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Eleven airline plot suspects appear in UK court

2006-08-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Eleven British Muslims charged with being involved in a plot to blow up U.S.-bound transatlantic airliners have been remanded in custody after appearing in a London court on Today. Eight have been charged with conspiracy to murder and with plotting to detonate homemade explosives on planes after smuggling the components on board while three others were charged with other terrorism-related offences.
Abdullah Ahmed Ali, Waheed Arafat Khan, Umar Islam, Tanvir Hussain, Assad Ali Sarwar, Adam Khatib, Ibrahim Savant and Waheed Zaman, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses.
There was no application for bail and all eight were charged with conspiracy to murder and remanded in custody until September 4 when they will appear at the Old Bailey.
Hussain's lawyer Mohammed Zed told the court that "all allegations are denied," while lawyers for the other seven made no comment about a plea.
A 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons was remanded in custody for possessing items useful to a terrorist including a book on home-made bombs and suicide notes while Cossar Ali was remanded for failing to notify the authorities that her husband was planning an act of terrorism.
The two were remanded in custody until August 29 and their lawyers indicated they would plead not guilty.
The 11th suspect, Mehran Hussain, was remanded until September 19 for having information about an individual who was planning a terrorist attack. Hussain's lawyer also indicated he would plead not guilty.
The 10 men were all wearing white sweatshirts or t-shirts and grey tracksuit trousers while the woman wore a blue headscarf.
They were flanked by uniformed security guards while they stood in the dock during hearings in a cramped courtroom at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Two of the men waved to the public gallery which was packed with friends of the suspects and family members. The 11 were mostly from east London or High Wycombe.
U.S. officials have said the plot to use liquid explosives could have caused a disaster on the scale of the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Reading your way to richness!

2006-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

In this internet age, when more and more people are using screens, dials and modems to gather and send information, the printed medium is being steadily abandoned- and with it, the wonderful experience of reading books.
Literature remains the most important vehicle towards true enlightenment, as well as being an instant time machine that transports its readers through centuries to other worlds. No technology exists which can compare with the thrill of entering a novel and letting the author take you on a special and exquisite journey through his imagination.
Enhance your spirit by reading regularly.
Remember, each time you open a book, you are about to leap into a magical, endless and bottomless pool from which you will emerge a wiser and knowledgeable person.

LASER MELTS FAT?

2006-08-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the Massachusetts general hospital in America are producing a laser that melts fat, and launched the results of their research at the annual meeting of the American society for laser medicine and surgery earlier this year.
For the first time, a laser is being developed that heats up body fat without harming the skin. Experiments were conducted using pig fat and skin samples about 5cm thick, and the results showed that selective photothermolysis- heating tissues with light-may have a number of medical applications in the future, including treating acne, as well as targeting cellulite and body fat, and even the fatty plaques that clog your arteries and put you at risk of a heart attack.
However it will be sometime before the lasers can be tested on humans. So just keep right on RUNNING!

New Miss Universe hails from Puerto Rico

2006-07-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

An 18-year-old aspiring actress from Puerto Rico was crowned Sunday night as Miss Universe 2006.
Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza shared a nervous emotional hug with the first runner-up, Kurara Chibana of Japan, moments before the winner was announced, then clasped her hands to her mouth as she heard her name called. She beamed as the crown was placed on her head.
Miss USA Tara Conner was the contest's fourth runner-up. Also finishing in the top five were second runner-up Lauriane Gillieron of Switzerland and third runner-up Lourdes Arevalos of Paraguay.
Conner was vying to become the first U.S. winner since Brook Lee in 1997. The Kentucky native wore a red-white-and-blue jockey outfit and cracked a whip during the opening parade of nations.
Lia Andrea Ramos of Philippines was chosen most photogenic in an online vote by the public.
Angela Asare of Ghana won the congeniality award in a vote by all 86 contestants. Chibana, who carried a samurai sword, won the award for best national costume.
"They were probably afraid not to pick Miss Japan or she would use that sword," joked Carson Kressley of TV's "Queer Eye," who provided commentary along with 2004 Miss USA Shandi Finnessey. Opera singer Vittorio Grigolo and Latin singer Chelo provided musical performances.
The winner travels the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors.
Natalie Glebova of Canada crowned her successor at the end of the two-hour telecast with a diamond-and-pearl-studded headpiece valued at $250,000.
"My year as Miss Universe has meant more to me than I can express," said Glebova, who began her reign with a trip to South Africa where she publicly took an HIV test.
"I have traveled the world on behalf of various HIV/AIDS organizations, promoting education, research and legislation, and I walk away from this experience feeling like I truly made an impact."

Rice: US has not forgotten Palestinians

2006-07-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

The United States has not forgotten the Palestinian people, despite the current crisis in Lebanon, the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, insisted today after meeting the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank.
"The Palestinian people have lived too long with violence and the daily humiliations that go along with the circumstances here," Ms Rice said in Ramallah.
"I assured the president that we had great concerns about the sufferings of innocent people throughout the region," she told reporters, saying "even as the Lebanon situation resolves, we must remain focused on what is happening here."
"You have our pledge that in our common work of bringing a two-state solution to the people of Palestine and the people of Israel that we will not tire in our efforts," Ms Rice added.
Ms Rice met Mr Abbas after visiting Lebanon and Israel, a trip primarily focused on seeking an end to two weeks of fighting between Israel and Hizbullah forces in southern Lebanon.
The hostilities have left Israel fighting on two fronts, following an offensive launched last month in the Gaza Strip. More than 100 Palestinians have died in the campaign, launched in response to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and the killing of two more by gunmen from Gaza.
Mr Abbas called again for an Israeli-Palestinian truce and said Palestinian officials were "exerting all our efforts" to free the kidnapped soldier. "Israeli aggression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip must stop immediately so we can strengthen the truce and start a political process that aims to end the occupation," he added.
Mr Abbas also expressed the hope that Israel would release some of the thousands of Palestinians it held in jail.
Israel has ruled out any exchange deal. Earlier today it dropped new leaflets over Gaza warning that it would escalate its attacks on arms stores and militant leaders because militants continued to fire rockets towards Israel.
In the meeting with Mr Abbas and around a dozen US and Palestinian officials, Ms Rice also briefed the Palestinian leader on the situation in Lebanon and discussed ways to get further aid to the debt-ridden Palestinian government.
Washington and other donors have cut off assistance since Hamas, which the US and EU consider a terrorist organisation, won the Palestinian legislative election in January.
Mr Abbas, who was elected separately last year, has been pressing Hamas to drop its commitment to the destruction of Israel.
Ms Rice, who talked of it being "time for a new Middle East", arrived for the talks in Ramallah shortly after police cleared hundreds of Palestinians holding an anti-US protest outside the government building where the meeting was being held.

