Baby sales is lucrative business •Confesses nurse arrested for the crime

Two nurses arrested for harbouring teenage pregnant girls and sale of babies have narrated how they abandoned their nursing profession when they discovered that the business was more profitable than serving in a hospital.

One of the female nurses simply identified as Nkiru, and popularly known in Onitsha, Anambra State where she was arrested as ‘mama Nmesoma’ said she had to abandon her Job as a nurse in an Onitsha based hospital when she realized the kind of money the hospital was making from sale of babies.

Nkiru claimed to have worked at a hospital along Okigwe road Owerri before moving over to the hospital in Onitsha.
She therefore decided to use a room in her three bedroom apartment where she was residing with the husband and their children for the business.

Luck however ran out on her when the Obi of Oraifite alerted the Enugu Zonal office of National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP) of a young girl who was brought to his palace by his subjects.

The young girl, (names withheld) during interrogation was reported to have said she was trekking to her place in Akwa Ibom; she said that somebody took away her baby at Onitsha and that she was on her way to Aba, from where she hoped to connect Akwa Ibom.

Investigations led NAPTIP to Onitsha where Nkiru was arrested, and five other teenage pregnant girls rescued from her factory.

The girl revealed that her older sister at Ikot Ekpene took her to Onitsha with her baby to stay with Nkiru; the her baby was taken from her and sold for N400, 000.
She fell out with her madam when she started asking about the whereabouts of her baby and was consequently thrown out of the house.

Said she; “whenever they get to my house, they don’t’ go out again; those that have phone I collect it from them; their people don’t know they are here, except those that brought them. A baby died during birth and I put her in nylon and threw her away.”

On her own part, 37-year-old Helen made so much money from the business that she now has two hospitals (baby factories) one at her headquarters in Ishieke, Ebonyi state and the other in the Abakaliki town.
She also confessed that her hospital receives and harbours under aged pregnant girls and after delivery sell to prospective buyers.

Helen who claimed to be a nurse said she worked at a hospital in Enugu owned by one Dr. Akunne, who himself is facing trial at an Enugu Federal High Court for the same offence she has been arrested for.
She revealed that she recruited people to source for pregnant girls; she claims to have a baby merchant in Aba, Abia State, a chemist in Enugu and a cleaner in a hospital in Enugu who supply the girls for N10, 000 each.
Like her colleague in Onitsha, Helen collects phones from her girls and deprive them access to the outside world.
One of the four pregnant girls rescued from her hospital said they were fed with okro soup, once a day.

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Soludo’s dad’s kidnappers demand N500m

KIDNAPPERS of the 78-year-old father of embattled governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Professor Chukuma Soludo, today, demanded N500 million ransom for the release of the septuagenarian.

The kidnappers who made the demand through a telephone call to the family, according to a close family source, said they needed the money to “offset election expenses.”
Prof. Soludo

Prof. Soludo

The source who spoke to Vanguard on telephone however said the kidnappers did not mention where the ransom should be deposited.

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, while reacting to the development said the kidnap is politically-motivated just as Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Leha, accused a political godfather in the state, Chief Chris Uba, as the brain behind the kidnap

Speaking on the incident, the Inspector-General warned politicians to stop seeing the issue of political office as a matter of win-at-all-cost syndrome.

Onovo who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief
Marshal Paul Dike, said: “just yesterday night, a terrible blow was dealt on our effort at fighting kidnapping which has recorded huge success of late, with the abduction of Soludo’s father. We know it is politically-motivated, but we are going to ensure he is freed unhurt.

“Politicians should note that it is not a do-or-die affair. Politics is a game and it should be seen as such. You win some, you lose some. It should not be taken to this dangerous level of kidnapping. We will find him and free him”.

On his visit to the CDS, Onovo said, “my delegation and I are here to thank Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike for the tremendous assistance he has given to the Nigeria Police.”

Police invite Uba
However, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Philip Leha, while briefing reporters on the kidnap said he has invited Chief Uba.
*IG Onovo

*IG Onovo

“There has been stiff opposition against the candidature of Soludo. Yesterday, some group of politicians held a meeting at Emmaus House, Awka where scathing remarks were made on the person of Professor Charles Soludo. Just after the meeting, Chief Simeon Soludo was kidnapped and it is left for people to speculate who did it, and for what reasons”, he said.

“I have extended invitation to Chris Uba to come and see me. I have to interrogate him. I have asked my AC OPS to send him a letter of invitation and he is coming. He (Uba) has already called me and said he will come tomorrow (today). They have already passed the letter to him”, he added.

He reiterated the command’s earlier warning that it would not fold its arms and watch politicians make nonsense of all the gains it has made so far.

Leha said no arrest has been made over the kidnap and appealed to the public to avail the police of any useful information in respect of the kidnap.

I’m no criminal, says Uba
Reacting to the allegation, Chief Uba said although he did not agree with Soludo’s ambition to govern Anambra State, it was a great insult for Soludo to finger him in the kidnap as he was not a criminal.

He told reporters in Enugu yesterday that Soludo was playing politics with the kidnap of his father, adding that he could not understand why Soludo would choose to blackmail him simply because he (Uba) did not support his governorship ambition.
* Chris Uba

* Chris Uba

Said he: “Soludo started a rumour last night that they kidnapped his father, but to my greatest surprise, some journalists told me this afternoon that the Commissioner of Police in Awka said Soludo is accusing me as the person who kidnapped his father.
“Please I want Nigerians to judge between me and Soludo who between us is a criminal in this country.”

Continuing, the controversial politician said: “Soludo knows where he hid his father and if he is ready, let him go and bring him out.

How can anybody kidnap Soludo’s father with all the security around him and the entire family compound. Were all the security men attached to him killed or hypnotized at the time? I don’t believe the false alarm and no amount of blackmail can stop me from fighting. I will continue fighting until the right thing is done in Anambra State this time around.

“What is the purpose the kidnap of Soludo’s father going to serve? I have a mother who is 90 years.

My mother is there, nobody has kidnapped her since I have been in politics. So, what is the purpose of Soludo’s father being kidnapped? I feel that he wants to whip up sympathy. Soludo came through the backyard door and I will throw him out through the backyard door.”

“Soludo is my very close friend. I want you to note that. Everybody in this country knows that Soludo is my friend. We are very close, we drink together but I don’t know what he is looking for.

“Soludo is not a member of our party. Even though he claims to be a card carrying member, he never did anything for the party. To my greatest surprise, he came out to say that he is running for governor of Anambra. And I told him that I will never support him. It can never work.”
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UN chief condemns Kabul killings

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned as "shocking and shameless" a Taliban raid which killed at least five UN workers in the Afghan capital Kabul.
Three Afghans also died when suicide bombers stormed a UN guesthouse in the city, but Mr Ban said the UN would not be deterred from its mission there.
The Taliban said the attack was the first step in its bid to disrupt next week's presidential run-off election.
But the White House said such attacks would not derail the vote.
In a separate attack, rockets were fired at the city's five-star Serena Hotel, but no-one was injured.
'Family loss'
The attack on the private Bekhtar guesthouse in the Shar-i-Naw district was the deadliest on the United Nations in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Associated Press and said it was the "first attack" in the run-up to the second round of the presidential election on 7 November.
"This is a sad day and a very difficult day for the United Nations," Mr Ban said in New York. "I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families, and to our UN family."
The UN chief condemned the "shocking and shameless act", but he said the UN would not be deterred from its "noble mission".
"We stand by the people of Afghanistan today, and we will do so tomorrow," he said.
Mr Ban pledged to review security procedures in Afghanistan and take all necessary measures to protect its staff there.
US reaction
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama was confident that existing security arrangements were appropriate.
"The administration is confident that there are the appropriate resources to conduct an election and that the will of the Afghan people won't be thwarted," Mr Gibbs told reporters in Washington.
The head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said he could not yet give details of the nationalities of the victims, although the US embassy has confirmed one of the dead was an American.
UN officials initially said six of its workers had been killed, but later revised the figure to at least five dead and nine wounded.
In addition to the UN staff, two Afghan security personnel and a civilian were killed.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the attack was "an inhuman act".
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also condemned the attack.
"The victims of these terrorist attacks were devoted to helping the Afghan people build better lives. In targeting them, the Taliban has demonstrated once again that it is truly an enemy of the Afghan people."
Brazen attack
The attack on the guesthouse, which is used by the UN and other international organisations, happened just before 0600 (0130 GMT).
At least 25 UN workers were at the guesthouse, including 17 members of the election team.
Three Taliban militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns carried out the assault.
UN spokesman Aleem Siddique told the BBC there was gunfire and an explosion outside the guesthouse as UN employees tried to flee. The building was gutted by fire.
The three gunmen were shot dead and the incident ended at about 0830 local time.
There has been heightened tension in Afghanistan since the first round of the presidential election, which was marred by widespread fraud.
The UN is playing a leading role in organising the run-off vote, and the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says the attack is clearly a tactic of the Taliban to prevent its staff from going about their business safely.
Mr Karzai will face his rival Abdullah Abdullah in the 7 November vote.

