|  |  |  | | | | | The Guardian World News | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Officials say 26 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in pre-dawn blast at Amuay facility
A large gas explosion has rocked Venezuela's biggest refinery, killing at least 26 people before dawn on Saturday. 17 were members of the National Guard, stationed at a base outside the refinery. More than 50 other people were injured in the blast, and a 10-year-old child was among the dead. "Unfortunately, 26 people have died, the majority of them members of our National Guard," Vice-President Elias Jaua said. "Four people are in hospital right now, two were transferred to Zulia state and 50 people, thank God, were sent home after treatment because their injuries were not serious." President Chávez declared three days of national mourning. Officials said the blast at the 645,000-barrels-per-day Amuay facility was caused by a gas leak and that it had also damaged nearby homes. Based in the west of Venezuela, Amuay is part of the Paraguaná refining centre, one of the biggest refinery complexes in the world. "A cloud of gas exploded," the energy minister, Rafael Ramirez, told state TV. "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and to houses opposite the refinery." Emergency workers were at the scene, where smoke and flames could be seen over the facility. Ramirez and Stella Lugo – the governor of Falcón state – said the situation was under control several hours after the explosion at about 1am local time. "There's no risk of another explosion," Lugo said. Amuay is operated by state oil company PDVSA which has struggled with repeated refinery problems in recent years, affecting its production figures and ability to fulfil ambitious expansion plans. Power faults, accidents and planned stoppages for maintenance have hit deliveries from South America's biggest oil exporter. Eddie Ramirez, national co-ordinator for Gente del Petróleo, an organisation of ex-employees of PDVSA, said: "These accidents have been happening more and more frequently in the last couple years because of a neglect in safety and maintenance standards. "Minister Ramirez dedicates his time to doing politics alongside the candidate, Hugo Chávez, instead of maintaining the level of infrastructure this kind of industry requires." Sisoes Moreno, a retired worker from PDVSA who lives close to the refinery said the explosions were so potent that people in surrounding towns thought it was an earthquake. He said the explosion completely destroyed a national guard base in front of the refinery. "It was totally burnt down ... The mechanisms for control were not working. A lot of the standard safety measures have been violated. A siren should go off at the first indication of a change in pressure to warn people. It didn't." The energy minister said the Amuay refinery has the capacity to restart operations in a maximum of two days and guaranteed the existence of sufficient resources to supply Venezuala's internal market following the explosion.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | US astronaut who led the Apollo 11 mission underwent heart-bypass surgery earlier this month Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died aged 82. The former US astronaut, who will go down on history as the most famous pioneer of space exploration, passed away as the result of heart complications following surgery. As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, he became the first person to set foot on the moon, on 20 July 1969, fulfilling the longheld dream of the United States to get there before the Soviet Union. His first words as he stepped onto the surface – "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" – instantly became one of the most recognisable phrases ever uttered. Armstrong underwent heart bypass surgery earlier this month, just two days after his birthday on 5 August, to relieve blocked arteries. His family released a statement on Saturday describing him as a "reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job". It read: "We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his nation proudly as a Navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. "While we mourn the loss of a very good man we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves." Other tributes have come flooding in for the astronaut as news of his death spread across the world. Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore said: "As the first man on the moon, he broke all records. I knew him well. He was a man who had all the courage in the world." Former astronaut Tom Jones, who completed four space shuttle flights between 1990 and 2001, said: "Mr Armstrong was one of the astronauts that was my hero when I was growing up and I watched his initial landing on the moon in 1969 with incredible interest. He really was an inspiration to an entire generation of people." The US space agency said on Twitter: "Nasa offers its condolences on today's passing of Neil Armstrong, former test pilot, astronaut & the 1st man on the moon. Neil was 82." Armstrong grew up in Ohio with a keen interest in flight and earned his pilot's certificate when he was just 15. After flying combat missions during the Korean war, he became a test pilot and joined Nasa's astronaut programme in 1962. Armstrong was joined on his moon landing by Buzz Aldrin and the pair spent nearly three hours walking on the lunar surface, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. The Apollo 11 mission turned out to be Armstrong's last space flight. The following year he was appointed to a desk job at Nasa, later becoming a lecturer in engineering at Cincinnati University. The moon walk marked America's victory in the cold war space race that began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1, the first artificial earth satellite. In 1961 President Kennedy declared before the United States Congress that the US would have a man on the moon before the turn of the decade. An estimated 600 million people – a fifth of the world's population – watched and listened to the moon landing, the largest audience for any single event in history.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Former astronaut commanded Apollo 11 mission and was known for saying 'One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind' Former US astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, has died at the age of 82, his family said Saturday. Armstrong underwent a heart-bypass surgery earlier this month, just two days after his birthday on August 5, to relieve blocked coronary arteries. As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. As he stepped on the dusty surface, Armstrong said: "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." Those words endure as one of the best known quotes in the English language. Neil Alden Armstrong was 38 years old at the time, and even though he had fulfilled one of mankind's quests that had loomed for centuries and placed him at the pinnacle of human achievement, he did not revel in his accomplishment. He even seemed frustrated by the acclaim it brought. "I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks but for the ledger of our daily work," Armstrong said in an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes program in 2005. He once was asked how he felt knowing his footprints would likely stay on the moon's surface for thousands of years. "I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up," he said. James Hansen, author of First Man: The Life of Neil A Armstrong, told CBS: "All of the attention that ... the public put on stepping down that ladder onto the surface itself, Neil never could really understand why there was so much focus on that." The Apollo 11 moon mission turned out to be Armstrong's last space flight. The next year he was appointed to a desk job, being named Nasa's deputy associate administrator for aeronautics in the office of advanced research and technology. Armstrong's post-Nasa life was a very private one. He took no major role in ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the moon landing. "He's a recluse's recluse," said Dave Garrett, a former NASA spokesman. "Howard Hughes had nothing on him," he said, speaking of the reclusive aviator. Hansen said stories of Armstrong dreaming of space exploration as a boy were apocryphal, although he was long dedicated to flight. "His life was about flying. His life was about piloting," Hansen said. He left NASA a year after Apollo 11 to become a professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The former astronaut lived in the Cincinnati area with his wife, Carol. "We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," the family said in a statement. "Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Former astronaut commanded Apollo 11 mission and was known for saying 'One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'
Neil Armstrong obituary
Watch footage of Armstrong setting foot on the moon
From the archive: '3.56am: man steps on to the moon' Former US astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, has died at the age of 82, his family said Saturday. Armstrong underwent a heart-bypass surgery earlier this month, just two days after his birthday on August 5, to relieve blocked coronary arteries. As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. As he stepped on the dusty surface, Armstrong said: "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." Those words endure as one of the best known quotes in the English language. Neil Alden Armstrong was 38 years old at the time, and even though he had fulfilled one of mankind's quests that had loomed for centuries and placed him at the pinnacle of human achievement, he did not revel in his accomplishment. He even seemed frustrated by the acclaim it brought. "I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks but for the ledger of our daily work," Armstrong said in an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes program in 2005. He once was asked how he felt knowing his footprints would likely stay on the moon's surface for thousands of years. "I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up," he said. James Hansen, author of First Man: The Life of Neil A Armstrong, told CBS: "All of the attention that ... the public put on stepping down that ladder onto the surface itself, Neil never could really understand why there was so much focus on that." The Apollo 11 moon mission turned out to be Armstrong's last space flight. The next year he was appointed to a desk job, being named Nasa's deputy associate administrator for aeronautics in the office of advanced research and technology. Armstrong's post-Nasa life was a very private one. He took no major role in ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the moon landing. "He's a recluse's recluse," said Dave Garrett, a former NASA spokesman. "Howard Hughes had nothing on him," he said, speaking of the reclusive aviator. Hansen said stories of Armstrong dreaming of space exploration as a boy were apocryphal, although he was long dedicated to flight. "His life was about flying. His life was about piloting," Hansen said. He left NASA a year after Apollo 11 to become a professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The former astronaut lived in the Cincinnati area with his wife, Carol. "We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," the family said in a statement. "Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eden Hazard was Chelsea's star as the home side eased past Newcastle to make it three wins from three and finish the day where they started it - at the top of the table So which Chelsea will turn up this evening? The one that won their opening game of the season with something to spare, at Wigan Athletic, or the one that struggled a bit at home against Reading only to, er, eventually win with something to spare? We'll know soon enough - by 7.30pm this evening, I'll be bound - but they've a test on here in the shape of Newcastle United. The Toon famously won here last season, Papiss Cissé sealing a shock 2-0 win with that outrageous thunderbolt. The result ended their pathetic run of 18 games without a win at Stamford Bridge, and in some style, eh? They'll be looking to make it two in two, coming off the back of an opening-day victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Also of note is their 2012 form: only the two Manchester clubs have picked up more points than Newcastle's 38 during this calendar year. On the flipside, Chelsea might not give a flying one about that, boasting as they do the swashbuckling duo of Eden Hazard and all-new goalscoring machine Branislav Ivanovic. Hazard has scored 11 and set up 12 in his last 18 appearances for Lille and Chelsea - the boy can play - while no defender has scored as many goals in the top flight in recent times than Ivanovic. With both teams boasting a 100% record - admittedly after a total of three league games between them - something has to give. Chelsea can go back to the top of the table, having been earlier usurped by Swansea City, while Newcastle can get there themselves if they win 8-0. I'm wittering abject rubbish now, suffice to say, this could be a cracker: it is on! Kick off: 5.30pm. Chelsea, not featuring John Terry, who has neck knack, or the benched Frank Lampard: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Meireles, Mata, Hazard, Bertrand, Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Sturridge. Newcastle United, with skipper Fabricio Coloccini recovering from a thigh problem to make his first appearance of the season, and Demba Ba returning in attack: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Gutierrez, Anita, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Perch, R. Taylor, Amalfitano, Marveaux, Obertan. Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) The teams are out! Chelsea are in their traditional all-blue kit, albeit with that curious splash of gold they're rendering their badge in this year. I suppose if you're European champions you can do whatever the hell you like, but come on, there's no need. Meanwhile Newcastle are in their traditional black-and-white stripes, although the stripes are getting thicker. Give it two more seasons and they'll just have a stripe. Juventus went down this route too, and they've not looked right for years. Chelsea get the ball rolling! A fairly uneventful opening 60 seconds. Anita has announced himself by putting his foot through the ball. 2 min: No real shape to this game as of yet, other than the big green rectangular one all the players are running around on. 3 min: Ivanovic launches a deep cross into the area from the right wing. Torres is rocking back on his heels at the time. A more determined run, and you never know. 5 min: Meireles has a whack from 30-plus yards. The ball sails wide right and high. Wheech! 7 min: Torres tears down the inside-right channel. A couple of years ago, and he'd have been clear, taking a lash at goal. But here he's bullied out wide right, and eventually turns back to feed Mikel, who blazes a dismal effort down your actual Kings Rahd. 10 min: Ba's not far from breaking clear into the Chelsea area down the right, but Cahill is having absolutely none of it. Stamford Bridge is pretty quiet at the moment, and no wonder, this isn't too brilliant so far. Still, early days. 13 min: Ben Arfa lifts a ball down the inside right; Ba's not far from guiding the ball goalwards. But no. "Surely it's only fair dos that the reigning champions get a bit of gold," argues Ryan Dunne. "I always liked how the English league champions got a wee gold lion on the shoulder badges instead of the bog standard blue ones. Teams can still have stars even if they're not reigning champions (for example, the Glorious Glasgow Rangers with five stars for our superb and unmatched haul of league titles, or Juventus fairly cheekily selling shirts with three stars for 30 titles), but surely it's fair dos that the reigning champions get a visual accolade that can be identified at a glance." Fair enough, though their sponsor's name is proudly shimmering in gold as well. On today of all days, the brazen shower. 15 min: Hazard has a low fizz from 20-odd yards, but it's straight down Krul's throat. 17 min: Ba is bundled over by the endearingly haphazard Luiz on the edge of the area. For some reason, that's a free kick to Chelsea. 18 min: Bertrand and Torres exchange passes on the edge of the Newcastle box. The visitors' defence splits asunder, but Bertrand can only flap a sidefoot straight at Krul. It's threatening to take off, this game, but it's just not quite happening. 20 min: Ba bowls down the left and wins a corner. It's wasted. Newcastle are soon coming straight back at Chelsea, though, Cisse playing a wonderfully clever reverse pass over his head down the inside-left channel. Cabaye hoicks the ball over towards Coloccini at the far post, but the ball's just gone out. Decent move, though. 21 min: PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Torres breaks into the box, zones in on the innocent newcomer Anita's dangling leg, and hooks himself over it. He went looking for that, but there was contact, fair enough, and the referee points to the spot. Clever Fernando. 22 min: GOAL!!! Chelsea 1- 0 Newcastle United. Who needs Frank Lampard? Hazard clips the spot kick into the bottom left corner, no fuss. Stamford Bridge erupts in honour of their new hero, who just can't stop getting involved in goals. That's 24 he's contributed to, in one way or another, in his past 17 matches. 25 min: Meireles has opened up his knee. Not in the Wayne Rooney sense, like scoring a particularly fatty leg of lamb with a view to pressing some rosemary and garlic into it, but clicking his joint. After a couple of minutes' worth of attention, he limps off, but may well be coming back. 28 min: Meireles is back on, but staring at the bench like a dozy puppy. Lampard, yesterday's penalty hero, is warming up. 29 min: Luiz goes up for a high ball and lands on his coccyx. Really not a whole lot to talk about at the moment. The grass is green, while the air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and wee shots of argon, carbon dioxide, and various other gases. 31 min: Torres should burst clear past Coloccini down the inside-right channel, power into the box, and score. But doesn't. Again he allows himself to be ushered out to the wing, and back upfield. He's started the season fairly well, and has a pocket full of medals after the events of last May and June, but it's impossible to shake the feeling that something indefinable has gone from his game. Back in the day, he'd have powered past the defender and buried that. 35 min: Brilliance by Hazard, who diddles down the inside-left channel and into the area, drawing two defenders, then laying the ball wide left for Mata to reach the byline. Mata's cross is half decent, but hacked clear by Taylor. Torres was lurking, but surrounded by defenders. Hazard really is something. 36 min: Hazard shoots, Hazard doesn't score. A hectic dig from distance which flies wide left and high. 39 min: Torres, haring down the inside-right channel, pokes the ball past the sliding Coloccini and continues after it. He then slides across the ground on his face. It looks to the naked eye like he's gone to ground deliberately, so you can't necessarily blame the referee for what happens next. He's booked for diving, but replays show there was slight contact with Coloccini's trailing leg, and at the speed Torres was running, a spill was inevitable. Torres is with the rage, driving the funk mothership into the heart of the sun, and you can't really blame him. Still, on we go. 41 min: Now it's the turn of Newcastle to question the referee's competence, though this time he gets it right. Cisse scoots down the inside-right channel and clips a cross inside towards the penalty spot, where Ba lurks. It hits Cahill's arm, but the defender has his back turned and no idea what's going on. No penalty. 44 min: A bit of pinball in the Chelsea area after Cabaye makes a nuisance of himself just to the right of the D. The ball breaks to Cisse, who turns and hammers a snapshot goalwards. Unluckily for Newcastle, it's straight down Cech's gizzard. 45 min: There will be four added minutes at the end of a not particularly entertaining half. Ah well. 45 min +2: GOAL!!! Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United. Torres over? Not a bit of it! What a brilliant goal this is. And what a player Eden Hazard is. Chelsea stroke it around awhile in triangles. Patient ping, patient ping, patient ping. Suddenly Torres picks up the pace down the inside-right channel. He slides the ball forward to Hazard, who instantly returns it with a backheel. Torres leans forward into a small gap that's been opened up, and toe-pokes a majestic finish into the top right. With all these triangles, and gold lettering, it's almost like watching Swansea City. HALF TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United. Newcastle fans won't agree, but just as well the referee put those added minutes onto the end of the half, eh? Erm. But what a goal! Torres really took his frustration over that booking out on Newcastle. Eden Hazard, though. HALF-TIME BELGIAN ENTERTAINMENT: In honour of the magnificent Hazard.