Lebanon demands compensation from Israel

2006-07-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah guerrillas on the Lebanese side of the border Wednesday, while Lebanon's prime minister reported a death toll of 300 and demanded compensation from Israel for the "unimaginable losses" to the nation's infrastructure.
As fighting entered its second week, Israeli warplanes flattened houses in south Lebanon and Hezbollah rockets made their first hit near Christian holy sites in Israel: Two rockets hit Nazareth _ the biblical hometown of Jesus _ killing two brothers ages 3 and 9 as they played outside, bringing the Israeli death toll to 29. At least 18 others were wounded in the attack. Washington said it won't push Israel toward a fast cease-fire in the fighting, started July 12 after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers. The latest fighting dealt a blow to efforts to send international peacekeepers to bolster the 2,000-member U.N. force in south Lebanon.
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To the French, Zidane still a hero, if no longer a 'god'

2006-07-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

PARIS says Welcome home, Zizou. All is forgiven.
After a rollercoaster week that saw France's premier soccer star alternately thrill, shock, and mystify a sports-crazed nation, Zinedine Zidane is back in the good graces of most French fans. Despite France's loss to Italy in the World Cup final Sunday and his ambiguous apology for the head butt that got him ejected from the final match of his career, Mr. Zidane - known affectionately as Zizou - seems to have regained his status as a French hero.
No longer a superhero, to be sure, but a heroic common man.
"He's not a god, but simply a hero who has not always handled very well his basic internal conflict, which is his sensitivity to injustice," sports psychologist Makis Chamalidis told the sports daily L'Equipe this week.
Nevertheless, France has long revered the sphinxlike Zidane, a famously reticent man known for his elegant footwork on the field.
He has been called "a planetary icon," "the greatest footballer of his generation," and "a living example for young people." The fact that he grew up in the tough alleys of Marseilles, the son of Berber immigrants from Algeria, only added to his patina as a man who not only prevailed over opponents on the playing field but also over racism in French daily life.
Now, after scandalizing sports fans with his ignominious head butt, he seems to have successfully recast himself once again, this time as a loyal son ostensibly defending his mother's honor.
In the 110th minute of Sunday's nail-biting final between France and Italy, Italian midfielder Marco Materazzi - who had matched Zidane's early goal to tie the game 1-1 - tugged at Zidane's shirt.
There was an exchange of muttered comments. The two separated, Zidane trotted in front of the Italian and suddenly turned back, lowered his shaved head and rammed it into Mr. Materazzi's chest, knocking him on his back.
Zidane, team captain and minutes from the close of a glorious career, was thrown out. In the end, Italy won on penalty kicks, 5-3. From then on, no one has been able to stop talking about Zizou.
A reggae-like song about the head butt has become an instant Internet hit. Sportswriters and the French sports minister called his action odious, shameful, unsportsmanlike, and petulant. Yet rumors abounded that something unsupportable had been said. Lip-readers were employed by various news organizations and concluded that the Italian had used racial epithets or slurs against Zidane's mother and sister. The right-wing Italian Senate president fueled speculation by saying the French team "sacrificed its identity by selecting blacks, Islamists, and communists."
Finally, on Wednesday night, Zidane appeared on national television.
Yes, the soccer star said, Materazzi had used terrible language, insulting his mother and his sister. No, Zidane said, he would not repeat the exact words. All he would say was that he was profoundly, deeply hurt.
"I would rather have taken a punch in the face" than hear such insults, he said.
Zidane, dressed in a T-shirt with a khaki Army surplus coat draped over his shoulders, said repeatedly that he apologized to the children and teachers of the world who saw his head butt.
He called his act "unforgivable" but called for sanctions as well against "the true culprit" who had insulted his family.
Then, mixing his message even further, he declared that he regretted nothing. To have refrained from reacting would have implied that the Italian was right to utter the insults, he said.
"I take responsibility for the good and the bad," he said. "Now another life begins. I'll be less watched, less observed. I am going to try to devote myself to my children and my family. I intend to return to Algeria to rediscover my roots, the land of my parents."
With those words, he reminded his audience of how far he had come. For Mr. Zidane has long been the prime example of a "beur," as French people of North African descent are commonly called, who crossed over into mainstream celebrity status by way of professional sports. He was a source of pride in immigrant neighborhoods, a case in point for French politicians who insisted on the openness of French society and a bane to those on the xenophobic far-right who complained France was losing its white European identity.
In the final score, Zidane became for some the embodiment of a quality admired in more than a few French circles: the willingness to sacrifice victory for pride.
"I see, thanks to Zidane, the victory of a certain national spirit," wrote François Sureau, a French philosopher, in the newspaper Le Figaro, on Thursday. Zidane, he said, "has given us back our beautiful reputation for insolence."

