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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

'Pentagon hacker' loses extradition appeal

Gary McKinnon, pictured here in 2006, plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.LONDON, England (AP) -- Britain's top court refused Wednesday to stop the extradition to the U.S. of a British hacker accused of breaking into Pentagon and NASA computers -- something he claims to have done while hunting for information on UFOs.
Gary McKinnon, 42, faces charges in the United States for what officials say were a series of cyber attacks that stole passwords, attacked military networks and wrought hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computer damage.
The decision by Britain's House of Lords was his last legal option in this country, but his lawyer said she would appeal his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
"The consequences he faces if extradited are both disproportionate and intolerable and we will be making an immediate application to the European court to prevent his removal," Karen Todner said after McKinnon's appeal was rejected. "We believe that the British government declined to prosecute him to enable the U.S. government to make an example of him."
McKinnon's supporters say he faces unjust treatment and the prospect of a harsh sentence at the hands of a U.S. court and want him freed -- or at least tried in Britain.
Prosecutors allege that McKinnon hacked into than 90 computer systems belonging to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense and NASA between February 2001 and March 2002, causing $900,000 worth of damage.
McKinnon has acknowledged accessing the computers, but he disputes the reported damage and said he did it because he wanted to find evidence that America was concealing the existence of aliens.
McKinnon was caught in 2002 after some of the software used in the attacks was traced back to his girlfriend's e-mail account.

Robinho Strengthened By Ronaldo Failure

Robinho Strengthened By Ronaldo Failure 
The Brazilian forward has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and is now demanding that los Merengues pay him the same salary that was on offer at Stamford Bridge, El Mundo Deportivo reports..

Madrid president, Ramón Calderón, is keen to keep Robinho and has put forward a five-year package worth around €4m-per-season, but that is nowhere near the player's demands.

Instead, the 24-year-old is asking for €5.2m after being informed that is that amount that Chelsea were prepared to pay him to join them in the past few weeks.

Robinho's optimistic outlook at the Bernabéu has been dented by the continuous delays in talks with the club over a new deal and his mood worsened when he was said to be included in one proposed package for Ronaldo.

Chelsea's interest and Madrid's failure to give an outright rejection to that also made him think twice and has now made him dig his heels in at the negotiating table.

"I think Robinho appears to be a bit sadder at the moment," Iker Casillas confirmed. "He is not in a bad way, but it is true that he does not have his usual character."

With the move for Ronaldo now looking more unlikely, Madrid may be forced to raise their salary offer in order for Robinho to settle down once more.

Study: Some Americans cut credit card use

Like many Americans, the Perrases rarely use their credit cards anymore.STRATFORD, Connecticut -- When Cappie and Don Perras saw their stock market investments tank this year, they decided to tighten their belts. They drive fuel efficient cars around their Connecticut town and eat at cheaper restaurants if they eat out at all. To avoid impulse buying, they avoid the mall. And for now, at least, they've put away the credit cards.
This marks a big change from their old attitude.
"I felt secure with my credit cards like, 'Oh well, I always have my credit cards,' " says Cappie Perras, a special education teacher. "Now I feel like, it's almost like there's a big caution sign in front of the credit card, 'Do Not Use, Only In Case of Emergency,' " she adds.
The Perrases are examples of a trend building among middle-income and middle-aged consumers to cut back on credit card use, according to a new study by Javelin Strategy & Research, a financial research firm. Forty percent of consumers surveyed said they're pulling out their credit cards less than they were at the beginning of the year.
Don Perras, a college professor approaching retirement age, says the family has stopped using cards, except for rare instances like booking hotel rooms on the road. Instead, the couple uses their debit cards.
The aim: to soon be free of credit card debt.
"It would be a top priority," Don Perras said.
But with the high cost of living, the Perrases are having trouble making a dent in their $8,000 credit card balance.
"I used to be able to maybe put $600 towards the debt. ... Now it's maybe if I'm lucky, $200," his wife says.
The Perras family has plenty of company. Americans carry approximately $961.8 billion in revolving debt, according to the Federal Reserve Board. Delinquency rates on credit cards are at the highest levels since the end of 2002.
Even as consumers cut back on using credit cards, they're finding it harder to pay down their balances, says Javelin President James Van Dyke.
"In some cases they're out of work or perhaps their wages have been cut back, or maybe they had a variable rate which they have to pay more for than ever before," Van Dyke said. When people use their credit cards less, "this changes what goes on in the industry because credit card companies typically make a lot of their money on the fees they charge merchants."
The reduction in revenue from new purchases, combined with concerns about new delinquencies, pose big worries for the credit card industry, Van Dyke says.
"Credit card companies are running a bit scared right now, and for good reason, because people are having a difficult time paying off their balances; and everyday consumers, they're cutting into their purchases right now -- both luxury goods and even the basic necessities," Van Dyke says.
According to the Javelin study, nearly 70 percent of financial institutions say they have cut back on credit card solicitations. Six of 10 say they are limiting the amount of credit offered to customers.
James Chessen, chief economist for the American Bankers Association, says the industry is well prepared for the economic downturn. "It's all a matter of managing that risk, because you know the volume will be off, you know the economy is riskier today than it was a year ago. So you naturally take that into account so you have the capacity to come out of this even stronger than you came into it," he added.