Chelsea fans can be forgiven for similar feelings of obsessiveness towards their new young signing: "Let me become the shadow of your shadow, the shadow of your hand, the shadow of your dog..."
The teams are out again! It's raining. Drizzle. No changes. Hazard is smiling broadly. He clearly enjoys his football. Newcastle get the ball rolling again, and romp down the inside-left channel. They lose possession, though nearly benefit from a wee bit of Chelsea faffing. Eventually Luiz puts his foot through the ball, launching it upfield. 47 min: It's pelting down now. 49 min: It really is raining quite a lot. 51 min: Hazard picks up the ball to the left of the Newcastle D, then heads right at speed, attempting to carve Newcastle open down the wing with a one-two with Bertrand. Gutierrez is over to clatter the ball out of play before his team are ripped apart. It's difficult to take one's eyes off Hazard, he's a fascinating player. 53 min: To the left of the Chelsea D, Ben Arfa twists this way, then that, and finally screws a shot wide right of goal while trying to thread the ball into the bottom corner. That's a decent effort, out of next to nothing. The only Newcastle player, with the possible exception of Cisse, to constantly show a bit of spark this evening. 55 min: Simpson skedaddles down the right and loops a cross towards Cisse. The striker attempts to steer a header goalwards, but the effort is miles wide. This half hasn't quite taken off yet, no doubt due to the rain sheeting down from the west London sky. 57 min: Cabaye attempts to set Cisse free down the inside-left channel, but Cahill treats the striker much in the same way Coloccini has been dealing with Torres in similar circumstances. 59 min: Cabaye, moving down the inside left, has a dig. His shot hits Cahill in the chest, and breaks to Ba down the same channel. Ba drops a shoulder, then has a pelt from a prohibitive angle. It's still a decent effort, forcing Cech to parry out for a corner. The set piece is a pile, though. 60 min: Chelsea counter, Torres and Mata taking turns to cause all sorts of bother down the right. Nothing comes of the move, though Newcastle were looking dangerously stretched and exposed for a second or two there. One beautiful display of skill from Torres, incidentally, crossing the ball with his right peg from behind his standing leg. The Toon have been threatening to get back into this game, but another goal from the home side will kill the game. 63 min: Some truly magnificent play by Ben Arfa, who runs in and out of the Chelsea area, then up and down the left wing, in the manner of Benny Hill. He eventually wins a corner, flatly refusing to give up the ball. Before the set piece, Ryan Taylor comes on for Simpson. 64 min: Newcastle take the corner, and there's the end to that period of pressure. 67 min: It's very open now, this game. Cole zips down the left, but overcooks his cross. Torres wheels down the right, but heads up another blind alley. Mata is replaced by Ramires. 68 min: A free kick for Newcastle out on the left. Ryan Taylor curls an outstanding ball to the far post, out of Cech's reach, and right on Cisse's head. The striker clanks a hopeless header wide and high of the target. That really should have been a goal. 70 min: Meireles, standing 25 yards from the Newcastle goal in the middle of the park, is pushed over by Galoot-ierrez. A challenge of eyebrow-bothering buffoonery. Luiz lets the Toon midfielder off the hook by failing to get his free kick on target from a very dangerous position, blootering the ball into the stand instead. 74 min: Santon - whose beat will be policed by Gutierrez - is replaced by Marveaux. 76 min: A minor infringement - but an infringement nonetheless - by Anita in the middle of the park, 30 yards from goal. Just a wee bit to the left of centre, in fact. Meireles shanks a disgraceful effort yards wide left. Third time lucky with the free kicks from distance, perhaps? 77 min: Perch comes on for Cabaye. That's Alan Pardew played his hand. 79 min: A brilliant run down the inside-left channel by Torres, the ball glued to his boot in the style of Charles Charlie Charles. But his confidence still isn't quite restored. Why he doesn't shoot upon reaching the edge of the box is beyond every paying spectator in the ground. Instead, the ball's laid off inside, and the move's over. 81 min: Hazard zips into space down the left, reaches the byline, and pulls the ball into the six-yard box. Coloccini hacks clear. The ball's soon coming straight back at Newcastle, this time through Bertrand down the inside left, who shows Torres how to do it (well, y'know) by unleashing a screamer towards the top right-hand corner. Krul feather-fingers it behind, a wonder save which he then tries to deny making. Tough: it's a corner. From which nowt comes. A fun couple of minutes after a fairly turgid period of play. 84 min: Marveaux runs with some purpose at the Chelsea back line, reaching the edge of the area down the right. But his pass wide to Perch takes all momentum out of the mood. Never mind, Newcastle come again seconds later, and really should score, the ball falling to the feet of Ba eight yards out. The Toon striker has two swipes at goal, but both of them are weak and straight at Cech. He really should have dispatched that second effort into the bottom-left corner. And Newcastle should now be making this a nervy final few minutes for the home team. But as things stand, Chelsea will be returning to the top of the table, with their 100 percent record in tact. 87 min: Frank Lampard, who has a face on, takes to the sodden pitch, replacing Meireles. 89 min: Still raining. 90 min: Luiz and Ba clash heads in the Chelsea area. Ooyah oof. A stoppage. 90 min +1: There will be four minutes tacked onto the end of this game. Plus one or two more for this head injury to Luiz, I'll be bound. He's getting a bandage wrapped around his curly mop, making him look like a cut-price John McEnroe. 90 min +2: The game's started again. Newcastle are done now, though. What a drawn-out denouement we're in the middle of. 90 min +3: Chelsea pass it around the back, then hoick it upfield, then shuttle it all the way back to Cech. 90 min +4: Ben Arfa twists, turns, shimmies and shakes down the right, but to little overall benefit. 90 min +5: Still raining. It's absolutely belting down. Imagine if Phil Dowd abandoned the game now. FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United. Eden Hazard was brilliant for 45 minutes, while Fernando Torres was better than decent. And that was that. Not much of a second half, like Chelsea will care. They're back to the top of the division, three wins out of three.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Florida governor declares state of emergency ahead of Republican convention after storm kills at least three in Haiti Tropical storm Isaac pushed into Cuba on Saturday after sweeping across Haiti's southern peninsula, where it caused flooding and at least three deaths, adding to the misery of a poor nation still trying to recover from the terrible 2010 earthquake. Isaac's center made landfall just before midday near the far-eastern tip of Cuba, downing trees and power lines, and the storm's surge flooded the seaside Malecon in the picturesque city of Baracoa. Forecasters said Isaac poses a threat to Florida on Monday and Tuesday, just as the Republican Party gathers for its national convention in Tampa. It could eventually hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 2 hurricane with winds of nearly 100 mph (160 kph). Florida governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency, officials urged vacationers to leave the Florida Keys and the US national hurricane center said a hurricane warning was in effect there, as well as for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach south to Ocean Reef and for Florida Bay. At least three people were reported dead in Haiti. A woman and a child died in the town of Souvenance, senator Francisco Delacruz told a local radio station. A 10-year-old girl died in Thomazeau when a wall fell on her, said Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of Haiti's civil protection office. She said as many as 5,000 people were evacuated because of flooding. Many, however, stayed and suffered. The Grive River overflowed north of Port-au-Prince, sending chocolate-brown water spilling through the sprawling shantytown of Cite Soleil, where many people grabbed what possessions they could and carried them on their heads, wading through waist-deep water. "From last night, we're in misery," said Cite Soleil resident Jean-Gymar Joseph. "All our children are sleeping in the mud, in the rain." More than 50 tents in a quake settlement collapsed, forcing people to scramble through the mud to try to save their belongings. About 300 homes in Cite Soleil lost their roofs or were flooded three feet (one meter) deep, according to Rachel Brumbaugh, operation manager for the US nonprofit group World Vision. Isaac was centered about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the Hurricane Center reported. It was moving northwest at 17 mph (28 kph). Tropical storm-force winds extended nearly 205 miles (335 kilometers) from the center, giving Isaac a broad sweep as it passed. Forecasters said the storm was likely to march up the Gulf of Mexico, offshore of Florida's west coast, as a hurricane on Monday, just as the Republican National Convention is scheduled to start. Tampa is within the tropical storm watch zone, meaning forecasters believe tropical storm conditions are possible there within the next 48 hours. Gov. Scott said during a media briefing that delegates were being told how to stay safe during a storm, and officials were ready for storm surge, bridge closures and other problems that could arise during the convention. Isaac's center moved over Cuban soil late Saturday morning 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of Punta de Maisi, the extreme eastern tip of the island, meteorologist Jose Rubiera said on state television. In Baracoa, authorities cut off electricity as a preventive measure. Amid rain squalls and gusty winds, residents came out to gawk at the powerful surf kicked up by the approaching storm. Waves crashing against the seawall sent spray high into the air and deposited rocks and other debris on land. Flooding was reported in low-lying coastal areas, and 230 people were in emergency shelters, according to state TV. Far to the west, the Sol Cayo Coco beach resort moved guests out of ground floor rooms. Intermittent rains and gusty winds buffeted Havana, 560 miles (900 kilometers) away. Cuba has a highly organized civil defense system that goes door-to-door to enforce evacuations of at-risk areas, largely averting casualties from storms even when they cause major flooding and significant damage to crops. Near the island's southeastern tip, the U.S. military was expecting winds of up to 40 mph (65 mph) at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, said Navy Capt. Robert Durand, a spokesman for the prison there. Ahead of the storm, roads were closed to all but emergency vehicles, the Navy suspended the ferry service that connects the two sections of the base across Guantanamo Bay and many smaller craft were pulled from the water, Durand said. All 168 prisoners were in buildings capable of withstanding storm-force winds and the guards were bunking inside prison facilities instead of returning to their quarters for the night. Authorities in the Dominican Republic evacuated nearly 3,000 people from low-lying areas, and at least 10 rural settlements were cut off by flooding, according to Juan Manuel Mendez, director of rescue teams. Power was out in parts of the capital, Santo Domingo, but there were no reports of injuries.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | President's AP interview calculated to take a bit of Romney's spotlight ahead of Republican National Convention this week President Barack Obama has laid into his would-be White House replacement in a fervent attack on Mitt Romney's policies and character designed to knock his challenger off course ahead of a crucial convention speech. In a calculated move timed just days before Republican delegates meet in Florida to nod through Romney as their presidential candidate, Obama accused his rival of holding "extreme positions" and failing to "own up" to responsibilities. In an interview with the Associated Press, the president said that contrary to common belief, he had no beef with the former Massachusetts governor on a personal level, adding: "I don't really know him well." But he attacked Romney on positions the candidate has taken that tie him to the right wing of his party, and cast aspersion over whether the Republican presidential hope had adopted stances out of conviction or through political expediency. In the interview conducted Thursday but released on Saturday, Obama said: "I can't speak to governor Romney's motivations," adding: "What I can say is that he has signed up for positions, extreme positions, that are very consistent with positions that a number of House Republicans have taken. "And whether he actually believes in those or not, I have no doubt that he would carry forward some of the things that he's talked about." The president cited Romney's insistence on tax relief for America' super-rich as evidence of his "extreme" positions. He also sought to tie the Republican presidential challenger to the recent furore surrounding conservative a Senate candidate, Missouri's Todd Akin. Akin has been roundly condemned for comments he made suggesting that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy. Romney himself has described the remarks as "inexcusable" and led party calls for him to step down as a Senate candidate. And he is on record as not opposing abortion in cases of rape and incest or if it will save the mother's life. But Obama noted in the Associated Press interview that calls for a "no exceptions rule" in regards to a ban on abortion – the position Akin was ham-fistedly trying to defend – are part of the Republican platform in Tampa The White House incumbent also predicted that a President Romney would not "stand in the way" if Congress gave him a bill that stripped away women's control over their reproductive health. The comments reflect a belief in Democratic circles that conservative positions adopted by Republicans on social issues could alienating the party from moderate and independent voters. The president also aimed a blow at Romney's personal tax arrangements – another common area of attack in recent months. Romney refusal to release more tax returns for public inspection displayed a "lack of willingness to take responsibility for what this job entails". As to his own record, Obama agreed that in regards to the economy, America was not "where we need to be". But he added: "Governor Romney's policies would make things worse for middle-class families and offer no prospect for long-term opportunity for those striving to get into the middle class." The timing of the interview – just 10 weeks out from the general election and days before the Republican convention is due to begin – is clearly designed to steal a march on Romney ahead of his big week in Florida. A GfK poll released on Saturday suggest that the White House race is still on a knife-edge, with 47% of respondent saying they plan to back Obama and 46% opting for Romney. But despite the even split in voter intention, most people still expect Obama to win. The GfK survey found that 58% believe the Democrat will remain in power, with just 32% saying they thought the White House keys would exchange hands in November. In the Associated Press interview, Obama expressed confidence that voters would stick with him in the general election. "If they saw governor Romney offering serious proposals that offered some sort of concrete ways in which middle-class families would be helped, then I could understand them thinking about that choice," Obama said. "But that's not what's happening," he added.