have quality. Nevertheless, Bayern are the clear favourites and, in my view, will reach the quarter-finals.'

Asked whether last year's clash in the group stage of the Champions League will have an impact on the tie, Strunz answered:

'I do not think that this is an advantage. Two knock-out games are completely different from two group stage games.

'They work very well as a team, the departure of Thorsten Fink has left no mark. On the contrary, they are still a very intact team.'

The midfielder also had a word on Bayer Leverkusen, who are facing a herculean task in the round of 16 of the Champions League in the form of Barcelona.

'This is obviously a tough draw. [Leverkusen] got the top favourites, it is extremely difficult. Barcelona must have two bad days and Leverkusen must play above themselves twice.

'They proved against Chelsea that they can do this. They have no pressure. To advance to the next round ahead of Barcelona would be sensational. The odds are low, but it's possible.

'I'd estimate their chances of winning at 10 per cent.'

When questioned about a key figure that can make the difference against the Catalans, the midfielder said:

'There will be no individual player, it will depend on team performance, on how well Bayer can stem the Barcelona offence and how well they can use the counter-attack.'

Bayer Leverkusen host Barcelona on February 14 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 knockout tie.

Fog delays start of Pakistan-Bangladesh 2nd test

DHAKA: Dense fog delayed the start of the second test between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka on Saturday.Pakistan lead the two-test series 1-0 following their innings and 184-run win in the first test in Chittagong last week. (Reuters)

Afghans moot Saudi, Turkey for Taliban office

KABUL: Afghan authorities on Thursday named Saudi Arabia or Turkey as the best places to set up a Taliban liaison office abroad to enable peace talks to end a devastating 10-year insurgency.President Hamid Karzai convened a top level meeting, the outcome of which is not binding, to discuss how to move forward with a peace process derailed by the assassination of his peace envoy, Burhanuddin Rabbani, in September.The meeting came one day after Afghanistan announced it had recalled its ambassador to Qatar in protest at being left out of talks in which the Gulf state discussed plans with the United States for the Taliban to open an address there.'The participants of the meeting insisted that the address created for the opposition should be inside Afghanistan,' Karzai s office said.'But if the situation does not allow this, the office should be established in an Islamic country, preferably in Saudi Arabia or Turkey.'The participants also asserted that the fighting and violence against the people of Afghanistan should stop before the peace talks start.The meeting at the presidential palace involved high-ranking government officials, including the first vice president and foreign minister, former Mujahedeen commanders, members of the peace council, and Rabbani s son, Salahuddin.They agreed the Taliban address should be established 'for the sole purpose of peace talks', the statement added.The US has discussed plans for the Taliban to open an address in Qatar by the end of the year to allow the West to begin formal peace talks. (AFP)

Eleven dead in Colombia landslide, floods

BOGOTA: Eleven people were killed and four others reported missing Friday in Colombia after heavy rains caused a landslide and forced already swollen rivers to burst their banks, officials said.Rescue workers in the central department of Caldas 'recovered nine bodies' including four minors after a landslide buried two houses, a spokesman for the national risk management office told.In northeast Magdalena, an overflowing river inundated two houses and washed away a bridge, killing two people and leaving four others missing.The rainy season in Colombia, which began in September, has brought a wave of fatalities, with a total of 159 dead, according to official figures. More than 878,000 people have been affected by the rains.Mountainous regions have been worst affected, with a high risk of landslides, mudslides and severe floods. (AFP)

Russia signs preliminary deal to sell 42 jets to India

MOSCOW: Visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday oversaw the signing of an agreement to sell to India 42 Su-30 jets in kit form as the Kremlin scrambles to retain ties with its Soviet-era arms purchaser.The agreement comes after India, the biggest importer of military hardware among emerging nations, had earlier this year rejected Moscow s bid to supply its traditional ally with 126 multi-role combat aircraft in a deal worth about $12 billion (9.2 billion euros).The two leaders sought to play up progress in bilateral ties, stressing they withstood the test of time.'Our cooperation with India in the military technical sphere has reached an unprecedented level,' Medvedev said in comments released by the Kremlin.After the talks the two leaders oversaw the signing of an agreement to 'render technical assistance in the organisation of production of the SU-30 plane,' the Kremlin said in a statement without providing further details.The Kremin said ahead of the signing the two sides had planned to ink an agreement to supply India with 42 Su-30 jets in kit form that would be assembled in India.New Delhi and Moscow have enjoyed close ties that date back to the 1950s but relations have recently come under strain as India becomes more demanding over pricing and quality and looks to other countries like Israel and the United States as potential military suppliers.Singh said the two countries discussed nuclear cooperation and supplies of liquefied gas adding they also agreed the terms of a Russian loan to build two additional generating units at a nuclear power plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (AFP)

Philippines storm toll hits 119

MANILA: The death toll from tropical storm Washi rose to 119 on Saturday as it raked across the southern Philippines, causing widespread flash floods, officials said.Military spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said they had found 71 bodies in Cagayan de Oro, a major port on Mindanao island, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 48 people were killed elsewhere on the island.

Philippines storm toll hits 119

MANILA: The death toll from tropical storm Washi rose to 119 on Saturday as it raked across the southern Philippines, causing widespread flash floods, officials said.Military spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said they had found 71 bodies in Cagayan de Oro, a major port on Mindanao island, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 48 people were killed elsewhere on the island.

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas urges caution after APOEL Champions League draw

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has urged caution after the Ligue 1 club were handed a seemingly favourable Champions League last 16 draw against APOEL Nicosia.

The reigning Cypriot champions topped a group featuring Zenit St. Petersburg, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk to progress to the knockout stage and Aulas insisted it was important that Lyon did not become overconfident.

'We are probably favourites and it is not a problem for us,' Aulas told reporters. 'But we must not be overconfident.

'We must be wary. Sometimes, Santa Claus can be bad.'

Aulas emphasised the importance of the first leg, which will be played at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, as the French side seek to establish an advantage ahead of the reverse fixture in Cyprus.

'It is always harder to play the first game at home,' he admitted. 'Not to mention that APOEL have produced some great results on their own turf.

'We must be very careful. The qualification will need to be earned in the first leg. We will need to score plenty of goals.

'Anyway, it has been a good week for us, with a lot of good decisions in it.'

‘It is a difficult draw but an exciting one’ - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger anticipating tough Champions League clash with AC Milan

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the club's draw with Serie A champions AC Milan for the last-16 of the Champions League is a difficult but exciting prospect.
Alongside Chelsea, the Gunners were one of only two Premier League sides to make the knockout stages of the tournament.
Wenger insists the outcome of the tie hangs evenly in the balance, and is hoping his side can maintain their recent good form going into February's showdown.
'It is a difficult draw but an exciting one,' he told the club’s official website. 'And they could say exactly the same thing I suppose. It is a 50:50.
'So let’s make sure we continue to improve until February. Then we can take our chance with full power and belief.'
Arsenal have played at the San Siro twice before in the Champions League and on both occasions have won – 5-1 against Inter and 2-0 against Milan.
The Rossoneri’s director, Umberto Gandini, described the match as the 'tie of the round' and Wenger agreed that it is the type of fixture that would be expected in the quarter-finals of the competition.
'Yes, we have good memories at San Siro,' the Gunners boss acknowledged. 'As I say it is an interesting draw.
'Ideally, it is a draw for one round later but you take them when they happen.
'There is not much more to say really – everybody knows Milan, everybody knows Arsenal.
'We have been in the Champions League for many years and both sides play positive football.
'We have been up to the task every time in this competition so let’s make sure we are again.'