Via:Google

Former CIA Officer Sues Cheney Over Leak

2006-07-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

The CIA officer whose identity was leaked to reporters sued Vice President Dick Cheney, his former top aide and presidential adviser Karl Rove on Thursday, accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador, accused Cheney, Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby of participating in a "whispering campaign" to reveal Plame's CIA identity and punish Wilson for criticizing the Bush administration's motives in Iraq.
Several news organizations wrote about Plame after syndicated columnist Robert Novak named her in a column on July 14, 2003. Novak's column appeared eight days after Wilson alleged in an opinion piece in The New York Times that the administration had twisted prewar intelligence on Iraq to justify going to war. The CIA had sent Wilson to Niger in early 2002 to determine whether there was any truth to reports that Saddam Hussein's government had tried to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger to make a nuclear weapon. Wilson discounted the reports, but the allegation nevertheless wound up in President Bush's 2003 State of the Union address.
Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Rove, said, "Without even having had a chance to review the complaint, it is clear that the allegations are absolutely and utterly without merit."
The lawsuit accuses Cheney, Libby, Rove and 10 unnamed administration officials or political operatives of putting the Wilsons and their children's lives at risk by exposing Plame.
"This lawsuit concerns the intentional and malicious exposure by senior officials of the federal government of … (Plame), whose job it was to gather intelligence to make the nation safer and who risked her life for her country," the Wilsons' lawyers said in the lawsuit.
Specifically, the lawsuit accuses the White House officials of violating the Wilsons' constitutional rights to equal protection and freedom of speech. It also accuses the officials of violating the couple's privacy rights.

Via:Google

Israel kills 18 in Gaza, targets Hamas commanders

2006-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Israel killed 18 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday including nine members of one family in an air strike that destroyed a residential building where the army said top Hamas commanders were meeting.
The air raid was among a series of attacks that coincided with an Israeli armored sweep into the central Gaza Strip, as the Jewish state broadened an offensive aimed at freeing a captured soldier and halting cross-border rocket fire.
The army said the strike on the three-storey building near Gaza City wounded Mohammad Deif, overall leader of the governing Hamas movement's armed wing and Israel's most wanted man. A spokesman for Hamas's Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, one of three groups whose kidnapping of Corporal Galid Shalit on June 25 led Israel to launch its first ground operations in Gaza since quitting the territory last year, denied Deif was hurt.
The air strike killed a local Hamas leader, Nabil Abu Selmeya, his wife and seven sons and daughters aged 7 to 19, medics said. His eldest son, who was not at home, survived.
Palestinian medics said Israel's air raids and tank shelling had killed a total of 18 people on Wednesday, including militants and one policeman.
Israel has rejected calls from Hamas for negotiations on a prisoner swap for Shalit, whose abduction has triggered the worst fighting between Israelis and Palestinians since 2004. The Gaza offensive has killed 74 Palestinians and one soldier.

Via: Google

STRANGE BUT TRUE!!!

2006-06-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Someone really did exist with 4 eyes??? Yes…. His name was Liu Ch’ing and he was born with 2 pupils in each eye. This however, did not deter him from “eyeing” a position in the public service and he eventually became the Governor of shansi province, china in 955 AD.

A human being has lived for 152 years…..his name was Thomas Parr and he was born in Shropshire, England in 1483. He lived through the reign of 10 sovereigns and died eventually, in 1635.

In the 18th century “tooth nappers” roamed the streets attacking and extracting people’s teeth for dentists who advertised for particular teeth in order to make dentures…..
Unfortunately, it turns out, mainly for those who had had theirs “napped”.

The Great Wall of China dates back to 214BC and is over 3000km long, 10M thick and 12M high. It is the only man-made structure that astronauts can see from outer space through a telescope.

The smallest dwarf to ever live was a Frenchman called Richebourg he was 58cmtall and carried dispatches to and fro Paris during the revolution disguised as a baby in the arms of a nursemaid…..

Billed as “A New specie of Man” Francis Lambert was born covered with scales from his neck to his feet. In 1820, at the age of 30, he was exhibited on New Bond Street in London to the utter amazement of all present.

It was fashionable in the 18th century for women to wear their hair in creations that were sometimes 1m high. these styles were supported with wire frames and made out of false hair. They were so elaborate that they were not touched for months on end… just like some of what we see today.

The winter of 1925 in Canada was so cold that Niagara Falls froze over!!!

World Cup Day 1

2006-06-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

This year's World Cup opened in a glamorous way with an opening ceremony which was outstanding in every way at Munich Allianz Arena with Pele, a World Cup winner in 1958, 1962 and 1970, carrying the trophy onto the pitch, with German supermodel Claudia Schiffer at his side. The Greatest Tournament kicked off in a big way with Germany hammering Costa Rica 4-2 in an entertaining fashion in today's opening clash in Munich. Costa Rica were handed a warning in only the second minute when Frings unleashed an effort from distance that landed on the top of their goal. It was one they did not heed. An early strike from Philipp Lahm gave the hosts an early lift in the absence of influential captain Michael Ballack, who was missing through a calf injury. Former Derby, Manchester City and West Ham striker Paulo Wanchope levelled the scores in the 12th minute. Man-of-the-match Miroslav Klose struck in the 17th and 61st minutes before Wanchope punished the shaky German defence for a second time in the 73rd. And this spectacular opener came to a fitting end in the 87th minute as Torsten Frings scored with a 35-yard piledriver that sent the crowd into ecstasy. Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made his World Cup debut in goal instead of Bayern Munich rival Oliver Kahn. Also this evening, Agustin Delgado scored one goal and made one as Ecuador got their second ever World Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 2-0 victory over Group A rivals Poland at the Veltins Arena. Poland's hopes of reaching the second round now look bleak while the Latin Americans will enter uncharted territory if they get into the last 16 in a group also featuring hosts Germany and Costa Rica. Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez vowed to play attractive football and his team has lived up to that pledge. Tomorrow's matches promise to be more exciting than todays' with England facing Paraguay, Trinidad sparing off with Sweden, finally the match of the day, Argentina battling Ivory Coast in the much acclaimed group of death.