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In interview with AP, president says he'd be willing to compromise with Republicans if he wins a second term President Barack Obama said Mitt Romney has locked himself into "extreme positions" on economic and social issues and would surely impose them if elected, trying to discredit his Republican rival at the biggest political moment of his life. In an interview with the Associated Press, Obama said Romney lacks serious ideas, refuses to "own up" to the responsibilities of what it takes to be president, and deals in factually dishonest arguments that could soon haunt him in face-to-face debates. Obama also offered a glimpse of how he would govern in a second term of divided government, insisting rosily that the forces of the election would help break Washington's stalemate. He said he would be willing to make a range of compromises with Republicans, confident there are some who would rather make deals than remain part of "one of the least productive Congresses in American history". Mainly, Obama appeared intent on countering Romney ahead of the convention. In doing so, the president depicted his opponent as having accumulated ideas far outside the mainstream with no room to turn back. "I can't speak to governor Romney's motivations," Obama said. "What I can say is that he has signed up for positions, extreme positions, that are very consistent with positions that a number of House Republicans have taken. And whether he actually believes in those or not, I have no doubt that he would carry forward some of the things that he's talked about." Obama spoke to the AP on Thursday before heading off to a long weekend with his family at Camp David, the secluded presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains. The president was at ease but doggedly on script, steering even personal-themed questions about Romney and running mate Paul Ryan into answers about starkly different visions for helping the middle class. Romney, a successful former executive of a private equity firm and one-time Massachusetts governor, will introduce himself to a TV audience of millions next Thursday as he takes the convention stage to accept his party's presidential nomination. He has offered himself as a business-minded alternative to Obama and has seized on voter concerns about joblessness and the direction of the nation. Nearly 10 weeks before election day, the race is remarkably stable and reflective of a sharply divided nation, with registered voters about evenly split on their choice and nearly a quarter of them unsure or still willing to change their mind. Across the interview, Obama's messages often seemed directed at moderate and independent voters whose sway could make the difference. Obama's depiction of a Romney presidency grew most pointed when he was asked if his Republican challenger has no core, as one of Obama's top advisers once put it. The president suggested that whatever Romney really stands for in life is secondary to the promises Romney has made in the campaign. In explaining his accusation of "extreme" positions, the president cited Romney's call for across-the-board tax cuts that Obama said would mostly help the rich at the expense of everyone else and cost the nation $5 trillion. Obama singled out Romney's opposition to tax credits for producers of wind energy, the kind of issue that carries large political resonance in a battleground state such as Iowa. And Obama alluded to the provocative issue of abortion, suddenly thrust to the fore this week when Republican Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin said the female body has a way to "shut that whole thing down" when a woman is the victim of "legitimate rape". The Republican platform in Tampa calls for a ban on abortion with no specific exceptions for rape or other circumstances. Obama predicted that a President Romney would not "stand in the way" if Congress gave him a bill that stripped away women's control over their reproductive health. Romney is on record, however, as not opposing abortion in cases of rape and incest or if it will save the mother's life. Polling shows social issues such as abortion represent perhaps Obama's best opportunity to draw support from Romney. Obama already holds a broad lead as the candidate more trusted to handle those social issues among Democrats and independents. The issue is one of Romney's biggest vulnerabilities among moderate and liberal Republicans. On the economy: 'We aren't where we need to be'Obama also sought to chip away at Romney's trustworthiness, taking fresh shots at Romney's refusal to release years of tax returns for public inspection. He said that position was indicative of a candidate who has a "lack of willingness to take responsibility for what this job entails." Yet it is the economy that has driven this election and has dominated Obama's message of a middle-class revival. "We aren't where we need to be. Everybody agrees with that," said Obama, who inherited an economy in free fall and now bears responsibility for a recovery that remains weak. "But Governor Romney's policies would make things worse for middle-class families and offer no prospect for long-term opportunity for those striving to get into the middle class," the president said. Obama holds a decisive advantage over Romney when Americans are asked who better understands their daily woes. Yet nearly two-thirds of people in a new AP-GfK poll say the economy is in poor shape, and 60% say the country is headed in the wrong direction. Obama expressed confidence that even voters whose lives have not improved during his term will stick with him as they assess the two candidates. "If they saw governor Romney offering serious proposals that offered some sort of concrete ways in which middle-class families would be helped, then I could understand them thinking about that choice," Obama said. "But that's not what's happening." Romney's claims 'will be a little tougher to defend face-to-face'And therein lies the central case that Obama made in the interview, as he has made for months, and as he will again at his own party's convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in early September. Obama said he is the candidate whose policies have historically helped the middle class on issues that people care about and that shape the economy _ education, manufacturing, science and research, Medicare, debt reduction, tax rates, health care, consumer protection, college aid, energy. Romney argues that Obama's approach stifles jobs at great taxpayer cost. The moment that could finally shake up a close race could come in the three debates Obama and Romney hold in October. The president said Romney could run into trouble because of arguments that are not backed up by facts, citing a widely debunked television ad campaign in which Romney accuses Obama of gutting the work requirement in the federal welfare law. "It will be a little tougher to defend face-to-face," Obama said. Obama's view of a different second-term dynamic in Washington, even if both and House Republicans retain power, seems a stretch given the gridlocked politics of a divided government. He said two changes – the facts that "the American people will have voted," and that Republicans will no longer need to be focused on beating him – could lead to better conditions for deal-making. If Republicans are willing, Obama said: "I'm prepared to make a whole range of compromises" that could even rankle his own party. But he did not get specific. The 25-minute interview, conducted in the library of the White House residence, was part of a multi-faceted campaign by Obama's team to snag some of the spotlight during Romney's big week. Obama denied the notion, widely if quietly held in political circles, that the fiercely competitive president is also driven to beat Romney because he does not hold him in high regard. "I don't really know him well," Obama said. "The big arguments that I have with Governor Romney have to do with where we take this country forward."
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• And email your thoughts to scott.murray@guardian.co.uk 22 min: GOAL!!! Chelsea 1- 0 Newcastle United. Who needs Frank Lampard? Hazard clips the spot kick into the bottom left corner, no fuss. Stamford Bridge erupts in honour of their new hero, who just can't stop getting involved in goals. That's 24 he's contributed to, in one way or another, in his past 17 matches. 21 min: PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Torres breaks into the box, zones in on the innocent newcomer Anita's dangling leg, and hooks himself over it. He went looking for that, but there was contact, fair enough, and the referee points to the spot. Clever Fernando. 20 min: Ba bowls down the left and wins a corner. It's wasted. Newcastle are soon coming straight back at Chelsea, though, Cisse playing a wonderfully clever reverse pass over his head down the inside-left channel. Cabaye hoicks the ball over towards Coloccini at the far post, but the ball's just gone out. Decent move, though. 18 min: Bertrand and Torres exchange passes on the edge of the Newcastle box. The visitors' defence splits asunder, but Bertrand can only flap a sidefoot straight at Krul. It's threatening to take off, this game, but it's just not quite happening. 17 min: Ba is bundled over by the endearingly haphazard Luiz on the edge of the area. For some reason, that's a free kick to Chelsea. 15 min: Hazard has a low fizz from 20-odd yards, but it's straight down Krul's throat. 13 min: Ben Arfa lifts a ball down the inside right; Ba's not far from guiding the ball goalwards. But no. "Surely it's only fair dos that the reigning champions get a bit of gold," argues Ryan Dunne. "I always liked how the English league champions got a wee gold lion on the shoulder badges instead of the bog standard blue ones. Teams can still have stars even if they're not reigning champions (for example, the Glorious Glasgow Rangers with five stars for our superb and unmatched haul of league titles, or Juventus fairly cheekily selling shirts with three stars for 30 titles), but surely it's fair dos that the reigning champions get a visual accolade that can be identified at a glance." Fair enough, though their sponsor's name is proudly shimmering in gold as well. On today of all days, the brazen shower. 10 min: Ba's not far from breaking clear into the Chelsea area down the right, but Cahill is having absolutely none of it. Stamford Bridge is pretty quiet at the moment, and no wonder, this isn't too brilliant so far. Still, early days. 7 min: Torres tears down the inside-right channel. A couple of years ago, and he'd have been clear, taking a lash at goal. But here he's bullied out wide right, and eventually turns back to feed Mikel, who blazes a dismal effort down your actual Kings Rahd. 5 min: Meireles has a whack from 30-plus yards. The ball sails wide right and high. Wheech! 3 min: Ivanovic launches a deep cross into the area from the right wing. Torres is rocking back on his heels at the time. A more determined run, and you never know. 2 min: No real shape to this game as of yet, other than the big green rectangular one all the players are running around on. Chelsea get the ball rolling! A fairly uneventful opening 60 seconds. Anita has announced himself by putting his foot through the ball. The teams are out! Chelsea are in their traditional all-blue kit, albeit with that curious splash of gold they're rendering their badge in this year. I suppose if you're European champions you can do whatever the hell you like, but come on, there's no need. Meanwhile Newcastle are in their traditional black-and-white stripes, although the stripes are getting thicker. Give it two more seasons and they'll just have a stripe. Juventus went down this route too, and they've not looked right for years. Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) Newcastle United, with skipper Fabricio Coloccini recovering from a thigh problem to make his first appearance of the season, and Demba Ba returning in attack: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Gutierrez, Anita, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Perch, R. Taylor, Amalfitano, Marveaux, Obertan. Chelsea, not featuring John Terry, who has neck knack, or the benched Frank Lampard: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Meireles, Mata, Hazard, Bertrand, Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Sturridge. Kick off: 5.30pm. With both teams boasting a 100% record - admittedly after a total of three league games between them - something has to give. Chelsea can go back to the top of the table, having been earlier usurped by Swansea City, while Newcastle can get there themselves if they win 8-0. I'm wittering abject rubbish now, suffice to say, this could be a cracker: it is on! On the flipside, Chelsea might not give a flying one about that, boasting as they do the swashbuckling duo of Eden Hazard and all-new goalscoring machine Branislav Ivanovic. Hazard has scored 11 and set up 12 in his last 18 appearances for Lille and Chelsea - the boy can play - while no defender has scored as many goals in the top flight in recent times than Ivanovic. The Toon famously won here last season, Papiss Cissé sealing a shock 2-0 win with that outrageous thunderbolt. The result ended their pathetic run of 18 games without a win at Stamford Bridge, and in some style, eh? They'll be looking to make it two in two, coming off the back of an opening-day victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Also of note is their 2012 form: only the two Manchester clubs have picked up more points than Newcastle's 38 during this calendar year. So which Chelsea will turn up this evening? The one that won their opening game of the season with something to spare, at Wigan Athletic, or the one that struggled a bit at home against Reading only to, er, eventually win with something to spare? We'll know soon enough - by 7.30pm this evening, I'll be bound - but they've a test on here in the shape of Newcastle United.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Officials say 24 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in pre-dawn blast at Amuay facility A large gas explosion has rocked Venezuela's biggest refinery, killing at least 24 people before dawn on Saturday. More than 50 other people were injured in the blast, and a 10-year-old child was among the dead. "Unfortunately, 24 people have died, the majority of them members of our National Guard," Vice-President Elias Jaua said. "Four people are in hospital right now, two were transferred to Zulia state and 50 people, thank God, were sent home after treatment because their injuries were not serious." Officials said the blast at the 645,000-barrels-per-day Amuay facility was caused by a gas leak and that it had also damaged nearby homes. Based in the west of Venezuela, Amuay is part of the Paraguaná refining centre, one of the biggest refinery complexes in the world. "A cloud of gas exploded," the energy minister, Rafael Ramirez, told state TV. "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and to houses opposite the refinery." Emergency workers were at the scene, where smoke and flames could be seen over the facility. Both Ramirez and Lugo said the situation was under control several hours after the explosion at about 1am local time. "There's no risk of another explosion," Lugo said. Amuay is operated by state oil company PDVSA which has struggled with repeated refinery problems in recent years, affecting its production figures and ability to fulfil ambitious expansion plans. Power faults, accidents and planned stoppages for maintenance have hit deliveries from South America's biggest oil exporter. Eddie Ramirez, national co-ordinator for Gente del Petróleo, an organisation of ex-employees of PDVSA, said: "These accidents have been happening more and more frequently in the last couple years because of a neglect in safety and maintenance standards. "Minister Ramirez dedicates his time to doing politics alongside the candidate, Hugo Chávez, instead of maintaining the level of infrastructure this kind of industry requires." Sisoes Moreno, a retired worker from PDVSA who lives close to the refinery said the explosions were so potent that people in surrounding towns thought it was an earthquake. He said the explosion completely destroyed a national guard base in front of the refinery. "It was totally burnt down ... The mechanisms for control were not working. A lot of the standard safety measures have been violated. A siren should go off at the first indication of a change in pressure to warn people. It didn't.". The energy minister said the Amuay refinery has the capacity to re-initiate operations in a maximum of two days and guaranteed the existence of sufficient resources to supply Venezuala's internal market following the explosion.