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Chelsea cruise as Bolton get the Blues

Chelsea cruised into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with an easy 4-0 fourth-round victory over Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda put the home side in command before Deco and substitute Didier Drogba finished off Gary Megson's side after the break.

Bolton wasted a couple of chances to reduce the arrears but Chelsea were always in control despite the loss of goalkeeper Hilario through injury in the first half.

The win maintained Chelsea's 100% home record under new coach Carlo Ancelotti and even without the likes of rested captain John Terry and his England team-mate Frank Lampard, the Blues continue to look invincible at home.

Bolton must be fearing Chelsea's arrival at the Reebok Stadium at the weekend when the Blues will welcome back their first-team regulars for the Barclays Premier League clash.

Chelsea took control of the tie in the 15th minute when in-form Kalou opened the scoring.

The Ivory Coast international, who notched twice against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League win last week, rose unmarked to head home a cross by Paulo Ferreira.

But Bolton squandered a great chance to level the scores seconds later when a cross from Gretar Steinsson eluded the Chelsea defence and fell perfectly at the far post for Matthew Taylor.

But the Bolton midfielder's first touch let him down and goalkeeper Hilario seized the chance to cut down his angles. Hilario's quick thinking saved the day as Taylor's shot cannoned back off the Chelsea keeper's face.

But Hilario never recovered from the facial blow and went down inside the six-yard box while preparing to take a goal-kick.

It was the end of the proceedings for the Chelsea goalkeeper who made way for substitute Ross Turnbull to make his home debut.

But Chelsea went 2-0 in the 25th minute when Malouda's header from a Kalou cross rebounded back to him off Zat Knight and the winger tucked the ball home at the near post. .

The visitors looked vulnerable every time the Blues launched an attack and in the 38th minute a sweet passing move between Michael Ballack and Kalou ended with the Ivory Coast international bending a shot beyond the far post.

Kalou was having a fine game but Sturridge looked out of his depth and that was underlined in the 40th minute when Chelsea broke clear again.

Malouda managed to put Kalou clear with a lovely pass, but the Ivory Coast striker was thwarted by a fine one-handed save by Al Habsi.

But when the ball rebounded straight to the waiting Sturridge, the Chelsea striker miscued his volley completely.

Hilario's injury meant the first half was extended by a further four minutes but Ballack wasted a chance to put more distance between the two sides when his attempted curling shot finished closer to the corner flag than the Bolton goal.

Chelsea made a change at half-time when Kalou was replaced by Michael Essien.

Bolton also made one change at the break with Steinsson replaced by Johan Elmander.

The visitors should have reduced the arrears in the 54th minute but Turnbull dived low to his left to save an 18-yard drive from Mark Davies.

However, two minutes later saw Chelsea squander an even easier chance when Joe Cole set up Sturridge inside the left-hand edge of the Bolton penalty area.

The Chelsea striker turned his marker but then shot wide of the far post when he only had Al Habsi to beat.

Sturridge repeated the miss seconds later when Cole sent him clear of the Bolton defence but again his left-foot shot went wide of the post with Al Habsi floundering.

Bolton were showing more invention since the introduction of Elmander and Chelsea needed a third to make the tie safe.

Ancelotti clearly recognised the need for more goals and in the 61st minute he replaced Sturridge with Drogba.

Bolton paid for some poor finishing when Ricardo Gardner's shot was cleared off the line by Branislav Ivanovic in the 66th minute.

Chelsea went straight down the other end of the pitch and a cross from Cole was despatched into the bottom corner from 16-yards by Deco.

Ivan Klasnic was unlucky not to get on the score sheet in the 86th minute but his clever shot rebounded off the far post and Ferreira cleared the rebound.

Drogba then completed the scoring in 89th minute when he rose highest at the far post to convert a lovely curling cross from Cole.

Maiden Merida goal lights up Arsenal show

Teenager Fran Merida netted his first Arsenal goal as Arsene Wenger's young Gunners beat Liverpool 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

Just back from the Under-20 World Cup with Spain, the 19-year-old former Barcelona trainee drilled in a fine first-half strike as Wenger's faith in youth was once again justified.

Nicklas Bendtner, himself only 21 but now a regular in the side, produced a powerful finish after 50 minutes to put Arsenal into the last eight after Emiliano Insua had equalised.

As expected, Wenger had shaken things up in the team selection for his 750th game at the helm, naming an entirely different starting XI from the one which let a 2-0 lead slip during the closing stages at West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

There was, though, a more experienced look to this Gunners team, with veteran Mickael Silvestre captaining the side at the ripe old age of 32, while French midfielder Samir Nasri made his first appearance of the season after recovering from a fractured leg, while Croatia striker Eduardo was also in the team.

Only Dirk Kuyt, the Reds captain for the night, remained from the Liverpool side which had defeated Manchester United - although there was a welcome place on the bench for Alberto Aquilani, who had yet to play following his big-money summer move from Roma.

The hosts started well, and Merida - who almost went out on loan to Levante, only for Wenger to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute - fired a low effort just off target.

Liverpool created a decent opening when a clever backheel from David Ngog, on target at Anfield to help sink United, released Philipp Degen on the edge of the penalty area, but the Swiss defender dragged his shot across the face of goal.

On 10 minutes, Nasri was upended by Martin Skrtel just outside the Liverpool box, but chipped his free-kick over the wall and wide.

Bendtner then overcomplicated a one-two with Nasri, trying to stab the ball square to Aaron Ramsey, rather than just shoot when clear through.

Merida showed him just how it should be done with a fine strike on 19 minutes.

Craig Eastmond, 18, stole possession on the right, and the ball broke for Merida, who promptly smashed a first-time, left-foot shot in off the post past Diego Cavalieri.

Arsenal, though, had their lead only until the 26th minute when Insua netted a fine equaliser.

A long ball up field was knocked down by Ryan Babel, and it dropped perfectly for Insua, who drilled a looping shot up over Lukasz Fabianski from 25 yards for the Argentinian defender's first goal in English football.

Arsenal were soon back on the offensive, with Eduardo and Ramsey combining to set Merida clear on the left side of the penalty area, and the youngster did well to stay on his feet as Cavalieri charged out of goal.

There was another let-off for Liverpool when Cavalieri dropped the ball in a crowded six-yard box, but enough black shirts were around to clear.

Arsenal kept up their momentum following the restart, and went ahead again five minutes into the second period.

A sweeping move saw Merida feed the ball through to Bendtner on the penalty spot.

The Denmark international held off Skrtel before smashing his shot into the roof of the net.

To their credit, Liverpool came back strongly.

Fabianski had to get down to save a low, 25-yard free-kick from Babel which would have crept inside the keeper's right-hand post.

With 17 minutes left, Wenger made a change when 20-year-old Mark Randall and Hackney-born striker Sanchez Watt, 18, replaced

Eastmond and Bendtner, while Liverpool sent on Yossi Benayoun for Ngog.