Afghanistan in debut one-day against Pakistan

KARACHI: Pakistan and Afghanistan will play their first ever one-day international cricket match in Sharjah next February, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Friday. It will be Afghanistan s first one-day against a top international team, taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 10, shortly before Pakistan begins a one-day series against England, the PCB said. Cricket was made popular in Afghanistan by refugees who spent years living in Pakistan when Soviet troops invaded their country in 1979. Since then, Afghanistan has made lightning progress in the sport, finishing fifth in the World Cup qualifiers in 2009 and earning one-day status the same year. The run of positive results has continued, as they won the World Twenty20 qualifiers, which allowed them to play top teams in the WorldTwenty20 in the West Indies last year. Afghanistan are now placed ninth in the International Cricket Council Twenty20 rankings. They toured Pakistan in May for three unofficial one-days against a second tier team on the first visit of an international side since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in March 2009, suspending international cricket in Pakistan. They have previously played 18 one-day internationals against associate and affiliate teams such as Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland. The PCB also announced the venues and dates of England s two side games ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan. Pakistan and England also play four one-day and three Twenty20s in the UAE. 'From January 7-9, England will play an ICC combined associate and affiliate members XI while on 11-13 January, a PCB XI will take on England both the matches in Dubai,' the PCB said. 'England will also play a warm up one-day game against the England Lions on February 10 in Abu Dhabi.' The three-Test series between Pakistan and England starts in Dubai on January 17. (AFP)

UBL International Hard Court Tennis from Dec 18

KARACHI: The inaugural UBL International Hard Court Tennis Championship will be played here at Karachi Gymkhana courts from December 18 to 24, organisers announced on Friday. Besides top national men and women players, teenagers and veteran players will be seen in action in the week-long tennis activity. 'This is the first major event being staged in Karachi in a decade which carries a lucrative cash prize money of Rs One million,' Tournament Director Khawaja Masroor told the media in a press briefing at the Karachi Gymkhana. President Sindh Tennis Players Association (STPA) Raza Ali Mirza and Secretary Imran Ahmed, Vice President Pakistan Tennis Federation Saeed Ahmed and Treasurer Arif Qureshi and UBL representative Anita Mirza were also present on the occasion. He said besides three men and two teenage women, top players from across Pakistan will be seen in action in men singles and doubles, women singles, boys under18, boys under14, veteran singles plus 45 and mixed doubles contests. 'Our basic purpose to stage this event is to re-launch grade-I competition in Karachi,' Khawaja Masroor himself a keen tennis player, promotor and supporter said. The technical officials of PTF Arif Qureshi said overall around 200 players will be taking part in the event and we have received 80 entries for the men s singles. He said there will be 32 players in men s and boys U18 and U14 singles and 16 players drawn in women singles. He said top 24 players will be placed in men s draw while eight places will be filled with qualifying rounds which may start on Saturday. STPLA is holding the event in collaboration with Pakistan Tennis Federation. (APP)

Stable in Presidency takes away job of a journalist

Stable in Presidency takes away job of a journalist

Once again the present government has started campaign again the journalists and the first step has been taken by the official news agency of Pakistan APP. A tender notice by CDA was for developmental work of horse shed of presidency was made and issued and was compared to 90's era. When the horses of Asif Ali Zardari were made national issue. On this scandal a reporter is terminated from his services and an Editor of APP has been suspended and all efforts are made by APP administration to make him jobless and come on the road with his family. According to details a tender notice from CDA ( Capital Devolepment Authority )was published for the up gradation of sound system and supply of electricity to the presidency's horse shed. Reporter Saleeem Mumtaz extracted news from this tender notice. The official News agency of Pakistan government APP made an issue of this news and compared it to the stable of Asif Ali Zardari when Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan.APP ( Associated Press Of Pakistan Corporation ) MD Tehseen Rao and Executive Director Nasir Jamal joined hands with director news Naeem Chaudhary, Akram Malik and manager (HR) Mazhar even before the news were published threatened Saleem Mumtaz and Editor Tahir Mehmood for dire consequences. After that they suspended the editor and terminated the reporter from services according to sources the official news agency APP is trying its level best to malign the present government PPP by such steps.
On 30th Nov two very senior Journalists were suspended from APP and on the second day one of the most senior Journalist was dismissed on 13th Dec eight more workers were dismissed. A very reliable source is emphasizing that APP by terminating the workers is maligning the PPP government who promises to give jobs where as APP is making professional experienced people jobless and trying to bring them on road. According to reliable sources APP will dismiss at least 150 workers very soon.

We, Our Media and Veena Malik

We, Our Media and Veena Malik

She is in the news again and this time with more glitz and glamour. This is due to her alleged photo shoot for FHM India’s December cover. Though she is denying this and she has every right to do that as in this tech world anything is possible where as the editor of the magazine is constantly saying that this photo shoot is real and has been done by Veena Malik and not by morphing. Controversy is deepening and Veena Malik has decided to take the magazine to court and has filed a lawsuit against FHM India for damages worth Rs100 million alleging the men’s magazine had morphed her clothes-on images into nudes for its December 2011 issue. Let’s wait and see which way things move and who prove to be true. There are certain things which bothered me regarding sensationalism of this issue by us and media. The act of Veena Malik if real is condemnable and cannot be praised but we should wait for the things to settle down first and then we should start passing our judgment. The issue being faced by us from last 64 years is that we are so good at completing the story and passing judgments without even listening to the aggrieved person and without waiting for the court’s judgment. Just to increase their ratings all TV channels are airing this story as the breaking news. What is real breaking in this? Will they mind telling that when hundreds of girls daily get raped in their own homeland why isn’t that a breaking news for their channels? Just because that won’t increase their viewership and ratings and posing for an Indian Magazine by an entertainment industry professional which is supposed to do things like this as she is in this profession has become breaking news. Will they mind telling why Child Sexual abuse, lack of educational facilities, killing in the name of religion and culture isn’t breaking news? Are we only left to deal with Veena Malik’s issue? Aren’t there hundreds and thousand of more important issues which they should highlight first as being responsible media? The country is having serious issues regarding economy and security but media is inquiring whether this photo shoot real or not. They are airing the news that new photos of Veena Malik have been published by magazine. They have become a court of justice themselves to pass judgment on their own. What Veena Malik did or not let her deal with it.
Now let’s talk about I, and You. We are so good to call Veena Malik as prostitute, slut, bitch and unpatriotic but we don’t look into ourselves. Every day millions of us watch pornographic content on internet and on TV and we don’t consider that as wrong and against our religion but when Veena Malik do any immoral act then we start shouting about our religion. Every day thousands of us sleep with girlfriends, ditch them, make videos and photos of them naked or in improper dress and post it on internet and share it with our friends without their consent but when same is being done by Veena Malik in India then we start shouting about Islam again. Every day when hundreds of innocent girls and boys are being raped and killed then our ghairat doesn’t wake up but when Veena or Meera do the same we start calling them Beghairat. Where do our Ghairat go when thousands of girls sell their body just because to earn some money for their family and for themselves.
It has been said by some wise man that
'Charity Begins at Home' So if we want to rectify the things then first we have to rectify ourselves. First we have to stop wrong doings by ourselves and only then we can expect and ask others to do so. Our media should also stop the sensationalism and should focus on real issues instead of dummy issues and only then we can progress and improver ourselves.

