Email: info@mashriq.co.uk
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0161 3431 566 0770 6113 104 58 Oldham Road Ashton Under Lyne OL6 7AP
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A More Pragmatic Approach From The EU Towards Current Trade Negotiations
North West MEP Sajjad Karim is urging a more pragmatic approach from the EU towards current trade negotiations. The MEP says the proposed Indian deal is the best new opportunity available for European business. Trade negotiations between India and the EU were launched in June 2007 and, so far, eleven negotiating rounds have been held. The last EUIndia Summit took place before Christmas 2010. Speaking in the European Parliament, Mr Karim, who is also the rapporteur for the trade talks, said, "Europe is deeply wounded, the very social fabric is tearing apart and our citizens are increasingly turning to extremes. We need to look ever further outward. The best real opportunity we have are the trade talks. Sadly these talks are locked and what is needed, and needed now, is political pragmatism from the European Commission. The longer the delay the more jobs and opportunities are lost." "Things are happening for the good in that part of the world.
Pakistan recently made steps to normalise trade with India by granting India 'Most Favoured Nation' status and this is a very big deal." Of immediate concern to Mr Karim is the EU trade concession made to Pakistan. The 2-year deal eases restrictions on Pakistani exports earning the country millions of dollars needed in the wake of the terrible flooding. However, the World Trade Organisation works by consensus and Bangladesh objected fearing it would hurt its own EU exports. Sajjad is Chairman of the European Parliament's Friends of Pakistan and member of the Friends of Bangladesh.Mr Karim added, "The best way for
Pakistan to recover after the floods is to allow it to rebuild the economy of provinces like Sindh. 150 countries agreed to the deal but Bangladesh did not." Sajjad is leading the EU initiative to speak to Bangladesh about its objections having already held meetings with interested parties. Mr Karim concluded, "I am sure this can be solved quickly especially as Bangladesh's own Commerce Minister has admitted the impact on his country will be minimal. Once again we need political pragmatism from EU leaders and once again we need it now. It is the political will versus the political wont."
London Salon Opens Private Room For Muslim Clients
The ELATTC Training centre has opened a private room in its commercial salon for Muslim ladies. The room will offer the full range of treatments in an environment sympathetic to the needs of the Muslim lady. Michelle Sapiano, founder of the ELATTC says,“We are delighted to be able to launch a brand
new area in the salon. Our Muslim ladies are now able to have their hair done in privacy and away from the public area of the salon. They will also be able to take advantage of other treatments such as massages, manicures and pedicures all at the discounted prices of the main salon. It is a very exciting to be able to cater for all of our local community”
This non profit organisation offers fantastic training in Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Assessor and teacher training - this often leads to exciting employment opportunities and can open many progression routes for learners. On offer are NVQ’s, IHBC, VRQ’s. It has an excellent network.
Child Grooming And Asian Gangs
Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation comments: As the UK Government launches the National Action Plan on grooming the Ramadhan Foundation once again reiterates its disgust and abhorrence of these evil crimes. The criminals bring shame on themselves, their families and our community. We have consistently been campaigning against these crimes over the past five years and will continue to work actively to eradicate from our society. There must be no hiding place for these criminals, regardless of race or background in our country and we must not shy away from speaking out. The reality is that the majority of child sex cases are carried out by white man but in areas with a large concentration of ethnic minorities there are significant number of abusers who are Asian. We know from many recent convictions that these men come from the Pakistani and Indian communities, to say that ethnicity is not a factor in these crimes is a lie and abject
failure of authorities whose primary role is to protect these children. We have and will continue to never hide away from speaking on this issue and the positive feedback received from all sections of our society shows utter disgust at the crimes and also disgust at the authorities for their failure in protecting our children. Sadly when a recent white gang were convicted in Portsmouth of grooming there was very little coverage in the media but when Asian gangs are convicted there was blanket coverage, some elements of the media are feeding division when we should all be uniting to ensure that there is no safe place for these criminals from any race or background. We would urge the media to responsibly report on these crimes and ensure that they do not tarnish all Asian communities where the overwhelmly majority are disgusted by these sick evil men. I have been calling for a National strategy that forces the Police, local councils, care systems and schools to work and share information on where girls are
vulnerable to the evil of grooming. I welcome the Government’s and in particular Tim Loughton MP, the Children's Minister action plan and for his leadership on this issue. There are only a handful of local authorities have given these crimes the attention they require and the longer the rest that drag their feet the more girls will be lost. The time for ill informed racial sensitivities on this needs has stopped and we need immediate implementation of all elements of this action plan. The Ramadhan Foundation is ready to work with the Government to ensure that this action plan actually turns into action. The Ramadhan Foundation is pleased to announce that we are planning to host a major conference in 2012 on grooming and Asian gangs. This will be a national conversation within our community on how we root out this evil from our community. We urge interested partners to consider joining this initiative.
An Evening With Simon Rimmer In Aid Of Children’s Charity, Brainwave
Earle Restaurant in Hale played host to a special evening of sumptuous dining and fine wines to help raise funds for children’s charity, Brainwave and help kick-start its 30th anniversary celebrations.Guests included Coronation Street stars, Samia Smith & Will Thorp who, along with Simon Rimmer, have agreed to support Brainwave during its special birthday year in 2012. Simon said: “Earle is delighted to host this special occasion for Brainwave – it’s a fantastic charity which looks after children with a variety of brain conditions and the North West Centre in Warrington is a
Brainwave Ambassadors, Simon Rimmer, Samia Smith and Will Thorp. wonderful haven for families requiring the special support Brainwave can offer.” The event at Earle raised £3,400 for Brainwave which will help support families in the NW region.