Aquilani, the £20million man coming back from knee surgery, also got a long-awaited run-out, Damien Plessis making way.

Liverpool almost snatched an equaliser when Kuyt swept the ball across the six-yard box, but Babel, sliding in, just could not make contact.

Eduardo drilled his shot wide of the far post, but Arsenal had done enough to secure a place in the last eight.

ESPN Soccernet
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Soludo’s father kidnapped

Pa Simeon Soludo, 78, father of ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chuwuma Soludo has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Pa Soludo was whisked away at about 7.05 p.m. when the abductors, numbering about five stormed his home in Isuofia, Anambra State. Daily Sun gathered that the older Soludo was having dinner with two of his assistants when the gunmen came in.

Hon. Chike Anyaonu, a relation who confirmed the incident said the kidnap is suspected to be political.
According to Anyaonu, in the last two months kidnap incidents in the state had abated.
Prof. Soludo was selected the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and controversy has trailed his emergence.

Consequently, Anyaonu said he suspected some political groups that had been seriously opposed to Soludo’s candidature were behind the abduction. Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Solomon Leha also confirmed the abduction, although he said he did not have full details as at press time.
Leha, however, said his men were out in pursuit of the abductors, assuring that the criminals would be apprehended.
Meanwhile, confusion has enveloped the Isuofia town, with residents worried about the fate of Pa Soludo.

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Karadzic 'led ethnic cleansing'

Prosecutors at the genocide and war crimes trial of ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic have branded him the leader of an ethnic cleansing campaign.

The court ruled the trial in The Hague could resume despite Mr Karadzic boycotting it for a second day.

In opening remarks, prosecutors said Mr Karadzic had "harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear" to pursue his vision of a state without Muslims.

Mr Karadzic denies all charges, which relate to the Bosnian war of the 1990s.

The former Bosnian Serb leader, who is representing himself at the trial, says he still needs at least nine months to prepare his defence.

[He] harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to implement his vision of an ethnically separated Bosnia
Alain Tieger
Prosecutor

Profile: Radovan Karadzic
Karadzic: Serbia's mixed feelings

Separately, former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic - convicted of war crimes - has been released.

Plavsic was the highest ranking official from the former Yugoslavia to have pleaded guilty for her part in the Bosnian War. She was sentenced in 2003 to 11 years in a Swedish jail.

But a Swedish court has allowed her early release for good behaviour.

'Hatred and fear'

At The Hague, Mr Karadzic, 64, faces two charges of genocide and nine more of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The former president of Republika Srpska, head of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) and commander of the Bosnian Serb Army has refused to enter pleas, but has said he will co-operate with the court to prove his innocence.

Radovan Karadzic at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, file pic from August 2009

Karadzic to face judgement
Secrecy still shrouds Srebrenica

In opening remarks at his trial, the prosecution labelled him the "undisputed leader" of Serbs responsible for carrying out atrocities during the 1992-1995 conflict.

"This case is about that supreme commander, a man who harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to implement his vision of an ethnically separated Bosnia: Radovan Karadzic," prosecutor Alain Tieger said.

Mr Karadzic had "ethnically cleansed vast portions of Bosnia and Hercegovina" during the war, Mr Tieger said, describing him as a "hands-on leader who maintained direct contact".

"In the course of conquering the territory that he claimed for the Serbs, his forces killed thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Croats, imprisoned thousands more in squalid and brutal camps and detention facilities, and forced hundreds of thousands away from their homes," the prosecutor said.

Mr Tieger said that as well as witness testimony, some of the evidence against Mr Karadzic would come from intercepts of his own phone calls and transcripts of his speeches.

He quoted Mr Karadzic as saying before the war that Serb forces would turn the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, into "a black cauldron, where 300,000 Muslims will die".

Mr Tieger said witnesses who survived the long siege of Sarajevo would describe living "in constant fear, day after day, for years, knowing that they or their loved ones were targets".

Empty chair

Announcing the court's decision to proceed in his absence, Judge O-Gon Kwon said Mr Karadzic had chosen not to exercise his right to be present and "must therefore accept the consequences".


THE CHARGES
Eleven counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocities
Charged over shelling Sarajevo during the city's siege, in which some 12,000 civilians died
Allegedly organised the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosniak men and youths in Srebrenica
Targeted Bosniak and Croat political leaders, intellectuals and professionals
Unlawfully deported and transferred civilians because of national or religious identity
Destroyed homes, businesses and sacred sites

Q&A: Karadzic on trial
At a glance: Hague tribunal
Have your say: Trial expectations

He said the court would consider imposing a lawyer to represent Mr Karadzic if he continues to boycott proceedings.

Mr Karadzic is not due to give his opening argument until next week.

His legal counsel in Belgrade said he would reject any counsel imposed by the court.

Another of his legal advisers, Kevin Jon Heller, said that from the scope of the trial - thought to include 1.2 million pages of evidence, numerous crime scenes and hundreds of witness - it was understandable why Mr Karadzic, who is not a trained lawyer, had stayed away.

Mr Karadzic was taken to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague last year, after 13 years in hiding.

He was indicted in 1995 on two counts of genocide and a multitude of other crimes committed against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb civilians during the 1992-1995 war, which left more than 100,000 people dead.

The charges relate to several events, including the campaign of shelling and sniper attacks on Sarajevo during the 44-month siege of the city, in which some 12,000 civilians died.

The BBC's Ben Brown: 'The judges fear he is just trying to delay proceedings'

Mr Karadzic is also accused of being behind the massacre of more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and youths in Srebrenica in July 1995, and of attacks on more than a dozen Bosnian municipalities in the early stages of the war.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Correspondents say the judges want to complete the trial by 2012, conscious that the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic ended without a verdict after four years when he died in custody.

Prosecutors have abbreviated the scale of their case, and will call fewer witnesses and include alleged crimes in fewer locations.
BBC News
Eurozone lending sees first fall

Iceland leads on gender equality

Iceland is the country that has made the most progress in closing the gender gap - knocking Norway off the top spot - a World Economic Forum survey said.

Across the 134 countries surveyed, most progress was made in closing the health and schooling divide in the past year.

But 60% of the pay and work status divide and only 17% of the political involvement gap has been closed.

The WEF measures progress in the areas of politics, education, economy and health for the report.

More women breaking into senior and technical posts helped Iceland edge ahead of its Nordic neighbours.

Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden remain the four countries that have done the most to close the gender gap.

Widening gap

Elsewhere, the UK, US and Germany continued to slip back in the rankings.
Gender gap illustarted

The UK slipped two places to 15 and the US three places to 31 as the involvement of women in the economy declined.

Meanwhile, Germany fell one place to 12 due to the lack of political participation for women.

Italy at number 72 continues to hold one of the lowest positions among European countries. It dropped three spots relative to 2008 due to persistently poor scores in economic participation.

On the upside, South Africa has made the biggest steps towards narrowing the gender gap, particularly in the labour force and political participation.

Political gains were driven by the new government with more women in parliament and female ministers in the new government.

"Countries that do not fully capitalize on one-half of their human resources run the risk of undermining their competitive potential," said report co-author Saadia Zahidi, head of the WEF's Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme.

Decline

Amongst the fallers, Venezuela (69) sank 10 places on the index as fewer women were taking part in the workforce - down to 55% from 64% last year.


GENDER GAP INDEX - TOP 5
1 - Iceland
2 - Finland
3 - Norway
4 - Sweden
5 - New Zealand

Meanwhile, most Middle Eastern and North African countries continue to feature far below the global average, with little or no improvement over the last year.

However, there are exceptions in the region. Israel, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have all improved on last year's scores.

Yemen continues to occupy the last place of the 134 countries in the rankings as it remains the only country in the world to have closed less than 50% of its gender gap since the survey began in 2000.

This year it fared even worse as its performance had weakened compared with last year.