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Analysts ponder whether resounding court win for iPhone and iPad maker will lead to moves by Google Apple will seek injunctions against the sale in the US of dozens of Samsung smartphones and tablets, including its Galaxy brand, and could triple the $1bn damages it was awarded in a high-profile patent trial after the jury decided the South Korean company "wilfully" infringed its patents . The injunctions will be the next step after Apple won on almost every count against Samsung, which failed to win any of its counterclaims against the Cupertino-based company. Apple, which makes the iPhone and iPad, could apply for injunctions as early as next week, after winning a significant victory in the battle over the fast-growing smartphone and tablet market, worth $219bn globally. Removing the infringing products may have only a limited effect on Samsung's US business, where it offers 152 different phones through a number of different carriers. The injunctions, if effected, would hit about 24 different devices. Judge Lucy Koh, who is presiding over the trial, could also triple the damages of $1.05bn awarded by the nine-strong jury, because they decided that the infringements of Apple's patents – some to do with the devices' behaviour, and others to do with close resemblances to the iPhone – were "willful". US law permits a tripling of damages in such cases. Even so Samsung, whose electronics division made an operating profit of $5.2bn in the second quarter of the year, can bear such a payment. It may also offer tweaked devices to get around any injunction: "Samsung has already made some design changes to new products since the litigation first started more than a year ago," said Seo Won-seok, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. "With the ruling, they are now more likely to make further changes; or they could simply decide to raise product prices to cover patent-related payments." But lawyers for the South Korean company indicated that they will ask Koh to throw out the verdict, and that if that fails they will appeal the case to a higher court. "This decision should not be allowed to stand because it would discourage innovation and limit the rights of consumers to make choices for themselves," Samsung lead lawyer John Quinn said. Koh will give her decision in the next few weeks. Meanwhile analysts think that Google, which writes the Android mobile software used by Samsung and dozens of others, may have to indemnify handset makers against such lawsuits. They also fear it could mean fewer smartphone options for consumers. "Some of these device makers might end up saying 'We love Android, but we really don't want to fight with Apple anymore,'" said Christopher Marlett, CEO of MDB Capital Group, an investment bank specialising in intellectual property. "I think it may ultimately come down to Google having to indemnify these guys, if it wants them to continue using Android." Horace Dediu, of the Asymco consultancy, said that he thinks there is no chance of Google offering such an indemnity. Google has instead acquired Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5bn, bringing with it an extensive patent portfolio which it hopes to use to fend off Apple's attacks on Android handset makers. Nomura analyst CW Chung, speaking before the verdict, predicted it could take "many years" for Apple and Samsung to settle the case, whatever the result of the latest round, leaving the two firmly in control of the global smartphone market. "The litigation may end up with both parties entering a cross-licensing agreement, which should enable them to build a higher patent wall in the smartphone market," said Chung. "This would have a positive impact on the share prices of Samsung and Apple, while posing a substantial threat to other competitors." Apple had testified that it previously offered the allegedly infringed patents for licence to Samsung for about $30 per device. Samsung declined at the time. Apple filed its patent infringement lawsuit in April 2011 and engaged the country's highest-paid patent lawyers to demand $2.5bn from its top smartphone competitor. Samsung Electronics fired back with its own lawsuit seeking $399m. The jury on Friday rejected all of Samsung's claims against Apple, but also decided against some of Apple's claims involving the two dozen Samsung devices at issue. The nine-strong group, which included people with experience at companies including Intel, found that several Samsung products illegally used such Apple creations as the "bounce-back" feature when a user scrolls to the end of a list, and the ability to zoom text with a tap of a finger. But they decided that Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablets did not mimic the "trade dress", or appearance of Apple's iPad in a way that could confuse consumers. The US case was the latest skirmish in a global legal battle between the two tech giants. Its outcome is likely to have ripple effects in the smartphone market. Other device makers relying on Android, the mobile operating system that Google has given for free to Samsung and other phone makers, may be more reluctant to use the software and risk getting dragged into court. During closing arguments, Apple attorney Harold McElhinny claimed Samsung had a "crisis of design" after the 2007 launch of the iPhone, and that its executives were determined to cash in illegally on the success of the revolutionary device. Samsung's lawyers countered that it was legally giving consumers what they want: smartphones with big screens. They said Samsung didn't violate Apple's patents and alleged innovations claimed by Apple were created by other companies. Samsung said after the verdict that it was "unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners". "This is by no means the final word in this case," Quinn said in a statement. "Patent law should not be twisted so as to give one company a monopoly over the shape of smartphones." The jury had determined that Samsung did infringe the iPhone's "trade dress" with a number of its products. The jurors' determination that Samsung took Apple's ideas probably matters more to the companies than the monetary damages, Marlett said. "I don't know if $1bn is hugely significant to Apple or Samsung," Marlett said. "But there is a social cost here. As a company, you don't want to be known as someone who steals from someone else. I am sure Samsung wants to be known as an innovator, especially since a lot of Asian companies have become known for copying the designs of innovators." DJ Jung, representative patent attorney for SU Intellectual Property, said: "The impact on Samsung will be quite limited, as affected models are mostly legacy products and its new products did make some design changes to avoid potential litigation. Still ... it's a sweeping loss in the most important market. It's inevitable that Samsung's brand will be negatively affected - Samsung could be perceived as a copycat." Apple and Samsung together account for more than half of global smartphone sales. Samsung said in court that it sold 22.7m smartphones and tablets that Apple had claimed use its technology. McElhinny said those devices accounted for $8.16bn in sales since June 2010. Samsung's Galaxy line of phones run on Android, and ISI Group analysts viewed the verdict as a blow to Android as much as Samsung. If Android loses ground in the mobile computing market, that would hurt Google, because it relies on Android to drive mobile traffic to its search engine and services to sell more advertising. Apple presently uses Google's search on the iPhone and iPad, but observers have wondered whether that will persist as Apple has removed more and more Google defaults from the iPhone and iPad. Its upcoming software for the devices will replace Google's maps with Apple's own, and stop offering a YouTube video player. Google entered the smartphone market while its then-CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apple's board, infuriating Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who considered elements of Android to be blatant rip-offs of the iPhone's innovations. After shoving Schmidt off Apple's board, Jobs vowed that Apple would resort to "thermonuclear war" to destroy Android and its allies. The Apple-Samsung trial came after each side filed a blizzard of legal motions and refused advisories by the judge to settle the dispute out of court. Legal experts and Wall Street analysts had viewed Samsung as the trial's underdog. Apple's headquarters is just 10 miles from the San Jose courthouse, and jurors were picked from the heart of Silicon Valley, where Jobs is a revered technological pioneer. A verdict came after less than three days of deliberations, surprising observers who expected longer deliberations because of the case's complexity. While the issues were complex, patent expert Alexander I Poltorak had said the case would likely boil down to whether jurors believed Samsung's products look and feel like Apple's iPhone and iPad. Samsung's lawyers argued that many of Apple's claims of innovation were either obvious concepts or ideas stolen from Sony Corp and others. Experts called that line of argument a high-risk strategy because of Apple's reputation as an innovator. Apple's lawyers argued there is almost no difference between Samsung products and those of Apple, and presented internal Samsung documents they said showed it copied Apple designs. Samsung lawyers insisted that several other companies and inventors had developed much of the Apple technology at issue. Apple and Samsung have filed similar lawsuits in South Korea, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, France and Australia. "This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple's claims," Samsung said in its statement. Samsung won a home court ruling earlier on Friday in the global patent battle against Apple. Judges in Seoul said Samsung didn't copy the look and feel of the iPhone and ruled that Apple infringed on Samsung's wireless technology. But like the jury in California, South Korean judges said Samsung violated Apple's technology behind the "bounce-back" feature. Both sides were ordered to pay limited damages. The Seoul ruling was a rare victory for Samsung in its arguments that Apple has infringed on its wireless technology patents. Samsung's claims previously were shot down by courts in Europe, where judges ruled that Samsung patents must be licensed under fair terms to competitors. Europe's antitrust lawyers are now investigating whether Samsung abused its position of having "standards-essential patents" and failing to license them. The US case is one of 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the global smartphone and tablet markets.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Analysts ponder whether resounding court win for iPhone and iPad maker will lead to moves by Google - or to 'patent barrier' around smartphone market by its two biggest players Apple will seek injunctions against the sale in the US of dozens of Samsung smartphones and tablets, including its iconic Galaxy brand, and could triple the $1bn damages it was awarded in a high-profile patent trial after the jury decided the South Korean company infringed its patents "wilfully". The injunctions will be the next step after Apple won on almost every count against Samsung, which failed to win any of its counterclaims against the Cupertino-based company. Apple, which makes the iPhone and iPad, could apply for injunctions as early as next week, after winning a significant victory in the battle over the fast-growing smartphone and tablet market, worth $219bn globally. Removing the infringing products may have only a limited effect on Samsung's US business, where it offers 152 different phones through a number of different carriers. The injunctions, if effected, would hit about 24 different devices. Judge Lucy Koh, who is presiding over the trial, could also triple the damages of $1.05bn awarded by the nine-strong jury, because they decided that the infringements of Apple's patents - some to do with the devices' behaviour, and others to do with close resemblances to the iPhone - were "willful". US law permits a tripling of damages in such cases. Even so Samsung, whose electronics division made an operating profit of $5,2bn in the second quarter of the year, can bear such a payment. It may also offer tweaked devices to get around any injunction: "Samsung has already made some design changes to new products since the litigation first started more than a year ago," said Seo Won-seok, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. "With the ruling, they are now more likely to make further changes; or they could simply decide to raise product prices to cover patent-related payments." But lawyers for the South Korean company indicated that they will ask Judge Koh to throw out the verdict, and that if that fails they will appeal the case to a higher court. "This decision should not be allowed to stand because it would discourage innovation and limit the rights of consumers to make choices for themselves," Samsung lead lawyer John Quinn said. Judge Koh will give her decision in the next few weeks. Meanwhile analysts think that Google, which writes the Android mobile software used by Samsung and dozens of others, may have to indemnify handset makers against such lawsuits. They also fear it could mean fewer smartphone options for consumers. "Some of these device makers might end up saying, 'We love Android, but we really don't want to fight with Apple anymore,'" said Christopher Marlett, CEO of MDB Capital Group, an investment bank specializing in intellectual property. "I think it may ultimately come down to Google having to indemnify these guys, if it wants them to continue using Android." Horace Dediu, of the Asymco consultancy, said that he thinks there is no chance of Google offering such an indemnity. Google has instead acquired Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5bn, bringing with it an extensive patent portfolio which it hopes to use to fend off Apple's attacks on Android handset makers. Nomura analyst CW Chung, speaking before the verdict, predicted it could take "many years" for Apple and Samsung to settle the case, whatever the result of the latest round, leaving the two firmly in control of the global smartphone market. "The litigation may end up with both parties entering a cross-licensing agreement, which should enable them to build a higher patent wall in the smartphone market," said Chung. "This would have a positive impact on the share prices of Samsung and Apple, while posing a substantial threat to other competitors." Apple had testified that it previously offered the allegedly infringed patents for licence to Samsung for about $30 per device. Samsung declined at the time. Apple filed its patent infringement lawsuit in April 2011 and engaged the country's highest-paid patent lawyers to demand $2.5bn from its top smartphone competitor. Samsung Electronics fired back with its own lawsuit seeking $399m. The jury on Friday rejected all Samsung's claims against Apple, but also decided against some of Apple's claims involving the two dozen Samsung devices at issue. The nine-strong group, which included people with experience at companies including Intel, found that several Samsung products illegally used such Apple creations as the "bounce-back" feature when a user scrolls to the end of a list, and the ability to zoom text with a tap of a finger. But they decided that Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablets did not mimic the "trade dress", or appearance of Apple's iPad in a way that could confuse consumers. The US case was the latest skirmish in a global legal battle between the two tech giants. Its outcome is likely to have ripple effects in the smartphone market. Other device makers relying on Android, the mobile operating system that Google has given for free to Samsung and other phone makers, may be more reluctant to use the software and risk getting dragged into court. During closing arguments, Apple attorney Harold McElhinny claimed Samsung had a "crisis of design" after the 2007 launch of the iPhone, and that its executives were determined to cash in illegally on the success of the revolutionary device. Samsung's lawyers countered that it was legally giving consumers what they want: smartphones with big screens. They said Samsung didn't violate Apple's patents and alleged innovations claimed by Apple were created by other companies. Samsung said after the verdict that it was "unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners." "This is by no means the final word in this case," Quinn said in a statement. "Patent law should not be twisted so as to give one company a monopoly over the shape of smartphones." The jury had determined that Samsung did infringe the iPhone's "trade dress" with a number of its products. The jurors' determination that Samsung took Apple's ideas probably matters more to the companies than the monetary damages, Marlett said. "I don't know if $1bn is hugely significant to Apple or Samsung," Marlett said. "But there is a social cost here. As a company, you don't want to be known as someone who steals from someone else. I am sure Samsung wants to be known as an innovator, especially since a lot of Asian companies have become known for copying the designs of innovators." D.J. Jung, representative patent attorney for SU Intellectual Property, said: "The impact on Samsung will be quite limited, as affected models are mostly legacy products and its new products did make some design changes to avoid potential litigation. Still ... it's a sweeping loss in the most important market. It's inevitable that Samsung's brand will be negatively affected - Samsung could be perceived as a copycat." Apple and Samsung together account for more than half of global smartphone sales. Samsung said in court that it sold 22.7m smartphones and tablets that Apple had claimed use its technology. McElhinny said those devices accounted for $8.16bn in sales since June 2010. Samsung's Galaxy line of phones run on Android, and ISI Group analysts viewed the verdict as a blow to Android as much as Samsung.