Merkel's junior coalition partner votes to stick to pro-EU course

Merkel's junior coalition partner votes to stick to pro-EU course

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped a threat to her leadership on Friday when euroskeptics in her junior coalition partner, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), lost an internal vote on the permanent eurozone rescue fund she has pledged her support on.
"The FDP remains clearly focused on a pro-European stance," party leader Philipp R?sler said after the vote.
While only 44.2 percent of those who cast their ballots came out against the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the total number of votes was below the one third of all party members required to make the vote valid.
The ESM is to be set up next year as part of efforts by eurozone leaders to contain the bloc's debt crisis.
Officially the FDP has talked tough on the debt crisis but supported the fund.
Most Germans have accepted Merkel's approach of demanding fiscal reform from debt-saddled countries in exchange for bailout cash.

Iraq to receive last US base ahead of pullout

BAGHDAD: Iraq will assume command Friday of the last US military base in the country, a day after US forces formally marked the end of their mission here by bringing a divisive war to a low-key conclusion.Baghdad s security forces will take over a sprawling installation on the outskirts of the southern city of Nasiriyah, a senior Iraqi official said, a final step ahead of a complete American withdrawal from Iraq in the coming days.On Thursday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and top US military officers took part in a subdued 'casing of the colours' ceremony near Baghdad airport, the first site US forces occupied in Baghdad in 2003.All that remains of the American military in Iraq are around 4,000 soldiers, down from a peak of nearly 170,000 troops on 505 bases across the country. After year-end, the US embassy will retain just 157 US soldiers, for training of Iraqi forces, and a group of marines to secure the diplomatic mission.The withdrawal ends a war that left tens of thousands of Iraqis and nearly 4,500 American soldiers dead, many more wounded, and 1.75 million Iraqis displaced, after the US-led invasion unleashed brutal sectarian fighting.

Iraq to receive last US base ahead of pullout

BAGHDAD: Iraq will assume command Friday of the last US military base in the country, a day after US forces formally marked the end of their mission here by bringing a divisive war to a low-key conclusion.Baghdad s security forces will take over a sprawling installation on the outskirts of the southern city of Nasiriyah, a senior Iraqi official said, a final step ahead of a complete American withdrawal from Iraq in the coming days.On Thursday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and top US military officers took part in a subdued 'casing of the colours' ceremony near Baghdad airport, the first site US forces occupied in Baghdad in 2003.All that remains of the American military in Iraq are around 4,000 soldiers, down from a peak of nearly 170,000 troops on 505 bases across the country. After year-end, the US embassy will retain just 157 US soldiers, for training of Iraqi forces, and a group of marines to secure the diplomatic mission.The withdrawal ends a war that left tens of thousands of Iraqis and nearly 4,500 American soldiers dead, many more wounded, and 1.75 million Iraqis displaced, after the US-led invasion unleashed brutal sectarian fighting.

Iraq to receive last US base ahead of pullout

BAGHDAD: Iraq will assume command Friday of the last US military base in the country, a day after US forces formally marked the end of their mission here by bringing a divisive war to a low-key conclusion.Baghdad s security forces will take over a sprawling installation on the outskirts of the southern city of Nasiriyah, a senior Iraqi official said, a final step ahead of a complete American withdrawal from Iraq in the coming days.On Thursday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and top US military officers took part in a subdued 'casing of the colours' ceremony near Baghdad airport, the first site US forces occupied in Baghdad in 2003.All that remains of the American military in Iraq are around 4,000 soldiers, down from a peak of nearly 170,000 troops on 505 bases across the country. After year-end, the US embassy will retain just 157 US soldiers, for training of Iraqi forces, and a group of marines to secure the diplomatic mission.The withdrawal ends a war that left tens of thousands of Iraqis and nearly 4,500 American soldiers dead, many more wounded, and 1.75 million Iraqis displaced, after the US-led invasion unleashed brutal sectarian fighting.

Maxi Lopez's new agent Andrea D’Amico tight-lipped on Catania striker's proposed switch to AC Milan

Andrea D’Amico has revealed that he is now representing Catania's Maxi Lopez but the Fifa agent is refusing to be drawn on his new client’s future.

Lopez has signed a pre-contract agreement with AC Milan but is not expected to move to San Siro in January unless the Rossoneri are frustrated in their attempts to sign Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez.

However, while D’Amico was willing to admit that he has now been taken on by Lopez, he would not divulge any information on the Argentine’s proposed switch to the Italian champions and whether it hinges on the outcome of the Tevez negotiations.

'It's all true,' the agent told Goal.com. 'I can confirm that I am the agent of Maxi Lopez. I took over only a few days ago.

'At the moment, though, I will not say anything [about Milan]. We will see later. However, I am now his agent.'

Lopez joined Catania from Gremio in January of last year and has scored 21 goals in 63 Serie A appearances for the Sicilians to date.

Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro insists Barcelona are not favourites in Club World Cup final

Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro insists that there is nothing to choose between Barcelona and his side ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-awaited Club World Cup final showdown.

Barca, who clinched their place in the decider with a 4-0 win over Al Sadd on Thursday, are the reigning Spanish and European champions and considered clear favourites to win the tournament.

However, after watching his side record a 3-1 semi-final win over Kashiwa Reysol, Ribeiro believes that the Brazilians are a match for the Catalans.

'In a match like this, there is no favorite, because football is full of surprises,' he told Lancenet.

'The favorite usually falls on his face [so] I wish that Barcelona was the favorite. But neither Santos nor Barcelona can be considered favourites. But it will be the game of the century.'

Ribeiro also joked that Barca’s scouts were blown away by reported transfer target Neymar’s performance against Kashiwa.

'I said nothing, but I saw that their eyes were watery,' he said. 'I got a call from a radio station in Madrid, Spain saying that they had all watched the game and were delighted with the goals of Neymar and Borges.

'[So] I think Santos will have a chance of winning against Barcelona.'

Santos are the reigning Copa Libertadores champions but they only finished tenth in this year’s Brazilian championship.

Starting last month and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. Ahead of Sunday's Club World Club final with Santos, tune in on Friday for an exciting extract on how Lionel Messi helped the Catalans claim this trophy for the very first time in their history in 2009. Don't miss it!

Veena Malik Scandals

About Veena Malik:33 years old Zahida Malik now known as Veena Malik was born on 26th February, 1978 in the famous Malik Family of Pakistan residing in the Established City i.e. Rawalpindi on 20 minutes drive from the Capital City of Pakistan i.e. Islamabad. Her first name was Zahida Malik but later she changed her name to Veena Malik. She can also be called by her beautiful nick names like veenz and vinni. She is native Punjabi and speaks Punjabi. She has done BA (Bachelor of Arts) in sociology, psychology and Persian. Her father naming Muhammad Ali Malik was X. Army soldier of Pakistan and her mother Zeenat Malik is a house wife. She has five sisters and one brother. She has a charming and beautiful personality and attracts her fans with her 5 feet 7 inches height and about 50 kg – 110lbs weight.
Veena Malik Career:
Veena Malik career related to showbiz/media and entertainments started in 1999 and continue yet. In her initial career stages she started comedian roles for several Pakistan Television channels while working in shows and TV series. Later on she started working in movies and reality shows as well and got high rankings in the last few years after worked in reality shows specially. She stepped-in in her first movie in year 2000 and made round about eleven movies. The last two movies she worked for were Indian movies and the other was Pakistani movies which were in Urdu and Punjabi languages. She also worked as a host for Pakistani channel. In 2009 she firstly started working in reality shows in Pakistan that was Miss Duniya program and continued working in reality shows in India. Her last reality show at India was Veena ka Vivaah. People like to see the Reality Shows of Veena Malik