"Girls and women make up one half of the world's population and without their engagement, empowerment and contribution, we cannot hope to achieve a rapid economic recovery nor effectively tackle global challenges such as climate change, food security and conflict," said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.
BBC News
Eurozone lending sees first fall

Warren Buffett's best investments

When Warren Buffett bought Berkshire Hathaway in the 1960s, it was a working textile mill in New England.

He later closed down production when he decided it could never be a profitable business, but retained its name for his holding company.
Berkshire Hathaway is the corporate face of Warren Buffett - the firm in which he holds his investments and the businesses he has bought.
Its constituent companies and investments provide an insight into Mr Buffett's thinking.
So how has he chosen where to put his money?
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY (1965)
Tracing its roots to a textile factory founded in 1839, by the 1950s Berkshire Hathaway had grown to fifteen plants employing 12,000 people. From 1962, Warren Buffett began to buy stocks in Berkshire Hathaway and by 1965 he had gained a majority share.
In 1985, struggling against competition from cheaper labour in overseas factories, the textile mill was closed. He is happy to admit that Berkshire Hathaway wasn't one of his best investment decisions.
But its share price tells a different story: Mr Buffett began buying shares in Berkshire Hathaway at $7.60 a share. Today, as his investment vehicle, each share is valued at around $100,000.
GEICO (1951-1996)
Mr Buffett's involvement in Geico stretches back to 1951, when his interest was sparked by his mentor, the business writer and investor, Benjamin Graham. Mr Graham was an investor in the insurance company, and the young Warren visited the company in Washington and began to buy a few shares.
Geico's success continued throughout the fifties and sixties, but by the mid-seventies the firm had run into trouble. In 1976 Mr Buffett stepped in, and through Berkshire Hathaway bought half a million shares in the company, only to see them quadruple in value in six months.
Twenty years later, the business cycle drooped again, offering Mr Buffett a chance to buy the company outright for $2.3 billion.
The investment, along with Berkshire Hathaway's other insurance companies, provides a cash float that allows Mr Buffett and his partner Charlie Munger to invest without having to borrow money.
DAIRY QUEEN (1998)
Buffett's love of ice cream and his eye for a business opportunity came together when Berkshire Hathaway bought Dairy Queen for $585 million.
With its familiar logo, glimpsed from highways and movies alike, the soft ice-cream company founded in 1940 has in excess of 5,700 outlets from Omaha to Oman.
Dairy Queen's fare now includes hamburgers and fries and soft drinks such asg Coca-Cola - a business in which Mr Buffett also has a large stake.
Since 2005, Dairy Queen has been expanding and lately announced its intention to open 500 more outlets in China over the next few years.
As Buffett put it in his annual shareholders' letter: "We have put our money where our mouth is."
COCA-COLA (1988)
Mr Buffett says he likes businesses he can understand.
Coca-Cola's business model isn't quite as simple as you might imagine - involving separate syrup production and bottling plants - but it's not rocket science.
First produced in 1895 as a syrup, the soft drinks company's advertising and its unique bottle gave Coke global recognition.
During the 1980s, Mr Buffett believed that Coca-Cola's share price did not reflect the company's steady returns, strong brand and opportunities for growth, so he started buying its shares.
Now with an 8.6% stake in the company, Berkshire Hathaway's commitment to this once-undervalued firm has paid off - and is now worth more than $10 billion.
GOLDMAN SACHS (2008)
Warren Buffett may be best known as the Oracle of Omaha, but he became Goldman Sachs' knight in shining armour during the financial crisis which hit Wall Street last year.
On 23rd September 2008, Berkshire Hathaway invested $5 billion in the company, matching a publicly raised investment.
Within hours, Goldman's shares had risen 6%.
Mr Buffett bolstered confidence in Goldman, and, at the same time, secured a favourable deal for Berkshire, with Goldman agreeing to pay Berkshire Hathaway a 10% annual dividend on the preferred stock, irrespective of Goldman Sach's common stock price.

BBC News

Afghan rivals row over poll chief

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has rejected a call by rival presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah to sack the head of the Afghan election commission.

Mr Abdullah made his demand ahead of a 7 November run-off, after a UN-backed panel threw out first-round votes.

He said commission chief Azizullah Lodin had "no credibility", but Mr Karzai said he had done nothing wrong.

The row came as US President Barack Obama pledged not to "rush" a decision about whether to send extra US troops.

Mr Obama held a sixth meeting with his national security team on Monday to discuss the future US strategy in Afghanistan.

He then spoke at a military base in Florida, telling troops he would "never hesitate" to use force if necessary.

But, he added: "I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way."

'Legal duties'

In Afghanistan the incumbent president dismissed Mr Abdullah's allegations, saying that sudden upheaval could upset the voting process.

"The changes would not be helpful to the elections and the country," Hamid Karzai said.
Afghan employees from the Independent Election Commission (IEC) load ballot boxes into a truck to be sent to provinces, in Kabul on October 22, 2009
A UN-backed panel found evidence of widespread fraud in the first round

Mr Abdullah and his aides insist the IEC is dominated by officials loyal to Mr Karzai, and the challenger has called for some to be removed from their posts.

However, Mr Karzai, who appointed the commissioners, said they "have just done their legal duties".

There has been no statement from the IEC or Mr Lodin as yet.

Earlier, Mr Abdullah and Hamid Karzai earlier ruled out a power-sharing deal.

Both candidates told US media they were committed to another poll.

Speaking to CNN, Mr Karzai - who bowed to international pressure to hold a run-off - said a deal would be "an insult to democracy".

List of conditions

Mr Abdullah made his demand for Mr Lodin's dismissal during a news conference at which he outlined a list of conditions for a fair second round.


KARZAI V ABDULLAH
Hamid Karzai:
First popularly elected president of Afghanistan
Opposed Soviet occupation in 1980s
Critics say he has done little to rein in corruption
Abdullah Abdullah:
Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by profession
Senior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban rule
Removed from Karzai's cabinet in 2006

Profile: Hamid Karzai
Profile: Abdullah Abdullah

"He has left no credibility for the institution," Mr Abdullah was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

"What's the solution? Another commissioner from the same commission should take his position," he said.

After the 20 August poll, initial results suggested that Mr Karzai had received 55% of the vote, and former foreign minister Mr Abdullah 28%.

But the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) deducted hundreds of thousands of votes from the main candidates.

Its investigation focused on 600 of the most serious complaints, and a sample audit of suspect votes at 3,377 polling stations. At 210 polling stations all the ballots were invalidated.

This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% plus one vote threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed.

The panel also recommended replacing thousands of officials and scrapping polling stations where the fraud was worst.

Officials involved in flawed polling are being removed ahead of the run-off, the UN has said.

But there are still concerns about the ability of the run-off to avoid mistakes made in the first round, correspondents say.

Campaigning officially began over the weekend but the Taliban threatened to launch a fresh wave of violence and urged people not to vote in what they called an "American process".

BBC News
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Record recession for UK economy

BBC news
The UK economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.4% between July and September, according to official figures, meaning the country is still in recession.
It is the first time UK gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted for six consecutive quarters, since quarterly figures were first recorded in 1955.
But the figures could still be revised up or down at a later date, because this figure is only the first estimate.
GDP measures the total amount of goods and services produced by a country.
The pound fell sharply after the figures were released, reflecting the fact that many observers had expected the UK to have grown during the quarter.
It was down 1.7% against the dollar, at $1.6323, and down 1.9% against the euro, at 1.0859 euros.
Quarterly growth of 0.2% had been expected in the figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), although expectations had been tempered by recent figures showing no growth in retail sales in September, and a 2.5% decline in industrial output in August.
The unexpected decline in the services sector was the key factor behind the drop, with the distribution, catering and hotels sector performing particularly badly.
The UK economy's reliance on the service sector, and financial services in particular, may be the reason why it is still in recession when partners such as France and Germany exited in the second quarter of this year.
The economy contracted 5.2% compared with the same period last year, which was marginally better than the record figure of 5.5% in the previous three months.
It has now contracted 5.9% from its peak before the recession began.
The worse-than-expected GDP figures are likely to make the Bank of England consider extending its policy of quantitative easing.
Quantitative easing is the central bank's policy of printing money and using it to buy bonds from banks and other companies to help stimulate the economy.