Wakeboarding!

2006-05-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Wake boarding is one of those sports that have emerged in recent decades as a result of the evolution of what we call more ‘primitive’ varieties. Skiing for instance, gave birth to snowboarding, and now the marriage of waterskiing and surfing has produced a sport known as wakeboarding.
Wakeboarding emerged in California during the eighties as an alternative to traditional surfing. Towed by a motorboat, surfers can ride the endless waves of the wake it create whilst taking the opportunity to perform incredible somersaults.
It was in the late nineties that wakeboarding reached Spain where there are now 6000 regular practitioners and 25 schools to the sport.
Because they have similar characteristics, wakeboarding and snowboarding have had parallel developments in many ways. The basic material for wakeboarding consists of a heavy motorboat with plenty of power, a bar joined to the boat by some 20-22 meters of cord, and the wakeboard itself rather wider and shorter than a snowboard, but aesthetically and decoratively the same .no boots are used, since the feet are held in place directly by neoprene bindings .What is essential though, is a life jacket.

History of forks!

2006-05-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

It was Phillip lll, a pioneer in so many ways, who introduced the use of the fork to Spain in the 17th century, so completing the basic trilogy of knife, fork and spoon that takes up any place setting. Although we Spaniards boast of having discovered a region as vital to today’s world as America, we had only spoons to eat with then. Chicken, for instance, was eaten with the fingers, a custom which has incidentally survived till this day.
Phillip lll and his favorite the Duke of Lamar ,introduced the use of the fork, a utensil that was already common in France and Italy. The curious instrument had first been brought to Italy-or rather to Venice, since Italy did not exist as we know it now-by Theodora, the daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium. The fork was in common use among the wealthy Byzantines from the 11th century onwards, although it is also believe to have been used in classical Greece for picking up certain kind of meat and preparing toasts.
It was, however, introduced to Europe by Italy. In the 16th century, the great discovery found a place on the tables of the medics in order to save them the awkward and unhygienic business of eating with their hands. Those renaissance forks had only two prongs and folding handles. The new device was then introduced to France precisely by a medic, Catherine, who married the French monarch Henry ll in 1533.
A century later, an English traveler named Thomas Coryate was unable to contain his surprise when he saw the Italians using an instrument that prevented them from having to touch their meat .Afterwards,Coryate found out that anyone who picked up meat with their fingers was even then considered guilty of bad manners .On his way through France in 1608,he bought a fork and introduced it to high society in England ,where it was mocked at first by those who thought it an eccentric and unnecessary thing to use.Curiously ,the fork was beaten by it’s table companions by several thousand years .Even in prehistory, upper Paleolithic man used spoons made out of shells or tree bark .Many years later ,in about 3000 B.C. ,spoons were made in Mesopotamia ,Syria ,Palestine

A diamond in the pan!

2006-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Truffles are to cuisine rather as diamonds are to jewelries and we are not talking about their price .these culinary gems were already being served at the tables of the dukes of burgundy. In Paris, the cradle of the world’s haute cuisine, the only truffles known at that time were the white Italian truffle and the grey truffle from the haute Marne. At the beginning of the 20th century, this French province was the leading truffle producer, with an output of 18tons per year. Nevertheless, the following decades saw a decline in production owing to mismanagement of the areas where the truffles naturally grew.
Over picking and deforestation together impoverished the bios stem that had provided ideal conditions for them.
But gourmets seldom forget a taste and where it comes from, and these truffles were rediscovered some fifteen years ago. The so called ‘grey diamond’ is therefore once again being produced by traditional methods on natural truffle patches near the town of Chaumont in Spain.

Inter bounce back

2006-03-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

Inter Milan had to come from behind to secure a narrow quarter-final first-leg lead over Villarreal.
Spanish side Villarreal were ahead after 56 seconds when Francesco Toldo was unable to hold Jose Mari's shot, enabling Diego Forlan to sidefoot in.
Inter quickly pulled level as Adriano punished poor Villarreal defending.
The home side took the lead soon after the break when Obafemi Martins nudged in Dejan Stankovic's cross, while Juan Riquelme hit the bar for Villarreal. This was the first time Villarreal had lost in the Champions League this season.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: Soccer, Champions League

Olmert wins Israeli Elections

2006-03-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed victory on Wednesday in
Israel' s election, saying he would pursue a plan to give up parts of the
West Bank and impose a border on the Palestinians if peacemaking stays frozen.
"Today Israeli democracy has spoken clearly. Israel wants Kadima," Olmert said in a speech at the centrist party's election headquarters after exit polls in Tuesday's vote gave it 29-32 seats in the 120-member parliament. In the absence of progress toward peace, Olmert aims to set Israel's final frontier by 2010 by removing isolated settlements in the occupied West Bank while expanding bigger blocs there.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: Israel Prime Minister

China immigrant smuggler jailed

2006-03-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

Cheng Chui Ping ran a multi-million dollar scheme which transported hundreds of illegal immigrants to the US in packed cargo ships.
During one operation in 1993, a ship carrying immigrants ran aground off the US coast and 10 people drowned.
The 57-year-old was convicted of charges including conspiracy to commit people smuggling and money laundering.
Cheng, also known as Sister Ping, pleaded for more than an hour for a lenient sentence, saying she was a hard-working immigrant who loved the United States and had been terrorised by Chinatown gangs.
US district judge Michael Mukasey described her speech as "simply incredible" and sentenced her to the maximum penalty allowed by law.