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Russia Warns of Response to US Missile Shield
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will aim missiles at U.S. anti-missile sites in eastern Europe if the United States does not heed Russian concerns about its missile defense plans. Mr. Medvedev said in a televised statement Wednesday that Russia will deploy long-range missiles in the southern and western parts of the country if it fails to agree with the United States on its plans for an anti-missile shield. The White House swiftly responded to Mr. Medvedev's statement, saying it will not alter in any way its plans to deploy a missile shield. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor maintained the U.S. stance that the missile defense shield does not threaten Russia's own nuclear deterrent. He said the U.S. wants to enhance missile defense cooperation with Russia in order to provide security for both countries.He also reiterated the U.S. position that it has been open and transparent with Russia about its plans. The United States wants to build a land- and seabased missile defense system to protect NATO and its allies against a possible attack from Iran or North Korea. It insists the missile shield is not aimed at Russia and is purely defensive.
Russia has said that such a system would upset its own nuclear deterrent as well as the strategic weapons bal ance in Europe. The Russian president also said Wednesday that Moscow will consider backing out of the New Start disarmament agreement with Washington and other arms control dialogues if the two countries cannot reach an agreement. He also ordered the deployment of a radar missile warning system in the western city of Kaliningrad. Mr. Medvedev's comments come a day after the U.S. announced it is halting information-sharing with Russia on nonnuclear military forces in Europe. The announcement follows failed talks between Washington and Moscow on reviving a treaty that limits the number of conventional weapons that could be stationed in Europe. Russia stopped providing information on its forces four years ago. The United Stateson other hand has reiterated that its planned missile defense system for Europe, aimed at Iran, will not threaten Russia’s strategic missile deterrent. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev warned that Moscow will take counter-measures against the U.S. system being developed with NATO.
A French appeals court has approved the extradition of jailed former Panamanian military dictator Manuel Noriega to his native country, to serve time for embezzlement, corruption and murder. Noriega ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989, when he was ousted by U.S. forces. After his overthrow, he spent two decades in prison in the U.S. on drug trafficking, racketeering and money laundering charges before being extradited last year to France, where he was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to seven years in jail.
French Court Approves Noriega's Extradition to Panama
Noriega told the French court Wednesday that he wants to go back to Panama to prove his innocence. His lawyer said it is now up to the Central American nation to send police or a military plane to carry out the extradition. The United States also gave its approval to authorize Noriega's return to Panama, where he is accused of murdering political opponents. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said last week that Noriega
will go to jail when he arrives in Panama. But the president also acknowledged that the one-time U.S. ally, now in his late 70s, could be granted house arrest by law because of his age. He also is reported to suffer from health problems.Noriega served 20 years in prison in the United States for drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering before being extradited to France in 2010. He had been sentenced in absentia in 1999 to 1989
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Uk Steel Town Bears Scars Of Government Cuts
MIDDLESBROUGH, England — In the former British industrial powerhouse of Middlesbrough, a skyline once dominated by smokebelching chimneys and steel mill furnaces now features a monumental piece of public art and an elegant new state college clad in silver and bronze.The town's harsh industrial landscape inspired film director Ridley Scott, a son of north-east England, in his vision for the science fiction film "Blade Runner." But many of its factories closed long ago and nearly half of the workforce now relies on the public sector. Like so many places in Britain that came to depend on public jobs after the decline of their old industries, Middlesbrough faces an uncertain future as Prime Minister David Cameron tries to cut spending and avoid the sort of debt crisis that has toppled governments across Europe.The town of 139,000 people, close to where the River Tees meets the windswept northeast coast, has been described as the place most vulnerable to Britain's cuts. Its university expanded rapidly under the last
Labour government, the hospital was rebuilt and a public art gallery sprang up in an elegant new town square as politicians poured money into Middlesbrough and other deprived areas. Now the tap has been turned off and the Conservative-led coalition is trying to wipe out a budget deficit that peaked at around 11 percent of GDP -- a move that is expected to lead to the loss of 400,000 public sector jobs. "Yes, we did have a policy as a Labour government, with all of these heavy industries going: We pushed people into the public sector where they were working, getting a salary, paying taxes and were part of the consumer society," said Stuart Bell, the town's Labour member of parliament since 1983. It is the north of Britain which was ravaged by Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher's policy of running down uncompetitive industries in the 1980s -- creating Britain's notorious northsouth divide. It now faces the brunt again given the drive to revive the region with public money. While Britain may be on
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track to meet its deficitcutting targets this year, the weak outlook means finance minister George Osborne is expected to have to accept lower growth forecasts when he sets out his latest fiscal plans in parliament on November 29. Advertise | AdChoices His deficit plan is based on forecasts for 1.7 percent growth this year. Lower growth, or even a return to recession, would leave a stark choice of having to cut deeper or let the austerity drive falter, which would threaten Britain's 'AAA' credit rating and raise its borrowing costs. The Labour party says Osborne must think again and find a growth strategy. He insists that record low borrowing costs for Britain shows his path is the right one and blames the euro zone debt crisis for the economy's downturn.The town's harsh industrial landscape inspired film director Ridley Scott, a son of north-east England, in his vision for the science fiction film "Blade Runner." But many of its factories closed long ago and nearly half of the workforce now relies on the public sector.
Civil Servants To Man Borders During Nov. 30 Strike
Civil servants from across Whitehall are being drafted in to work as border staff during next week's public sector strike. The civil servants have been approached by the UK Border Agency and asked to man facilities at ports and airports when immigration officials strike over their pensions. Immigration staff working overseas have also been asked if they are willing to return to the UK to help out on the day of industrial action. Staff working in embassies and high commissions in India, South Africa and Russia have been contacted about returning to Britain to cover for their absent colleagues. More than two million workers - including as many as 18,000 immigration officials -are expected to strike in the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest since the 1979 Winter of Discontent, raising the potential for long queues at passport control. A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The security of the UK border
remains our top priority and we explore all options to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action." The spokesman stressed that all staff would be given "the necessary level of training" needed for the tasks they are given. Downing Street confirmed that contingency plans were under way to limit the impact of the strike, but declined to discuss details. Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: "We are considering our contingency plans, but we are not providing any details of those. The public will expect us, as the Government, to do what we can to mitigate the effects of the strikes. "If a large-scale strike goes ahead next week, that will have an impact on people and families across the country. If schools are shut, that will mean a lot of people who have to stay at home to look after their kids. Strikes are not costless. They have an impact and we have to do what we can to mitigate that."