If Android loses ground in the mobile computing market, that would hurt Google, because it relies on Android to drive mobile traffic to its search engine and services to sell more advertising. Apple presently uses Google's search on the iPhone and iPad, but observers have wondered whether that will persist as Apple has removed more and more Google defaults from the iPhone and iPad. Its upcoming software for the devices will replace Google's maps with Apple's own, and stop offering a YouTube video player. Google entered the smartphone market while its then-CEO Eric Schmidt was on Apple's board, infuriating Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who considered elements of Android to be blatant rip-offs of the iPhone's innovations. After shoving Schmidt off Apple's board, Jobs vowed that Apple would resort to "thermonuclear war" to destroy Android and its allies. The Apple-Samsung trial came after each side filed a blizzard of legal motions and refused advisories by the judge to settle the dispute out of court. Legal experts and Wall Street analysts had viewed Samsung as the trial's underdog. Apple's headquarters is just 10 miles from the San Jose courthouse, and jurors were picked from the heart of Silicon Valley, where Jobs is a revered technological pioneer. A verdict came after less than three days of deliberations, surprising observers who expected longer deliberations because of the case's complexity. While the issues were complex, patent expert Alexander I. Poltorak had said the case would likely boil down to whether jurors believed Samsung's products look and feel like Apple's iPhone and iPad. Samsung's lawyers argued that many of Apple's claims of innovation were either obvious concepts or ideas stolen from Sony Corp. and others. Experts called that line of argument a high-risk strategy because of Apple's reputation as an innovator. Apple's lawyers argued there is almost no difference between Samsung products and those of Apple, and presented internal Samsung documents they said showed it copied Apple designs. Samsung lawyers insisted that several other companies and inventors had developed much of the Apple technology at issue. Apple and Samsung have filed similar lawsuits in South Korea, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, France and Australia. "This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple's claims," Samsung said in its statement. Samsung won a home court ruling earlier on Friday in the global patent battle against Apple. Judges in Seoul said Samsung didn't copy the look and feel of the iPhone and ruled that Apple infringed on Samsung's wireless technology. But like the jury in California, South Korean judges said Samsung violated Apple's technology behind the "bounce-back" feature. Both sides were ordered to pay limited damages. The Seoul ruling was a rare victory for Samsung in its arguments that Apple has infringed on its wireless technology patents. Samsung's claims previously were shot down by courts in Europe, where judges ruled that Samsung patents must be licensed under fair terms to competitors. Europe's antitrust lawyers are now investigating whether Samsung abused its position of having "standards-essential patents" and failing to license them. The US case is one of some 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the global smartphone and tablet markets.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | • Stats centre: latest tables, team info and more
• Scoreboard: All the day's goals Scott will be here shortly with the latest team news as it filters through. Hello. Only 38 more weeks to go. Or if you prefer, it's the second week of the new season. All eyes today will be on Old Trafford where Robin van Persie is expected to start against Fulham. The west London club have a horrible record at Man Utd. They have avoided defeat once in the last 49 years. They haven't scored in their last five trips up the M6. They've conceded sixteen in their last six visits. Anything other than a Man Utd victory will be a surprise. A thrashing looks a distinct possibility. For what it's worth, the Cottagers look a decent outside bet to go down. You can't not warm to Martin Jol, though. In the early kick-off Swansea are leading West Ham 2-0. The Swans new Spanish midfielder Miguel Michu is again among the goals. A super early-quite-probably-jumping-the-gun-because-what-will-he-be-like-on-a-rainy-night-at-Wigan contender for bargain of the season, as the cliche-mongers would have it. You can follow the second half with Scott Murray here. SUNDERLAND v READING - MATCH POSTPONED There's a very strong fixture list today, but Sunderland v Reading is no longer one of them. It's been rained off. 2.03pm: Today's Premier League 3pm kick-offs:
Aston Villa v Everton
Man Utd v Fulham
Norwich v QPR
Southampton v Wigan
Tottenham v West Brom Chelsea v Newcastle kicks off at 5.15pm. GOOOAAL: Swansea 3 (Danny Graham 64) - 0 West Ham 2.12pm: We'll also be keeping an eye out on all the action from the Football League. Fixtures that caught our eye before kick off include: Championship
Blackburn v Leicester
Blackpool v Ipswich
Charlton v Hull City League One
Colchester v Sheffield United
Swindon v MK Dons League Two
Burton Albion v Fleetwood Town
Oxford United v Plymouth But the beauty of this time of the season is that you can't be sure who to look out for. Who would have thought that Bristol City would be sitting atop of the Championship? The Robins are 2-0 up against Cardiff City in the early kick off. Does anyone know what the Bluebirds are called now they play in red? BREAKING NEWS: Robin van Persie is set to start for Man Utd while Wayne Rooney is set to drop to the bench. 'Fulham won 5-0 last week, you realise,' says Vaclav Panic, 'they're not going down.' To which I say this. In a way, it's a shame that Martin Jol can't stick stick the blog post to the wall 'and let the team talk give itself.' But Fulham are going to lose. As for Wayne Rooney, a return to Ronaldo-era sidelines beckons, at least temporarily, if Man Utd win big today. TEAM NEWS - TOTTENHAM v WEST BROM Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto,
Livermore, Sandro, Lennon, Van der Vaart, Bale, Defoe. Subs:
Cudicini, Naughton, Jenas, Sigurdsson, Adebayor, Townsend,
Caulker. West Brom: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu,
Yacob, Dorrans, Morrison, Fortune, Long. Subs: Myhill,
Rosenberg, Brunt, Lukaku, Gera, Dawson, Jones. Vertonghen makes his debut and Van der Vaat starts despite the rumours circulating about his possible exit from Spurs. Early days but AVB could do with three points. TEAM NEWS - NORWICH V QPR Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Bassong, Barnett, Garrido,
Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Pilkington, Jackson, Holt. Subs:
Rudd, Surman, Hoolahan, Morison, Tierney, Ryan Bennett,
Chris Martin. QPR: Green, Traore, Hill, Ferdinand, Da Silva, Mackie, Diakite,
Park, Hoilett, Cisse, Zamora. Subs: Murphy, Derry, Johnson,
Taarabt, Wright-Phillips, Onuoha, Bosingwa. Bassong and Garrido make their debuts for Norwich as both sides look to get their first points on the board after losing heavily last week. 'Afternoon Scott!' says cheery Ryan Dunne. 'Re: nicknames. Surely Cardiff are now the ''Red Dragons'' which, suggestive as it is of magic monsters from the Bible, fabby Hannibal Lector novels, the ship where the first ever performance of Hamlet was given, etc, is at least as cool as they fey "Bluebirds" ?' Yes, although Swansea's red, white and green away strip shows that they are having a tilt at the 'Club Wales' market too. Newly butch or no, Cardiff are now 1-3 down at Bristol City. TEAM NEWS - ASTON VILLA v EVERTON Aston Villa: Given, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Clark, N'Zogbia,
Herd, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Delfouneso, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Ireland,
Holman, Delph, Weimann, Lichaj, Burke. Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman,
Pienaar, Gibson, Naismith, Jelavic, Fellaini. Subs: Mucha,
Heitinga, Mirallas, Gueye, Barkley, Coleman, Anichebe. Paul Lambert takes charge at home for the first time in the Premier League. The Villains who finished last season abysmally, really do need a win. We're also interested to see if new-signing Kevin Mirallas comes on for Everton. The Belgian is a class act. RESULT: SWANSEA 3-0 WEST HAM A time for Swans fans to take a screen grab of the Premier League. P2 W2 F8 A0. Why be churlish and say 'it's early days?' It's a fantastic start already. TEAM NEWS - Southampton v Wigan
Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox,
Steven Davis, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Do Prado, Rodriguez,
Lambert. Subs: Gazzaniga, Sharp, Ward-Prowse, Richardson, Shaw,
Seaborne, Puncheon. Wigan: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Kone, Boyce, McCarthy,
McArthur, Figueroa, Ramis, Di Santo, Maloney. Subs: Pollitt,
Jones, Crusat, Watson, Gomez, Boselli, Beausejour. Rickie Lambert - the man they'll soon be calling the new Grant Holt - gets a deserved start after scoring again Man City last week, in what should be an attractive and open game as Wigan start life without Victor Moses. TEAM NEWS - MAN UTD V FULHAM
Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Cleverley,
Anderson, Valencia, Kagawa, Young, van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard,
Evans, Rooney, Giggs, Hernandez, Welbeck, Scholes. Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs, Duff,
Diarra, Dembele, Kacaniklic, Ruiz, Petric. Subs: Stockdale,
Kelly, Baird, Sidwell, Kasami, Rodallega, Halliche. As you might have heard Wayne Rooney drops to the bench so RVP can make his debut. Shy and retiring Usain Bolt, as guest of honour, is gamboling on the Old Trafford pitch. It's going to be a massacre, I tell you. 'At last!,' says Robin Barwick, 'some-one else who shares my inherent pessimism about Fulham's prospects. I'm sick of all this 'decent mid-table side' nonsense. Fulham are a tiny club whose continued presence in the Premiership each year continues to shock and delight me - probably because I had to wait 40 years to see them playing in the top flight.' Fulham surprise and delight me too. I really hope I am wrong. But everything about their recent moves in the transfer market screams RUN OUT OF MONEY. 'I am so over RVP,' says Allan Castle. I am going to save the rest of the email for after he scores for Man Utd. And Arsenal fail to against Stoke. 3.02pm: MAN UTD 0-1 FULHAM! Sensational! Damien Duff scores after a free-kick. 'Someone, needs to tell Ashley Young that you don't get penalties for diving in your OWN area, grumbles Justin Kavanagh.' GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON. Steve Pienaar scores a cracker from the edge of the penalty area. GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 FULHAM Robin Van Persie marks his debut with a trademark fizzing left footed strike. GOAL! Norwich 1-0 QPR. Simeon Jackson finished a fabulous move with a thumping header. It's raining goals! (Apart from in Sunderland, where it is just raining.) In the Championship, Bristol City beat Cardiff City 4-2, Brighton are 2-0 up against Barnsley (the second from Wayne Bridge, remember him?), Huddersfield lead Burnley 1-0 and Leeds United are one up at Peterbrough. In League One Carlisle are 1-0 up at home to Portsmouth and Brentford are winning at Crewe and in League Two, Exeter, York, Bradford, Chesterfield and Port Vale are all one up. 3.17pm: PENALTY to QPR! NORWICH 1-0 QPR Debutant Sebastian Bassong brought down Cisse. Cisse... MISSES the penalty but Bobby Zamora scores the follow up. NORWICH 1-1 QPR. QPR needed that. They looked lost. 'Ok, that goal hurt,' admits Allan Castle, before twisting the knife, 'But the shot of Waistline Wayne on the bench afterwards helped.' 3.24pm: In the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday are one up against Millwall. Wednesday are unbeaten in the 17 games that Dave Jones has been in charge. Play has been suspended at Aldershot v Cheltenham, as a bank holiday monsoon sweeps the nation. LEYTON ORIENT v HARTLEPOOL - POSTPONED A bank holiday monsoon plus traffic issues puts paid to the O's game. 3.23pm: Harry Arter, Scott Parker's skillful but super surly brother-in-law, has been sent off for AFC Bournemouth against Preston. GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-2 EVERTON Marouane Fellaini scores his second header of the week as David Moyes' men take advantage of a Villa side that is outrageously short on confidence. GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 FULHAM. Shinji Kagawa taps in Man Utd's second. The Reds are firmly in control at Old Trafford. 3.37pm: Blackburn are 1-0 up over Leicester courtesy of Nuno Gomes, while fellow Premier League exiles Wolves are 1-0 over Derby County after a strike from the excellent Kevin Doyle. GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 FULHAM. Rafael scores with a header just minutes after having another goal chalked off for offside. It is going to be a long afternoon for the west London side. 'Fulham's Diarra is having a shocker,' writes Scott Stricker accurately. 'Dembele and Hangeland seem to be doing well enough breaking up play, but when they play an out ball to Diarra he turns and passes to someone in a red shirt.' He'll be off in the next week, I fear. (And has maybe packed up mentally now.) GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-3 EVERTON Nikica Jelavic scores his first of the season. Job done for the Toffee men already. Next up for Villa... In-form Swansea. HALF TIMES
Premier League
Aston Villa 0-3 Everton
Manchester United 3-1 Fulham
Norwich 1-1 QPR
Southampton 0-0 Wigan Athletic
Tottenham 0-0 West Brom And notables from elsewhere... Championship
Brighton 3-1 Barnsley
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Millwall League One
Brentford 2-0 Crewe
Coventry 2-0 Bury
League Two
Bradford 5-1 Wimbledon
Wycombe 1-3 Bristol Rovers It is, in all seriousness, too soon to make realistic predictions but... After a stuttering finish to last season's campaign 2012/13 is already looking like a tough season for Wimbledon. HALF-TIME LEMONS AND EMAIL
Man Utd v Fulham
'Subject: RVP, Torres, Tomahto, Tomayto'
"Don't know what Allan Castle is worried about. Talismanic striker, carried the team, scored the bulk of their goals, sold on at tremendous prophet to a premier league rival? Hasn't worried me in the slightest..." Matt 'Liverpool Fan' Dony. You mean aside from Chelsea winning the Champions League and the FA Cup? Are you nuts?! I think Man Utd fans would be happy with that. Aston Villa v Everton
"We're already that short of confidence? First home game of the season? Another fun season coming by the look of it. LAMBERT OUT!", writes Elliot Carr-Barnsley. @What's the average age of the side? About 23? A total lack of ambition in the transfer market has done us in since O'Neill. In what way could we have not done with a Michael Owen or y'know, defenders?" Fear not, Lambert will sort it. (I think.) Or he'll be like Owen Coyle and flatter to deceive. Either way, good as he was, Michael Owen surely isn't the answer. Mike Giggler Peter Hamer writes:
Can't be often that rain has seen of a couple of football matches but a game of cricket continues unhindered.