US launches major Iraq offensive

2006-03-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

The US military says a major operation targeting suspected Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters near Samarra could continue for several days.The biggest airborne operation in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003, it involves ore than 50 aircraft and 1,500 Iraqi and US troops.
They are said to have detained about 40 suspects so far, and seized weapons.
The Iraqi foreign minister said the aim was to stop insurgents from turning the town into a stronghold.
A bomb attack on the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, 100km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, last month sparked widespread sectarian violence.
There are no independent reports of the offensive so far.

via:BBC

Technorati Tags: Bush US Iraq

Former Yugoslav leader,Milosevic dies

2006-03-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

The preliminary results of an autopsy in the Netherlands on Slobodan Milosevic show the former Yugoslav leader died of a heart attack.
He was found dead in his cell on Saturday in The Hague where he was on trial for war crimes.
A toxicological report on the body has still to be completed amid allegations he may have died of poisoning.
An official for the UN tribunal said that his remains would be released to on Monday to his family.
May his soul rest in peace.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: UN, Milosevic

Anglo-Italian tie leads the way

2006-03-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

Arsenal will face former captain Patrick Vieira's Juventus after being drawn against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The first leg will be at Highbury on Tuesday 28 March, with the second leg in Turin on Wednesday 5 April. The projected draw for the semi-final was also made at the ceremony in Paris. Lyon will face AC Milan and Benfica meet Barcelona in the other games in the last eight.Inter Milan and Ajax will play the second leg of their tie on Tuesday.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: soccer Champion's League

Nadal keeps himself low on Federer

2006-03-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

Rafael Nadal insists he is still a long way behind Roger Federer, despite his superior head-to-head record against the world number one.The 19-year-old Spaniard has won three of his four meetings with Federer, including last weekend's 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the final of the Dubai Open.That result ended the Swiss star's 56-match winning sequence on hard courts and Nadal knows he needs to hit that level of consistency before he can claim to be on a par with the world's best player, who has seven Grand Slam titles to the teenager's one.Federer and Nadal are the top two seeds at the first Masters Series event of the season at Indian Wells and it would be no great surprise should they meet for the third time in a final.

via:sky sports

Technorati Tags: tennis Dubai Open Nadal

Wi-fi promises internet shake-up

2006-03-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

There is a good reason why the biggest wi-fi zones in the UK are in the City of London and Canary Wharf, with widespread wireless access being touted as the force behind the net's next wave of innovation.
The first wave centred around the dotcom boom of the late 1990s when lucrative domains were snapped up, fledgling web businesses were established and everyone got dizzy on the potential of this new medium.
Some of that potential is starting to be seen now in what is being called Web 2.0.
This takes as its starting point the basic infrastructure of the net and the communities forming on it, and marries both with innovative thinking about what to do with these raw materials.
So far, it is generating a huge number of start-ups such as PodBop, which gives you podcasts of bands coming to your home town. Websites such as TechCrunch and others are cataloguing these new firms.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: internet Wi-Fi

Ecuador emergency over oil strike

2006-03-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

A state of emergency has been declared in three of Ecuador's oil-producing regions after workers began a strike over pay and working conditions.
The eastern provinces of Napo, Orellana and Sucumbios have been placed under military control to prevent further unrest, a government official said.
It is the second time in recent weeks that the government in the capital, Quito, has had to take such measures.
Ecuador's oil production accounts for nearly half of its annual budget.
The government-run company Petroecuador said the strike had already damaged production in the oil-rich provinces.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: U S Government oil Ecuador

Blake Wins Open

2006-03-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

James Blake defeated Lleyton Hewitt for the first time on Sunday, breaking the former world No. 1 four times in the final set to win the Tennis Channel Open 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
''It's not easy to play against him,'' Blake said. ''I'm just happy to get finally get a win against him. He's one of the best players of all-time.''
Blake earned his fifth career title and second of the year, highlighting a career-best 14-4 start. He also captured an ATP event in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 15.

Web surfing as easy as a walk in the park

2006-03-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

In REDMOND, Washington, Do you ever feel like you're not making good enough use of your feet when you're catching up on your e-mail or sorting through all those digital pictures you took on that last vacation?
Computer scientists in Microsoft Corp.'s research division have developed a color-coded "dance pad" with buttons you can tap with your feet — or jump on — to scroll through electronic files.
It may never make it to store shelves, but that's no concern to Microsoft, which spends billions of dollars a year researching far-out technologies without worrying about whether the gizmos will ever make it to store shelves.

via:MSN

Technorati Tags: Microsoft

‘Sick’ Kobe youngest to pass 16,000 points

2006-03-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Bryant fights off sinus infection, scores 42 in Lakers' 106-94 victory.
In OAKLAND, California, Kobe Bryant knew he would need a clear head to overcome his clogged sinuses. So while everybody else butted heads, he calmly rose to another historic performance of the NBA’s best one-man show.
Bryant became the youngest player to score 16,000 points, finishing with 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
Chris Mihm added 16 points, but Bryant’s stellar play with a sinus infection was just about the only beautiful thing in the Lakers’ third straight victory over the Warriors. Bryant scored 40 points for the 16th time this season while conserving his energy and playing with thoughtful caution.

via:msn

Technorati Tags: Basketball Kobe NBA

Oil keeps rising on supply fears

2006-03-03T08:52:00.000-08:00

Oil prices have continued to rise on Friday, pushed higher by fears that production facilities may be attacked in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Nigerian production has been disrupted by militants, while Saudi Arabia said it halted a plan to bomb a local plant.
There also are concerns that a European and US row with Iran over its nuclear programme may crimp oil exports.
US light crude was trading 24 cents higher in New York at $63.60 a barrel, after jumping $1.39 on Thursday.
In London, Brent crude prices were marked 28 cents higher to $64.35 a barrel.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: US Crude oil nigeria

