Archive for December, 2009

Nigeria police in deadly clash with sect in Bauchi

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

At least 38 people died in clashes between security forces and members of a religious sect in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi.
The dead were mostly a group that is well under. Two soldiers and one policeman were killed.
The fighting came after authorities were alerted local preaching outdoors to members of the sect.
As the sermon was banned in the state after a rebellion by another sect, Boko Haram earlier this year.
Hundreds of people were killed in battles in northern Nigeria.
BBC’s Caroline Duffield reports from Lagos that well under a non-conformist Muslim sect poor artisans, workers and others working together.
Some residents of Zango, south of the city of Bauchi, said that in recent days, the mood of the sermon was aggressive.
The violence began Sunday morning. After some initial draft of the security forces withdrew, before returning in large numbers.
Team members have appeared with cutlasses and knives, guns ready armed police and soldiers to fight, she continues.
A spokesman for the governor of Bauchi, said local army was using when he said other accounts point to fear the police, the brigade special anti-theft.
The news agency Associated Press said a government official in Bauchi Maigari Muhammad the words cult members had gone to run require the release of their leader.
The sect leader was arrested in connection with the murder of several members of the Haram Boko, AP reported.

Andrew Lloyd Webber beaten in annual theatre power list

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Ambassador Theatre owners Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire have beaten music impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber to the top slot of a theatre power list.
The husband and wife team topped the poll for the first time, following their £90 million purchase of Live Nation’s UK theatres.
Industry newspaper The Stage publishes the 100 most influential people in theatre every year.
Actors John Barrowman and Mark Rylance reached number 19 and 20 respectively.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh, best known for such shows as The Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins, was at two, with Lord Lloyd Webber at three.
US actor Kevin Spacey, now artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London, was placed in 10th place.
“Since its launch in 1997, The Stage 100 has been dominated by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh,” said The Stage’s Alistair Smith.
“This is only the third occasion when neither has held the top spot.”

Netanyahu and Mubarak to discuss peace process in Cairo

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will meet in Cairo to discuss the process of Israeli-Palestinian peace.
The Palestinians refuse to resume negotiations unless Israel stops all buildings in the settlements in the West Bank.
A former Israeli peace negotiator, said Israel and the U.S. is near the beginning of the talks.
The visit takes place in Egypt tried to negotiate the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
A turbulent recent activity has been speculation that the progress in the efforts for a prisoner exchange operation must be done to do so.
Hamas, Palestinian Islamic movement that controls Gaza, Israel wants hundreds of prisoners in exchange for the release of Shalit’s release Sgt.
The group reported that the German mediator visited Gaza last week the last line of Israel.
A delegation of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, traveled to Damascus to meet with the exiled leaders of the movement from Wednesday to become Hamas officials told Reuters news agency.
Netanyahu said Monday that Israel to make progress and the progress of negotiations in the near future.
Israel says ready to negotiate not met.
Have Palestinian demands for a full cessation of settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, occupied in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war rejected.
But with the limited construction of 10 months in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem - which Palestinians want the future of their funds.
Yossi Beilin, a left-wing former minister who played a key role in the Oslo peace process of 1993, said Sunday that Benjamin Netanyahu is close to a deal that was the basis for peace talks with the country occupied by Israel in 1967.
These include a real commitment, although indirect Netanyahu, Palestinian demands for negotiations on the 1967 borders, Beilin told AFP.
He also said that Netanyahu was willing to demand that peace talks should be limited to two years to accept.
The Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Beilin said, for some, but not him.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, said at today’s talks about new ways to focus on peace efforts.
He has already said that Egypt would consider peace talks must be a complete freeze of settlement activities, or clear guarantee that a Palestinian state will be based on the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem. Over half a million Israelis living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel and the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 to claim a future state.
The settlements are illegal under international law.