For Cappie Perras, being stronger means cutting back on plastic. "I don't feel good about the credit cards," she says. "I regret that we got into so much credit card debt."

Giovinco As Good As Messi - Ballardini

Giovinco As Good As Messi - Ballardini
Giovinco returned to Juventus this summer following his loan spell at Empoli, where he took Serie A by storm.  
The pint-sized playmaker has raised a number of eyebrows around Europe and Ballardini believes Giovinco is as good as Messi.

A sensational claim by the big man and many Juve fans are likely to agree with his comments.  

“Juventus are the kings of the transfer market as Sebastian Giovinco drives me crazy,” Ballardini told Tuttosport.  

“He has amazing qualities, he is unpredictable and he works well in the team.  

“He has to be patient at the start and I believe Giovinco is Juve’s answer to Milan’s Ronaldinho.  

“I saw Giovinco last year at Empoli and I may be crazy, but he is just as good as Lionel Messi.  

“There is not much of a difference between the two.”  

Giovinco was recently named player of the Toulon Football Festival and he is now in China, ready to take on the rest of the world in this summer’s Olympics as he leads the Azzurri assault.

Chelsea - We Can Be Champions, Claim Scolari

We Can Be Champions, Claims Scolari
The Brazilian only arrived at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the month to replace Avram Grant and the new Chelsea boss confessed he needs to get to know his players.
According to Sky Sports Scolari admitted: “I need to look at the players and different formations, what position is the best for a player and what position I can use someone in during a game. If they try their best, it is my time to decide.”
However, with the new season only weeks away, the Brazilian has revealed he already knows who he will pick in his first starting eleven, as Chelsea open their Premier League campaign against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. He said: “I think I have my team for the first game against Portsmouth. I now have my ideas, not just after seeing the players on television. I know more about their personality on and off the field.”
Testing Times
Despite having been in charge at Stamford Bridge for less than a month Scolari has now seen his players win three pre-season games and he explained that he had used these games to see what his new players could do.
“I need to test the players,” said the Chelsea manager before adding, “I am testing all my players, I only have 11 places available. I need to choose 11 for the game against Portsmouth.”
Chelsea completed their pre-season tour of Asia with a 2-0 victory over a Malaysian XI however, the Brazilian claimed that the results had been unimportant. He revealed: “Over the three games I have been able to see the players on the pitch so in the future, in a match situation, I know which player to use. The results are not important, it is match training, I need to look at the players and decide, yes or no.”
With the club enduring a disappointing campaign last season as they finished the season without a trophy and lost both the Premier League and the Champions League to Manchester United, the pressure will clearly be on Scolari to deliver a trophy this year.
However, the Chelsea manager appears adamant that he can bring silverware back to Stamford Bridge this season. He concluded: “I have the players who can play exciting football and I have the team who can be champions.”

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

China rebuffs human rights report

China has tightened security around Beijing ahead of next month's Olympic Games.(CNN) -- China has rejected a new report which claims it has broken a promise to improve its human rights situation and "betrayed the core values of the Olympics."
The report by Amnesty International, entitled The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises, was released Tuesday and outlines particular areas of concern including the death penalty, detention without trial, the persecution of rights activists and the lack of media freedom.
According to Amnesty, China promised an improvement in human rights, media freedom and better provision in health and education. Instead, it says, Beijing has locked up, put under house arrest and forcibly removed individuals they believe may threaten the image of "stability" and "harmony" they want to present to the world during next month's games.
"By continuing to persecute and punish those who speak out for human rights, the Chinese authorities have lost sight of the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago," Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International, said on the organization's Web site.
However, China dismissed the report and said that people who "understood" China would not agree with it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said: "We hope Amnesty can take off the tinted glasses it has worn for many years and see China in an objective way."
Elsewhere in the report, Amnesty welcomed China's move last year to restore the Supreme People's Court's role in approving death sentences. But it criticized the government, which says the number of executions has declined, for withholding data on death penalty cases.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, recently claimed the IOC's 'quiet diplomacy' had led to several human rights reforms in China, including new regulations for foreign media.
"We welcome the IOC's recognition of its role on human rights, but given the current reality, we are surprised at their confidence that foreign media will be able to report freely and that there will be no internet censorship," said Roseann Rife.
Despite new media regulations that were supposed to allow for freer reporting for foreign journalists, Amnesty says they continue to be prevented from covering "sensitive issues", including talking to those who suffer human rights violations. It says foreign correspondents in China reported more than 250 instances of interference with their work since the start of last year.
The group also believes that local activists and journalists working on human rights issues in China are at particular risk of abuse during the Games

One example given by Amnesty is housing rights activist Ye Guozhu, who continues to serve a four-year sentence for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" because of his opposition to the seizure and demolition of property to make way for new Olympic construction projects.
Ye Guozhu's prison sentence was due to expire on 26 July. Instead the Chinese authorities say, he will remain imprisoned until at least 1 October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Iraqi forces launch Diyala operation