Take your children to work during pensions strike, says David Cameron
Firms should allow parents to bring their children to work during next week's pensions strike by public sector workers, the Prime Minister said as he indicated he might be willing to make it harder to take industrial action. Millions of parents are expected to struggle with childcare as teachers take part in a 24-hour walkout next Wednesday, which could see more than two million workers on strike in the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest since the 1979 Winter of Discontent. There were calls for changes in strike laws from the Tories in the Commons after Tory MP Richard Ottaway said strikes should be banned.
Correction
Supporters of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, or Indian Workers Group, participate in a protest rally in New Delhi. The supporters demanded that the government protect workers rights in the ongoing economic reform process as well as the financial crisis. (AP)
In Mashriq Britannia November 1st edition 2011 in an Eid message. read the designatiion of Mr.Shaukat Ali as a potential candidate for local council.Where as Mr.Afzal khan and Namee Ul hassan are designated Coumcillors for Cheetham Hill Manchester.
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Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamus ul Hassan visits British Muslim Heritage Centre together with Consul general Ehsan ul Bhattia, former Lord mayor afzal Khan, BMHC chairman Nassar Mahmood and Farakh Zaheer.
Four Fallen British Soldiers Brought Home
The bodies of four British servicemen killed in Afghanistan are returning to the UK. They are Lieutenant David Boyce and Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon, both of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, Private Tom Lake, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and Lance Corporal Peter Eustace from 2nd Battalion The Rifles. They were all killed in explosions in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The repatriation is taking place at RAF Brize Norton. After a private ceremony there, the cortege will make its way to the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. With the deaths of two other soldiers, Private Matthew Thornton, 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment , and Private Matthew Haseldin, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment , earlier in November, this month could prove the bloodiest of 2011. Three hundred and eight nine British forces personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians have died while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in
October 2001; of these, 345 were killed as a result of hostile action. Only three Britons were killed in Novem ber last year - however, four were killed in October 2010, compared with one in October 2011. It appears that the high number of fatalities is, as one source described it, "a spike of bad luck". There has been no change in the tempo of British operations, nor any significant increase in IED finds. The four deaths did occur in the same district, but were geographically distinct. There has been significant progress in much of central Helmand. The summer months,
when traditionally most fighting occurs, were quieter than expected, and in many areas commerce and agriculture are thriving. Special forces operations have hit the Taliban leadership hard, with some areas now experiencing no significant insurgent activity. Yet November is the month in which the nation mourns those lost in conflict. As the year draws to an end amidst growing concerns about the withdrawal of 33,000 US troops in 2012, there will again be those who question the point of the ten-year Afghan campaign.
Aid Scam Sees Indian Children Go Hungry
Widespread abuse of India's food aid programme, which is meant to be a lifeline for the country's poor, has been uncovered by an exclusive Sky News investigation.Ration packs for millions of undernourished children are being systematically stolen and sold on the black market as animal feed. A man we tracked down, who was supposed to deliver the aid, claimed that villages do not want the food - and so he stole the vital supplies he was supposed to hand out to the most needy. He also claimed officials in the state of Maharashtra were involved in the illegal practice, but the police did nothing. The man, Nasru, told me: "It is not only us who are involved in this - even the officials running the programmes are selling the food." India has one of the biggest food aid programmes in the world. The country also has more malnourished children than sub-Saharan Africa, according to Unicef, and it has a devastating effect on the population.
Yemen's President Signs Power Transfer Deal
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh sat down with opposition leaders in the Saudi capital Riyadh Wednesday to sign a long awaited agreement to transfer power to his vice president, hold early elections and put an end to months of bloodshed. Onlookers clapped as President Saleh and Yemeni opposition leaders signed the deal to transfer power, a deal that had long eluded them. The accord was a major victory for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which had worked patiently to broker it, and for Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah who invested his prestige to bring it about. King Abdullah told the Yemeni politicians that a new page in their history has been turned, and he urged them to work to
time, bringing an end to his 33 year rule. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Abdel Latif Zayani spent many hours in Yemen during the past six months to broker the deal. He called the signing "historic." He said it is a decisive
moment in which the Yemeni parties are meeting in Saudi Arabia to achieve reconciliation and understanding. He thanks King Abdullah for his sponsorship of the talks and says he is thankful the GCC mediation resulted in an agreement that will bring an end to bloodshed in Yemen. President Saleh said he regrets the bloodshed that resulted during the 10-month old popular uprising to overthrow him. He claimed the turmoil was the result of outside forces that have been pushing their own agenda in the Arab world. Despite the optimism surrounding Wednesday's ceremony, Yemen scholar Gregory Johnsen at Princeton University says that it's far from clear that the signing will put a decisive end to the months of violence in the country.
allegedly forced him off the road. It is not clear whether the dead motorist had been involved in protests, which take place almost daily in minority Shi'ite areas of Bahrain and are often
met with force. Bahrain commissioned the much-anticipated report to investigate Shi'ite-led anti-government protests and a subsequent government crackdown featuring mass arrests and allegations of torture. The country's Sunni Muslim authorities called in Saudi troops in March to help crush the protests they say Iran fomented through its co-religionists on the tiny island nation.