'Awful'
The £175bn already announced for the quantitative easing programme will have been spent by next month, so the third quarter GDP number will be important in deciding whether to extend it.
Indeed, at the Bank's current rate of spending, it is expected to have spent the whole £175bn in the next week.
Chancellor Alistair Darling: ''Confidence is beginning to return''
As the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, at which quantitative easing decisions are taken, is not until 4 November, that would leave it with a week with no extra cash to pump into the economy.
The figures were "awful with no positive news" according to James Knightley at ING.
"This clearly suggests that the likelihood of an expansion in quantitative easing by £50bn or so over the next quarter is rising, although [it] is not a foregone conclusion."
Former MPC member Professor David Blanchflower said the negative GDP figures should not have been a surprise.
"There's been very little sign among firms that things were very much better," he told the BBC.
"The public seems to have some more confidence - they seem to have believed the talk about green shoots, but actually the data haven't really looked that way at all."
Intervention needed
Analysts said it is worrying that the decline has continued despite the stimulus measures that the government and the Bank of England have introduced.
"Continued intervention - including help for businesses to access finance, and incentives to promote investment - is still needed," said David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce.
"Above all else, business confidence must be nurtured to ensure that recovery is not further delayed."
'Deeply disappointing'
Chancellor Alistair Darling said he had never expected to see growth before the end of 2009.
Dianne Winfield's family lost their home in Stoke after her husband lost his job
"Our job is to support the economy as we come through towards recovery," he said.
"[Growth] will come - I'm confident about that - and I'm confident that businesses and people generally will begin to see a difference, but it will take time."
Shadow chancellor George Osborne described the figures as "deeply, deeply disappointing".
"There are many millions of people who will be deeply concerned to see that Britain is still in recession six months after France and Germany came out of recession," he told the BBC.
"It destroys the myth that Britain was better prepared."
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the figures were "a cold blast of realism".
"We've had a lot of talk recently based on a booming stock exchange and prices of luxury houses in London that somehow this problem was at an end, and it isn't," he said.
One of the measures expected to be a particular help in the final quarter of the year is the change in VAT.
The rate of VAT is due to return to 17.5% from 15% at the beginning of January and consumers are expected to step up their purchasing ahead of that increase.
Warren Buffett's best investments

Universal phone charger approved

BBC News

A new mobile phone charger that will work with any handset has been approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations body.

Industry body the GSMA predicts that 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers are generated each year.

Currently most chargers are product or brand specific, so people tend to change them when they upgrade to a new phone.

However, the new energy-efficient chargers can be kept for much longer.

The GSMA also estimates that they will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 13.6m tonnes.

"This is a significant step in reducing the environmental impact of mobile charging," said Malcolm Johnson, director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau.

"Universal chargers are a common-sense solution that I look forward to seeing in other areas."

The charger has a micro-USB port at the connecting end, using similar technology to digital cameras.

It is not compulsory for manufacturers to adopt the new chargers but the ITU says that some have already signed up to it.

"We are planning to launch the universal charger internationally during the first half of 2010," Aldo Liguori, spokesperson for Sony Ericsson told the BBC.

"We will roll it out with new products as they launch."
Business News

Nigeria militants reinstate truce

BBC News

Nigeria's main armed group in the oil-rich Delta region has announced a new, indefinite ceasefire.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it had been encouraged by the government's "readiness to engage" in serious talks.

Earlier this month a Mend splinter group lifted a ceasefire and threatened to resume a campaign of violence.

But Mend said on Sunday a new ceasefire had been ordered to "encourage the process of dialogue".

Militant groups have flourished in the delta amid a lack of governance and rule of law.

They claim to be fighting to help local people benefit from the region's oil wealth, but they fund their activities with oil theft, extortion and kidnapping.

Attacks on oil installations and their employees have cut Nigeria's output by a third in the past three years and helped raise oil prices.

investors community

Arrests at holy site in Jerusalem

BBC News

Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers have clashed at Jerusalem's most sensitive religious site.
Police arrested 12 people who were throwing stones in the Temple Mount compound, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, a police spokesman said.
The site houses both the al-Aqsa mosque and the Jewish holy site, the Western Wall. A spokesman said police did not enter the al-Aqsa mosque itself.
The clashes came amid rising tensions in the past weeks over the area.
On Saturday, Jerusalem police announced they would strengthen policing around the Temple Mount after Muslim leaders urged Palestinians to defend Jerusalem against "Jewish conquest."
There have been rumours among Palestinians that Jewish extremists were planning on harming the holy site - though no such attempt has been made.
Last month, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse 150 Palestinian protesters who had thrown rocks at non-Muslims who entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound.
Israeli police said the visitors were foreign tourists, but Palestinians said they were Jewish extremists.
In the most recent incident, Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said 12 people had been arrested.
He added: "This morning at eight o'clock a number of youngsters from east Jerusalem started rioting inside the Temple Mount itself.
"Our police units entered in order to disperse them after stones and rocks as well as even petrol bombs were thrown at our officers."
Security forces used stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators, and officers remain on high alert in the area.
Police also said they had arrested the Palestinian minister for Jerusalem affairs, Hatem Abdel Qader, on charges of incitement.
Palestinian officials said police had sealed off the compound and that some 100 Palestinian worshippers remained inside.

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Afghan protest over 'burnt Koran'

BBC News, Kabul

Afghan university students protest in Kabul, October 25
Protesters burnt an effigy of US President Obama

There have been protests in the Afghan capital, Kabul, over allegations that foreign troops in the country burnt a copy of the Koran.

Hundreds of Kabul University students led the latest protest, burning an effigy of US President Barack Obama.

The US-led Nato force has denied the claims, saying it has investigated the incident in Wardak province and found the allegations to be groundless.

The local authorities there have so far supported Nato.

They say they did find evidence that a Koran had been burnt, but blamed drug addicts and said the Taliban may be spreading rumours that foreign troops were responsible to provoke anti-American unrest.

Incendiary effect


We will keep going to embarrass the Americans for their actions
Student, Kabul University

Jail for Koran 'modification'
Koran desecration report 'wrong'

On Sunday, a crowd estimated in the high hundreds marched through Kabul - chanting "Death to America" - to protest at the alleged desecration of the Islamic holy book earlier this month.

There were some clashes with security forces, and Afghan police fired in the air to scatter the crowd.

But protesters said they would not give up.

"We are demonstrating because American soldiers burned our holy Koran in Wardak province," said one man. "We will keep going to embarrass the Americans for their actions."

In this very religious country, any allegation like this has an incendiary affect.

Four years ago, almost 20 people were killed after riots erupted in several Afghan cities following a US news magazine report that the Koran had been desecrated by American interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

The magazine later withdrew its report, but by then the damage had been done.

At the time, many believed growing disenchantment among Afghans with the foreign community and its performance had helped fuel the violence.

Four years on, that record is under even greater scrutiny.
Investors community

Obama's fury at Baghdad bloodbath

BBC News

US President Barack Obama has led international condemnation of Sunday's double suicide bomb attack in Baghdad that killed at least 132 people.
Mr Obama branded the attacks - the worst in more than two years in Iraq - "hateful and destructive".
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said they were a "terrible reminder of the threat from violent extremism".
The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone.
More than 520 people were also injured when the two car bombs exploded in quick succession at 1030 (0730 GMT) as people headed to work during the rush hour.
The White House said President Obama had spoken to Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani to pledge his support.
Mr Obama said in a statement: "I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks on the Iraqi people, and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
"These bombings serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children, and they only reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve."
His Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: "These despicable terrorist attacks seek to undermine the impressive progress that Iraq has made towards stability and self-reliance. They will not succeed."
The International Zone, or Green Zone, is the administrative heart of the capital.
The Iraqi authorities said the suicide bombers drove their vehicles into parking bays and detonated them.
Traffic limits in the street were eased six months ago and blast walls repositioned as part of a programme which Mr Maliki said showed progress was being made against insurgents.
Dozens of the dead were said to be staff members of the ministry of justice and Baghdad provincial government.