An Iraqi man examines a tuft of human hair at the site of a suicide bombing in northern Baghdad on Monday.BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi security forces backed by the U.S. military launched an operation Tuesday targeting al Qaeda in Iraq and Shiite militias in the volatile Diyala province, Iraqi commanders said.
The operation, called Omens of Prosperity, began in the provincial capital, Baquba, where security forces have imposed a curfew and are encircling the city.
Troops are conducting raids against specific targets in Baquba, commanders said.
There have been a number of recent suicide bombings in Diyala, northeast of Baghdad.
A female suicide bomber struck an Awakening Council checkpoint last week, killing eight and wounding more than 20. Awakening Councils, whose members are predominantly Sunni, have been recruited by the U.S. military to work against al Qaeda in Iraq and other militias.
In mid-July, a twin suicide attack at an army recruitment center in Diyala killed 28 and wounding 64.
Additional Iraqi forces near Baghdad and in the northern provinces are securing the province's border areas, they said.
U.S. and Iraqi forces have been conducting raids in Diyala against al Qaeda in Iraq and other Shiite militias, leading U.S. Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling to declare Sunday that the major cities in the province -- Muqdadiya and Baquba -- were "secure."
"But the al Qaeda elements that we've seen have sought refuge in the rural areas all around the major cities," he said.
"Those are the areas that we will be conducting operations, not only with Iraqi security forces, but with coalition forces ... as they have continued to try and find safe havens in the deserts and the hills and the palm groves."
In addition, Hertling's troops in Diyala have launched operations targeting members of families of suspected female bombers -- an effort to break up rings that recruit the women and girls.

Kameni Shrugs Off Malaria Bout

The Espanyol keeper is expected to make a full recovery after returning to Barcelona and admitted that he was never scared when doctors told him that he had the illness.

Now he wants to focus on building back up his strength in pre-season and competing with new signing Cristian Álvarez for a place in Tintin Márquez's side.

"It was only light malaria. I was not frightened because it is a normal illness in my country," Kameni told reporters.

"I took my tablets for this visit but even so it still managed to find a way through.

"I will work hard to regain my fitness and to help the team. If I am feeling fine then I will be able to go Manchester (on a pre-season tour), but if not I will continue coaching."

Kameni had been linked with a move away from Espanyol, but he now believes that he will stay with the club because he feels that he owes them for their loyalty.

"I have a contract until 2009 and I am not thinking about anything else in my mind other than to stay here," he continued.

"In all honesty, I am happy in Barcelona and things will be sorted out soon. But I think it will be hard for me to leave. I am grateful to Espanyol."

Pakistani militants abduct 30 police

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Militants in northwestern Pakistan attacked a police checkpoint Tuesday and abducted up to 30 police officers, a police official said.
The abductions happened in the Swat valley, a tourist area where security has continued to deteriorate despite a two-month-old peace pact.
Militants surrounded the security checkpoint in the Kabal area, about 22 miles (35 km) north-west of the valley's main town of Mingora, about 5 a.m., said Sardar Rehim Shahzad, district coordinator for Swat police.
The two sides engaged in a gun battle that lasted about three to four hours, Shahzad said. After overpowering the checkpoint, militants took about 30 officers hostage.
"They are taking them by foot to their hideaway, but it is not possible for us to launch a rescue operation because of the security situation and the logistical conditions," Shahzad said.
The attack came a day after militants shot dead three intelligence agents as they were driving back to Mingora in a pickup.
The Swat Valley, in North West Frontier Province, was once Pakistan's biggest tourist destination. It's near the Afghanistan border and about 186 miles (300 km) from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
The valley boasted the country's only ski resort until it was shut down last year after militants overran the area. The area was also a draw for trout-fishing enthusiasts and visitors to the ancient Buddhist ruins in the area.
In recent months, however, militants bent on imposing a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, have unleashed a wave of violence across the North West Frontier Province that have claimed hundreds of lives, many of them security personnel.
The militants want to require veils for women, beards for men and ban music and television.
After months of bloody battles, the government reached a peace deal in May with fighters loyal to the banned hardline Islamic group, Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM).
It is the latest attempt by Pakistan's new government -- headed by the party of the assassinated prime minister Benazir Bhutto -- to achieve peace through negotiations in lawless tribal areas where Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are believed to have free rein.
Ahead of the peace pact, Pakistan's government released TNSM's former leader, Sufi Mohammed, who was jailed in 2002 after recruiting thousands of fighters to battle U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
He was freed after agreeing to cooperate with the government. Under the terms of his release, TNSM was also expected to lay down its arms and forgo violence.
But his son-in-law Fazlullah, who took over TNSM during his jail stint, vowed to continue his fight to impose fundamentalist Islamic law in the region.

Inter Give Mixed Messages Over Lampard

The long-running saga linking the England international with a switch to San Siro seemed set to end after Mourinho all but admitted defeat in the race to land his former protégé.

The Portuguese manager told The Sun, "I’m not disappointed by Lampard.

"The important thing for a player is to do what makes him happy. If his decision is to stay at Chelsea I accept that."

Furthermore, sporting director Gabriele Oriali said, "[Sulley] Muntari is the last buy.

"Now we will work on trimming the squad because Mourinho wants 22 players and three goalkeepers. There will be some painful goodbyes."

Nonetheless there could be some hope that Frank is Italy-bound after chief executive Ernesto Paolillo failed to formally rule out further expenditure.

He said to Sky Italia, "We have the chance to sign players right up until August 31st, so anything can happen.

"I hope that technical director Marco Branca would be open to signing new players."

However, he further added that neither Lampard nor fellow target Quaresma are 'mission-critical'.

"They aren't essential to our project," he admitted.

"I think we have a strong squad right now, but we'll see.