Congress strikes deal to avert government shutdown

WASHINGTON: US congressional leaders struck Thursday a $1 trillion funding deal to avert a pre-Christmas government shutdown, as talks between Democrats and Republicans for once defused a bitter confrontation.Negotiators were also considering an extension of a payroll tax cut demanded by President Barack Obama to put an extra $1,500 in the pockets of working Americans next year and stimulate the sluggish economy.Leaders from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democratic-run Senate agreed to allow a vote by Friday on a bill that would fund the US government through fiscal year 2012, congressional sources said.If the bill does not pass Friday, the vast machinery of the US government would grind to a halt, as federally-funded Christmas events, public buildings and government agencies ran out of money.'I am hopeful that the House and Senate can pass this bill tomorrow to prevent a government shutdown, fund critical programs and services for the American people and cut spending to help put the nation s finances on a more sustainable path,' House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers said.Talks took place throughout the day as lawmakers sought to break the impasse driven by pre-positioning for Democratic President Barack Obama s 2012 reelection bid and deep antipathy between the parties.The root of the stalemate lay in brinkmanship by both parties over a push by Obama for a tax cut for 160 million workers and a Republican bid to force him to reconsider delaying a decision on a Canada-US pipeline plan.Republicans had accused Obama of ordering Democrats to stall the funding bill until the payroll tax issue was agreed.

Shots fired at Chinese consulate in LA: Police

LOS ANGELES: Shots were fired at the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles on Thursday, but no one was injured, police said, adding that an Asian suspect was being sought.The Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that the shooting occurred after a scuffle between protesters outside the building and a security guard, but police could not confirm this.Police were hunting for a suspect described as an Asian man either in his late 50s or early 60s with white hair, said a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesman.'Apparently this man shot numerous rounds into a building. Officers are searching for the man right now. There is no evidence that he s in custody yet,' the spokesman told.'No one was hurt' in the shooting at the Chinese diplomatic building, which is between downtown LA and Hollywood, he added.The LA Times reported that a protester fired shots at a security guard outside the consulate, missing his target and hitting a building in the compound instead.It cited early reports indicating that a group of protesters had gathered outside the building, and one of them got into a dispute with a security guard, who allegedly had taken a sign from the man and tossed in the trash.The protester got into a vehicle and fired several shots in the direction of the security guard, all of which missed, the newspaper reported.The consulate did not immediately respond to a request for information about the incident.

Amateur boxing chiefs cleared of Azeri bribe claims

Amateur boxing chiefs cleared of Azeri bribe claims

A special investigation committee appointed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has dismissed allegations Azerbaijan were promised two boxing gold medals at next year's London Olympics in exchange for a $10 million loan to amateur boxing's world governing body.
The allegations, broadcast by the BBC's Newsnight current affairs programme on September 23, were found to be "groundless and unsupported by any credible evidence".
However, the BBC stood by their story and said they'd co-operate with an independent investigation by the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission.
The special investigation committee's statement Monday added: "We have conducted an exhaustive investigation over the past two months and we have concluded that the allegations...were completely without merit."
The committee accepted an investment was made by Hamid Hamidov, an Azeri businessman, but said it was purely for "commercial purposes" and "the subject of medals had never come up in any discussions or agreements".
It also exonerated AIBA's World Series of Boxing's chief operating officer, Ivan Khodabakhsh -- anotheri Azeri challenged by the BBC -- of wrongdoing.
But a BBC statement said: "Newsnight is aware of AIBA's position and we stand by our investigation.
"While we anticipate AIBA making all the evidence they reviewed public, we are continuing to co-operate with the ongoing independent investigation by the International Olympic Committee Ethics Commission."
Olympic boxing has long battled allegations of corruption and questions over its scoring system.
During the 2008 Beijing Games, several fighters complained of being cheated by judges.

The DIFF’s 8th edition

When asked about his perception of the DIFF’s evolution throughout its 8 editions, Abdulhamid Juma, the Chairman of the festival said that he’d always known that Dubai was just the perfect place to hold a spectacular event, the thing that would sure guarantee a successful growth to the film festival that soon became one of the largest in the region.

This year, the DIFF hosted 171 films, which is a great line-up for a freshly 8-year-old festival, yet it was a challenge that eventually proved the festival’s fast development and maturity.

One of the smartest decisions taken this year, was screening “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” at the opening. With lots of its scenes shot in Dubai, the movie would inspire young local filmmakers as well as putting the city on the big movie productions’ list worldwide.

Holding 9 competition categories, in addition to some extra prizes out of these, the DIFF also handed the “Lifetime Achievement” awards to 3 legends of the world cinema: the internationally renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog, the Egyptian actor Gamil Rateb, and the Indian musical genius Allah Rakha Rahman.

The 2011 Dubai International Film Festival winners included artists from Palestine, Morocco, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Germany, France, UK, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, and many more.

With the 10th edition soon upon us, you’d wonder if there would be grand plans ahead for it, and Mr. Juma answered that by saying that the festival is so much bigger than the individuals working on it, and that what he aims for, is to leave a great, prestigious legacy fit for this major artistic phenomena throughout all its editions, the past ones, and those yet to come.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan, Arsenal vs Basel, Barcelona vs Napoli - the seeded & unseeded clubs for the Champions League last-16 draw and who the teams can face

Real Madrid vs AC Milan, Arsenal vs Basel, Barcelona vs Napoli - the seeded & unseeded clubs for the Champions League last-16 draw and who the teams can face

The next phase of the 2011-12 Champions League will begin this Friday as the fixtures for the last 16 will be determined.

With three Italian teams, two each from England, Spain, Germany, France and Russia, and sole survivors from Portugal, Switzerland and Cyprus, the first knockout round of Europe's blue-ribbon club competition will have a nice spread of representation across the continent.

The remaining 16 teams in the competition will be split into two pots: group winners will be seeded, and the group runners-up will be unseeded.


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW | THE SEEDS GROUP
WINNERS (SEEDED)
RUNNERS-UP (UNSEEDED) A
Bayern Munich
Napoli B Inter
CSKA Moscow
C Benfica
Basel D Real Madrid
Olympique Lyonnais
E Chelsea
Bayer Leverkusen
F Arsenal
Olympique de Marseille
G APOEL
Zenit St. Petersburg
H Barcelona
AC Milan

For the round of 16, group winners must be drawn against group runners-up. However, teams who had previously met during the group stage cannot be drawn against one another. Similarly, clubs from the same association cannot face each other even if they are in opposing seeds.

Here are all the potential rivals that each of the 16 teams can be drawn against.


WHO THE SEEDED TEAMS CAN MEET

BAYERN CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Marseille, Zenit, Milan INTER
Basel, Lyon, Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit BENFICA Napoli, CSKA, Lyon, Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit, Milan REAL MADRID
Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit, Milan
CHELSEA Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Marseille, Zenit, Milan
ARSENAL Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Leverkusen, Zenit, Milan
APOEL Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Leverkusen, Marseille, Milan
BARCELONA Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit



WHO THE UNSEEDED TEAMS CAN MEET

NAPOLI Benfica, Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona
CSKA
Bayern, Benfica, Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona BASEL Bayern, Inter, Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona LYON
Bayern, Inter, Benfica, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona LEVERKUSEN
Inter, Benfica, Madrid, Arsenal, APOEL, Barcelona
MARSEILLE Bayern, Inter, Benfica, Madrid, Chelsea, APOEL, Barcelona
ZENIT Bayern, Inter, Benfica, Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona
MILAN Bayern, Benfica, Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, APOEL
Here's what we know so far. The two clubs from the Premier League cannot meet the two sides from La Liga. Inter will have the fewest options but on paper also the easiest, Milan and Marseille have the trickiest possible selection of rivals amongst the past champions, while Arsenal and Barcelona only have one former champion that they could face.