Free Leads

Iran delays reply on nuclear plan

BBC News

Iran will respond to a proposed deal on its controversial nuclear programme by the middle of next week, it has told the UN's atomic energy agency.
Agency chief Mohammed ElBaradei said he hoped the answer would be "positive".
The UN watchdog had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining.
The proposal followed talks between the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US. Friday was set as the deadline for a response from Tehran.
The draft deal, agreed by the US, France and Russia, was prompted by concern over Iran's nuclear programme.
'New conditions'
"Iran informed the Director General today that it is considering the proposal in depth and in a favourable light, but needs time until the middle of next week to provide a response," the IAEA said in a statement.
It said Mr ElBaradei hoped that Tehran's response "will equally be positive, since approval of this agreement will signal a new era of co-operation".
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: "We hope that they will next week provide a positive response."
He added that "obviously we would have preferred to have a response today [Friday]. We approach this with a sense of urgency".
Under the proposal, Iran would get the fuel it needs for its research reactor in Tehran, but this would not be sufficiently enriched to make a bomb.
However, Iranian media earlier on Friday raised new conditions for the deal.
State TV said Iran would prefer to buy uranium for its research reactor, rather than send its own stock abroad for enrichment, as proposed.
It quoted a member of Iran's negotiating team as saying: "Iran is interested in buying fuel for the Tehran research reactor within the framework of a clear proposal... we are waiting for the other party's constructive and trust-building response".
Before the IAEA statement, France said Iran was not responding positively to the deal.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said during a visit to Lebanon: "I cannot say that the situation regarding Iran is very positive.
"Now, meetings are being held in Vienna (the IAEA headquarters). But via the indications we are receiving, matters are not very positive."
Iran's rejection of the deal would come as a disappointment to the US, Russia and France, and it could make the wider negotiation with Iran much more difficult - and the threat of sanctions more likely, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna.
Enrichment in Russia
Russian nuclear industry insiders have told the BBC the proposed process would involve Iran sending its uranium to the IAEA, which would forward it to Russia for enriching.
The enriched uranium would then be returned to the IAEA and sent to France, which has the technology to add the "cell elements" needed for Iran's reactor, they said.
This process would enable Iran to obtain enough enriched uranium for its research reactor and for medical use, but the uranium would not be sufficiently enriched to produce a weapon.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium.
It revealed in September that it was building a second uranium enrichment site, in the city of Qom - much to the anger of world leaders who said Iran was building it in secret.
IAEA inspectors plan to visit the site on 25 October.

Investors Community

Rooney could miss Liverpool clash

BBC News

Wayne Rooney could miss Manchester United's trip to Liverpool on Sunday with the calf injury that has ruled him out of the champions' last two games.

The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in 10 games this season but has not played since England's defeat by Ukraine on 10 October.

"Unfortunately Rooney is still a doubt," said United boss Alex Ferguson.

"We will have to see today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). If he trains on Saturday we will have a better idea."

Ferguson's side moved top of the Premier League, a point clear of Chelsea, with victory over Bolton last Saturday.

They already find themselves seven points above Rafael Benitez's men this term and victory at Anfield would extend that advantage to 10 points.

With four straight defeats in all competitions, including three in the league, Liverpool are enduring their worst run of results in 22 years.

The Anfield club have not lost five in a row for 56 years and their hopes of winning a first league title since 1990 appear to be receding.

But Benitez knows that a win would start a change of fortunes.

Benitez undecided over key duo

"As a manager you know that sometimes there will be good moments and bad moments, and at this time we know that we have to improve," he said.

"But it is only a matter of time. If we win a game then everything changes.

"This game against Manchester United is just the right opportunity. It is a massive game and the best way to regain confidence and to improve our situation is to win."

The Spaniard added: "I am relaxed in terms of my position. I know how we are working every day, the players know too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much.

"We have done extra training sessions, the attitude of the players has been good and you could see how focused and positive they are."

Ferguson insisted he had no intention of writing Liverpool off but wanted instead to concentrate on the form of his own team.

Manchester United and Liverpool games are massive games - in my 23 years it has never changed, I think if you go to Anfield at any time it is a hard game

Sir Alex Ferguson

United are unbeaten since their defeat by newly-promoted Burnley on 19 August, with 10 victories and one draw propelling them into top spot.

"Derby games are derby games and anyone can win it," added Ferguson. "It has happened so many times and strange things can happen.

"I am not interested in their league form, I am more pleased with the kind of form we are in. We are consistent and that is important.

"I am more concerned about what we can do rather than them on Sunday."

Ferguson was quick to point out that, despite the emergence of Manchester City, he still considers Liverpool to be United's biggest rivals.

"Manchester United and Liverpool games, as I have said many times, are massive games," stated the Scot, whose side lost home and away to Liverpool last season. "That will never change.

"In my 23 years it has never changed and it is still a massive game and the game as far as I am concerned. I think if you go to Anfield at any time it is a hard game."

FOOTBALL BLOG
A Liverpool victory would bring calm to the troubles and a United win would inflict potentially fatal damage on a club Ferguson still sees as huge rivals

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

Meanwhile former Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has given his full backing to Benitez, who recently signed a new four-year contract.

Some reports claimed Dalglish, Liverpool's academy director, had been lined up to take charge of the first team if American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett decided to sack Benitez.

But 58-year-old Dalglish rejected any such suggestions: "Everyone within the upper echelons of this club has no doubt whatsoever about Rafa - I know that for a fact.

"Everybody at Liverpool knows Rafa is the right man to get the club through this. No-one is pumped up and panicking in any way, shape or form.

"It's very important that everybody sticks together to get themselves through this."

Dalglish, who spent 14 years at Anfield as player and manager, added: "It is a bad run and the supporters feel it equally as badly as everyone at the club does.

"Everybody's accountable. When you have success everybody takes their fair share of the credit - and rightly so. So when it goes badly the same thing must apply in reverse"

Last year we beat Manchester United with Steven Gerrard only playing 20 minutes and Fernando Torres not playing at all - if we did it last year, why can't we do it this year?

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish

Dalglish, manager of Liverpool the last time they experienced a run as dismal this, believes Benitez's men can beat United, even if captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres are not fit to play.

"There's no way Liverpool and the majority of people would want Rafa to go anywhere," stated Dalglish.

"Remember last year (at Anfield) we beat Manchester United with Steven Gerrard only playing 20 minutes and Fernando Torres not playing at all. So if we did it last year, why can't we do it this year?"

Former Liverpool defender and BBC Sport pundit Alan Hansen thinks Liverpool will keep faith with Benitez but concedes their title chances will be all but over if they are beaten by United.

"It's been such a long time since they won the league you'd worry about Benitez future," said Hansen. "But Liverpool aren't a sacking club, they'll stick with him as long as they possibly can.

"Benitez has always been great when he's been under pressure at getting a result at the right time and if he gets a result on Sunday then it's all forgotten.

"But if they get beaten on Sunday it's conceivably all over and in the middle of October and that is catastrophic for this football club.
Investors Community

Effects Of Poverty In Africa

Poverty is a dangerous weapon that can hinder the growth and development of any society, where it is prevalent. Poverty can come in different ways, but the worst form of poverty is that of the mind which may be referred to as psychological poverty. Unfortunately, Africa suffers from all forms of poverty.
After the independence of most African countries in the 20th century, poverty, hunger, disease, etc became the major problematic factors that the continent has to contend with, and the negative effects of poverty have stretched into the 21st century causing greater problems not only affecting Africa as a continent, but also the rest of the world.

It is a known fact that the colonization of African countries by the major powers made the continent’s economy to be largely dependent on that of the major world powers. The kind of leaders that most African countries produced after independence did not help matters, as they were mainly interested in personal aggrandizement rather than being sensitive to the needs of their people. As a result of this and some other factors, most African countries remain impoverished till date. This poverty has adverse effects on the citizens of most African countries economically, politically, socially, educationally, technologically, etc.