2006-03-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Microsoft is playing its cards very close to its chest over the forthcoming launch of Project Origami.
It seems certain that the product is a new operating system designed for a portable computer, since the video indicated that Origami can be used anywhere.
Origami is likely to be a cut down version of Windows XP or CE to be used in Intel's forthcoming ultra mobile PC, probably without a keyboard.
"A lot of Japanese manufacturers are leading the way on this new form factor, " said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel's Broadband Wireless Division.
"We'll be building in wireless support as standard, and by 2007 we'll hope to have all devices with ports for Sim cards that can connect via cellular and act as an authenticator for the user."
"While Origami is a concept Microsoft has been working on with partners, please know that the video seen on Digital Kitchen's website is a year old and represents our initial exploration into this form factor, including possible uses and scenarios," said a Microsoft spokeswoman.
"However, we are excited to share more details about the evolution of the Origami concept in the coming weeks, so stay tuned."

via:google news

Technorati Tags: origami microsoft

Antarctica losing ice to oceans

2006-03-02T20:12:00.000-08:00

A new space-based study of Antarctica shows its ice sheet is shrinking.
Satellites were used by researchers to plot changes in the Earth's gravity in the Antarctic during the period 2002-2005.
In the journal of Science, it is concluded that the continent is losing 152 cubic km of ice each year, with most loss in the west.
In recent years scientists have found other evidence that West Antarctic ice is melting, which could contribute to sea level rise.

De la Hoya eyes Mayweather clash

2006-03-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

Oscar de la Hoya has revealed he wants a shot at WBC light welterweight king Floyd Mayweather Jr before retiring.
De la Hoya, out of action since being stopped by Bernard Hopkins in September 2004, will face WBC super welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga on 6 May.
But de la Hoya, who has held titles at six different weights, has already set his sights on Mayweather.
"That will be my last, against the best pound-for-pound fighter out there," said the 33-year-old American.
De la Hoya is trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr, and claimed taking on his mentor's son would be the perfect end to a glittering career.

via: bbc

Technorati Tags: boxing

Technorati Tags: WBC

Sampras to return to tennis court

2006-03-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

Pete Sampras is to play competitive tennis again after agreeing to compete in the World Team Tennis Pro League more than three years after retiring.
But the former world number one, who is now 34, has ruled out all talk of a comeback at the top level.
"This is more about getting myself a little busier and focused on something I used to be good at," he said.
His last professional match was the 2002 US Open final, when he beat Andre Agassi for his 14th Grand Slam title.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: tennis

Technorati Tags: Pete Sampras

Italy thrash Germany in friendly

2006-03-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Italy thumped World Cup hosts Germany 4-1 in a surprisingly one-sided friendly in Florence.
Two goals in the first seven minutes from Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni put the Italians in control.

Daniele De Rossi's header made it three and Alessandro Del Piero also netted before Robert Huth's late consolation.
This puts Germany in a very tight spot as they being hosts of the World Cup in 2006, are also one of the likely favorites to carry the Cup.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: soccer

Technorati Tags: World Cup

Ipod's Media Rival is about to be Unveiled

2006-03-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Microsoft is preparing to unveil a handheld multimedia device designed to take on Apple's iPod and the Sony PSP, according to reports.
Called Origami, it is thought to boast a touch screen, wireless web access, and to play music, videos and games.
A slick advertisement for the embryonic product and an official teaser site are available online.
Speculation about Origami grew as Apple launched the latest innovation in its iPod range which is iPod Hi-Fi, a speaker system designed to put the portable music players in living rooms as well as coat pockets.
Microsoft confirmed it had been working on Origami, but insisted no date had been set for an official launch.

via:bbc

Technorati Tags: ipod

Technorati Tags: microsoft

Bird flu vaccine no 'silver bullet'

2006-02-27T00:20:00.000-08:00

Vaccinating the UK's poultry is not currently needed as a precautionary measure against bird flu, many leading animal health experts say.
Only if an outbreak occurs and other preventative strategies fail should the government consider the option, they told the BBC News website.
Current bird flu vaccines do not offer complete protection from infection and could, in some circumstances, "hide" the virus in affected flocks, they believe.
A government spokesperson said that, at present, vaccines were "not a path that they want to go down".
"Vaccination offers potential benefits but currently available vaccines are too limited to provide a general solution," he added.

Nigerian oil fuels Delta conflict

2006-02-27T00:12:00.000-08:00

Nigeria's Delta region is home to vast oil reserves, which make the country one of the world's biggest oil exporters.

But the region remains poor, undeveloped and riven by conflict.
For many years, armed gangs of youths, who hide out in the swamps and creeks that make up the Delta, have attacked oil pipelines and kidnapped foreign workers for ransom.
A recent report commissioned by Shell said the level of conflict in the region was comparable to Colombia and Chechnya.
Attacks on Shell installations have forced a 10% drop in Nigeria's oil production.
Many of the armed groups claim to support impoverished local communities and say the oil belongs to the Delta people in the first place.

via:bbc

Nigeria's shadowy oil rebels

2006-02-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which has threatened "total war" in Nigeria's main oil-producing region and is behind the recent kidnapping of oil workers is a shadowy group, about which little is known.

The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar managed to meet one of the group's leaders, who used the alias Major-General Godswill Tamuno.
But he refused to be interviewed on tape or for his location to be disclosed.
Their correspondent says the "general" was not visibly armed and you could easily walk past him in the streets without noticing him.
Mend's leaders like to be faceless, our reporter says, and they usually send statements to the media via e-mail.
Yet their threats and attacks on oil installations in the region have caused a 15% cut in Nigeria's oil output and a surge in world oil prices.

via: BBC

Shell told to pay Nigeria's Ijaw

2006-02-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

A Nigerian court has ordered oil giant Shell and its partners to pay $1.5bn to the Ijaw people of the Delta region.
The Ijaw have been fighting since 2000 for compensation for environmental degradation in the oil-rich region.
They took the case to court after Shell refused to make the payment ordered by Nigeria's parliament.
Ijaw militants have staged a spate of attacks against Shell facilities recently and are holding seven foreign oil workers hostage.
Following the violence, Shell - the biggest oil producer in Nigeria - has halved its output from the country.
Shell says it believes there is no evidence to support the claim, and will appeal against the ruling.
A statement said: "We remain committed to dialogue with the Ijaw people."

via:BBC

Bird flu preparations in U.K criticised

2006-02-22T01:58:00.000-08:00

The UK government is wrong not to have supplies of the bird flu vaccine to use on poultry flocks in the event of an outbreak, a campaign group has said.