Photo: AP Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signs a document agreeing to step down after a long-running uprising to oust him from 33 years in power in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 23, 2011
bring peace to their strife-torn country. President Saleh had promised to sign the Gulf plan three different times in recent months, but reneged each time. The deal will allow Mr. Saleh to remain president in name until elections are held in three month's
Bahrain Security Forces Clash with Protesters
Bahraini security forces have clashed with protesters in at least two Shi'ite towns just hours before the release of an independent report on the sectarian violence that engulfed the Persian Gulf nation earlier this year. Wednesday's street battles first broke out in Aali, outside the capital Manama, after a man died when his car smashed into a house when police
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High Level Saudi Arabian delegation visit Manchester to discuss trade
Three members of the Saudi Arabian Shura Council (Parliament), have visited Manchester to explore the trade links, they visited Manchester Town Hall , where they met with Deputy Leader Councillor Sue Murphy, Councillor Afzal Khan, (executive member and former Lord Mayor) and the deputy Lord Mayor. The team then went on to visit the British Muslim heritage centre for a tour to and to learn about the work that the BMHC is doing to strengthen relations between the Muslim world and Europe. In the afternoon there was a panel discussion at the University of Manchester , chaired by Dr Ibrahim Abosag, Assistant Professor in International Marketing and Management. A large audience attended this event and asked many varied questions relating
St Peter’s RC High School in Gorton welcomed guests as they joined students and staff in celebrating the completion of the £3.1m project. The ne w 513sq m timber structure building was officially opened by the Very Reverend Canon Anthony McBride and Councillor Afzal Khan CBE,Executive Member for Children’s Services, with a plaque unveiling and blessing. The structure has been named the Kennedy Building after
to economic, climate and political changes sweeping the Middle East . Councillor Afzal Khan stated that “Both countries have a long history
sides need to work hardtwo million Muslims living in the UK have an important role to play in this.” Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom have long been close allies
for the UK in the Middle East . The high economic growth that Saudi Arabia is witnessing over the last few years has generated an enormous amount of opportunity. However, the UK as trade partner for Saudi Arabia is ranked 9th only. In recent years, the relationship between the
Saudi Arabian delegation with Cllr Afzal Khan during thier visit to Manchester
of working together for their mutual benefit. It is important that in this rapidly changing world we do not take each other for granted. Both sides
focusing primarily on trade and military mutual to strengthen our social and trade links and the interests. Saudi Arabia is the biggest trade partner
New School building for St Peter’s
two countries has expanded to include security, education, health and other sectors. Father James Kennedy (1944–2005), who played a leading role in the amalgamation of St Alban’s, St Gregory’s and St Vincent de Paul’s schools, which led to the creation of St Peter’s RC High School in its present home in 2003. In addition to the new teaching block, new special educational needs (SEN) facilities have been provided in the current school .A further
£1.4m has been invested in the school’s ICT provision.
Obama Calls for Patience on Economic Recovery
subs President Barack Obama delivering an address on the
American Jobs Act, at Central High School in Manchester, New Hampshire, November 22, 2011
President Barack Obama is asking Americans to be patient with his efforts to speed economic recovery. The president again has attacked Republicans for voting down his jobs legislation. He has again gone on the road to campaign for support for his economic initiatives, speaking at a high school in the northeastern city of Manchester, New Hampshire. The nation’s unemployment rate has hovered around nine percent for several months, and Mr. Obama’s public approval ratings have suffered. Many political experts think the economy will be the main issue that determines whether the president wins re-election a year from now. Mr. Obama told the crowd in Manchester his efforts on the economy will succeed, but not immediately. “It is going to take time to rebuild an economy that restores security for the middle class, renews opportunity for folks trying to conveyed reach the middle class. It d is going to take time to rebuild an economy that is not based on outsourcing or tax loopholes or risky financial deals, but one that is built to last,” he said. The president’s appeal came one day after a special congressional
panel, called the “supercommittee,” failed to agree on ways to cut the government’s budget deficit. Opposition Republicans and some political experts criticized Mr. Obama for not becoming more involved in pushing the supercommittee toward an agreement. But on Tuesday, the president had criticism for minority Republicans in the Senate, angrily blasting them for defeating major parts of his $447-billion jobs legislation. “They refused to even debate it. 100 percent of Republicans opposed it, even though almost twothirds of Americans supported the ideas in this bill - Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. Not one Republican in Washington was willing to say it was the right thing to do, not one,” Obama said. Mr. Obama called on Congress to vote next week to extend tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of December. his condolences on The top Republican in Congress, House Speaker John Boehner, said his party is still willing to discuss supporting the bill.The small state of New Hampshire will be the scene of one of the first Republican presidential voting contests of the 2012 campaign,
Under current U.S. law, automatic cuts to domestic programs and national defense will begin in 2013, because a congressional committee failed to agree on trimming America’s federal deficit. Already, many lawmakers say they want to shield favored federal programs from the budget ax, despite a veto threat from President Barack Obama. A budget deal earlier this year specified there would be $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts, known as a "sequester," if a special “supercommittee” failed to trim the deficit by an equal amount over a 10-year period.
Automatic US Spending Cuts Loom
The supercommittee’s failure leaves the sequester in place, at least for now. President Obama says austerity is on the way. “One way or another, we will be trimming the deficit," he said. That means major cuts to a range of programs, from farm subsidies to transportation to payments to medical providers for treating the elderly. It also means deep cuts for the defense budget. The looming sequester angers lawmakers across the ideological
told by
spectrum. Many DeM mocrats oppose cuts to infrastructure and other domestic programs. And Republicans say security will suffer if the Pentagon budget is slashed. Congressman Howard McKeon said, “National defense has contributed enough to deficit reduction.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned of a “hollowed out” U.S. military. “If the sequester goes into effect and it doubles the number of cuts, then it will truly devastate our national defense," he said.
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Beijing Blasts US For Failure to Cut Debt
Chinese state media are attacking the U.S. government for failing to resolve what it says is the "ticking debt bomb" in the world's largest economy. Blasting the U.S. for the collapse of a congressional committee's effort to trim the country's budget deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade, the Xinhua news agency said "Washington's
political elites" need to have the courage to defuse the debt issue and show the "wisdom and determination not to further jeopardize the fragile global economic recovery." The news agency said U.S. politicians "have never shied" from lecturing other countries about their global responsibilities, but that "now it is high time" the U.S.