Negative effects that poverty has brought to Africa are quite enormous. At this point, it will be pertinent to consider some of these effects.

• Disease
The spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc keep increasing in Africa as a result of poor health facilities that are put in place for the control of such diseases. Most families are poor, and cannot afford going to good hospitals where there are better drugs and equipment that will help to improve their health condition. Inability of getting proper healthcare lead to premature deaths in Africa on a daily basis.

• Poor Standard of Education
Many families in Africa cannot afford two square meals, let alone sending their children to good schools where they will acquire good and qualitative education. Some countries in Africa are very poor which makes it difficult for their government to provide good facilities that would have helped to enhance learning.

• Prostitution and Increase in societal violence
The number of young girls and boys that go into prostitution has continued to increase on a daily basis. On the other hand, more youths now engage in all sorts of societal violence in a bid to survive in the society they have found themselves. It is true that people should try to control themselves in every situation, but the truth of the matter is that a starving person finds it difficult to appreciate values or good moral standards.

The decadence in moral standards, less regard for values, corruption are also part of the negative effects of poverty in Africa, and these effects have continued to make the continent’s economy to be largely dependent on that of the major world powers.

Investors Community

Sweden Church Allows Gay Weddings

BBC News

Anders Wejryd, left, Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, gestures during a press conference in Uppsala, Sweden, following the authorization to celebrate gay marriages in Swedish churches (22 Oct 2009)
Sweden's archbishop is broadly supportive of the move

The Lutheran Church of Sweden - the country's largest - is to conduct same-sex marriages from next month.

Around 70% of the church's 250-strong synod, or church board, voted to back the move, making it one of few global churches to allow gay marriage.

Sweden's government introduced a new law in May allowing gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals.

Three-quarters of Swedes are members of the Lutheran church, though church attendance is low.

The Lutheran Church says gay couples can now get married by any of its priests from the beginning of November.

Individual priests will not be "forced" to perform same sex ceremonies, though substitutes will have to be found if they refuse.

The church - which split from state control in 2000 - backed the government's decision to legalise gay marriage in May.

But some clergy had questioned whether church ceremonies - and the term matrimony - should be reserved for heterosexual unions. Others opposed the move on the grounds it contravened the scriptures.

Limited opposition

In response, the Archbishop of Sweden, Anders Wejryd, told reporters: "For my part, the right decision was taken, but I can empathise with the many who believe this has gone too fast."


GAY MARRIAGE IN EUROPE
Netherlands, legalised in 2000
Belgium, 2003
Spain, 2005
Norway, 2008
Sweden, 2009

Sweden's largest gay rights group, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL), welcomed the move.

"[We] congratulate the Church of Sweden for its decision. [The church's] homosexual and bisexual members will finally be able to feel a little more welcome within society," the group said in a statement.

Sweden was one of the first countries to give gay couples legal "partnership" rights, in the mid-1990s, and to allow gay couples to adopt children from 2002.

It become the fifth European country, after the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Norway, to recognise same-sex marriage
INVESTORS COMMUNITY

Iran nuclear fuel deal 'agreed'

BBC News

IAEA director: Everybody looked to the future, not the past
Iran and three world powers have been handed a draft agreement aimed at reducing international concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which proposed the plan after talks in Vienna, wants an answer by Friday.
Details are yet to be confirmed, but the plan is believed to involve Iran exporting uranium to be enriched in France and Russia.
Iran's chief negotiator has not commented on the uranium export plan.
The negotiations have involved the UN, Iran, France, Russia and the US.
IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters in Vienna that he was feeling "optimistic" after the talks, which he said had been "very constructive".
"Everybody at the meeting was trying to help, trying to look to the future and not to the past, trying to heal the wounds that existed for many years," he said.
"I have circulated a draft agreement that in my judgment reflects a balanced approach to how to move forward."
Russian nuclear industry insiders told the BBC the process proposed would involve Iran sending its uranium to the IAEA, which would forward it to Russia for enriching.
The enriched uranium would then be returned to the IAEA and sent to France, which has the technology to add the "cell elements" needed for Iran's reactor, they said.
This process would enable Iran to obtain enough enriched uranium for its research reactor, but not enough to produce a weapon.
Exporting uranium has been seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons.
Iranian chief negotiator Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh talked positively about a deal, but did not mention uranium export.
Confidence boost
Mr ElBaradei said there had been many technical, legal and policy issues to address in the Vienna talks, as well as "issues of confidence and trust".
"That is why it has taken us some time and that is why we need to send the agreement to capitals for final approval," he added.
"I very much hope that people see the big picture - that this agreement could pave the way for a complete normalisation of relations between Iran and the international community."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran to act quickly, and said her country would continue "to discuss the full range of issues that have divided Iran and the United States for too long".
She added: "The door is open to a better future for Iran, but the process of engagement cannot be open-ended. We are not prepared to talk just for the sake of talking."
France said the plan was acceptable and would benefit Paris and its partners.
Foreign ministry political director Jacques Audibert told France 24 television that the plan was "to remove this (uranium) from Iran, use it to make the fuel they need and thereby improve relations and lower the tensions over Iran's civilian nuclear programme."
Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to enrich uranium.
Western states believe it is attempting to develop a nuclear weapons programme.

INVESTORS COMMUNITY

A Shocking Defeat For Real Madrid AT Bena Beu

ESPN Soccernet

Alexandre Pato saved the blushes of fellow Brazilian Dida with a brace as AC Milan stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to get their Champions League challenge back on track and inflict only a second competitive defeat of the season on their big-spending hosts.
For a while it looked as though Dida`s dreadful first-half error, which allowed Raul to give Madrid a half-time lead, would cost Milan dear but Pato popped up in the 88th minute to volley home his side`s winner and help the Italians bounce back from defeat to FC Zurich in their previous Group C match.
That was Pato`s second goal of the game, as he had also put Milan ahead in the 66th minute after Andrea Pirlo's equaliser just minutes before.
Royston Drenthe was the other goalscorer, making it 2-2 in the 76th minute, but his effort could not save Madrid in the battle between the two most successful sides in European Cup history.
The results means seven-time European champions Milan join Madrid, who have won the competition a record nine times, on six points at the midway point of the group stages.
Madrid were convinced Karim Benzema should have been awarded a penalty in the 14th minute after the France striker went crashing to the ground following a challenge from behind by Gianluca Zambrotta.
That incident was forgotten five minutes later when Madrid took the lead following Dida's error.
The Milan goalkeeper comfortably saved Esteban Granero`s head-high shot but, in looking up to see where his team-mates were, he took his eye off the ball before he had complete control of it.
The subsequent fumble was pounced on by the alert Raul, who nicked the ball away from the Brazil keeper before side-footing into an empty net.
That was Raul`s 66th Champions League goal and completed a memorable few days for the veteran forward, who before Saturday`s home game with Real Valladolid was presented with a trophy for breaking Madrid`s appearance record.
Raul`s strike was the only thing that separated the two sides at the end of a closely-fought first half, with the only other decent effort coming from Marcelo on the stroke of half-time.
The dearth of chances in the first period was in stark contrast to the start of the second, when Madrid had four decent efforts in the opening 10 minutes.
Raul drove one wide of the far post, while Dida pluck his attempted chip out of the air.
The Brazilian goalkeeper partly made amends for his first-half howler as he produced fine saves to deny former Milan favourite Kaka and tip over Benzema`s shot from outside the box.
With Milan offering little going forward and Ronaldinho anonymous, it looked only a matter of time before the home side increased their lead.
But completely against the run of play, Milan not only found an equaliser but also managed to take the lead in a remarkable four-minute spell that turned the game upside down.
Although not in the same league as Dida`s earlier mistake, Madrid keeper Iker Casillas may feel he could have done better with both of Milan`s goals.
The first saw the Spain number one beaten at his right-hand post by Pirlo`s 35-yard thunderbolt, and he then raced out to meet Massimo Ambrosini`s through-ball only to see the ball slid past him off the rain-soaked surface and present Pato with an open net.
Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, lacking Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy through injury, opted to give Royston Drenthe a chance and the move proved to be an inspired one as the Dutchman drew Madrid level with 14 minutes to go.
The former Feyenoord man has suffered from the Bernabeu boo boys in the past, but he sent the stadium into raptures as he brought down Raul`s corner on the edge of the box before drilling home a low left-footed shot just inside the post.
However, that was not enough to earn Madrid a point as Milan claimed the spoils thanks to Pato`s late strike.
The visitors really should have gone ahead moments earlier when Thiago Silva saw an apparently good goal controversially ruled out after he headed home a corner.
But Leonardo`s men need not have worried as in the 88th minute former Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf picked out the unmarked Pato and he volleyed home at the far post.