South Africa dismiss Sri Lanka for 180 runs

South Africa dismiss Sri Lanka for 180 runs

CENTURION: Fast bowler Vernon Philander claimed five wickets as South Africa dismissed Sri Lanka for 180 at tea on the first day of the first Test on Thursday. South Africa s much-vaunted attack were struggling in helpful conditions as Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews added 65 for the fifth wicket off just 80 balls. The pair took Sri Lanka to 156 for four before Philander struck three times in four overs to complete his third five-wicket haul in three Tests. Philander s destructive burst began with two wickets in successive deliveries, both given out on review, as Samaraweera (36) edged an excellent delivery that nipped away off the seam and Kaushal Silva brushed the ball with his glove as it flew to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher down the leg side. Thisara Perera took a single off the hat-trick ball, but only lasted till the next over when he failed to read an Imran Tahir googly and Jacques Kallis made a stunning reflex catch at slip as the edge bounced off Boucher s thigh. Sri Lanka had lost three wickets in five balls to slump to 157 for seven and Philander struck again to have Mathews caught by Kallis for 38. Philander made full use of the grass on the pitch to claim five for 53 in 13 overs, becoming the first South African to claim three five-wicket hauls in his first three Tests. Dale Steyn produced a couple of top-class away swingers to bowl Chanaka Welegedara (4) and Dilhara Fernando (0) with successive deliveries, ending the Sri Lankan innings on the stroke of tea. Steyn had earlier removed Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene, who edged a back-foot drive into the slips for 30, the fast bowler finishing with an impressive figures of four for 18. Captain Dilshan s rash shot got Sri Lanka off to a poor start and they battled to 76 for three at lunch after being put into bat. Dilshan, on six, tried to on-drive a swinging delivery from Steyn on the up and looped a catch to Philander at wide mid-on. Former captain Kumar Sangakkara lasted just three balls before Philander got a delivery to rear up and he edged the ball to second slip where Kallis took a well-judged catch. Sri Lanka were reeling on 12 for two, but Tharanga Paranavitana and the experienced Jayawardene batted with intense concentration in a sensible third-wicket stand of 54. Steyn s first wicket was his 250th in tests, the 28-year-old reaching the landmark in his 49th game. Only Dennis Lillee has taken 250 wickets in fewer tests, the Australian fast bowler reaching the milestone in his 48th match.

Toxic alcohol kills 102 in east India: local official

KOLKATA: Toxic home-brewed alcohol thought to have been laced with the highly dangerous chemical methanol has killed 102 people in eastern India, a local official told on Thursday.'The death toll has touched 102,' the district magistrate of 24-Parganas district in West Bengal state, Narayan Swarup Nigam, said by telephone.Those affected are from 10 villages in the area near the border with Bangladesh, with the three nearest hospitals packed with gravely sick victims, many of them labourers or rickshaw pullers too poor to afford branded alcohol.Nigam said that methanol had been detected in at least 20 victims, raising suspicion it could be to blame. The chemical is a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze or fuel, but it is also sometimes added by producers of 'moonshine' or home-brew liquor to increase the alcoholic content of the drink.If ingested, it can cause blindness and liver damage and it kills in larger concentrations.

Former French President Chirac found guilty of corruption

A Parisian court has found former French President Jacques Chirac guilty of two charges in a long-running corruption case
The 79-year-old, on trial for breach of trust and embezzlement of party funds when he was mayor of Paris in the early 1990s, could be have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, but instead received a two-year suspended sentence.
It was alleged that Chirac had paid 28 people from his center-right Rally for the Republic party for municipal jobs that did not exist.
'Inventor of a conspiracy'
According to the charge sheet, Chirac had been the "inventor, author and beneficiary" of a conspiracy to use public money "support his political influence."
It alleged that he had served both his own interests and those of his party, a forerunner to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement.
Allegations against Chirac were first made during his time in office, between 1996 and 2007. However, he enjoyed freedom from immunity and the trial only went ahead in September after years of delays.
The criminal case was the first ever to involve a former French president and is the first of a French head of state since that of Nazi collaborator Marshall Philippe Petain in 1945.

Did authorities have their eyes closed ahead of Liege attack?

Did authorities have their eyes closed ahead of Liege attack?

Police in Liege are attributing another death to the gunman who went on a shooting spree on Tuesday afternoon. A 45-year-old woman, who worked as a cleaning woman in the neighborhood, was found dead in a shed near the apartment of the shooter.
Authorities believe 33-year-old Nordine Amrani shot the woman before he went on his shooting rampage in downtown Liege, killing an additional three people before taking his own life. Further victims are in critical condition.
Unsuccessful search for motive
The suspect opened fire in a crowd of people on Tuesday afternoon near Liege's popular Christmas market. He detonated grenades, before - according to public prosecutors - turning the gun on himself. More grenades were found in a backpack he was carrying.
Investigators say he left no suicide note that may have indicated the reasons behind the shooting, but they have eliminated terrorism as a motive. Rumors that Amrani acted with an accomplice have also proven to be false.
The fact that Amrani has Moroccan roots has, despite being discussed in the Belgian media, so far played no role in official statements about the attack.
Previous history with weapons
Amrani was summoned for a meeting with police on the day of the attack, but didn't actually show up for the appointment. In 2008, Amrani had been sentenced to several years in prison on charges of illegal weapon and drug possession, but he was released early in 2010 and put on probation.
Back then, the police found about a dozen loaded handguns, thousands of weapons parts and around 3,000 cannabis plants. According to prosecutors, the shed containing the body of the cleaning woman found Tuesday had been used by Amrani to grow cannabis.
Belgian media indicate that those weren't the only crimes Amrani had committed. Reports show that Amrani had over 20 run-ins with the law, including sexual offences. Tuesday's summons by police was in connection with a charge of sexual assault.
Belgian Interior Minister Jolle Milquet speculated in a radio interview that Amrani may have feared being arrested again because of the police summons.
Weapons disappearing from Belgian barracks
Now, the judicial authority is facing widespread criticism: how is it that a man with a history of weapons charges against him could have armed himself so well and gone unnoticed? As expected, there have been calls for stricter weapons laws in Belgium. Over the past few years, firearms regulations have been tightened up but the black market is booming.
Most of the weapons come from the Balkans and from former Soviet states. Weapons also disappear from bases of the Belgian military, but these cases are rarely solved.
So it may be some time before an answer is found as to how Amrani's shooting ever became possible

