simplex Transcript

Gaddafi says Bin Laden to blame

2011-02-24T19:05:00.000-08:00

Col Muammar Gaddafi: ''You should not listen to Bin Laden and his followers''
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Mid-East Unrest

What next after Gaddafi?
Foreigner evacuation plans
Profile: Muammar Gaddafi
Who is propping up Gaddafi?
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has told state TV that Osama Bin Laden and his followers are to blame for the protests racking his country.

In a phone call addressed to residents of the town of al-Zawiya, Col Gaddafi said young people were being duped with drugs and alcohol to take part in "destruction and sabotage".

Col Gaddafi is battling to shore up control of Tripoli and western areas.

Protesters have been consolidating gains in cities in the east.

Opposition politicians and tribal leaders have held a key meeting in the eastern town of al-Bayda to show a united front against Col Gaddafi.

'This is your country'
The telephone call addressed al-Zawiya, 50km (30 miles) west of the capital, where fighting now appears to be the most fierce.

Col Gaddafi said the protesters had no genuine demands and were being dictated to by the al-Qaeda leader.

"Bin Laden... this is the enemy who is manipulating people. Do not be swayed by Bin Laden," he said.

"It is obvious now that this issue is run by al-Qaeda. Those armed youngsters, our children, are incited by people who are wanted by America and the Western world.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange wanted by Interpol

2010-12-01T17:39:00.000-08:00

Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) has added Julian Assange to their wanted list for sex crimes with two Sweden women he met in a trip related to Wikileaks .
WikiLeaks has been the center of media and political attention for its recent leak of the Afghan War Diaries and sensitive U.S. diplomatic cables. The result has been an unprecedented look into U.S. diplomacy, including discussions surrounding Pakistan relations, a plan of action for North Korea, and the hacking of Google’s (Google) servers by China’s Politburo that caused an international uproar.
Many countries consider Wikileak a hacking and crime organization . They think what Julian did illegal ,and will affect to world diplomacy . But Julian and his organisation just say they are promoting for the truth .

China's rapid economic growth slows in third quarter

2010-10-21T02:37:00.003-07:00

China says its economy has maintained robust growth in the third quarter of 2010, but at a slightly lower rate.

Official figures show a drop from just over 10% growth to 9.6%.

This leaves China still far ahead of any major economy, but experts fear the slowdown will reduce the contribution China can make to a global recovery.

The Chinese government has recently taken measures to cool a credit boom in order to achieve more sustainable growth levels.

Toyota to recall over a million cars in US and Japan

2010-10-21T02:37:00.001-07:00

Toyota has announced a recall of more than 1.5 million cars worldwide over brake and fuel pump defects.

The carmaker said the decision affected certain Avalon, Highlander and Lexus cars, including 740,000 cars in the US, 600,000 in Japan and 17,000 in the UK.

It wants to ensure that fluid does not leak from the brake master cylinder, causing the warning light to turn on.

The fault could cause the brake pedal to feel spongy, and braking performance to "gradually decline".

Credit Suisse profits hurt by weak market

2010-10-21T02:36:00.002-07:00

Credit Suisse's profits fell 74% in the third quarter, thanks to choppy stock markets hitting its investment bank.

The Swiss bank earned 609m Swiss francs ($630m, £400m) during the three months, down from 2.4bn francs a year ago.

Investment banking revenues fell by 30%, mainly because of low client activity in the group's equity advisory and underwriting businesses.

Stock markets took a battering over the summer because of fears over eurozone debt and a US double-dip recession.

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As a result, fewer companies paid the bank to arrange share offerings, advise on mergers and acquisitions, or provide other such services during the quarter.

BAE faces 'modest' hit from UK defence cuts

2010-10-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

BAE Systems has said that the impact on its business of the UK government's defence cuts will only be "modest".

While the defence group has been hit by some cuts - such as the retirement of the Harrier jet - a number of its manufacturing contracts will continue.

These include the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, of which BAE is a lead member of the consortium that is building them.

Outside of the UK, BAE said it was enjoying strong business in the US.

UK retail sales fall in September

2010-10-21T02:35:00.002-07:00

UK retail sales fell again September, the second month in succession they have declined, official data has shown.

Sales last month were 0.2% lower than August, led by falls in clothing and car fuel sales, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS also revised down August's decline, saying sales that month slipped by 0.7% compared with its original calculation of 0.5%.

The data comes as a number of retailers have warned of weak trading conditions.

Three such warnings have come this week from Debenhams, Argos-owner Home Retail Group, and sportswear chain Sports Direct.