Tyra Banks to leave her chat show

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Former model Tyra Banks has announced she will no longer present her chat show after its fifth season finishes.
The 36-year-old said she will continue with the reality show America’s Next Top Model, but will no longer host The Tyra Show.
In a statement on her website, Banks said: “Thank you so much for your support and love. Without you, there never would have been a Tyra Show.”
The star revealed she is currently working on other future projects.
“This year, I’ll be unveiling some huge surprises from me and my company Bankable - new out-of-the-box projects,” she said.
“I’m incredibly excited to announce that I’ll be launching Bankable Studios soon, which means my company will be making movies.
“I’m so excited and I wish I could tell you about all of the new stuff, but there are people here with me now telling me to stop typing and keep my lips shut about our new projects.”
She also denied that the decision to stop recording had been made because of poor viewing figures.
“Most times, a show leaves the air because not many people are watching. Well, you all are watching, in record numbers.
“As many of you know, several years ago I made the decision to leave modelling - at the height of my modelling career - and although it was the most terrifying move, it was the best decision and led to me fulfilling some big lifelong dreams,” she said.
The star also paid tribute to Oprah Winfrey, who is also bringing her chat show to an end.

Google is sued by Chinese author Mian Mian

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

The judge is in Beijing, the Chinese writer Mian Mian, Google over its plan to create an online library is demanding, said the lead settlement discussions.
After hearing two hours, the court spoke to both sides, but there is no deadline for reporting to the lawyers of the author.
It is to seek compensation of 61,000 yuan (8950, 5576) and a public apology.
The application was scanned by Google in October, one of his books Mian Mian, Acid House, stored in the library.
Google is said to have used the book as soon as they heard the complaint, but no further comment should be removed in this case.
Mian Mian writes risque novels - with titles like Panda Sex and candy - for China’s underworld of sex, drugs and nightlife.
Most of his work is banned in China.
This is not the only one who complained of copyright raised by Google’s electronic library. Copyright Society of China written work is also included in the search for a replacement for other Chinese writers, whose work on the project.
In France, the court ordered Google to stop digitizing books unauthorized by the French publisher. The search engine also told to pay 300,000 euros (430,000 dollars, 268,000) in damages, a French company La Martinire, which sued for copyright infringement to analyze the excerpts of the book.
In the U.S., Google has agreed to $ 125 million agreement with U.S. authors and publishers - But still awaits final approval by the court.

Finland ski star Nykanen held over Christmas attack

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

It’s four times Olympic Jumping on suspicion of attempted murder of his wife, made Christmas, they say.
Finnish legend Matti Nykanen, 46, was following an incident that left his wife in the head and hand injuries and was arrested.
Mervi Tapola reported that they left their common home and called police from a neighbor’s house.
Known as the Flying Finn, Mr. Nykanen won three gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Calgary 1988.
Skiing in winning performances including gold and silver at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo at age 21, he won five gold medals at world championships and 13 Championship in Finland.
But since leaving the competition circuit in the 1990s, continued to make headlines, with convictions for assault to report the abuse of alcohol and has worked as a singer and songwriter and male strippers.

New appeal for more organ donors in Wales to save lives

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Another call was for the people of Wales to join the donor registry in a train, the trailer could save many lives each year requirement.
Donations Wales campaign is aimed at those who register for the new year.
Despite the fact that 60,000 more people in their names to the campaign last year, say the officials are no longer needed.
Used by Health Minister Edwina Hart, who said he was also encouraged family and friends who supported the accession.
The new album is the way Wales introduces an opt-out system of organ donation, will be the first of its kind in Britain.
Sarah Bird, Church Village, near Pontypridd, for 10 months of age son Jonny waiting for a kidney, Johnny will have to wait until she was about three years before he could receive a transplant. Because of the age, the waiting period is somewhat longer.
While he waits, can not live a normal life. There are five different types of injectors, 9 times a day to once a week.
Health is monitored closely and if it worsens, it may take up to dialysis graft.
We do not know if my husband and I are compatible donors.
If you do not fit that Johnny will be included on the waiting list and will join about 500 other people in Wales. If more people register of organ donors, and I know they want, but it was Johnny, and hundreds of other people’s lives in Wales.
So please, take to sign up for organ donor and save a life in this new year. This means that people should be adopted in Wales, organ donors unless they have signed an opt-out, or there is no objection to the immediate relatives.
The Assembly Government is called soft opt-out proposals, which could also be seen, exclusions, if it can not impersonate any person or place of residence should be confirmed.
The idea of Kidney Foundation Wales, is that donations campaign in Wales, supported by the support of nine other charities and organizations.
The campaign said that although 28% of adults who participated in Wales on the donor registry, 71% are willing to donate their organs after their death.
Donations of Wales also said one person died every 11 days in Wales, while waiting for a transplant.
Ms Hart said: one hundred and twenty four people in Wales waiting for a transplant. The increase in the number of available organs and save lives.
The new year I’m going to encourage friends and family and the people of Wales and a life to save the organ donor. It only takes two minutes, and it really can save a life.
These are the gifts of the registry website Wales, you may want to visit call 0300 123 23 23, or save the text to 84118.