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Barca Fall at Camp Nou

ESPN Soccernet

Gokdeniz Karadeniz stuck a second-half winner as Rubin Kazan claimed a shock Champions League victory over reigning European champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Karadeniz netted with 17 minutes to go to earn the Russian champions their first win in Group F and inflict a first competitive defeat over Barcelona since May. It was also the first European defeat Pep Guardiola's men had suffered since losing at home to Shakhtar Donetsk last December having already qualified for the last 16.
An upset had been on the cards from the opening two minutes when Rubin took the lead through Alexander Ryazantsev's long-range piledriver out of the blue, and although Barca levelled up through a fine Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal just after half-time, it was the visitors who went on to claim a memorable victory thanks to Karadeniz.
The result meant Rubin joined Barca on four points in Group F, with Dynamo Kiev on the same number following their 2-2 draw with Inter Milan, who have three points. Some of the fans at the Nou Camp probably had not even taken their seats when Rubin claimed a shock lead through Ryazantsev with just over a minute on the clock.
There appeared little danger when the ball ran loose 35 yards from goal but Ryazantsev had other ideas and his first-time strike fizzed past Victor Valdes into the near top corner of the net. That was the first time Barca had fallen behind in either Europe or the Primera Division this season, and whether it was a mixture of surprise or Rubin getting plenty of men behind the ball, the home side found it hard to get going in the remainder of the first half.
Ibrahimovic had two efforts that were saved by Sergei Ryzhikov but the Rubin keeper would have been disappointed if he had let either in, while Dani Alves' 25-yard effort hit the side-netting when a foot to the left would have brought a certain goal. Ryzhikov had to work harder to save further efforts from Pedro Rodriguez and Lionel Messi but otherwise the visitors successfully kept their hosts at bay before the break, whilst they might even have netted a second goal themselves after winning a dangerous free-kick 20 yards out but Valdes was equal to Karadeniz's curling shot.
It was a frustrating period for Barca, but they needed just three minutes of the second half to get that out of their system as Ibrahimovic scored a fine equaliser. Xavi's chip over the Rubin defence was chested down by the giant Swede on the edge of the area and with his next touch he drilled an unstoppable shot in off the far post.
The home supporters must have felt that would be the catalyst for a much improved performance by their side, but hard-working Rubin refused to capitulate and they made it just as difficult for Barca as they did before the break. Pedro went close for the Spanish champions while Ibrahimovic saw a free-kick whistle just past the post.
Barca continued to push for an opening, but they were left shellshocked for the second time in the match when Rubin retook the lead through Karadeniz - and this time there was no way back for the Catalan giants.
A quick break by the Russian side resulted in Alejandro Dominguez putting Karadeniz through on the right of the area and the Rubin forward left Valdes with no chance with a well-struck effort into the far corner of the net. That proved to be the winning goal, although Barca twice came agonisingly close to equalising in the closing stages as they hit the woodwork through Ibrahimovic and Yaya Toure.
Alves and Messi combined to give Ibrahimovic his chance but his volley from near the penalty spot crashed against the crossbar, and then in the final minute of injury time Toure headed Xavi's corner against the post as Barca slumped to a rare defeat.
• Guardiola: These things happen
Barca came into the match after Saturday's 0-0 La Liga draw at Valencia and Guardiola said they had missed a chance on Tuesday to all-but secure qualification for the knockout phase.
"These things happen. It's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last," he told a news conference. "I didn't feel like we played a bad match. They had a very well-structured defence and all the teams (in the group) are very good. They are all professionals."
Barcelona defender Daniel Alves will be sidelined for around three weeks after he damaged his right thigh muscle in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat by Rubin Kazan. "It's a very serious piece of news," Guardiola said. "He's a player we thought was indestructible but the human body always has a limit."
Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev said his side's strategy had been to try to contain Barca and hit them on the break. "The whole team played well and they showed great control during the match and that's why we won today," Berdyev told a news conference.
"I am very proud and I think today will be a big party for our fans," he added, before being applauded from the room by the Russian journalists. Barca next face a tricky away match against Rubin in Kazan before hosting Inter. They travel to Kiev to face Dynamo on Dec. 9.
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One Man’s Terrorist is Another Man’s Freedom Fighter

This article is not in any way supporting terrorist activities, but it will surely help the reader to have a clearer understanding of its concept, and bring the factors which necessitate its initial adoption into focus.
Terrorism as a concept is not new in history. However, it came into limelight as a political phenomenon in the early 20th century. The earliest recorded significant act of terrorism in the 20th century took place in Serbia. In Serbia, a twenty- one year old student named Gavrillo Princip, who was trained by Serbian secret society known as the Black Hand shot and killed archduke Ferdinand of Austria. It will be pertinent to note that this was one of the major causes of the First World War The end of that war brought Germany to a state of comatose.
The treaty of Versailles of 1919 sealed a fate of servitude on the Germans. The provisions of that treaty were designed to cripple Germany militarily and economically, but it backfired as widespread disenchantment followed. Dangerous movements sprang up, and the leading philosophy of the terrorist group, Black Hand became rampant when the Nazis infiltrated every aspect of German life.
By 1933, the Nazis took over power in Germany and employed acts of intimidation and terror as official means of realization of government policies. In the international aspect, Nazi official terrorism was extended to neighboring states which were intimidated, annexed or partitioned. Ethnic nationalities, particularly the Jews and the Slavs were the victims of the genocide which emanated from official terror of Germany.
Terrorism as a concept serves negative and positive purposes. These purposes can be deciphered from the view point of the terrorist. Many of these so called terrorists view their actions as means of correcting injustice. The Arabs of the Middle East always readily employ acts of terror to correct perceived injustice at the hands of Israel and America. The Israelis equally employed this system in the 1940s through an organization known as the Irgun led by Menachem Begin. The Jewish actions of the 1940s were targeted against the British presence in Palestine, and they received the support and cooperation of the Arabs who were delighted to have a movement that was fighting against the British colonialists. The cooperation between the Arabs and Israelis ended in 1948.
The uneasy relations between the Arabs and Israelis apparently fueled cases of terrorism in world history. It heightened when Israel successfully prosecuted the six- day war which led to the seizure of Golan Heights (Syria) in 1967 and the Yom Kippur war of 1973 that led to the seizure of Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Seizure of Gaza strip from Jordan, occupation of Jerusalem and Palestinian territories led to formation of organized terrorist movements such as Hezbollah and Hamas, Intifadh adhoc movement, and more recently Al Qaeda and Taliban. The Arab militants were not only discontent with Israel, but also with the western world who they felt were betrayals. This feeling of betrayal dates back to the end of the First World War, when the Arabs did not realize their hopes of independence after they were persuaded by Lawrence of Arabia to join in the uprising against the Ottoman empire.
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. To most of the oppressed peoples of the world, their liberation movements were agencies for the realization of freedom. The African National Congress, the Mao Mao Movement of Kenya, the South West African People’s Organization and the Palestinian Liberation Organization were at some point designated terrorist movements by imperial masters.
In recent years, the term “terrorism” is a coinage of the western world which is used to suit their definition of opponent.
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