The ONS said that compared with the same month last year sales in September were 0.5% higher. However, this was below analysts' expectations of a 1% rise.

Spending Review: Osborne defends 'fairness' of cuts

2010-10-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

Chancellor George Osborne has defended the "fairness" of his UK spending cuts after Labour claims they were reckless and would hit the poorest hardest.

He told the BBC that including Budget measures, the top 10% of earners would be hit hardest but everyone was making a contribution to cutting the deficit.

He said "the path to economic ruin" lay ahead if the deficit was not tackled.

Labour called the £81bn cuts - the biggest since the 1970s - a "reckless gamble" with the economy.

French workers vow to step up pension protests

2010-10-21T02:32:00.003-07:00

French workers will step up their protests against pension reforms next week, a top trade union leader says.

Bernard Thibault, head of the CGT workers' confederation, made the statement as union leaders prepared to discuss plans to hold a seventh day of national protests across France.

Meanwhile rolling strikes are continuing against government plans to raise the pension age from 60 to 62.

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Blockades of refineries and fuel depots have led to fuel shortages.

China's rapid economic growth slows in third quarter

2010-10-21T02:32:00.001-07:00

India malaria deaths hugely underestimated, says report

2010-10-21T02:31:00.002-07:00

The number of people dying from malaria in India has been hugely underestimated, according to new research.

The data, published in the Lancet, suggests there are 13 times more malaria deaths in India than the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates.

The authors conclude that more than 200,000 deaths per year are caused by malaria.

The WHO said the estimate produced by this study appears too high.

Belgian skydiver who killed love rival to be sentenced

2010-10-21T02:31:00.000-07:00

A Belgian woman convicted of murdering her fellow skydiver and love rival by sabotaging her parachute is due to be sentenced.

Els Clottemans, aged 26, faces between three years and life in prison.

On Wednesday, a jury heard how she cut key parts of the parachutes of Els Van Doren, 38, because she was jealous of her relationship with a male skydiver.

Ms Van Doren fell 1,000m (3,200ft) to her death in November 2006. Clottemans denied the charges.

The four-week trial in the north-eastern Flemish town of Tongeren (French: Tongres) gripped the nation.

Kanye West says he 'contemplated suicide'

2010-10-21T02:27:00.001-07:00

Kanye West says he's thought about killing himself, but now feels a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to pop culture and art.

The 33-year-old rapper didn't say when he'd considered suicide.

He told an audience at a screening of his new film Runaway in LA that although there had been times when he "contemplated suicide" he would "not give up on life again".

The star went on to describe himself as a pop icon and "soldier for culture".

He said there were so many people who would never have their voices heard, that he'd "do it for them".

The singer is credited as a director for the 35-minute film, which features portions of nine new Kanye West songs.

The movie is set to premiere this weekend on American cable channels and will accompany his upcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy released on 22 November.

JLS and Tinie Tempah scoop Mobo Awards

2010-10-21T02:26:00.002-07:00

Pop heart-throbs JLS and hip-hop MC Tinie Tempah shared the major spoils at the Mobo (Music of Black Origin) Awards in Liverpool, winning two prizes each.

Former X Factor finalists JLS won best album and were named best UK act, as well as inducing the loudest screams from fans at the Echo Arena.

Tempah, whose debut album recently topped the charts, won best newcomer and best video for his single Frisky.

N-Dubz and Plan B were among the other winners at the 15th Mobos ceremony.

The awards were first handed out in 1996 to showcase British urban music at a time when it was largely overlooked in the mainstream.

Yulianna Avdeeva scoops Chopin Piano award

2010-10-21T02:26:00.000-07:00

Russian musician Yulianna Avdeeva has become the first woman to win the prestigious Chopin Piano Competition in 45 years in Warsaw, Poland.

Ms Avdeeva, 25, who won £26,506, said she had been working towards winning the competition her "whole life".

Held every five years, the contest for young pianists is one of the most important in the classical music world.

Martha Argerich, a past winner and member of the jury, caller Ms Avdeeva a "harmonious artist".

She added: "I am extremely happy about Yulianna, and particularly because she is the first woman after 45 years. After me there was no lady, so I am very happy."

Tributes paid to Happy Days actor Tom Bosley

2010-10-21T02:25:00.001-07:00

Veteran US actor Tom Bosley, most famous for playing all-American father Howard Cunningham in the 1970s TV series Happy Days, has died aged 83.

The star, who had been suffering from lung cancer, passed away at his home just outside Palm Springs, his family said in a statement.