Soil Association director Patrick Holden accused the government of "a dereliction of duty" after it emerged it had no stocks and none on order.

Ministers said this week the government does not favour vaccination as a method of dealing with bird flu.
But Mr Holden said every available method must be used to fight the virus.

When the first case of a wild bird infected with the highly virulent H5NI strain of bird flu was discovered in France at the weekend, the debate among British farmers about the merits of vaccination intensified.

via: BBC

California holds off on execution

2006-02-22T01:49:00.000-08:00

California has postponed indefinitely the execution of a convicted killer over ethical issues surrounding the method of death by lethal injection.
Prison authorities failed twice within 24 hours to find qualified medics to administer the drugs to Michael Morales in a jail near San Francisco.
Morales was convicted of the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in 1981.
He is now back on Death Row while the state reviews its policy on how to carry out lethal injections.
Lethal injection is the most widely used method in the US, although some offer inmates the choice of alternatives like electrocution or the gas chamber.
Thirty-eight of the 50 US states and the federal government permit capital punishment.

Apple ships MacBook Pro

2006-02-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

In SAN JOSE, California (AP), Apple Computer Inc. said Tuesday it will begin shipping this week the new MacBook Pro, the company's first laptop computer to feature an Intel Corp. microprocessor.

Apple, which is in the midst of a historic shift to Intel chips, last month introduced its first Intel-based desktop computer, the iMac G5, about six months ahead of schedule.

Analysts expect the new Intel-based Macintosh products to boost Apple's perennially small share in the U.S. PC market, which increased slightly last year to more than 4 percent as the popularity of Apple's iPod media players drove consumers to give the Macs another look.
Using Intel's Core Duo processors aligns Apple with the same kind of chips that rival makers of Windows-based computers use.
It also has allowed Apple to tap into the vast marketing power of Intel, the world's largest semiconductor company.

Apple says the MacBook Pro delivers up to four times the performance of its former flagship laptop, the PowerBook G4, which uses PowerPC chips from IBM Corp. and Freescale Semiconductor Inc.

via: CNN

Power Rankings: Spurs back on top, Knicks still at bottom

2006-02-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

For the first time in 14 weeks -- for the first time since Nov. 14 -- there's a new No. 1 in NBA Power Rankings.
It's the only other team this season that knows how it feels to look down on the rest of the league.
San Antonio, not Dallas, is the team from Texas that bumps the Detroit Pistons. The Mavericks were a likely candidate after a 13-game win streak and a 36-point spanking of Miami, but the Spurs have capitalized on Dallas' setback Friday at Denver to claim the league's longest active win streak -- with nine consecutive victories, a 6-0 start on their annual eight-game eviction by the rodeo and just one 20-point game from Tim Duncan in that span. There's a reason we've been saying any team but Detroit would trade their problems for San Antonio's.

via ESPN

Could It Be? Joan of Arc Bones Tested for Authenticity

2006-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

A team of scientists hopes to crack one of the layers of mystery surrounding 15th-century French heroine Joan of Arc: Could a rib and other fragments recovered after she was burned at the stake be hers?
Eighteen experts plan a battery of tests to determine whether the few remains reportedly recovered from the pyre where the 19-year-old was burned alive for heresy including a rib bone and some skin really could have belonged to her.
The woman warrior-turned-saint remains omnipresent in the French imagination, nearly 600 years after her ashes were thought to have been thrown into the Seine River.
The tests, which will take six months, will not be able to say with certainty that the remains are Joan of Arc's, because there is no known DNA sample from her to compare them with, said Dr. Philippe Charlier of the Raymond-Poincare Hospital in Garches, west of Paris.
But the analyses will determine with "absolute certitude" if the remains could not be hers, Charlier said at a news conference.

French Dr. Philippe Charlier displays the supposed remains of 15th century French heroine Joan of Arc, Monday Feb.13, 2006 in Garches, west of Paris. The barrage of tests led by Charlier could shed light on what are believed to be the remains of the 19-year-old, mainly bones and skin recovered from the fire that consumed her in 1431 in Rouen. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

He said Joan of Arc supposedly was burned three times on May 30, 1431, following her trial in the Normandy town of Rouen. She initially died of smoke inhalation, according to Charlier, and when she was burned a second time, her internal organs were not fully consumed by the flames. Nothing was said to remain after the third cremation except her ashes.
The 6-inch rib bone was wrapped in a blackish substance and was "remarkably well-preserved," Charlier said.
He said scientists would use DNA testing to determine whether the rib belonged to a woman. Then they will put it through other tests to determine its exact age.
No DNA comparison can be done with possible descendants since Joan of Arc's supposed family tree is "probably false," he said.
Joan of Arc was tried for heresy and witchcraft and burned at the stake after leading the French to several victories over the English during the Hundred Years' War, notably in Orleans, south of Paris.
The illiterate farm girl from Lorraine in eastern France disguised herself as a man in her campaigns and said she heard voices from a trio of saints telling her to deliver France from the English. Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 and made a saint in 1920.