GOAL! SOTON 0-1 WIGAN. Franco Di Santo scores with a smart finish. We didn't have this marked down as an away win. But maybe the fans did... "I'm watching from Singapore," says Polly Jones, "and am gutted to see there are hundreds of empty seats at Saints first game back in the PL for seven years. Seven! Is everyone in the UK at a wedding this w/e? What's going on over there?" We're having a bank holiday weekend apocalypse. Phil Dowd is inspecting the pitch at the moment. It may be that Chelsea v Newcastle is called off. "At the moment the bottom three is QPR, Aston Villa, Liverpool. I can't think of any three teams I'd rather see go down," schadenfreudes Alec Gregory. It's certainly nice of Paul Lambert to take the pressure of Brendan Rodgers. 4.18pm: A quick word about Blackpool - they're 4-0 up and in great form. Much will depend on whether they keep hold of their wingers Ince (who has hit a brace today) and Phillips, but they surely have a decent chance of promotion in the I'm going to score one more than you division that is the Championship. Scintillating attacking football. RED CARD! ASTON VILLA - CIARAN CLARK! It's going from bad to worse at Villa Park. "Paul Lambert - Mike Walker?" says AKA Kimazuikuk. "No gloating intended, just bad memories. A sympathetic Evertonian." Boos are ringing out in Birmingham... Happily, for Blackpool, Ian Holloway's men are 5-0 up now. GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 FULHAM! It's a Vidic own goal. Fulham look to have gone 4-4-2 - more goals in prospect. 4.29pm: "Surely Villa's lack of ambition in the transfer market is down to Martin O'Neil?, says controversialist Duncan Smith. "Aside from the Bent splurge, they've had no money as MO'N was delighted to squander vast amounts of money on mediocrity. See also Sunderland." I'm sympathetic if you're talking Steven Fletcher, but Adam Johnson is a great signing. Swapping Johnson for Scott Sinclair (if that's what City end up doing) looks risky from here. 4.32pm: "To be fair to Liverpool Scott," says Jon Gard, "on their showing last week I reckon they can stay up." Cheeky. GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-3 EVERTON Karim El Ahmadi scores his first goal in English football. A consolation, though, surely. "El Ahmadi appears to have looked up that phrase involving silver linings and thought, 'Oh right, I'll do that then.'" says Anthony Hull. GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 WBA The strikers have been huffing and puffing, so there's palpable relief when Benoit Assou-Ekotto puts Spurs ahead. AVB is minutes away from his first win. 4.38pm: The class act that is Morten Gamst Pedersen has put Blackburn 2-1 up against Leicester City. After being written off by the club's management as an 'old man' before the season started, Pedersen celebrated with an imaginary walking stick. Wycombe v Bristol Rovers has been suspended because of bad weather. The West Country side were 3-1 up. GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-4 EVERTON... BUT DISALLOWED. Kevin Mirallas, who really is one to watch, has a goal disallowed for offside. GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 WIGAN ATHLETIC! Arouna Kone seals a victory for Wigan. Great win for The Latics and their new Ivorian striker gets off the mark... GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-1 WBA. James Morrison secures a point for The Baggies. FT: NORWICH CITY 1-1 QPR 4.52pm: Sheffield Wednesday have come from behind to take a 3-2 lead over Millwall in the last minute. Blackpool are now 6-0 up. 4.54pm: In League One Carlisle have beaten Portsmouth 4-2, Colchester have drawn 1-1 with Sheffield United. FT ASTON VILLA 1-3 EVERTON
FT TOTTENHAM 1-1 WBA
FT SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 WIGAN ATHLETIC 4.57pm: We're into injury time at Old Trafford where Fulham have been pushing and pushing for an equaliser. Wayne Rooney is stretchered off with a dreadful gash in his knee. More extra time to come. FT: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 FULHAM. "Martin Jol looks like a football manager who has swallowed a wasp," says Jeff Stelling. Cracking showing from Fulham, though. FULL TIMES Premier League
ASTON VILLA 1-3 EVERTON
MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 FULHAM
NORWICH CITY 1-1 QPR
SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 WIGAN ATHLETIC
SWANSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
TOTTENHAM 1-1 WBA SMILING SWAN
"In the 2002-03 season, Swansea spent most of the season in 92nd place in the league. Today we're 1st. Just thought I 'd throw that in," says Paul Rodgers." UTD FAN, EXAGGERATING SLIGHTLY
"Why oh Why oh Why has Ferguson not addressed the frailties in the middle of midfield? Again?! This is so typical now. I'm trembling. I think we might draw every game this season 4-4 and I'll have a heart attack and die." ADAM JOHNSON
"As a City fan who's watched Adam Johnson live for the last 3 years or so," says Nick Stapleton, "I have to say you're wrong. He's a highlights player, flatters to deceive. His work rate is less than poor, he can't tackle so he never even tries and his tracking back is non-existent. He can dribble (sometimes) and his technique is wonderful, sure, but the occasional long-range howitzer or even six of them like last season, does not a good player make." I disagree, it probably does a good player make. Maybe not a great player yet, but... Sinclair is very in-and-out too. FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS (SELECTED)
Championship
Bristol City 4-2 Cardiff
Blackpool 6-0 Ipswich
Brighton 5-1 Barnsley
Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 Millwall League One
Brentford 5-1 Crewe
Carlisle 4-2 Portsmouth
Coventry 2-2 Bury
Scunthorpe 0-4 Yeovil League Two
Accrington 0-3 Exeter
Barnet 1-3 York City
Bradford 5-1 Wimbledon
Northampton 3-3 Southend
Torquay 4-2 Rochdale You can follow Chelsea v Newcastle live with Scott Murray here. Kick off 5.15pm. It's been a great day of football. Thanks for all your emails. Bye.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lawsuit accuses university officials of 'shameful' decision not to report allegations against former assistant football coach The young man whose 2009 allegations of sexual abuse led to criminal convictions of the former assistant football coach at Penn State is asking a court to find the university also at fault. A lawsuit, filed Friday by the person known as Victim 1 at Jerry Sandusky's trial, said university officials made deliberate decisions not to report Sandusky to authorities. Sandusky, 68, was convicted in June of 45 criminal counts for sexual abuse of boys, both on and off campus. He awaits sentencing that will likely send him to prison for the rest of his life. The case rocked Penn State University, its powerhouse football program and the small community where it is located, and became one of the biggest scandals in the history of US collegiate athletics. A Penn State investigation found school officials kept what they knew from police and other authorities for years, enabling the abuse to go on. The lawsuit describes the actions of university officials as "a function of (Penn State's) purposeful, deliberate and shameful subordination of the safety of children to its economic self-interests, and to its interest in maintaining and perpetuating its reputation." Victim 1 and his mother reported Sandusky to the boy's high school and the local child protective agency in November 2009. Their complaint triggered the state investigation that last year resulted in the criminal charges against Sandusky and university officials. Former Penn State administrator Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley, who is on leave, have been charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. Both deny the allegations and are expected to go on trial in January. In the lawsuit, Victim 1 is known as "John Doe C". The suit draws heavily from court testimony, grand jury investigations and Penn State's own investigative report. University spokesman Dave La Torre said the school has no comment on the pending litigation. According to the lawsuit, Victim 1 met Sandusky about eight years ago, when the boy was 11 and a first-year participant in a camp sponsored by Sandusky's charity. Over a three-year period ending in 2008, the suit said, Sandusky assaulted the boy more than 100 times, including fondling and oral sex. The lawsuit claims Sandusky attacked "numerous victims over a span of 30 years" but noted that his criminal trial was limited to a 15-year period and 10 victims. Another Sandusky accuser has filed a federal lawsuit related to the scandal and a second victim has filed a court notice that he will file complaint. Lawyers have suggested others may take legal action.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | French president, François Hollande, offers no concessions to Greek PM, Antonis Samaras, during meeting in Paris The French president, François Hollande, has put more pressure on Greece to push ahead with painful reforms after a meeting with the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras. While Hollande praised Greek citizens for making necessary budget cuts, which EU leaders hope will pull Greece back from crisis and secure the next round of bailout funds, the French leader offered no concessions to Samaras during their meeting in Paris on Saturday. Samaras has been seeking more time to pass reforms, arguing that an extension of up to two years would allow Greece time to improve growth and therefore its public finances. But Hollande said no decision could be taken on the issue until European ministers have considered a financial report on Greece, which is due to be published by the International Monetary Fund, the European commission and the European Central Bank – in September. The report will be presented to a European Unit summit in October and Hollande said Europe needed to make decisions "the sooner the better". "We've been facing this question for two-and-a-half years; there's no time to lose, there are commitments to reaffirm on both sides, decisions to take, and the sooner the better," Hollande said. Hollande's position echoes that of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who met Samaras in Berlin on Friday. However, the French president was keen to promote the idea of solidarity. "For me, the question should no longer be asked: Greece is in the eurozone," he said. "In the face of ordeals, we must show more solidarity … I hailed the efforts that the Greek people have committed to painfully for the last two years," Hollande said. "We need to be aware of all that has been done." Samaras needs to put in place economic and structural reforms, which include changes to the labour market and more privatisation, and spending cuts of some €11.5bn (£9.1bn) over the next two years. Responding to concerns that Greece may not stick to such harsh requirements amid pressure from the financial markets, Samaras restated a commitment to the plan. "Some continue to speculate against Greece … to speculate by saying that Greece won't pull through, that it can't stay in the eurozone," he said. "I'm here today to say that will pull through it will stay in the eurozone. I also think we can fulfil our commitments and goals, reduce our deficits, reduce our debt, achieve the structural reforms that have begun privatizations and justice." If he succeeds, Samaras will secure €33.5bn in the second instalment of the €130bn bailout, which Greece needs to repay on its debt burden and to stay in the euro.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The French president, François Hollande, offers no concessions to Greek PM, Antonis Samaras, during meeting in Paris The French president, François Hollande, has put more pressure on Greece to push ahead with painful reforms after a meeting with the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras. While Hollande praised Greek citizens for making necessary budget cuts, which EU leaders hope will pull Greece back from crisis and secure the next round of bailout funds, the French leader offered no concessions to Samaras during their meeting in Paris on Saturday. Samaras has been seeking more time to pass reforms, arguing that an extension of up to two years would allow Greece time to improve growth and therefore its public finances. But Hollande said no decision could be taken on the issue until European ministers have considered a financial report on Greece, which is due to be published by the International Monetary Fund, the European commission and the European Central Bank in September. The report will be presented to a Eurogroup summit in October and Hollande said Europe needed to make decisions "the sooner the better". "We've been facing this question for two-and-a-half years; there's no time to lose, there are commitments to reaffirm on both sides, decisions to take, and the sooner the better," Hollande said. Hollande's position echoes that of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who met Samaras in Berlin on Friday. However, the French president was keen to promote the idea of solidarity. "For me, the question should no longer be asked: Greece is in the eurozone," he said. "In the face of ordeals, we must show more solidarity … I hailed the efforts that the Greek people have committed to painfully for the last two years," Hollande said. "We need to be aware of all that has been done." Samaras needs to put in place economic and structural reforms, which include changes to the labour market and more privatisation, and spending cuts of some €11.5bn (£9.1bn) over the next two years. Responding to concerns that Greece may not stick to such harsh requirements amid pressure from the financial markets, Samaras restated a commitment to the plan. "Some continue to speculate against Greece … to speculate by saying that Greece won't pull through, that it can't stay in the eurozone," he said. "I'm here today to say that will pull through, it will stay in the eurozone. I also think we can fulfil our commitments and goals, reduce our deficits, reduce our debt, achieve the structural reforms that have begun privatisations and justice." If he succeeds, Samaras will secure €33.5bn in the second instalment of the €130bn bailout, which Greece needs to repay on its debt burden and to stay in the euro.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Animal attacked and killed 43-year-old keeper at Cologne zoo in Germany before it was shot by the zoo's director A tiger escaped from its enclosure at Cologne Zoo in western Germany on Saturday and killed a female keeper before being shot dead by the zoo's director, police said. The tiger managed to get from the enclosure to an adjacent storage building, where it attacked the 43-year-old keeper, said police spokesman Stefan Kirchner. "It appears the gate wasn't properly shut," Kirchner told the Associated Press. The zoo's director used a rifle to shoot the animal dead through the storage building's skylight before it could make its way to the visitor areas, he added. Kirchner said it was unlikely that members of the public had witnessed the incident, which occurred around noon local time on Saturday. "This is the darkest day of my life," the zoo's director, Theo Pagel, was quoted as saying by Cologne newspaper Express. The newspaper reported on its website that the tiger was a male called Altai. It said a planned late-night opening of the zoo has been cancelled.