Henry Winkler, who played The Fonz in Happy Days, paid tribute to the actor.

"He was our television father on the sound stage, but a father figure in real life," he said.

China-Brazil 'friendly' ends in mass 'basket-brawl'

2010-10-21T02:23:00.001-07:00

The Chinese Basketball Association has apologised for a fight which broke out during a friendly match against a visiting team from Brazil.

The game on Tuesday degenerated into a brawl as players from both sides exchanged kicks and punches - forcing an end to play.

The Chinese association said training for the Asian Games had been put on hold while it investigated.

It said players found to be at fault would be dealt with severely.

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"The CBA apologises to the Brazilian side and all other parties over the incident which created such serious consequences," association vice chairman Li Jinsheng said in a statement.

Alpine climb to star in 2011 Tour de France

2010-10-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

The Tour de France will mark 100 years since the race first went over the Col du Galibier by visiting the legendary Alpine climb twice in 2011.
The 18th stage will end at the summit of the Tour's most climbed mountain, which at an altitude of 2,645 metres will be the event's highest finish.
The following day, the riders will take on the Galibier again before another mountain-top finish at Alpe d'Huez.
The race starts on 2 July in the Vendee and finishes in Paris on 24 July.
A 191km opening stage, instead of the more traditional time trial prologue, marks the Grand Depart of a race that has 10 flat and six mountain stages with four summit finishes in its 21 stages.

Ducati's Casey Stoner secures Australian GP win

2010-10-21T02:21:00.000-07:00

Casey Stoner has won the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island for the fourth successive year.
Having earned pole position on his 25th birthday on Saturday, the Australian Ducati rider led from start to finish to seal the win in superb fashion.
Stoner opened up a 1.5 second gap between himself and newly crowned MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo within the first lap.
He eventually finished 8.598secs ahead of Lorenzo, with Valentino Rossi third.
Rossi, the 2009 world champion from Italy, stole in to finish third courtesy of a bold overtaking manoeuvre on United States rider Nicky Hayden in the final lap of the race.

Everybody was expecting the fourth win but I attacked this race like any other and we were able to control the gap at the front and bring home the win
Casey Stoner
His third place finish ensured that he and Spaniard Lorenzo sealed the 2010 Team Championship with two rounds remaining.

Hamilton & Button must beat Webber in Korea - McLaren

2010-10-21T02:20:00.000-07:00

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button must beat Mark Webber in Korea on Sunday to have any chance of winning the title, says McLaren engineer Phil Prew.
Red Bull driver Webber has a 14-point lead over team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with only three races left.
Hamilton is 28 points adrift with Button 31 points behind Webber.
And Prew told BBC Sport: "We need to be in front of Webber. Both our drivers need to attack."
Every team is entering into the unknown to some extent this weekend in Yeongam on a brand new track being used for a grand prix race for the first time.

Sir Alex Ferguson to meet David Gill over Wayne Rooney

2010-10-21T02:14:00.000-07:00

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is eager to stop the Wayne Rooney issue from becoming a "saga".
Striker Rooney, 24, says he wants to leave the club, suggesting they lack the resources to match his ambition.
Ferguson is to meet chief executive David Gill at 1000 BST on Thursday to discuss United's next move.
But the Scot is keen to quash further Rooney talk and said: "What is really important is for us to put it to bed, we don't want it to become a saga."
Ferguson revealed in an emotional news conference on Tuesday that Rooney had told club officials on 14 August that he intended to leave Old Trafford.

China 'trying to block publication of UN Darfur report'

2010-10-20T21:38:00.001-07:00

China is trying to prevent a report which says Chinese bullets have been used against peacekeepers in Darfur from being published, diplomats say.

The report is being discussed by a United Nations committee which monitors sanctions against Sudan, including an arms embargo on Darfur.

Beijing says it is vaguely worded and full of flaws.

Ceasefires and peace negotiations have failed to end the conflict in the volatile western Sudanese region.
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The report says that a dozen different brands of Chinese bullet casings have been found in Darfur, some at sites where attacks on UN troops took place.

The BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN in New York says the allegations are controversial, but adds that China has the right to sell munitions to Khartoum as long as they are not used in Darfur.

The report, prepared by a panel of experts, was intended to be published after being formally presented to the UN Security Council.

The panel has previously claimed that large amounts of foreign arms and ammunition are being trafficked into Darfur and fuelling the conflict between the government and rebel groups.

After a meeting of the UN committee on Wednesday, Chinese diplomat Zhao Baogang said his government strongly objected to the report.

"Where did they get the informed sources? No evidence is given," he said, adding that the report "lacks confirmed facts".