"Mourinho likes Lampard, having known him so long, but he's pleased with the squad he has.

"If they sign that's obviously good, but if they don't the squad is already strong enough."

Kenyon To Blatter: 6+5 = No Solution

Sepp Blatter remains intent on implementing his plan to limit teams to fielding a maximum five imports in any starting XI, but his dreams are a long way from coming to fruition.

The outlandish scheme has met with staunch and widespread criticism, most notably from the European Union, who declared that the motion contravenes the laws regarding players’ working rights.

Many view the FIFA president’s plans as a thinly veiled attempt to curb the influence of England’s immovable superpowers, as the Premier League has been overrun by foreign talent in recent years.

And Kenyon believes the quota system would only prove detrimental, insisting it would only force the big boys to sink into the pack when the onus should instead be on the mid-table teams to strive for new heights.

“There is no appetite for the idea — it won’t solve anything,” he said in The Sun. “We shouldn’t dumb down and use artificial ways to get an even platform.

“It is up to other teams in England to be knocking on our door, teams like Tottenham, Newcastle, Villa and Everton.

“It should be more about them getting their houses in order rather than us coming down to their level."

Terry: Scolari's Already In Full Control

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Inter Leave Door Open For Lampard

Inter Leave Door Open For Lampard
The Nerazzurri have made the midfielder their number one target this summer but Chelsea have refuted any attempt to allow the player to leave.

Jose Mourinho’s arrival at San Siro stirred things up and the ‘Special One’ has always been keen to reunite himself with his former star.

Chelsea’s resistance over the affair seems to have halted any potential move but the Italian side have left the door wide open and Paolillo seemed confident over Lampard when he was asked about the English man.

“There is still the possibility that something may happen and we can make another signing even if the spine of the team is good as it is,” Paolillo told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

The Blues are trying to convince Lamps to stay in West London with a mega deal contract improvement for the player but Inter are lying in wait should the midfielder decide to cut and run.

Obama in London for talks with UK leaders

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama leaves 10 Downing Street Saturday. 











LONDON, England (CNN) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with British Prime Gordon Brown Saturday on the last leg of his weeklong overseas tour.
The two discussed foreign policy issues and the "special relationship" between Britain and America during two hours of talks inside 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's London residence.
The pair made the most of the sunshine by sitting outside on the patio, even taking a stroll toward adjacent St. James's Park -- much to the surprise of nearby tourists.
"The prime minister's emphasis, like mine, is on how we can strengthen the transatlantic relationship to solve problems that can't be solved by any single country individually," Obama told reporters outside Downing Street after the meeting.
Those problems, Obama said, include climate change, international terrorism and turmoil in world financial markets. Obama and Brown also discussed cooperation in resolving the problems in the Middle East and burden-sharing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It was a spectacular day and I'm glad to be here," Obama said.
Earlier, Obama met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who now serves as the Middle East envoy for the "quartet" of the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations.
Following his meeting with Brown, Obama met with opposition leader David Cameron, head of the Conservative Party, before heading back to the United States.
Obama's trip has taken him through the Middle East and Europe, starting with Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank and finishing with Germany, France and Britain.
Though Obama joked with the British press that London was the highlight for him, his trip has included several other moments that have garnered positive international headlines -- most recently a Friday news conference in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a speech in Berlin on Thursday to some 200,000 people.
The Democratic candidate admitted his ratings may have slipped in the United States since he's been away, as Americans focus more on domestic problems like gas prices and home foreclosures than on his travels abroad. But he said he still considers the trip important.
"The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many of the issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad and unless we get a handle on Iraq and Afghanistan," Obama said.
The military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, are costing America money that could be better spent on rebuilding the U.S. economy.
"This was important for me not only to try to highlight or amplify how the international situation affects our economy back home, but also hopefully to give people at home and also leaders abroad some sense of where an Obama administration might take our foreign policy," he said.
Obama's staff has repeatedly said the tour is not political and not intended as a campaign trip, although Obama's meetings with troops and world leaders were designed to boost his foreign policy credentials and help voters back home envision him as commander-in-chief.
The warm atmosphere in Paris -- where Sarkozy repeatedly called Obama a friend -- continued in London, and not just because of the warm summer temperatures that finally settled on the British capital this week.
Obama and Brown were shown laughing and smiling as they walked together, and Obama reiterated to reporters that the special relationship between Britain and America continues.
"I think there's a deep and abiding affection for the British people in America and a fascination with all things British that is not going to go away any time soon," Obama said.
He countered criticism from his rival, Republican John McCain, for abruptly canceling a visit to see U.S. troops stationed in Germany as he traveled through the country this week. An Obama spokesman initially said it was deemed "inappropriate" to meet with the troops, to which a McCain spokesman said it should never be inappropriate.
The Democrat explained he canceled the visit out of concern it would be perceived as a campaign opportunity.
"That triggered, then, a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as politics," he said. "The last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not."
Britain was a low-key stop on Obama's itinerary, in part because no major events were planned. Brown also decided not to greet the U.S. senator on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street because he didn't grant the same honor to McCain when the Republican visited in March.
That protocol comes at a difficult time politically for the British prime minister, who could have benefited from a photo opportunity with a man so hugely popular in Europe. Brown's Labor Party lost a local election this week in what had been considered safe territory for the party, adding to existing political woes for Brown and raising questions about his future as prime minister.
Asked by a British reporter whether he had any advice for Brown, Obama said no -- but he said elected officials must always be prepared to deal with a fickle public.
"You're always more popular before you're actually in charge of things and then, once you're responsible, then you're going to make some people unhappy. That's just the nature of politics," he said. "Even during the course of this campaign, there have been months when I'm (considered) a genius and there are months when I'm (considered) an idiot."