Europe's overcrowded refugee camps receive plodding overhaul

Europe's overcrowded refugee camps receive plodding overhaul

Thousands of undocumented migrants leave their homes every year for a European Union they believe to be the promised land. But for the ones caught at the Greek-Turkish border, refugee camps prove to be quite a different reality. Huddled together in cold, unhygienic camps with no warm water and no separate rooms for men and women, they face long waits for asylum.
Aid organizations have repeatedly called foul over the conditions, raising the attention of the EU and now of Athens.
At an EU migration law conference at the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier, Germany, Loukia Kotroni of Greece’s foreign ministry admitted that Greece was behind in processing many cases, due to a lack of personnel.
"There was a huge problem with the refugee camps because we didn’t have enough space. And when you don’t detain people, they disappear and you can’t repatriate them."
Slow reforms
Over the last two decades, there have been increasing waves of refugees coming into Greece. Many of the migrants plan to continue on to other EU countries; some want to stay in Greece. But for a long time, Greece’s asylum procedures were not updated to meet the new demand. According to Kotroni, it was not until 2010 that Athens introduced asylum reforms, including the establishment of a government asylum agency.
Greece, Kotroni said, now wants to address the cramped conditions in its refugee camps by expanding the camps themselves and the services provided to asylum-seekers – as well as Greece’s repatriation policies.
Working to help Greece in its efforts is the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), an EU-created agency designed to coordinate European countries’ asylum work.
The Malta-based office has sent 13 support teams to Greece, according to team coordinator Claus Folden, who said he has already seen improvement in Greece.
When the EASO first went into Greece, Folden said, there were only a handful of upper-level commissions set up to handle asylum-seekers’ complaints. "Now there are 10, and at the beginning of next year it will be 20," he said, adding that the panels will include judges from other countries such as Austria.
A motor for change
In the aim of creating a common framework for European asylum procedures, EASO collects data from the bloc’s 27 member states and supports the exchange of best-practice experiences.
It also collects data on refugees’ countries of origin to verify their repatriation. EASO is currently putting together an annual report on the situation of asylum-seekers in Europe, as well as handbooks and guidelines to establish an EU-wide asylum mechanism.
The agency analyzes how countries across the EU handle emergency situations such as the arrivals of large undocumented groups. Greece’s northeastern Evros region is not the only part of Europe where refugee camps are bursting at the seams; camps in Italy, Malta and other parts of Southern Europe also face crisis conditions. According to Folden, that’s why pan-EU legislation and concrete cooperation between member states are so essential.
According to Loukia Kotroni, Greece has already made some progress thanks to EASO’s help. In addition to establishing commissions to handle refugee complaints, he said the camp conditions and the repatriation procedures have improved.
However, the job is far from finished.
"Some 300 to 400 people are arriving in the region daily," he said. "There is progress in some areas. Every day there’s something else to take care of."
In the future, EASO intends to become active outside the EU as well. "We could help North African countries to develop their asylum systems and to raise their protection level by using member states’ expertise," said Folden.
EASO also plans to cooperate with other organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a Geneva-based group established after World War II to help resettle displaced people.
As EASO works to expand its focus, however, a central question has come into play. In order to take on more roles, Folden said, the organization must first put into play common EU immigration and asylum policies.
But therein lies somewhat of a chicken-and-egg problem.
"We’re realizing that this office, whose responsibilities include implementing common asylum procedures, was established before the introduction of the asylum system itself."

5 dead, 122 injured in Belgian attack

LIEGE: Four people were killed, including an 18-month-old toddler, and 122 were injured in the assault Tuesday that brought tragedy to the pre-Christmas season of students revelling in exam results and preschoolers enchanted by brightly lit trees and holiday stalls. Summoned for questioning by Belgian police, a man with a history of weapons and drug offenses left home armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an assault rifle. Stopping at a central square filled with holiday shoppers, he lobbed three grenades into the crowd, and then opened fire. Authorities said the shooter also died, but they were at a loss to explain the reason for the onslaught. The prime minister said it was not related to terrorism. In a second burst of deadly violence in Western Europe on Tuesday attacks rare for the continent a man shot and killed two Senegalese vendors at a market in Italy. The midday attack in the eastern Belgian city of Liege sent hundreds of panicked shoppers stampeding down the cobbled streets of the old city, fleeing explosions and bullets. Belgian authorities identified the shooter as Nordine Amrani, a 33-year-old Liege resident who had done jail time for offenses involving guns and drugs, and had been called in for questioning Tuesday in a sexual abuse case. Officials said Amrani left his home with a backpack, armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an FAL assault rifle. He walked alone to the busy Place Saint-Lambert, the central entry point to downtown shopping streets; then climbed onto an overpass that gave him an ideal view of the square, which was bedecked with a huge Christmas tree and crowded with shoppers. From there, Amrani lobbed three hand grenades toward a central bus stop, which serves 1,800 buses a day, and opened fire. The explosions sent shards of glass from the bus shelter across a wide area. Amrani died at the scene, but Liege Prosecutor Danielle Reynders told reporters he was not killed by police. It was unclear if he committed suicide or died by accident, though he still had a number of grenades with him. Those killed were two boys ages 15 and 17, a 75-year-old woman, and an 18-month-old toddler who died Tuesday evening in the hospital, Liege police said. As police hunted for possible accomplices, residents were ordered to stay in their homes or seek shelter in shops or public buildings. Sirens blared and a police chopper roared overhead, and a medical post was set up in the nearby courtyard of the Prince Bishops courthouse. Dozens of emergency vehicles took victims away for treatment. Police closed off the area but found no accomplices, and calm returned a few hours later. There was another deadly shooting Tuesday in Italy, where a man opened fire in an outdoor market in Florence, killing two vendors from Senegal and wounding three other Senegalese before killing himself, authorities said. Investigators identified the attacker as 50-year-old Gianluca Casseri, and RAI state TV said he was known to police for having participated in racist marches by an extreme right-wing group.

Australia face fresh batting woes

SYDNEY: Australia s beleaguered batting line-up faces fresh problems ahead of their Test series against India with Shaun Marsh struggling for fitness and doubts cast over Shane Watson s opening role.The top order came in for fierce criticism following Monday s humiliating loss to New Zealand in Hobart after the home side were seemingly on course for victory when 159 for two chasing 241 runs to win.Australia begin their four-Test series against second-ranked India in Melbourne on December 26 with question marks over the careers of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey and the team s young batsmen mostly in poor touch.Neither Marsh nor Watson played in the two-Test series with New Zealand, ranked eighth, which ended 1-1.Marsh has been ruled out of the second tour match against India in Canberra starting Monday after failing to recover from a back injury and is unlikely to play in the Melbourne Test.New coach Mickey Arthur urged selectors to make a decision on where injury-prone opener Watson would be in the batting order given the bowling duties heaped on him by captain Michael Clarke.

World Player of the Week: Bafetimbi Gomis - Olympique Lyonnais

World Player of the Week: Bafetimbi Gomis - Olympique Lyonnais

NOTE TO SUBBER: PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK FACTS IF YOU WANT TO

Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have accomplished something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

Goal.com World Player of the Week #134: Bafetimbi Gomis
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Country: France
Age: 26
Role: Forward
Achievement: Scored four goals in his side's away victory over Dinamo Zagreb

Scoring a hat-trick in a Champions League game is one thing, scoring a hat-trick in a decisive match when your team’s requirement to win is imperative is quite another.

And so is Bafetimbi Gomis’ feat of finding the target no fewer than four times against Dinamo Zagreb in Olympique Lyonnais’ final Champions League Group D fixture that saw the French giants through to the last 16.

Lyon headed into the game in Croatia knowing that they needed a heavy victory to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stage of Europe’s premier club competition, and they did just that.

The French powerhouse defeated Dinamo 7-1 with Gomis scoring the fastest ever hat-trick in the Champions League in a seven-minute spell, two of which came in the second half.

Much had to do with the fact that Dinamo were playing with 10 men and there have been murmurs of wrongdoings since, but Gomis’ achievement cannot and should not be overshadowed.

Congratulations to Bafetimbi Gomis, Goal.com's 134th World Player of the Week!


Honourable Mentions

Sunil Chhetri - India

India international forward Sunil Chhetri played a vital part in his country’s SAFF Championship triumph scoring in each and every game, and was on target in their 4-0 victory over Afghanistan in the final. Chhetri netted a total of seven goals, a record for the competition, and was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Christian Clemens - Koln

Koln got the better of Freiburg 4-0 at home in the Bundesliga at the weekend and Christian Clemens was a key figure in that triumph, as he found the target twice - one directly from the corner.