"showed a sense of true global leadership." The collapse of the U.S. congressional committee's negotiations on cutting the U.S. debt had no immediate effect on the U.S. credit rating, since the panel's lack of agreement triggers $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts starting in January 2013, half of it for national security programs. Two credit rating
agencies, Standard & Poor's and Moody's, affirmed their rating of U.S. debt. A third agency, Fitch, said it is reviewing its U.S. rating. The failure of the 12member committee to reach a debt-reduction agreement leaves in question spending and tax issues that affect virtually all Americans. A reduction in a payroll tax for government pensions for senior citizens and financial assistance for the long-term unemployed are set to expire at the end of this year and can only be extended with congressional approval. At the end of 2012, broader tax cuts first approved more than a decade ago will expire. All three measures have sparked contentious debate between President Barack Obama, a Democrat facing re-election in 2012, his Democratic supporters in Congress and opposition Republican lawmakers and presidential contenders
seeking to oust the president. The congressional panel of six Republicans and six Democrats was supposed to come up with a deal this week, but admitted failure Monday. Later, Obama vowed to veto any effort to undo the automatic spending cuts. With a year before the cuts take effect, analysts say Congress and the White House couldstill reach an agreement on debt cuts and tax increases. But that almost certainly will be more difficult as the country approaches the presidential election a year from now. All 435 members of the House of Representatives and a third of the 100-member Senate also face re-election.
Spain's Election Turns On Economy
Spaniards are voting Sunday in legislative elections that are expected to return the conservative Popular Party to power. Initial results are due in the evening. Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero swept to power in 2004 amid the high drama of the Madrid terrorist attacks, unseating the ruling conservative Popular Party. But today, the economy dominates voter concerns. Unemployment is high, growth is sluggish and the country's public debt is growing. Those concerns pushed Zapatero, who is not running for another term, to call for early legislative elections.
Fifa Trials Goal-Line Technology In Rochdale Fifa is installing a camera system in the goals at Rochdale FC's home ground to see whether it can tell referees for certain whenever the ball crosses the line. Spotland, home to the League One outfit, stands to take a proud part in a potentially historic development in the game, if Goalminder - the brainchild of two Lancashirebased businessmen passes a series of stringent tests. The researchers will spend around 13 hours putting Goalminder through its paces in the town, famed more for Gracie Fields than for its footballing exploits. The Fifa test team spent Tuesday at Southampton's home, St Mary's, looking at Hawk-Eye, already used in other sports including cricket and tennis. But Goalminder is different, utilising a total of 24 cameras implanted in the goalposts, 16 of them concentrating solely on the goal-line. A further eight cameras look outward, bringing the possibility of the use of footage commercially by TV companies and coaches at top football clubs. Goalminder's founders say data from the cameras is processed instantaneously by a box behind the goal, and a verdict on whether the ball has crossed the line is transmitted within one second to a referee's wristwatch. The strict testing regime is being carried out behind closed doors, but news of the researchers' visit to Rochdale will reassure football fans that the technology is finally on its way. The Rochdale tests are part of the first phase of trials of nine Europeanbased systems. Former Manchester United player Lee Sharpe is endorsing Goalminder. "The technology is there now where if the ball crosses the line, you get a little bleep or a flashing
light or something like that straight away then, yeah, I say bring it in," he said. "If it's going to take a couple of seconds to stop and take a look at it then you can't do it. I think it needs to come in." The system's inventor, electrician Harry Barnes, patented the technology in the 1990s and has watched it improve ever since. He told: "If you take my system, we have eight cameras in each post, eight cameras in the crossbar. You get a definitive shot of the ball crossing the line, straight in line where the camera should be, no error. (It's a) fantastic system." The aim - accepted now by Fifa as long as a reliable system can be found - is to rule out the possibility that a clear goal, like Frank Lampard's against Germany in the last World Cup , could be missed by the officials. Goalminder would cost ÂŁ100,000 to install in grounds. Its founders - including director David Parden have made only losses on it to date, but stand to make millions. Mr Parden said: "All we've done is put money in for 14 years. Me personally, and Harry, and I suppose all the others over the years, we must have put in ÂŁ100,000 each." But, he added: "Over 20 years, you could be making hundreds of millions." A final decision on whether to adopt the technology - and, if so, which systems to go with - is expected next July, following a second round of testing in March.
After a frenetic first half which produced little, Van Persie gave his side a 49th minute lead with a clinical header after fine work out wide from the inspired Alex Song, before the Arsenal captain doubled his tally from close range four minutes from time. Shinji Kagawa pulled a consolation goal back for Dortmund in stoppage time, but it was an entirely efficient victory for the hosts as they sealed their place in the last 16 of the competition by topping Group F. Arsene Wenger named an unchanged starting line-up as his side attempted to secure their passage through to the knockout stages with Laurent Koscielny continuing at right-back while
Champions League - Van Persie brace sees Arsenal top group
the returning Abou Diaby was handed a spot on the substitutes' bench. Starlet Mario Goetze, a reported ÂŁ30 million target for the Gunners, started for the Germans,
who needed a win to realistically keep alive their slim hopes of making the second round, and the midfielder was at the forefront of everything in what was a frantic opening.
Arsenal were forced to play on the break for much of the early stages, and Theo Walcott nearly punished the visitors as he surged through on goal.
ATP World Tour Finals - Djokovic stunned by sensational Ferrer
David Ferrer, the lesser known Spaniard in the ATP World Tour Finals, burst out of Rafa Nadal's shadow to reach the last four with a demolition job on world number one Novak Djokovic at the O2 Arena. While Nadal's place in the semi-finals is still in doubt after his thrashing at the hands of Roger Federer on Tuesday, world number five Ferrer made sure he will be around at the weekend with a 6-3 6-1 defeat of the year's outstanding player. In the day's other match, Czech Tomas Berdych saved a match point against Djokovic's fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic to seal a 2-6 6-3 7-6 victory which means the calculators may be needed to decide who finishes runner-up in Group A on Friday.