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• Sunderland v Reading - POSTPONED 3.17pm: PENALTY to QPR! NORWICH 1-0 QPR Debutant Sebastian Bassong brought down Cisse. Cisse... MISSES the penalty but Bobby Zamora scores the follow up. NORWICH 1-1 QPR. QPR needed that. They looked lost. It's raining goals! (Apart from in Sunderland, where it is just raining.) In the Championship, Bristol City beat Cardiff City 4-2, Brighton are 2-0 up against Barnsley (the second from Wayne Bridge, remember him?), Huddersfield lead Burnley 1-0 and Leeds United are one up at Peterbrough. In League One Carlisle are 1-0 up at home to Portsmouth and Brentford are winning at Crewe and in League Two, Exeter, York, Bradford, Chesterfield and Port Vale are all one up. GOAL! Norwich 1-0 QPR. Simeon Jackson finished a fabulous move with a thumping header. GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 FULHAM Robin Van Persie marks his debut with a trademark fizzing left footed strike. GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON. Steve Pienaar scores a cracker from the edge of the penalty area. 3.02pm: MAN UTD 0-1 FULHAM! Sensational! Damien Duff scores after a free-kick. 'Someone, needs to tell Ashley Young that you don't get penalties for diving in your OWN area, grumbles Justin Kavanagh.' 'I am so over RVP,' says Allan Castle. I am going to save the rest of the email for after he scores for Man Utd. And Arsenal fail to against Stoke. 'At last!,' says Robin Barwick, 'some-one else who shares my inherent pessimism about Fulham's prospects. I'm sick of all this 'decent mid-table side' nonsense. Fulham are a tiny club whose continued presence in the Premiership each year continues to shock and delight me - probably because I had to wait 40 years to see them playing in the top flight.' Fulham surprise and delight me too. I really hope I am wrong. But everything about their recent moves in the transfer market screams RUN OUT OF MONEY. TEAM NEWS - MAN UTD V FULHAM
Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Cleverley,
Anderson, Valencia, Kagawa, Young, van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard,
Evans, Rooney, Giggs, Hernandez, Welbeck, Scholes. Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs, Duff,
Diarra, Dembele, Kacaniklic, Ruiz, Petric. Subs: Stockdale,
Kelly, Baird, Sidwell, Kasami, Rodallega, Halliche. As you might have heard Wayne Rooney drops to the bench so RVP can make his debut. Shy and retiring Usain Bolt, as guest of honour, is gamboling on the Old Trafford pitch. It's going to be a massacre, I tell you. TEAM NEWS - Southampton v Wigan
Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox,
Steven Davis, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Do Prado, Rodriguez,
Lambert. Subs: Gazzaniga, Sharp, Ward-Prowse, Richardson, Shaw,
Seaborne, Puncheon. Wigan: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Kone, Boyce, McCarthy,
McArthur, Figueroa, Ramis, Di Santo, Maloney. Subs: Pollitt,
Jones, Crusat, Watson, Gomez, Boselli, Beausejour. Rickie Lambert - the man they'll soon be calling the new Grant Holt - gets a deserved start after scoring again Man City last week, in what should be an attractive and open game as Wigan start life without Victor Moses. RESULT: SWANSEA 3-0 WEST HAM A time for Swans fans to take a screen grab of the Premier League. P2 W2 F8 A0. Why be churlish and say 'it's early days?' It's a fantastic start already. TEAM NEWS - ASTON VILLA v EVERTON Aston Villa: Given, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Clark, N'Zogbia,
Herd, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Delfouneso, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Ireland,
Holman, Delph, Weimann, Lichaj, Burke. Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman,
Pienaar, Gibson, Naismith, Jelavic, Fellaini. Subs: Mucha,
Heitinga, Mirallas, Gueye, Barkley, Coleman, Anichebe. Paul Lambert takes charge at home for the first time in the Premier League. The Villains who finished last season abysmally, really do need a win. We're also interested to see if new-signing Kevin Mirallas comes on for Everton. The Belgian is a class act. 'Afternoon Scott!' says cheery Ryan Dunne. 'Re: nicknames. Surely Cardiff are now the ''Red Dragons'' which, suggestive as it is of magic monsters from the Bible, fabby Hannibal Lector novels, the ship where the first ever performance of Hamlet was given, etc, is at least as cool as they fey "Bluebirds" ?' Yes, although Swansea's red, white and green away strip shows that they are having a tilt at the 'Club Wales' market too. Newly butch or no, Cardiff are now 1-3 down at Bristol City. TEAM NEWS - NORWICH V QPR Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Bassong, Barnett, Garrido,
Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Pilkington, Jackson, Holt. Subs:
Rudd, Surman, Hoolahan, Morison, Tierney, Ryan Bennett,
Chris Martin. QPR: Green, Traore, Hill, Ferdinand, Da Silva, Mackie, Diakite,
Park, Hoilett, Cisse, Zamora. Subs: Murphy, Derry, Johnson,
Taarabt, Wright-Phillips, Onuoha, Bosingwa. Bassong and Garrido make their debuts for Norwich as both sides look to get their first points on the board after losing heavily last week. TEAM NEWS - TOTTENHAM v WEST BROM Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto,
Livermore, Sandro, Lennon, Van der Vaart, Bale, Defoe. Subs:
Cudicini, Naughton, Jenas, Sigurdsson, Adebayor, Townsend,
Caulker. West Brom: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu,
Yacob, Dorrans, Morrison, Fortune, Long. Subs: Myhill,
Rosenberg, Brunt, Lukaku, Gera, Dawson, Jones. Vertonghen makes his debut and Van der Vaat starts despite the rumours circulating about his possible exit from Spurs. Early days but AVB could do with three points. BREAKING NEWS: Robin van Persie is set to start for Man Utd while Wayne Rooney is set to drop to the bench. 'Fulham won 5-0 last week, you realise,' says Vaclav Panic, 'they're not going down.' To which I say this. In a way, it's a shame that Martin Jol can't stick stick the blog post to the wall 'and let the team talk give itself.' But Fulham are going to lose. As for Wayne Rooney, a return to Ronaldo-era sidelines beckons, at least temporarily, if Man Utd win big today. 2.12pm: We'll also be keeping an eye out on all the action from the Football League. Fixtures that caught our eye before kick off include: Championship
Blackburn v Leicester
Blackpool v Ipswich
Charlton v Hull City League One
Colchester v Sheffield United
Swindon v MK Dons League Two
Burton Albion v Fleetwood Town
Oxford United v Plymouth But the beauty of this time of the season is that you can't be sure who to look out for. Who would have thought that Bristol City would be sitting atop of the Championship? The Robins are 2-0 up against Cardiff City in the early kick off. Does anyone know what the Bluebirds are called now they play in red? GOOOAAL: Swansea 3 (Danny Graham 64) - 0 West Ham 2.03pm: Today's Premier League 3pm kick-offs:
Aston Villa v Everton
Man Utd v Fulham
Norwich v QPR
Southampton v Wigan
Tottenham v West Brom Chelsea v Newcastle kicks off at 5.15pm. SUNDERLAND v READING - MATCH POSTPONED There's a very strong fixture list today, but Sunderland v Reading is no longer one of them. It's been rained off. Hello. Only 38 more weeks to go. Or if you prefer, it's the second week of the new season. All eyes today will be on Old Trafford where Robin van Persie is expected to start against Fulham. The west London club have a horrible record at Man Utd. They have avoided defeat once in the last 49 years. They haven't scored in their last five trips up the M6. They've conceded sixteen in their last six visits. Anything other than a Man Utd victory will be a surprise. A thrashing looks a distinct possibility. For what it's worth, the Cottagers look a decent outside bet to go down. You can't not warm to Martin Jol, though. In the early kick-off Swansea are leading West Ham 2-0. The Swans new Spanish midfielder Miguel Michu is again among the goals. A super early-quite-probably-jumping-the-gun-because-what-will-he-be-like-on-a-rainy-night-at-Wigan contender for bargain of the season, as the cliche-mongers would have it. You can follow the second half with Scott Murray here. Scott will be here shortly with the latest team news as it filters through.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Officials say 19 people were killed in the pre-dawn blast, and more than 53 others injured, after blast at Amuay facility A large gas explosion has rocked Venezuela's biggest refinery, killing 19 people before dawn on Saturday. Stella Lugo, the governor of Falcon state, said more than 53 other people had been injured in the blast, and that a 10-year-old child was among the dead. "We are deploying our whole fire service team, all our health team, the whole contingency plan on the orders of [President Hugo] Chávez to first of all care for the people affected by this emergency," Lugo told Venezuelan state TV. Officials said the blast at the 645,000-barrels-per-day Amuay facility was caused by a gas leak and that it had also damaged nearby homes. Based in the west of Venezuela, Amuay is part of the Paraguana refining centre, one of the biggest refinery complexes in the world. "A cloud of gas exploded," the energy minister, Rafael Ramirez, told state TV. "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and to houses opposite the refinery." Emergency workers were at the scene, where smoke and flames could be seen over the facility. Both Ramirez and Lugo said the situation was under control several hours after the explosion at about 1 am local time. "There's no risk of another explosion," Lugo said. Amuay is operated by state oil company PDVSA which has struggled with repeated refinery problems in recent years, affecting its production figures and ability to fulfil ambitious expansion plans. Power faults, accidents and planned stoppages for maintenance have hit deliveries from South America's biggest oil exporter.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mitt Romney wants his party convention to attract moderates, but a show of strength by the Tea Party puts that hope at risk Some of them believe Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Others want to force raped women who become pregnant to have their child. There are those who vilify Obama as a socialist and want to do away with most of the federal government. A fair few doubt the theory of evolution or hold that gays can be "cured". As Mitt Romney arrives at the Republican national convention in Tampa, Florida, where he will be nominated to run for president, he faces the difficult task of dealing with a party base that has become one of the most radical in recent American history. Convulsed by the rise of the anti-government Tea Party and dominated by socially conservative Christians, the Republican party has continued to move right in recent years. That means the carefully laid plans for a Tampa convention aimed at introducing a voter-friendly version of Romney could easily be upset by the party's more extreme elements. "They don't want anyone to look behind the curtain," said Professor Shaun Bowler, a political scientist at the University of California, Riverside. "You want the party base to turn up, give money and keep quiet. But it is hard to keep them quiet." However, the curtain has already been lifted to some degree. The week leading up to the convention was supposed to see a media rollout of Romney as a president-in-waiting. Instead it was dominated by an ugly row centred on a Republican Missouri Senate candidate, congressman Todd Akin, who used the phrase "legitimate rape" while talking about denying abortions to pregnant rape victims. Romney called on him to leave the race and the Republican national committee chairman, Reince Priebus, asked him not to come to Tampa. But in a sign of how little control the party's elite has over its base, Akin refused to step down and last week was spotted in Tampa meeting social conservative groups. At the same time it was revealed that Akin supporters had coughed up $100,000 for his campaign funds in two days. But party bigwigs should perhaps not be surprised. Though Akin's language was shocking, his views are not too different from the party's official policy platform – in defiance of Romney. Indeed that extreme position on abortion is one historically shared by Paul Ryan, the outspoken Wisconsin conservative picked by Romney as his running mate. There is a real consequence to such disputes over contentious social issues. Romney's support among women, perhaps influenced by recent spats over abortion and reproductive rights, has plummeted. A survey last week showed Romney lagging by 13% with women voters in six key battleground states. Obama was beating Romney by 52% to 39% and about half of women voters said they were less likely to vote for Romney since he chose Ryan. Nor is it just this issue that is likely to hamper Romney as he tries to pull off the complicated double act of using the Tampa convention to appeal to America's middle ground, while also appeasing a conservative base that doesn't trust him. Gay marriage is guaranteed to fire up the base and Tampa will see some vocal opponents making a great deal of noise. Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman and former Romney presidential rival, will be speaking at numerous events. They include a "Unity Rally 2012" that is going to be held at a church tomorrow night. Bachmann has spoken out vociferously on gay rights, once referring to homosexuality as "part of Satan". Appearing alongside Bachmann will be former pizza magnate Herman Cain, another former rival to Romney, who caused eyebrows to be raised when he briefly became the frontrunner in the bitter party nomination race, only to drop out over sexual harassment allegations. But he remains popular with many in the Tea Party, who admire his impassioned support for slashing government spending and instituting a controversial flat tax plan. Other Tea Party darlings will include Ted Cruz, a Senate candidate in Texas who is being touted as a future party leader and has been given a high-profile speaking slot at the convention. Yet Cruz holds beliefs far outside the mainstream. He has warned that Islamic sharia law is an "enormous problem" in America, says elected officials should not march in gay pride parades and believes the UN is secretly trying to undermine America's economy and sovereignty. And then there is another Tea Party favourite who has been given a prominent role in Tampa: real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump. Trump has told his fans to prepare for a surprise at Tampa, which is likely to be a video in which he sacks an Obama impersonator and deploys his famous "You're fired!" catchphrase. But having Trump so visible is a political risk. He is one of the leading proponents of the "Birther" movement, which questions whether Obama was born in America. His presence is hardly designed to show an air of moderation or seriousness. A final thorn in Romney's side could be Texan congressman Ron Paul. Libertarian-leaning Paul is bowing out of national politics, but his followers are going to be vocal in Tampa, highlighting their beliefs in minimal government, an anti-war foreign policy and getting rid of the Federal Reserve. Though Paul won no individual states while he was running against Romney, his campaign later tried to exploit arcane party rules to send as many Paul-supporting delegates to the convention as possible. Fights over that "stealth strategy" have ended up in the courts and, in Louisiana, resulted in arrests and physical injuries. Now thousands of Paul supporters are holding a three-day festival in Tampa in his honour. Paul himself will speak tomorrow night at a rally at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome. Coverage is hardly likely to leave the impression that Romney heads a united or a moderate party. One thing that could dampen things is Hurricane Isaac, which is barrelling towards Florida and may yet force some of the convention to be delayed or cancelled. "For Romney, that is probably a blessing in disguise," said Bowler.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nato operation in Kunar province kills self-proclaimed Taliban leader in Pakistan's Bajur tribal region and up to 19 others A Nato air strike in eastern Afghanistan killed a dozen militants including a senior leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, the international military coalition has said. The strike in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province killed Mullah Dadullah, the self-proclaimed Taliban leader in Pakistan's Bajur tribal area that lies across the border, late on Friday afternoon, coalition spokesman Major Martyn Crighton said. Dadullah reportedly took over after Bajur's former Pakistani Taliban leader, Maulvi Faqir Mohammed, fled to Afghanistan to avoid Pakistani army operations. He was responsible for the movement of fighters and weapons, as well as attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, a coalition statement said on Saturday. It added that Dadullah's deputy, identified only as Shakir, was also killed in the strike along with 10 other militants, and that an assessment made in conjunction with Afghan security forces determined no civilians had been killed or injured. The air strike was in Kunar's Shigal district, which lies about 15km (about nine miles) from the Pakistani border, but Crighton would not say whether an unmanned drone or manned aircraft had launched the missiles. Pakistani intelligence officials said Dadullah and 19 others were killed in the attack. Initially, they said the strike was on Pakistani territory, but later they conceded it was in Afghanistan. Militant hideouts along the Afghan-Pakistan border have been a source of tension for both governments as well as for the coalition, with each saying the others are not doing enough to expel the various pro-Taliban factions. The Pakistani intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media, said Friday's coalition airstrike occurred after a cross-border attack by Pakistani Taliban militants who came from Afghanistan. The Pakistani intelligence officials said the militiamen and army soldiers fought the militants for hours but eventually repelled the attack. Jahangir Azam Khattak, a local Pakistani government official, said dozens of militants attacked a Pakistani post manned by anti-Taliban militiamen in the Salarzai area of Bajur. He said six militants were killed and four tribesmen were wounded. However, Crighton said there was no co-ordination between Pakistani and coalition military leaders on the airstrike. "This was an independent operation and not associated with any others," he said. Taliban-affiliated militants operate on both sides of the porous border, with various groups targeting both coalition forces in Afghanistan and the Pakistani military. Pakistan has complained of cross-border attacks by militants hiding out in eastern Afghanistan and has criticised Afghan and US-led coalition forces for not doing enough to stop them or expel them from Afghan territory. The US and Afghanistan, however, have long criticised Pakistan for its failure to prevent militants from carrying out attacks in the opposite direction. A Kunar provincial government spokesman, Wasifullah Wasifi, said four wounded Pakistani citizens have been hospitalized in Kunar and will be questioned about the activities of the Taliban inside Afghan territory. "They were exactly where this incident happened yesterday, so I am sure they were with these who were killed," Wasifi said. He added, "We are trying to find out how long these people have been here and why they were here."
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Storm likely to bring floods and mudslides in Caribbean nation and could disrupt US Republicans' convention in Tampa Tropical storm Isaac strengthened as it dumped heavy rains on Haiti on Saturday, threatening floods and mudslides in a country where hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless more than two years after a devastating earthquake. Lashing rains and high winds were reported along parts of Haiti's southern coast and in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where more than 350,000 survivors of the 2010 earthquake are still living in fragile tent and tarpaulin camps. Intermittent power cuts affected the greater Port-au-Prince area in the early hours of Saturday as Isaac bore down on the impoverished Caribbean country. Isaac was about 65 miles (100 km) south-southwest of Port-au-Prince late on Friday night, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said. The storm had sustained winds of 70mph (110kph) and its centre was expected to pass over Haiti's southern coast early on Saturday. Isaac's march across the Caribbean comes as US Republicans prepare to gather in Tampa, on Florida's central Gulf Coast, for Monday's start of their national convention ahead of the November presidential election. The convention is still expected to proceed as planned but Gulf of Mexico operators began shutting down offshore oil and gas rigs on Friday ahead of the storm. But the biggest immediate concern was heavily deforested Haiti and the NHC warned there was a possibility Isaac could reach hurricane intensity before making landfall in Haiti. On Friday, the government and aid groups evacuated thousands of tent camp dwellers but many Haitians chose to remain in their flimsy, makeshift homes, apparently out of fear they will be robbed, said Bradley Mellicker, head of disaster management for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). "There's a lot of people who are resisting because they are scared of losing what little they have now," Mellicker said. About 3,000 volunteers from the government's civil protection office were dispatched across Haiti, warning people about flood and landslide risks, and about 1,250 shelters – schools, churches or other community buildings – that have opened their doors to house people seeking refuge from the storm. But Red Cross officials said the number of shelters could be grossly inadequate and the prime minister, Laurent Lamothe, acknowledged Haiti had "limited means" to ensure public safety. Red Cross and IOM representatives joined government officials in trying to evacuate 8,000 of the "most vulnerable people", from 18 tent camps in low-lying coastal areas of Port-au-Prince. Many Haitians, most of whom scrape by on less than $1 per day, consider disaster an inevitable part of life in the poorest country in the Americas. "We live under tents. If there's too much rain and wind, water comes in. There's nothing we can do," said Nicholas Absolouis, an unemployed 34-year-old mechanic at one camp for homeless people on the northern edge of the chaotic capital. "There are still too many people living in the camps. There's a good chance that those might be destroyed with the passage of the cyclone," said France Hurtubise of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Haiti. Flooding could also help reignite a cholera epidemic, which has killed more than 7,500 people in Haiti since the disease first appeared in October 2010, foreign aid workers said. On its current path, forecasters said Isaac would hit Cuba and the southern tip of Florida before strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico and making landfall anywhere from the Florida Panhandle in the northwestern part of the state to Alabama and as far west as New Orleans. A tropical storm warning was issued for the entire coast of south Florida on Friday, and a hurricane warning also went into effect in the Florida Keys. Isaac has drawn especially close scrutiny because of the Republican party's convention, a four-day meeting during which Mitt Romney will receive the party's presidential nomination. Party officials insist the convention will go ahead, even if they have to alter the schedule. But NHC meteorologist Rick Danielson said Tampa could potentially be hit by coastal flooding and driving winds or rain. "There is still a full range of possible impacts on Tampa at this point," he said. Danielson said it was very hard to project intensity before Isaac passes over mountainous Cuba on Saturday and Sunday and enters the Florida Straits. But the Florida Keys, the island chain off the southernmost part of the state, were definitely in harm's way.
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Senior officials from the 34-member Organisation of American States urge two sides to maintain dialogue to resolve row
Foreign ministers from the American continent have urged Britain and Ecuador to peacefully end the standoff over the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. Assange, who is wanted in Sweden for questioning on sex allegations, has been granted political asylum by the South American country and has spent the last two months holed up in its London embassy. The UK government has made it clear the Australian activist will be arrested and extradited if he steps outside the building after jumping bail. Ecuador also claims that Britain has threatened to storm the embassy and detain 41-year-old Assange in a move that would violate diplomatic conventions. The Organisation of American States (OAS) met in Washington on Friday to discuss the situation and passed a motion backing the "inviolability of diplomatic missions". Senior officials from the 34-member bloc also urged the two sides to continue a dialogue to resolve the row. The UK government has warned that it can legally enter the embassy and arrest Assange under the 1987 Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act, but the foreign secretary, William Hague, has said there is no intention of "storming" the building. Britain's determination to arrest the WikiLeaks founder was laid bare on Friday by a document that revealed police had been told to detain him "under all circumstances" if he steps outside the embassy. The paper, captured by Press Association photographer Lewis Whyld, was recorded at a briefing and appears to order officers to make the arrest if Assange attempts to leave in a diplomatic bag or vehicle. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The document is one officer's notes from a briefing. Our objective is to arrest Julian Assange for breach of bail. Under no circumstances would any arrest be made which was in breach of diplomatic immunity." Assange is refusing to travel to Scandinavia amid fears he will be extradited to the United States over his controversial website. Ecuador granted the Australian political asylum last week. Ambassadors from several South American countries went to the embassy on Friday. An embassy spokesman said: "This display of support for the Ecuadorian government by South American ambassadors is a clear indication of the level of support Ecuador has amongst countries in America and a clear statement opposing the UK government's threats against the integrity and sovereignty of its embassy in London." Ecuador's president has said the diplomatic row "could be ended tomorrow" if Britain gave the activist safe passage to South America. Rafael Correa said: "This could end tomorrow if the UK grants safe passage, or it could go on for months and years if Mr Assange can't leave the embassy of Ecuador in London."
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