Bas Dost - Heerenveen

Heerenveen striker Bas Dost scored all of his side's five goals in their 5-0 away win against Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Saturday. He scored thrice with his head and twice with his right foot.

Didier Drogba - Chelsea

Chelsea needed a victory against Valencia at home in their final Champions League Group E game in midweek and they got it, thanks mainly to Didier Drogba. The striker was all over Los Che’s midfield and defence with his physical presence, hard work and intelligence, scoring two goals and creating one in the Blues’ 3-0 win that sealed qualification to the last 16.

Miroslav Klose - Lazio

Miroslav Klose has been in excellent form for Lazio this season and he continued his streak this weekend against Lecce in an away Serie A clash. The German striker was involved in all of his side’s three goals in their 3-2 win, scoring the first and the third one and played a crucial part in the second.

Carles Puyol - Barcelona

Carles Puyol was arguably the most impressive performer in the Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, as he stood strong at the back in the Blaugrana’s 3-1 victory. The Spain international centre-back kept out Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo among others, led by example and was rock solid in defence.

Franco Vazquez - Belgrano

'El Mudo' was captain in his last ever game for his boyhood team before he moves to Palermo, and scored a lovely goal in their 1-0 victory over Arsenal, bursting into tears on the pitch afterwards as he said goodbye to the fans.

Taliban to have a mission in Qatar

NEW DELHI: Final arrangements have been put in place for the opening of a Taliban mission in the state of Qatar ? the Islamist insurgent group s first formal diplomatic office since it was evicted from power after 9/11 and internationally proscribed for its links to al-Qaeda, said an Indian newspaper report. Indian diplomatic sources told the mission will be designated as a political office for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the Taliban calls itself, and have the privileges but not the formal protection of a diplomatic mission. Taliban envoy Tayyab Agha, former private secretary to Mullah Omar, met representatives of the United States in Qatar last week to hammer out details on the role of the office, the sources said. Shahabudin Dilawar and Sohail Shaheen, both former Taliban diplomats, accompanied Mr. Agha. Mullah Muhammad Zaeef, a Kabul-based interlocutor between the West and the Taliban s Pakistan leadership who served as the Emirate s envoy to Islamabad before 9/11, is said to be among those being considered to serve as the head of the political office. Mr. Zaeef s appointment is however being resisted by hardliners in Taliban chief Mullah Muhammad Omar s Pakistan-based command council, the sources said. News that the Taliban was planning an overseas mission first emerged in September. Both Istanbul and Qatar were considered possible headquarters for the mission. The Gulf kingdom was finally picked, the sources said, because of its proximity to the region ? and also because the U.S. Air Force base there would facilitate logistics. Efforts to talk peace with the Taliban have been marked by missteps. Earlier this year, Afghan authorities had announced they were calling off negotiations with the Taliban, after a suicide bomber assassinated key peace negotiator and former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai later told journalists his government could not ?keep talking to suicide bombers, therefore we have stopped talking about talking to the Taliban until we have an address for the Taliban.? The decision to allow Taliban to open an office would provide negotiators with such an address ? but efforts are divided on the prospects of successful negotiations. Past efforts to secure agreement ? which include three rounds of meetings with Mr. Agha and separate talks with Ibrahim Haqqani, the brother-in-law of key Taliban-allied warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani ? floundered because the United States refused to commit to a full pull-out of western troops, saying they were needed to make sure that jihadist groups with global ambitions did not re-establish themselves in the country. Islamabad, meanwhile, is reported to have moved forward with fresh efforts to secure a peace deal on its side of the Afghan border. Fresh talks are said to have been initiated with Wali Muhammad, commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Waziristan, and his Bajaur-area counterpart, Faqir Muhammad. Pakistan hopes that simultaneous peace deals with jihadists on both sides of the border, involving ceding some political power in return for an end to violence, will help end an insurgency its army has so far failed to contain.

Europe, Stop KEurope, Stop Kidding the Markets

Back to the euro zone, then. EU leaders speak at length about both the need to restore the credibility of the euro and to convince the markets of its longevity. But it takes more than words to do this, and actions speak louder than words.

Many people have now bought into Professor Milton Friedman’s view, published back in 1999, that a monetary union without fiscal union is not viable in the long term. He meant genuine fiscal union, or at least some sort of central budgetary authority.

A “stability pact” is not such an authority, and will not convince the markets, if only because in its earlier form it was ignored by euro zone members when it suited them to run budget deficits larger than the Maastricht treaty allowed.

Looking at the proposed solution for the current crisis, and some new form of stability and growth pact, it is not clear to me how fining a country that is already in debt, and struggling to borrow from capital markets, is supposed to help. By then it will be too late as it implies the country has over-borrowed, again making it difficult then to pay the fine.

So how will further borrowing from the capital markets help the situation? We have already gone down this route with version 1.0 of the stability and growth pact and that didn’t work.

What is needed is an agreement, and then an undertaking, to make the euro work. This needs a centralized budgetary authority, which has control over the debt issuance process as well, to ensure that governments do not run up unsustainable public deficits. Tie that into a genuine lender of last resort role for the European Central Bank and we are almost there.

But the former must be announced first, otherwise the latter will not be enough. And it’s worth emphasizing this last point – some City commentators think that all that is required is for the ECB to be allowed to buy sovereign debt to any size it wants, and that solves the problem. No, it doesn’t, it just buys a few months of reduced tension.

The euro needs genuine fiscal union in parallel with an enlarged ECB role to remain viable. The former will take some time to set up, which is why we need the latter as a short-term solution. But over the long term, both are needed, otherwise it is bye-bye to the euro in its current form.

It’s way past time that the EU stopped trying to kid the markets with words alone and no action. Time to make it work…

Spielberg announces new Tintin movie

Spielberg announces new Tintin movie

Released on - Tuesday,13 December , 2011 -06:04

Steven Spielberg announced in New York a sequel to his 3D movie version of the comic book hero Tintin.
He told a press conference Sunday that "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson would direct the new film and that he had already chosen the book by the Belgian author Herge that would serve as the basis for the script.
Spielberg was promoting the US premiere on December 21 of his "Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," which already premiered in Brussels in October and has been on European, Middle Eastern and Indian release.
In the sequel, the comic books' bumbling Thompson detective twins "have a much bigger role," Spielberg said.
This time, Spielberg will produce and Jackson will direct, swapping their roles in "Unicorn."
"It's being written right now and he's directing it after he does 'The Hobbit' and I'll produce it with him as he's produced this with me," Spielberg said.