Kaka Only Wants Milan - Agent

Kaka Only Wants Milan - Agent
The Brazilian magician has been followed by a number of top European clubs including Real Madrid and Chelsea but the Rossoneri have always claimed that he was not for sale at any price.
Just weeks ago, Luis Felipe Scolari's club were preparing a massive €100m deal to try and lure the player to Stamford Bridge before Adriano Galliani stepped in to smother the plan.
Paolillo has now reiterated that his player will not move anywhere soon.
“Kaka has always been happy to stay with Milan and he still is,” said the agent.
“He has a particular feeling for everyone here and his family find themselves well in Milan.
“The only disappointment is that he will not be able to play in the Olympics as he was keen on that tournament.”
The Brazilian has always shown his love for the club by insisting that he wants to remain a Rosonero for life and the agent's latest revelations is likely to be music to the ears of all involved with the club

Almunia: Ramsey 'Very Similar' To Fabregas

Investigation into Qantas jet emergency begins

The Australian air safety agency is investigating Saturday the emergency landing of a Qantas Boeing 747 in the Philippines after a hole in the fuselage made the plane lose cabin pressure. Qantas pilot Captain John Francis Bartels looks at the damaged fuselage in Manila, Philippines.
Officials from two U.S. transportation agencies said initial findings indicate no act of terrorism was involved.
According to early reports, a section of the fuselage separated in the forward cargo compartment, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in a written statement.
"Our preliminary checks on this indicate that there was no corrosion anywhere near where this hole occurred in the aircraft," Geoff Dixon, Qantas CEO, said in Sydney.
Video of the plane after it landed on Friday showed a large hole where the leading edge of the wing attaches to the fuselage.
The section of the fuselage separated at about 29,000 feet, and the cabin began to rapidly decompress, ATSB said in the statement released Friday.
The crew brought the plane down to 10,000 feet and diverted the aircraft to Manila International Airport, where it landed safely about 11:15 a.m. (11:15 p.m. ET Thursday).
The airline said it received no reports of any injuries among the 346 passengers and 19 crew members.
Dixon called the incident a "hugely serious issue" and one that investigators would sort out. "We can't speculate on what happened."
Oxygen masks were deployed during the emergency. Passengers said their ears popped because of the plane's rapid descent to a lower altitude.
"There was an almighty crack," one passenger said. "We dropped a bit in the air, but other than that it was fine."
"There was a big bang," said another. "I knew there was a hole somewhere, but I didn't know what was going on."
The Boeing 747-400 flight originated in London. It had just taken off from Hong Kong and was en route to Melbourne, Australia, when it was forced to land.
A U.S. Transportation Security Administration official, who asked not to be identified because his agency is not leading the probe into the incident, told CNN that a preliminary investigation found no connection to terrorism.
The damage appears to be related to a mechanical issue, based on examination of the aircraft on the ground, the official said.
The official said a TSA representative based in Manila is assisting in the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board also is sending investigators, and an NTSB spokesman said the agency also does not suspect terrorism.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Hole in Qantas jet forces emergency landing

A Qantas flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne made an emergency landing in the Philippines on Friday after a hole appeared in the fuselage and the cabin lost pressure suddenly. Qantas pilot Captain John Francis Bartels looks at the damaged fuselage in Manila, Philippines.

"There was an almighty crack," one passenger said. "We dropped a bit in the air, but other than that it was fine."

"There was a big bang," said another. "I knew there was a hole somewhere, but I didn't know what was going on."

Marina Scaffidi, 39, from Melbourne, told The Associated Press: "There was wind swirling around the plane and some condensation."

She said a hole extended from the cargo hold into the passenger cabin.

Michael Rahill, 57, an architect from Melbourne, told AP the bang sounded "like a tire exploding, but more violently."

Images of the Boeing 747-400 after it landed showed a large hole where the leading edge of the wing attaches to the fuselage.

Manila International Airport Authority spokesman Octavio Lina said there were no injuries, but some of the 345 passengers vomited after disembarking, AP reported.

Qantas said the hole, which was between 2.5 to three meters in diameter, was being inspected by engineers.

A report by the airport authority quoted pilot John Francis Bartels as saying an initial investigation indicated there was an "explosive decompression."

Lina said the cabin's floor gave way, exposing some of the cargo beneath and part of the ceiling collapsed, AP reported.

The flight originated in London. It was diverted to Manila International Airport, where it landed around 11:15 a.m. (11:15 p.m. ET Thursday.)

There were no reports of injuries among the 346 passengers and 19 crew, the airline said in a statement. Oxygen masks were deployed during the emergency.
Passengers said their ears popped because of the plane's rapid descent to a lower altitude.

Some passengers vomited after disembarking, Manila International Airport Authority deputy manager for operations Octavio Lina told AP.

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have been notified and plan to investigate, according to Geoff Dixon, Qantas CEO.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hurricane Warning Issued For Parts Of Texas, Mexico

Tropical Storm Dolly was headed toward Texas and Mexico at 8:45 p.m. ET on Monday.