He added: "How can we agree on those recommendations? We ask them to improve the work of the methodology."

The UN says that about 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and more than 2.6 million displaced since rebels took up arms there in 2003

Obama to visit 4 states to boost incumbents, drum up Democratic votes

2010-10-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

President Obama leaves Wednesday afternoon for a four-day swing through the West, where he will focus on shoring up his party's midterm election prospects in a set of important Senate races and helping a pair of gubernatorial candidates.

The trip - his longest of the midterm season - will take him through four western states and end in Minnesota, where he will raise money for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

That Obama is visiting several Western states that he won comfortably two years ago with less than two weeks in the midterm campaign season reflects the steep odds Democrats face in holding onto the House and Senate - and his own sharp reversal of political fortune.

Result of ALCS could impact impending Lee sweepstakes

2010-10-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Rangers people clearly have to like their chances in their series with the Yankees now that they are up 3-1. And they just as clearly haven't given up hope that they can beat the Yankees to retain superstar pitcher Cliff Lee for years to come, either.

The Rangers are planning to go toe-to-toe (and even maybe dollar-for-dollar) to try to keep the free-agent-to-be Lee, the star of a second straight postseason, from going to their ALCS opponent, the perennial powerhouse Yankees.

"He's going to make a tremendous amount of money. I hope he makes it with us,'' Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg said to SI.com in the afterglow of Lee's Game 3 masterpiece vs. the Yankees.

While a dozen teams might check in on Lee, the clear gem of the winter, including the Red Sox, Angels and many more -- and the Nationals are expected to try to overwhelm Lee -- most folks ultimately see a two-team horse race developing for maybe the greatest clutch pitcher of alltime, and certainly the last couple decades. Word this summer was that Lee had the Yankees on his mind, but right now he's only thinking about beating the Yankees, and that can't hurt Texas' chances.

"It's been a lot of fun,'' Lee said of his time in Texas. "It's been a good time, and we're in a good position to move on. Anytime you're on a team this good at this point in the season, it's where you want to be. I've enjoyed every minute of it.''

Texas people hope he enjoys several more years of it. Unlike in the case of some owners who are just blowing smoke about beating the Yankees for a free-agent prize they want but realistically know they can't afford, the new Rangers' owner actually means it. This is a guy who pursued acquiring the team for 15 months until it finally came to fruition officially on Aug. 12 after being thwarted seven times before. And this is a guy who, in a Steinbrenner-type move, managed to become the managing partner through investing only about $2 million of his own money (of the $585 million the team went for), according to insiders.

Although Greenberg only officially took ownership a couple months ago, now it can be told that he and his group were working behind the scenes on the possibility of acquiring Lee from Seattle as early as April. They wound up giving up some jewels of their farm system to get Lee, including Justin Smoak, and it was well worth it if only to give them a decent shot at their first World Series. But they are hoping that Lee isn't only a half-year rental.

Rangers people have been saying for weeks behind the scenes that if they can make it to the World Series, their chances to keep Lee could be enhanced. So if they're right, this ALCS could be a double whammy for the Yankees. New York could be eliminated and possibly see Lee stay with an up-and-coming team in a baseball market that Greenberg has himself referred to as a "sleeping giant.''

Dallas is first and foremost a football market, of course, but Greenberg and his excellent baseball staff are hoping to change that perception to some degree. Word was circulating around baseball that Lee loved the thought of coming to the Yankees in trade, and that he was actually slightly leery of playing so close to his hometown of Benton, Ark. But Dallas people are trying to turn the proximity into a positive. Lee is well known as a family man, and Rangers folks are emphasizing lifestyle as an enhancing issue in their efforts to keep him, and to keep him away from New York.

Of course, the Yankees probably remain the favorite to win Lee, as their record of signing free agents they covet is unmatched. Lee is tight with both CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and that doesn't hurt their chances. Plus, the Yankees will have obvious openings. They plan not to keep Javier Vazquez, there's a question as to whether Andy Pettitte might retire and the enigmatic Burnett will be coming off a season of horrors. More important than their obvious necessity, though, is their wherewithal. The Yankees have a dollar more than God. Some opposing teams wonder whether the Yankees will even have a cutoff figure with Lee or simply hand him a blank check.

But the Rangers, who recently signed a $2-billion-plus TV contract and should not be seen as some tiny market team, are still keeping hopes alive. "The further we go [in the playoffs], the better,'' Greenberg said. "Win today, and walk together forever.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/10/20/daily.scoop.wednesday/#ixzz12vWiBCQ6