Yaya Toure admits to feeling 'guilty and confused' after Manchester City delay the Ivorian's departure for the African Cup of Nations

Yaya Toure admits to feeling 'guilty and confused' after Manchester City delay the Ivorian's departure for the African Cup of Nations

Manchester City have been granted special dispensation to delay Yaya Toure’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ivory Coast international had looked set to miss out on the FA Cup third round match against Manchester United and the first leg of the League Cup semi-final with Liverpool, but he will now be able to feature in both.
Although glad he can take part in two important matches, Yaya admits to feeling indifferent about the situation, with his loyalties split between club and country.
The former Barcelona man told reporters: 'Our country needs people like myself and Didier Drogba because there is a war and it's important we do what we can for our people, but this is also a crucial time of the season.
'There are two crucial months coming up and now I am going to miss one of them.
'The team, the club and the manager need me, but I will have to go away and play in a different competition.
'It's difficult as I am very focused for City and we need all the players.
'I have to go because my country is going through some difficult things, but I am a little bit guilty and confused about it.
'My loyalties are divided and I do feel a little bit sad. But City will cope.
'We have fantastic players who can take my place, such as Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry, while Owen Hargreaves is also working very hard to come back.'
The tournament, hosted in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, begins on January 21 with Ivory Coast’s first match taking place in Malabo against Sudan on the next day

A year of two halves for Bollywood in 2011

A year of two halves for Bollywood in 2011

A low-budget film inspired by the life and death of a racy 1980s B-movie actress was the surprise Bollywood hit of 2011, in a year that started slowly but finished well.
A packed, back-to-back schedule of World Cup one-day cricket and the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament ensured that cinema audiences were down in the first half of the year.
Business picked up later in the year, with Salman Khan's action comedy "Ready" the first of a string of hits that included Sanjay Dutt's slapstick "Double Dhamaal" and Aamir Khan's screwball comedy "Delhi Belly".
The mystery "Ragini MMS", action crime drama "Murder 2" and the Hrithik Roshan-Katrina Kaif road movie "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (You Only Live Once) all did well also.
But none captured the public imagination more than "The Dirty Picture", which is loosely based on south Indian sex symbol Silk Smitha and has packed cinemas since its release earlier this month.
Sex and Shah Rukh Khan were once famously said to be the only things that sell in Bollywood.
This year, a number of successful films have provided the sex but "King Khan" failed to deliver, despite the hype surrounding his Diwali release "Ra.One".
The $20 million science-fiction superhero film won rave reviews for its stunning special effects but many reviewers were disappointed at its weak script.
The film broke even, thanks to a relentless marketing drive that broke new ground in Indian film promotion but it was not the blockbuster many had been expecting.
The last 12 months were also a disappointment for action hero Akshay Kumar, who brought out three poorly-received films -- the cricket-themed "Patiala House", "Thank You" and "Desi Boyz" -- during the year.
Rising star Ranbir Kapoor, though, continued to show his great promise by delivering the hit "Rockstar". Ajay Devgn also had a successful year alongside Salman Khan in "Ready" and as a no-nonsense cop in "Singham".
Leading actress Priyanka Chopra broke new ground, becoming the first Bollywood star to sign a global pop album deal. She will be managed by the man behind Lady Gaga.
Even though offbeat films with lesser-known stars and strong scripts proved popular with audiences, some analysts detected a noticeable return to an earlier, more star-driven format.
"This year, wholesome, entertaining films have worked very well and that has been the trend," said critic Vinod Mirani.
"The success formula of 80s cinema is back and now working very well. All entertaining films of that era that had worked are back in new format this year and they have clicked big time."
As 2011 draws to a close, Shah Rukh Khan is hoping for better success with the release of "Don 2" -- the follow-up to "Don", which came out in 2006 and which itself was a remake of the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan hit.
Roshan is also revisiting the Big B's back catalogue with a remake of his 1990 hit "Agneepath" (Path of Fire).
Next year will see Aamir Khan release "Dhoom 3" -- the third part of the successful franchise -- as well as "Talaash" (Search).
Bachchan, who is a new grandfather after the birth of his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai's first child in November, is due to appear in his first Hollywood movie: a Baz Luhrmann adaptation of "The Great Gatsby".

Man shoots Belgian shoppers, children, kills three

Man shoots Belgian shoppers, children, kills three

LIEGE: A man hurled grenades at a bus stop in the Belgian city of Liege and sprayed gunfire at crowds of Christmas shoppers and children on Tuesday, killing three people and wounding 123 before fatally shooting himself in the head.It was not clear what his motive was, but Belgian officials said there was no indication it was an act of terrorism.Witnesses said the gunman, Nordine Amrani, 33, began his attack near a bus stop at Place Saint Lambert, a central shopping area and the site of the Christmas market and main courthouse - sending shoppers scattering to flee the bullets.Amrani, freed from jail about a year ago after a conviction for possessing weapons and drug offences, ended it by shooting himself in the head with a handgun, the witnesses said.The victims were a 15-year-old boy, who died at the scene, a17-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman who died in hospital. A justice official said 123 had been wounded. (Reuters)

Canada bans burqa at citizenship swearing in

Canada bans burqa at citizenship swearing in

TORONTO: New Canadian citizens must remove any face coverings, such as the Islamic niqab or burqa, while they take the oath of citizenship, the country s immigration minister said on Monday. Jason Kenney said most Canadians have misgivings about Islamic face coverings and said new Canadians should take the oath in view of their fellow citizens. He said he has received complaints from lawmakers and citizenship judges who say it s difficult to ensure that individuals whose faces are covered are actually reciting the oath. The Conservative minister called the issue a matter of deep principle that goes to the heart of Canada s identity and the country s values of openness and equality. He said women who feel obliged to have their faces covered in public often come from a cultural milieu that treats women as property rather than equal human beings 

US lawmakers target Pakistan aid, Iran central bank

US lawmakers target Pakistan aid, Iran central bank

US House and Senate negotiators unveiled a compromise military spending bill that ties strings to aid to Pakistan, targets Iran's central bank, and sets high hurdles for closing Guantanamo Bay.
The legislation, which was expected to face votes in both chambers this week, requires that Al-Qaeda fighters who plot or carry out attacks on US targets be held in military, not civilian, custody, subject to a presidential waiver.
The measure exempts US citizens from that fate, but leaves it to the US Supreme Court or future presidents to decide whether US nationals who sign on with al-Qaeda or affiliated groups may be held indefinitely without trial.
The negotiators, working to blend rival House of Representatives and Senate versions of a sweeping annual $662 billion defense bill, expressed hopes of having modified the detainee rules enough to avert a White House veto threat.
President Barack Obama had warned he could reject the bill over the required military custody of some suspected extremists as well as provisions he charged would short-circuit civilian trials for alleged terrorists.
"I just can't imagine that the president would veto this bill" given the changes made in the House-Senate compromise, said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat.
Veteran Senator John McCain, the top Republican on Levin's panel, said the negotiators had met with key aides to Obama, including FBI Director Robert Mueller and top US Treasury Department officials.
"We feel that we were able to satisfy, we hope, most of their concerns," he said.
The lawmakers strengthened Obama's ability to waive parts of the detainee provisions and reaffirmed that the custody rules would not hamper ongoing criminal investigations by the FBI or other law enforcement organizations.
And they very slightly diluted the legislation's tough new sanctions on Iran, which aim to cut off Tehran's central bank from the global financial system in a bid to force the Islamic republic to freeze its suspect nuclear program.
"It does curtail Iran's ability to buy and sell petroleum through its central bank and prevents foreign financial institutions that deal with the central bank of Iran from continuing their access to the US financial system," said McCain.
"They are going to pay a bigger and bigger price should they continue to move towards nuclear weapons," said Levin.
The measure would freeze roughly $700 million in aid to Pakistan pending assurances that Islamabad has taken steps to thwart militants who use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against US-led forces in Afghanistan.
"We've had some shaky relations lately with Pakistan. We need them, they need us," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, a Republican.
"But one of the things that has bothered me the most in this war in Afghanistan is the loss of life and limb to IEDs."
The measure forbids the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to US soil and sharply restricts moving such prisoners to third countries -- steps that critics of the facility say will make it much harder to close down.
The legislation also calls for closer military ties with Georgia, including the sale of weapons that McCain said would help the country, which fought a brief war with Russia in 2008, defend itself.
And it included a measure, authored by McCain and Levin, to crack down on counterfeit electronics making their way from China into the Pentagon's supply chain, hurting the reliability of high-priced US weapons programs.