MIAMI, Florida -- A flurry of warnings were issued along the coasts of Texas and Mexico late Monday as Tropical Storm Dolly advanced across the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane warnings were in effect along about 200 miles of coastline from Rio San Fernando in Mexico northward to Port O'Connor, Texas. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm warnings stretched south of Rio San Fernando to La Pesca, Mexico and north of Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass, Texas.

At 11 p.m., the storm with its 50 mph winds was centered about 320 miles (515 km) east of La Pesca and about 435 miles (695 km) southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. Dolly is expected to slowly strengthen.

The storm was galloping to the west near 17 mph, but is expected to slow and turn to the northwest on Wednesday. iReport.com: Are you ready for hurricane season?

The hurricane center's tracking map shows the storm coming ashore Wednesday, around the Texas-Mexico border. hurricane center

"All odds are now that we're looking at Category 1 hurricane on the Texas coast by midday Wednesday," said Bill Read, director of the hurricane center.

A Category 1 hurricane carries sustained winds between 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h.)

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cristobal paralleled the Atlantic Seaboard as it slowly began losing steam.

At 11 p.m., Cristobal was speeding toward the east-northeast near 16 mph, about about 360 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina and about 575 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The storm was packing 60 mph winds, but is expected to weaken over the next 24 hours.

The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November.

Terry Coaxing Lampard To Stay A Blue

Terry Coaxing Lampard To Stay A Blue
Lampard has been embroiled in a contractual row with the Blues in recent times, as he is demanding an extra year on the proposed extension being offered by the club, while they are unwilling to meet his demands.

Italian giants Internazionale are in pursuit of the attacking midfielder, having made three or four reported bids and seeing them all rebuffed by the Blues, who seem to be prepared to lose the 30-year-old on a free transfer a year from now rather than let him leave on his and their own terms this summer.

The temptation of linking up with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, with whom Lampard had a tremendous professional relationship, looks to have convinced the former West Ham United man that Inter is the place for him to further challenge himself. Rumours have even been circulating that he will demand a transfer or even attempt to buy himself out of his contract under article 17 of FIFA's regulations, even though doing so at such a late stage in the summer will almost certainly result in a fine and brief suspension.

John Terry, a good friend of Lampard and fellow fan favourite, has revealed a little of what the two have been saying to each other of the transfer saga. "I'm very good friends with Frank and we have spoken about it, but the situation is ongoing with the club and Frank," he explained.

"The players and Frank all want him to stay, but it's down to Frank and the club to sort it out. We are here to focus on the football, but hopefully while he's here the club can sort it out."

Rush: Barry & Keane Can Help Reds To Glory

Despite being the most successful club in English football, the Reds have yet to open their account in the Premier League era. Their last title came in 1990, under the guidance of Rush’s former strike partner, Kenny Dalglish.

It has been a trying 18 years since, during which Manchester United have supplanted their North West rivals as England’s biggest and best, while London duo Chelsea and Arsenal have also leaped ahead when it comes to domestic affairs.

The catch-cry from Anfield in recent years has been that they are one or two great signings away from reclaiming the trophy they seemed to own during the 1970s and ‘80s. The arrival of Spanish superstar Fernando Torres has taken them one step closer, but gaps remain in certain departments.

Now Rafael Benitez is chasing Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, although the players’ respective price tags have prevented the deals from being completed as yet.

Rush is adamant that those two players could complete Liverpool’s puzzle, and has called on the club’s owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, to stump up the ₤40million or so required to secure the pair’s services.

“When you look at what’s happening at other clubs, why shouldn’t Liverpool go close?” Rush said in The Sun. “I just hope Rafa gets the money to sign Barry and Keane – then I could see them giving it a real go.

“The spine of the team is in place with Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Stevie Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

“If they get support, I can see them mounting a genuine push – and not before time.”

Expectations

After a season that was riddled with boardroom controversy, it has been a relatively peaceful summer so far on Merseyside – certainly compared to the goings on at Old Trafford, the Emirates and Stamford Bridge, anyway.

And Rush believes the Reds should capitalise on their rivals’ unrest as they seek to add to their 18 titles – a record that is being threatened by the Red Devils, who clinched their 17th last term.

“It’s no good setting your sights on fourth at a club like this, where expectations are so high,” the Welshman continued.

“And maybe this is the right time. United have lost No 2 Carlos Queiroz and no-one knows what will happen with Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Chelsea have a new boss and new players but even great ones need time to gel.

“And Arsenal are losing players too, while nothing has happened at Liverpool, apart from selling Peter Crouch.”

Keane's arrival would effectively nullify Crouch's departure, at any rate, while Barry would replace Xabi Alonso, should the Basque playmaker also leave. But whether that will be enough for Liverpool to clinch their first Premier League crown remains to be seen.

Bosnia War Crime Suspect Karadzic Arrested

Radovan Karadzic, shown here in 1995, is charged with war crimes relating to the 1992-1995 Bosnia conflict.
Former Bosnian Serb president Radovan Karadzic, accused of masterminding "ethnic cleansing" deportations and killings of Bosnian Muslims and Croats, has been arrested after more than a decade in hiding, a U.N. war crimes tribunal said Monday.

Karadzic, 63, is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war.