The complications mean Djokovic could beat Davis Cup team mate Tipsarevic, a stand-in for injured Briton Andy Murray, and still fail to go through while a defeat, providing Ferrer beats Berdych, would see him survive. Whatever the maths, Djokovic said he would need to play "50 per cent" better in his next match. "I have no words to explain this match," said Djokovic, who went on a 41-match winning rampage at the start of the year and claimed three of the year's four Majors. "Nothing was going well. I don't play at least 50 per cent better than I did tonight, I don't think I'll have any chance. You always hope that tomorrow will bring something better."
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In front of another sellout crowd in the 17,500capacity arena, Djokovic began solidly enough as the first six games of the match went with serve. However, when the terrier-like Ferrer raced across court on break point to whip a forehand down the line that caught his opponent flat-footed at the net, the match ceased to become a real contest as the 29-yearold from Valencia ran way with it. He broke the Djokovic serve again to win the opening set and he needed nothing spectacular in the second set as Djokovic offered little resistance. The Serb's mounting unforced error tally spoke volumes. "I'm embarrassed to look at the stats," Djokovic, who made 33 unforced errors, said.
Spot-fixing appeals dismissed
Ex-Test captain Butt, 27, received 30 months for his role in a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the Lord's Test against England in August 2010. Fast bowler Amir, 19, was detained for six months in a young offenders institution after he admitted bowling two intentional no-balls at Lord's. The duo, along with fellow team-mate Mohammad Asif, were sentenced at London's Southwark Crown Court on November 3. Butt and Amir were not present at the Court of Appeal in London for the proceedings before the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges, the Press Association reported. A lawyer representing Butt had argued that his 30-month prison sentence was "manifestly excessive" while counsel for Amir urged the court to suspend his sentence. Ali Bajwa, for Butt, argued that his sentence was "out of proportion to the seriousness of the offence that was committed". Although serious, it was at the "lower end of the scale" of such offences, he added. Bajwa described Butt as a broken man in a state of "ruin and disgrace". He told the appeal judges: "The very fact of conviction and imprisonment amounted to exceptional punishment for Mr Butt." Henry Blaxland, for Amir, urged the court to impose a suspended sentence of a length that would enable his immediate release.
Akmal, Misbah guide Pakistan to series win
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq in action during the third ODI between West Indies and Pakistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Photo: AFP
Contrasting half-centuries from Misbah-ulHaq and Umar Akmal secured a three-wicket victory for Pakistan over Sri Lanka in the fifth and final one-day international in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan went into the match with the series already in the bag and left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir (4-34) and his bowling colleagues restricted Sri Lanka to 218 for nine to lay the foundation of their third successive victory. Misbah (66) and Akmal (61 not out) returned to make significant contributions with the bat as Pakistan romped home with 16 balls to spare to complete a 4-1 series win. Pakistan had won the preceding three-Test series 1-0. Chasing a modest victory target, Pakistan lost both the openers by the time they had scored the first 51 runs before Misbah added 62 runs with former captain Younis Khan (34) to steady the ship. Leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis (3-36) injected some drama by removing Younis and the scoreless Shoaib Malik with successive deliveries but Misbah's maturity and Akmal's aggression took the game away from Sri
Akmal hit a boundary to score the winning run and remained not out after a sparkling 60-ball knock. Earlier, Tanvir earned Pakistan an early breakthrough by removing opener Upul Tharanga (3) in the fourth over after Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan had opted to bat first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Dilshan's (12) poor form continued, while Chamara Silva (1), replacing the injured Mahela Jayawardene, could not make the most of the opportunity either. Kumar Sangakkara (78) found an able ally in Angelo Mathews (61) and they rebuilt the innings with mature half-centuries. The pair were largely content rotating the strike but occasionally counter-attacked as well with Sangakkara hitting three fours off a Tanvir over and Mathews striking Umar Gul for two sixes. Mohammad Hafeez ended Sangakkara's innings to break the stand and Saeed Ajmal bowled Mathews round the leg to peg back their opponents. Down the order, Thisara Perera (25) chipped in with an 18-ball cameo to take Sri Lanka past the 200 mark.
Service to be held for D'Oliveira A thanksgiving service in honour of former England cricketer Basil D'Oliveira will be held at Worcester Cathedral on January 27. D'Oliveira, who died on Saturday at the age of 80, spent 16 years with Worcestershire as a player and a decade as head coach during which time the county won five county championship titles.But he will best be remembered for his part in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa after the 1968 tour of his native country by England was called off when he was included in the squad.It was a major factor in South Africa eventually being isolated from international sport for more than two decades. D'Oliveira's son Damian said: "The whole D'Oliveira family have been heartened by the many tributes paid to Dad over the last few days."It
shows the affection and high regard in which he was held by cricket followers around the world""It is hoped that the
Thanksgiving service will give the opportunity for all those who he clearly touched over a long period
of time to show their respects."
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Facebook, HTC to build Android smartphone: report
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook has allied with Taiwan’s HTC to build a customized smartphone powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system, according to technology blog All Things Digital. The project, code named “Buffy,” is aimed at making a handset tailored for the Californiabased social networking platform, according to the blog, which is owned by Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The device would “deeply integrate” Facebook, which has more than 800 million members, “at the core of its being,” All Things Digital said.