37-Pound Woman Rejoices Over Healthy Baby

2006-02-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

Eloysa and Roy Vasquez always wanted a baby, but doctors were pessimistic. Eloysa suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic bone disorder. At 38, she stands just 3 feet tall and weighs 37 pounds.
Doctors feared a pregnancy could harm Eloysa and jeopardize her fetus.
"There was a possibility that the baby wouldn't fit, you know, for very long, and I could have breathing problems. I could have heart problems, " Eloysa said.
Eloysa and Roy defied the odds, and on Jan. 24, Eloysa gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Timothy.
"As Timothy grew inside the womb, the womb itself protruded out beneath the ribs and above the pelvic bone so the growth of Timothy was unimpeded," said James Smith, an obstetrician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford in California.
Doctors had to weigh how long Eloysa could handle pregnancy against how Timothy would do as a preemie. Timothy was born by Caesarean section, and is doing well. He did not inherit his mother's genetic disorder.

via: ABC News

Will The Tiger Stand.

2006-02-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is set to play Tiger Woods in the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship on 22 February.
McDowell, 65th in the latest world rankings, squeezed into the the 64-man field because Spain's Sergio Garcia has said he does not intend to play.
Barring more withdrawals, England's Paul Broadhurst will play world number two Vijay Singh.
Defending champion David Toms is scheduled to meet newcomer Lucas Glover in the first round.
The field will not be confirmed until 20 February, although the PGA Tour does not anticipate anyone else pulling out.

via: bbc

How Are The Mighty Chelsea Fallen

2006-02-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Chelsea crashed to their first Premiership loss since November - and their heaviest under Jose Mourinho - as struggling Boro were boosted.

It was the heaviest defeat in the 20-month reign of Mourinho - and the joint-biggest loss of his whole managerial career, with a 3-0 setback for Porto in 2002 and a similar defeat with Benfica in 2000 the previous lowlights.
The manner of this loss was even more surprising given Chelsea had only conceded just 13 goals before Saturday.

The first goal was scored by the young Fabio Rochemback 78 seconds from start of the match.
Boro extended their lead at half-time stoppage time with a Stuart Downing goal.
Yakabu "the bull" scored the 3rd and final goal in the 68th minute.

Rochemback nearly claimed a second goal late in the game, but his rising shot was superbly turned away by Cech.

The Angels Beat The Yankees

2006-02-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Angels beat the New York Yankees 5-3 to advance to the American League Championship Series.

The Angels' victory in Anaheim gave them a 3-2 win in their best-of-five series versus the big-spending Yankees.

The hosts rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 5-2 lead after three innings - Yankees star Derek Jeter homered in the seventh to set up a tense finish.

The real hero for Los Angeles against the Yankees on Monday was rookie pitcher Ervin Santana, who came into the game at the top of the second innings when Angels ace Bartolo Colon was forced out with an inflamed right shoulder.

The Angels now meet the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-seven contest for the AL pennant and a World Series berth.

GOOD BUT NOT THE BEST

2006-02-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Eagles triumphed over the teranga lions of senegal to emerge the 3rd in this year's Nations cup in Egypt. They deserved to play in the final but due to their unimpressable performance against Ivory Coast had to settle for third place.
once again i say congrats "Super" Eagles

MUSIKMesse

2006-02-03T23:31:00.000-08:00

Strictly for Music Lovers

An International Fair for music instruments,music software and computer hardware,sheet music and accessories, holding in the great town of Frankfurt, from March 29 2006- April 1 2006.
you can buy your tickets online ,
from the 22nd on, you can get to win an ipod weekly.
Check it out

IMPREMISSIBLE

2006-02-03T22:53:00.000-08:00

The good: Attractive design; bright, crisp display; complete set of ports and connections including built-in TV tuner; power performance, yet runs cool and quiet; slot-loading, double-layer DVD burner; excellent software and support.
The bad: Pricey; bulky and heavy; small touch pad and mouse buttons; no touch pad on/off button; lesser battery life than other desktop replacements.
The bottom line: Combining TV, DVR, stereo, DVD player, and high-performance PC in one big laptop, the Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513 delivers the most complete multimedia experience available in a laptop.

MEET A NEW NOKIA MASTER

2006-02-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Twist and shoot,
It's a pro- phototaker,
A personal video maker,
Complete with Carl Zeiss Optics for crisp, bright images you can view, edit, print and share.
IT'S THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nokia N90 Features
2 megapixel (1600 x 1200 pixels) camera with Carl Zeiss Optics and autofocus19
Easy to use, high quality video - capture, edit, share19
Unique 'twist & shoot' design
High-resolution display
Service: T-Mobile

Get it now and enjoy life

HOW AN IPod CAN GET YOU KILLED

2006-01-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

This had to have come out of California-or Japan where all things cute and stupid sell like snow cones in Hell at high summer. First it was doggie sweaters, now it's iPod lingerie. Yes, you just saw those two words together.
Los Angeles-based iPod accessory company iAttire has produced a line of underwear for your iPod that includes a negligee, boxer shorts in three different styles (hearts, stripes, or dots), undershirts (for you really tough iPodders that decorate your gadgets), and briefs (for iPods that still have some growing up to do). And how much will looking this stupid cost you? Anywhere between $25-$60 for the accessory and $100 each time you go outside to keep from getting beaten to a pulp.

ULTRAPORTABLE SONY VIAO

2006-01-27T19:01:00.001-08:00

Ultraportable.
Though expensive, reviews say the Sony Vaio is the most notable new ultraportable laptop. The 2.7-pound Sony laptop has an integrated DVD burner, a low-voltage Pentium M processor and a full 1GB of RAM. But its most buzz-worthy feature is integrated WAN wireless, compatible with Cingular's EDGE high-speed data network. it has an extremely portable design. With a monthly subscription, you can get wireless Internet access anywhere within the Cingular network. Battery life is close to six hours. Although the Sony laptop is incredibly lightweight, its 11.1-inch widescreen and smaller keyboard are the tradeoff.

Welcome to my blog

2006-01-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hi,i am paul. This blog is to bring all information whether old or new,whatever it may be, cars homes, latest fashions, health and nutrition details,etc. You will be blown away. Take care and enjoy.
Cheers