Last seen in public in 1996, Karadzic was the Bosnian Serb political leader during the 1992-1995 war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia.

The conflict included the Srebrenica massacre of thousands of Bosnian Muslims and a deadly, 44-month siege of Sarajevo.

Former U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke blamed Karadzic for all the deaths in the three-year war in Bosnia, which had the bloodiest of the Balkan conflicts that accompanied the breakup of Yugoslavia.

"Without Radovan Karadzic, this thing wouldn't have happened," Holbrooke told CNN.

Vladimir Petrovic, the charge d'affairs at the Serbian Embassy in Washington, said his government's security forces made the arrest, but said no further details had been released.

"I think this is an example that the Serbian government is committed to all its international obligations and that it will continue cooperation with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," Petrovic said.

Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, congratulated Serbian authorities for taking Karadzic into custody and called it "an important day for the victims."

"It is also an important day for international justice, because it clearly demonstrates that nobody is beyond the reach of the law and that sooner or later all fugitives will be brought to justice," Brammertz said.

He said authorities "in due course" will determine when Karadzic is to be transferred to the tribunal at The Hague.

Karadzic's arrest leaves former Gen. Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb military commander, as the top-ranking war crimes suspect still at large.

"While this is an important milestone, the work of the International Tribunal will not be complete until all fugitives have been arrested and tried," a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said.

News of Karadzic's arrest was greeted with jubilation in the streets of Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, which Bosnian Serb forces had shelled heavily during the war.

"Today, I can tell you that I feel kind of good," said Zlatko Lagumdzija, a former Bosnian prime minister wounded during the siege. He said the arrest could offer "a chance for new thinking" in Bosnia, still grappling with the scars of war.

"Today it looks like a new wind is moving from Belgrade," he said. "And I hope it will be a signal to Bosnian authorities that the state has to be set in order to deliver what the state is supposed to deliver: peace and justice."

Karadzic, a one-time psychiatrist and self-styled poet, declared himself president of a Bosnian Serb republic when Bosnia-Herzegovina seceded from Yugoslavia in 1992.

The Bosnian Serbs, backed by the Serb-dominated Yugoslav military and paramilitary forces, quickly seized control of most of the country and laid siege to Sarajevo, the capital.

During the conflict that followed, the Serb forces launched what they called the "ethnic cleansing" of the territories under their control -- the forced displacement and killings of Muslims and Croats.

Among the crimes Karadzic is accused of overseeing is the massacre at Srebrenica, a U.N. "safe area" overrun by Serb troops in July 1995. Nearly 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed at Srebrenica, the worst European massacre since World War II.

During the siege of Sarajevo, "shelling and sniping killed and wounded thousands of civilians of both sexes and all ages, including children and the elderly," according to the U.N. tribunal's indictment of Karadzic.

He was removed from power in 1995, when the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war barred anyone accused of war crimes from holding office.

But he remained "kind of a Robin Hood" to Serbs during more than a decade as a fugitive, said Holbrooke, one of the architects of the Dayton Accords.

Serbia's government has been under increasing pressure to arrest war crimes suspects such as Karadzic and Mladic -- who were believed to be in hiding in Serbia rather than Bosnia.

The European Union warned in December that any steps toward allowing Serbia into the organization would depend on its cooperation with the war crimes tribunal.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Barack Obama Arrives In iraq

Barack Obama speaks Sunday in Kabul, Afghanistan, as a U.S. soldier listens.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama arrived in Iraq on Monday for talks with Iraqi officials and American military commanders in a 5-year-old war he has pledged to end, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said.

The trip to Iraq is Obama's second after a visit in 2006 and follows a Saturday stop in Afghanistan, part of a closely watched overseas trip for the Illinois senator that will include other stops in the Middle East in Europe.

Obama has said that if elected, he would order the military to end the war in Iraq and commit more troops to Afghanistan.

Accompanying Obama is Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee and an outspoken critic of the Iraq war.

"The senators have a busy day ahead of them, as they meet with senior Iraqi officials, coalition leadership and officials from the U.S. Embassy," Embassy spokesman Armand Cucciniello said.

They also plan to meet with troops from their home states and U.S. civilians working in Iraq, Cucciniello said.

Obama's trip comes on the heels of an article quoting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki as saying he backs Obama's proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

A spokesman for al-Maliki has since called the remarks appearing in Der Spiegel on Saturday"misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately."

Obama has made Afghanistan a key focus of his foreign policy, saying he would make it the central front in the "war on terror" if elected.

"The Afghan government needs to do more. But we have to understand that the situation is precarious and urgent here in Afghanistan. And I believe this has to be our central focus, the central front, on our battle against terrorism," Obama said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."

"I think one of the biggest mistakes we've made strategically after 9/11 was to fail to finish the job here, focus our attention here. We got distracted by Iraq," he said.

Obama said troop levels must increase in Afghanistan.

"For at least a year now, I have called for two additional brigades, perhaps three," he told CBS. "I think it's very important that we unify command more effectively to coordinate our military activities. But military alone is not going to be enough."

Obama met Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a leader the Democratic senator has criticized for not doing enough to rebuild the war-torn nation.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee met with Karzai in Kabul, the capital city, during Obama's first visit to the Asian nation.

Karzai's spokesman characterized the senator's message as pleasant.

"They're happy to be in Afghanistan. They reassured the support of U.S. people to Afghanistan," Humayoon Hamidzada said.