A Facebook team been working with HTC as well as trying to make deals with telecom providers for the smartphone, which it hopes to release within the next 18 months, the blog said.A Facebook spokesman declined to comment directly on the “Buffy” project to Things Digital but said: “Our mobile strategy is simple: We think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social.“We’re working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers to bring powerful social experiences to more people around the world,” the spokesman
Space Crew to Enjoy Thanksgiving Feast in Orbit
The three crew members on the International Space Station plan to have their own Thanksgiving feast on Thursday as they orbit 352 kilometers above the earth. The lone American on board plans to share some traditional holiday fare with his two Russian crew mates.It is hard to be away from home on a holiday, especially if are far away in space.But Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank still plans to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner . “Let's see. Well, we are going to have some smoked turkey, home style potatoes, cornbread dressing...,“ he said.Burbank will share it with his two companions, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin. Veteran astronaut Clay Anderson says eating in orbit poses challenges.“If you take a package like this and we have re-hydrated the cornbread dressing, you can kind of see some of it is squeezing out of the top. It is very sticky and very gooey, so that it does not flake off and fly away from you, so you can actually put it on your spoon and it will stick together and it is a lot of fun to eat,” Andereson saidCommander Burbank says Thanksgiving in space is more than just Thanksgiving dinner.And people enjoying Thanksgiving on Earth.
saiHTC already builds phones with dedicated Facebook programs.
Maize crops withered in Texas this year in a season of record-breaking heat and drought. In the Texas High Plains region, crops struggled to survive on as little as one-tenth of the normal rainfall.“Matter of fact, it may be the all-time driest year on record,” says Thomas Marek, an irrigation expert with Texas A&M University. Experts warn that climate change is likely to threaten world food supplies as temperature extremes cut harvests of important food crops. Scientists are working to develop new varieties that are adapted to a changing climate.
Scientists Developing Drought-Tolerant Maize for Hotter Future So, while this was a terrible year for farmers, for Marek and his colleagues, it was just about perfect. At a research station an hour north of Amarillo, they work to prepare farmers for hotter, drier years ahead.“It’s going to become more and more important," says Wenwei Xu, who leads the team’s maize breeding efforts. "Because, with climate change, cold places are getting colder, warm places are getting hotter. When it gets hot, you get
drought.”Hot weather and drought turn maize plants brown. That means the end of photosynthesis, which is how maize plants turn sunlight into starchy kernels.But Xu’s colleague, Qingwu Xue, identified genes that help some tropical maize varieties stay green longer under these conditions.“If they stay green longer, they can photosynthesize longer," says Xue. "Once they photosynthesize longer, they can fill their grain for a longer time.
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Italy's Economic Growth Struggles to Bridge North-South Divide
Portuguese Workers to Stage General Strike Thursday
Portuguese workers will stage a general strike Thursday to protest the government's tough austerity measures imposed by the European Union. The country's two largest trade unions representing more than 1 million workers plan to hold more than 30 marches. The strike is expected to disrupt transport and other public services, including schools and hospitals, throughout the nation. Some international flights may have to be cancelled. The unions have urged workers for weeks to strike against measures that include higher taxes and cutting civil servants' holidays and bonuses. Portugal must meet EU conditions for a $104-billion international bailout to rescue it from its worst economic crisis in decades. The centrist government of Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, which came to power in June, and the opposition Socialist Party have agreed to the bailout conditions. But the planned spending cuts, combined with declining living standards and high unemployment, have sparked anger in the nation of 11 million people. Portugal was the third country in the eurozone to seek a bailout, after Greece and Ireland. Its economy is set to shrink about 3 percent next year.
A worker inspects a jar of pasta sauce in one of Paolo Ricciulli's factories - which employs around 220 people at his Althea-Delfino group, Italy's biggest manufacturer of ready-made pasta sauce, with revenues of 62 million euros and two plants in Parma and Acerra, near Naples in Parma, November 11, 2011
Italy is one of the most economically divided countries in Europe. The north - with cities like Milan and Turin - accounts for a large majority of the country's GDP, while the south often is viewed by outsiders as a land of siestas and organized crime. Some analysts say Italy's south, however, amounts to a vast underdeveloped resource that could pull the country out of its economic slump. Lasers cut the latest tire tread patterns, ready for road testing at the Pirelli factory in Milan. It is a futuristic image of Italian industry. Pirelli has just announced strong results - nine month earnings rose by nearly 50 percent compared to 2010. CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera is proud of the company’s 140-year heritage. He said, though, the source of the profits lies outside Italy. “We are a global company so we have the head and the heart in Italy. Then more than 90 percent of our products and of our production is in the rest of the world. Europe is slowing down, that is a fact,” said Provera. Milan is the home of Gucci, Versace, Prada
and many other famous names. Luxury Italian trade group Altagamma predicts sales growth in Asia will soar by 16.5 percent next year alone. The glitz belies Italy’s economic crisis. “There are too many complexities in our bureaucracy, our justice system. All this is oldfashioned, we have to change it,” said Provera. Naples lies 700 kilometers south of Milan. GDP here in the south of Italy is just over half that of the north. Analysts say the region has suffered from decades of underinvestment - despite the European Union’s Development Fund pumping in billions of euros. Giampiero Gallo, economics professor at the University of Florence, said the imbalance has diverted attention. “Somewhat the polarization between the north and the south has given the north a sort of reassurance that the fault for things not going well was lying somewhere else,” said Gallo. Salvatore Miele runs the family business, Vincenzo Miele Transport, from Naples portside,
shipping containers throughout Italy and across the world. “Compared to the rest of Italy, bureaucracy here in the south delays everything and this is blocking growth,” he said. “The south of Italy has been ignored by politicians and the ruling elite. So we move with a slower rhythm here.” Southern Italy has a reputation for organized crime. Miele said he’s lucky not to have been affected“If we give young people a future, criminality will decrease… Southern Italy’s potential is huge, we have the great resource of many young people. We need to help them get into work so they can build a future,” said Miele. Naples and Milan: two cities and two sides of the Italian economy. Analysts say that if Italy isto return to growth and navigate out of the debt crisis, the gulf between the north and the south must be resolved.