Iraqi forces ‘defuse nine bombs’ in Karbala

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

The Iraqi security forces say nine bombs defused in the city of Karbala, where hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims gathered for a religious festival.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki welcomed the tremendous efforts of the security forces to defend against attacks on pilgrims in the festival of Ashura.
Security was strict in the large-scale attacks in the past.
More than 20,000 policemen were deployed throughout the city and many buildings are placed snipers.
Analysts say the government wants to prove that the withdrawal of U.S. forces left a security vacuum in the country.
Shia Muslims were Karbala on Sunday for the last day of Ashura, which Mohammed heard the 7th century in Karbala of Imam Hussein’s death, the young son of the prophet crying.
The ceremonies in Karbala were at their peak, with thousands of pilgrims to a shrine, while the head with his hands.
Although the celebrations were peaceful in the city was in power elsewhere in March.
Iraqi officials said five pilgrims were killed and 15 others injured when a bomb struck the motorcade Tuz Khormato, near Kirkuk in northeast Iraq on Sunday.

Heavy snow is predicted for Wales

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

A warning was issued that heavy snow at the top of a large part of Wales, on Tuesday.
Forecasters said up to 30 cm or a foot of snow could fall before noon on that day thanks to higher ground in the middle of Wales and the south.
There are also warnings result from strong winds, the drift could.
Paul Knightley, of MeteoGroup, the long arm of the Press Association, said he was probably the biggest drawback of this cold spell in Wales.
He added that a moving system of the Atlantic Monday night meets the colder air, the formation of snow.
Thanks to the higher ground in central and southern Wales, can expect to see snow - 20cm to 30cm, or even a walk on Tuesday afternoon, with winds stronger than the push-drift, said Knightley.
Tuesday will be a difficult day in most parts of Wales.
We can also expect declines of 5 to 10 cm, see [2-4] in some parts of the Midlands. We do not know how far north or south, to what extent this may be snow. He said that there may be problems across Wales, or large parts of England, central and south between 48 and next 72 hours - and people should check the forecast before you go. Forecasters also warned that it will be cold for the new year, with temperatures expected that they fall within the 3C most of Wales and England and Wales on Thursday night, New Year and less 8C in Scotland, with snow is also common.
Mr Knightley said: It seems that stays cold until at least next weekend.

Akmal Shaikh told he will executed for drug smuggling

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

A Briton of drug trafficking in China has been sentenced said he will be executed Tuesday morning.
Akmal Shaikh, of London, was informed by his family, who is facing death in the next 24 hours.
The 53-year-old denied any knowledge of the 4 kilos of heroin in his possession in the extreme northwest of the city of Urumqi in 2007.
His family says he was mentally ill. His cousin spoke of his fate, but he told the BBC that not given up hope.
Cousins Shaikh, Sheikh Nasir Soohail and half an hour with him Monday at the security checkpoint hospital in Urumqi, where he was imprisoned. They are back in Beijing.
Mr. Shaikh was arrested at the hospital since August with high blood pressure.
Legal Reprieve Love has worked with Mr. Sheikh and his family.
Sally Rowen, Legal Director of Reprieve Death Penalty Team, said: I said this morning that tomorrow will be executed.
I do not know what was your reaction, but I know, he said. The Chinese authorities have long said they tell 24 hours in advance.