Karzai met with the congressional delegation that includes Obama, and they discussed the achievements of the Afghan government as well as challenges such as terrorism, corruption and illegal drugs.

McCain's senior foreign policy adviser criticized Obama on Sunday for "stubbornly adhering to an unconditional withdrawal that places politics above the advice of our military commanders, the success of our troops and the security of the American people."

"Barack Obama is wrong to advocate withdrawal at any cost just as he was wrong to oppose the surge that has put victory within reach. It is a strategy for defeat, and it is the only strategy Barack Obama has ever supported," Randy Scheunemann said in a statement.

Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman, another McCain ally, echoed Scheunemann's comments.

"John McCain had the guts to argue against public opinion, to put his whole campaign on the line, because, as he says, he'd rather lose an election than lose in a war that he thinks is this important to the United States," Lieberman said on "Fox News Sunday."

The fight in Afghanistan has become a more pressing issue on the political radar. Three times as many coalition soldiers and other military personnel have died in July in Afghanistan, compared with Iraq. July's death toll for coalition troops reached 22 after the Friday death of a Canadian soldier was announced.

Nine U.S. soldiers were killed July 13 in a fight with about 200 Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan in three years.

Cesc Could Rejoin Barcelona - Hleb

Cesc Could Rejoin Barcelona - Hleb
The Belarussian playmaker revealed that his great friend at Arsenal showed him around the Catalan capital on a previous trip and still loves the club where he began.

Fàbregas was strongly linked with a return to Camp Nou last summer and Hleb thinks that he could well be tempted back in next few years because of his feelings for the Blaugrana.

"He loves this club, and though he’s at Arsenal, who knows, maybe one day he’ll come back here," he explained. "He and Flamini were my best mates at Arsenal.

"I once came to Barcelona from London with Cesc, but that was only a day-trip and I saw little of the city which is now my home.”

While Hleb's words will not impress Arsène Wenger, the fact that the 27-year-old considers that only now has he joined a great club may anger a few Arsenal fans.

“It’s a great opportunity for me. Since I was seven my dream has been to play for a great club like Barça. I love Barça and I want to do my very best to try to win as many titles as possible," he continued.

“I know it’s a great team, with great players. What I want to do is to integrate, play good football with them and obviously win.”

Hleb will team up with Henry again at Barça and the pair were inseparable on when training together for the first time last Friday.

Accusations that they did not perform well together at Arsenal does not bother the former Stuttgart forward and he is delighted to be back alongside his friend.

"He’s my mate. We spent two years together. We understand each other and I’m real pleased to be back with him," Hleb added.


Mourinho Accepts Lampard Defeat

Mourinho Accepts Lampard Defeat
The new Inter Milan boss, who was confirmed as Roberto Mancini's successor earlier this summer, did not hesitate to point out differences between football in Italy and England, where he coached Chelsea.

"In England, there were always crowded stadiums but during trainings they were completely empty, in Italy there is a totally different culture, even in July, with this temperature and with such good beaches in this country, thousands of people come see our trainings," Mourinho told TVI.

The Special One stated that he is currently enjoying his new challenge and added that he hopes he can transform Italian football.

"It has been good so far, the players are very receptive to our work, we like what we do and we had not done it for months.

"I am a person with my own ideas, one of my goals is to try to change something in the Italian football and prevent Italian football from changing something in me," Mourinho noted.

Mourinho also commented on the situation of compatriot Figo, who was very close to leaving the club last season, saying that he believes that the former Portugal international will be very important for the club if he is not hampered by injuries.

"Figo a primary player to me, just like to his team-mates. He is an example of professionalism, it's not even worth to talk about his quality, I bet that if he does not get injured, he will make a great season, I will try to see if I can help him so that his career can go even further," he said.

Lamps Out

Mourinho has so far been very unlucky in the transfer market, having only signed Mancini from AS Roma and seen his approaches for Ricardo Quaresma and Frank Lampard being rejected by their respective clubs.

"I think bringing Lampard is now more complicated, I guess it's more likely that he sees out the remaining year of his contract than he joins now on a transfer.

"The Quaresma matter is hard but easy to understand, he is a player I would like to work with, it would be interesting for me to have a player like him, just like it would be interesting for him to have a coach like me.

"I am a coach of Inter Milan and he is a player of FCPorto, I am not a president, I do not know if there will be an offer for him or if it will be an offer that will be agreed, I do not know and I have to respect Quaresma and Porto," he concluded.

EngLanD's sCheDuLe 2008-2009

Date

Venue

Against

Competition

20 August 2008

London

Czech Republic

Friendly

06 September 2008

Barcelona

Andorra

World Cup Qualifier

10 September 2008

n/a

Croatia

World Cup Qualifier

11 October 2008

London

Kazakhstan

World Cup Qualifier

15 October 2008

n/a

Belarus

World Cup Qualifier

19 November 2008

Berlin

Germany

Friendly

01 April 2009

n/a

Ukraine

World Cup Qualifier

06 June 2009

n/a

Kazakhstan

World Cup Qualifier

10 June 2009

n/a

Andorra

World Cup Qualifier

09 September 2009

n/a

Croatia

World Cup Qualifier

10 October 2009

n/a

Ukraine

World Cup Qualifier

14 October 2009

n/a

Belarus

World Cup Qualifier

 
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