Africa's Future, Blowing in the Wind
It all began almost two decades ago, when Willem Dolleman got annoyed during his Lake Turkana vacation in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. He wanted to fish and set up his tent, but the ever-blowing gales kept undermining his efforts. Despite his frustration, Dolleman thought it could be interesting to harness all of this natural power. Fast forward to mid2000, when oil prices were shooting through the roof. Dolleman discussed his idea with colleagues who eventually formed the Lake Turkana Wind Power project. With construction slated to begin in March, it will be sub-Saharan Africa's
largest wind-power project, expected to contribute up to one-fifth of Kenya's power-generating capacity, one of the biggest contributions by wind power to a national grid anywhere in the world. Lake Turkana Wind Power chairman Carlo Van Wageningen says that the wind, when measured on the original site, had an average speed of 13 meters per second, dwarfing the average European wind farm speeds of about 7.5 meters per second. "The problem is that there is no wind turbine producer in the world that produces a wind turbine that can sustain such high averages,
" says Van Wageningen. "So we had to move a little bit from that site to try and identify a site where we had less wind, because we had too much of it." The new location offers more manageable wind speeds of around 11and-a-half meters per second, which, upon project completion, will be captured by 365 turbines. Slated to begin construction around March 2012, the fully operational farm will be expected to provide 300 megawatts to Kenya’s national grid, about 20 percent of the country’s installed power-generating capacity.Wageningen calls the site one of the best on the continent.
Greece, Spain Face New Debt Pressures
Greece and Spain faced new pressure Tuesday from the European debt crisis. The European Union bluntly told the Athens government it would not receive its next $11 billion installment from last year's bailout unless its fractious political leaders sign a written statement committing to new austerity measures to cut the country's debt. Greece needs the money to avoid a default next month, but conservative leader Antonis Samaras says his verbal consent to the unpopular austerity plan should be sufficient and has refused to sign a written pledge. A key EU financial leader, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, told new Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos that without the written commitment, the release of the funds "of
Photo: AP Luxembourg's Prime Minister and head of the eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker, right, and Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos participate in a media conference in Luxembourg, November 22, 2011.
course could not take place." Meanwhile, the prospect of a conservative government in Spain led by Prime Minister-elect Mariano Rajoy failed to quell mounting financial
market pressure on the Madrid government. Spain was forced to pay its highest interest rates in 14 years on government debt. Its rate on three-month securities topped 5 percent, more
than double that from a month ago and higher than both Greece and Portugal have had to pay. As the long reach of the debt crisis continues, European leaders are
debating the role of the European Central Bank, and to what extent it should buy the bonds of the 17 nations that use the common euro currency. France wants the bank to be allowed to lend an unlimited amount to the eurozone's bailout fund. But Germany, the continent's leading economic power, fears that would fuel inflation and discourage debt-ridden countries from correcting their financial woes.
Far Right Poised to Take Advantage of Eurozone Crisis
The eurozone crisis is feeding far-right, nationalist parties in Europe which have long criticized the single European currency - and the broader idea of a "European project" of closer continues.
economic and political unity. But will that translate into more votes? Far right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has long been calling for France to get out of the euro currency union. And as the eurozone crisis grows and the French economy shrinks, Le Pen's message at rallies of her National Front party appears to be gaining new resonance among mainstream voters. A pair of recent surveys finds nearly one in five supports her. Many of those polled expressed concern about the eurozone turmoil. Less than six months from French presidential elections, Le Pen's antiEuropean Union message is also getting plenty of media attention like during this interview a few days ago onFrench public television. Le Pen says she believes the euro's demise is inevitable.France should get out of the eurozone now to escape the consequences.
Turkey, France Find Common Ground on Syria
Despite strained diplomacy between France and Turkey, the two nations have found mostly common ground in supporting Syrian opposition. A French objection to Ankara's bid to join the European Union has severely strained ties between the powers, which have been exacerbated by recent policy differences over Libya.
Italian Village to Declare Independence
Italy's tough austerity drive includes plans to force local authorities to merge, in a bid to rein in public spending. The village of Filettino faces such a prospect - but its mayor is fighting back. The town bidding for an autonomous principality with its own currency.
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Turkey Officially Apologizes For 1930s Mass Killing Of Kurds Turkey's prime minister has for the first time officially apologized for the mass killing of Kurds in an uprising 80 years ago. The statement is seen by some as groundbreaking and the first step in the country facing up to its difficult past, but others see it as more to do with politics. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed a meeting of supporters holding a copy of an historical paper, which he said documents the killing of nearly 14,000 Kurds in a rebellion in the 1930s. He then went on to do what no previous prime minister has done. Erdogan said if there is need for an apology on behalf of the state, "I will apologize and I am apologizing." The killings occurred between 1936 and 1938 in Dersim province. It was renamed Tunceli as part of the suppression of the rebellion, which also saw tens of thousands Kurds forced from their homes. The mass killings of the restive Kurdish minority in Dersim, most of whom were civilians, have until recently remained a largely taboo subject for mainstream politics.
Photo: Reuters Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, November 22, 2011.
Observers say Erdogan's groundbreaking statement has as much to do with party politics, however, with the prime minister pointing out that the main opposition People's Republican Party, or CHP, was in power when the killings occurred. It was the leader of that party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who demanded that
Turkey acknowledge its past actions. Kilicdaroglu, who is from Tunceli, accused Erdogan of seeking to undermine the legacy of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk, who was in power at the time of the mass killings. The Turkish government currently is fighting against Kurdish rebels,who are waging a
campaign for autonomy in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. The fighting has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984. It is the latest of several uprisings by the Kurds that span more than a century. Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party, the BDP, has questioned the sincerity of hismove, pointing out that mass
arrests of its members and sympathizers continue. The government maintains the arrests are part of its fight against the Kurdish insurgency, led by the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. More than 70 Kurds were detained this week, most of whom were lawyers. More than 1,000 Kurds have been arrested since June.