Koln CEO Claus Hortstmann adamant club will not be forced to sell Lukas Podolski

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Koln CEO Claus Horstmann has maintained that the club will not be forced into selling their star striker Lukas Podolski.

The Germany international has just 18 months left on his contract at the RheinEnergieStadion, and the likes of AC Milan and Arsenal are said to be monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation.

However, the club have always remained adamant that they will not be tempted to cash in on Podolski before the end of the season, sentiments Horstmann echoed.

“The club cannot keep investing and investing. We need to get perspective on transfer revenues. That doesn’t mean to imply that we have to sell Podolski,” he told Kicker.

Horstmann went on to say that the club’s big plan was to invest their money in youth development.

“Earn transfer revenue, consolidate, then develop top talent.”

Koln host local rivals Schalke this weekend at 18.30 CET in the Bundesliga

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Olympique de Marseille playmaker Lucho Gonzalez would only accept a move back to Porto in January

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Olympique de Marseille’s want-away playmaker Lucho Gonzalez would only accept a move back to his former club Porto in the winter transfer window, according to Le Parisien.

The 31-year-old announced his intention to leave the Stade Velodrome outfit in the summer, but was unable to secure a new club before the start of the season.

The Portuguese champions have expressed an interest in resigning the Argentine, and sporting director Jose Anigo recently confirmed that they had enquired about his availability.

However, a potential sticking point in the South American’s proposed move back to Estadio do Dragao is Marseille coach Didier Deschamps’ unwillingness to sell any players.

The Ligue 1 side are still fighting for silverware on four fronts, and the 43-year-old tactician is believed to be eager to keep his squad intact to ensure their best chance of success this year.

Marseille travel to Stade Rennais on January 29 at 21.00CET.

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Alban Bagbin Goes Unopposed

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The Nadowli West Constituency parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would finally come off on Saturday, January 28, 2012.

The Upper West Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. Eric Dakorah, told the Daily Graphic in Wa that the disqualification of Mr. Gaale Z.K. Roger, a parliamentary aspirant in the Nadowli West constituency, still holds after a meeting with the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the party had been held on the matter.

He said Mr. Alban Bagbin was therefore the sole candidate to contest the seat. Mr. Dakorah said everything possible was being done by the regional executive of the NDC to ensure that none of the parties involved in the rift was aggrieved and reiterated the need for supporters of both Mr. Alban Bagbin and Mr. Gaale to remain calm.

It would be recalled that following a petition filed by Mr. Roger Gaale, who was disqualified by the betting committee from the national headquarters of the party, the FEC invited Mr. Gaale for a meeting.

However, after the meeting the FEC stood its grounds and maintained the disqualification of Mr. Gaale thereby making Mr. Bagbin the sole candidate for the Nadowli West constituency seat on the ticket of the NDC.

Mr. Gaale’s declaration to contest the incumbent, Mr. Alban Bagbin, has continuously raised the political temperature in the NDC circles of the Nadowli West constituency. The postponement of the parliamentary primary in the constituency was as a result o the petition filed by Mr. Gaale.

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Spokesperson of Jose Mourinho slams Barcelona’s Dani Alves: ‘A donkey with small ears & glasses is still a donkey’

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Eladio Parames, the spokesman of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, has hit out at Barcelona defender Dani Alves in the wake of last Wednesday’s 2-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final draw at Camp Nou – with the Catalans winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Parames also voiced his dismay with the standard of refereeing in Spain, and stated his belief that Barcelona have the backing of the match officials if they are struggling in a game.

“What’s changed since he [Dani Alves] came to Spain. He’s undergone surgery on his ears, they’ve become smaller. And he’s wearing glasses like an intellectual. However, a donkey with small ears and glasses is not all of a sudden a doctor, he’s still a donkey,” Parames said on Twitter.

“I’ve already said it before. When Barcelona play well, they’re winning. If their opponents play better than them, the referee will help them to win.”

Parames than went on to reveal what Jose Mourinho said to referee Teixeira Vitienes in the parking area after Wednesday’s game.

“You have no respect for professionals. You’re going to smoke a cigar now and have a good laugh, you b*****d,” Mourinho said, according to his spokesman.

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Actress Luckie Lawson Celebrates Birthday With Son

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Star actress Luckie Lawson celebrated her (God knows how many years) birthday on Monday, January 23. She celebrated her milestone three days after her son Jayden also celebrated his.

NEWS-ONE is yet to confirm any impending party to commemorate the mother-and-son celebration. The actress and her son have since been receiving congratulatory messages on Blackberry, Facebook and Twitter from friends and family.

A rumoured surprise party for the actress however turned out to be a hoax. Currently she is on set busy doing what she knows best. Luckie was reluctant to disclose her age when contacted but she was happy that God had added another year to her life.

Last December, Luckie opened her new restaurant at East Legon, adjacent Del International Hospital. It is a few minutes’ drive from the PH Hotel, the former Protea Hotel.

Like her former Villa Garden, the place is becoming the hub for some of Ghana’s celebrities who pass through to have lunch. The new place is called ‘Mangoase’ and it’s one of the latest hot food joints in East Legon.

Luckie Lawson indeed has come to stay in the tenets of the movie industry. She is one of the few who command great respect and following.

She started as an actress but has moved on to become a producer with two movies to her credit. Her first movie was ‘Silence Is Golden’ which featured Ramsey Nuoah and Chika Ike, while the second was ‘Familiar Strangers’, starring Prince David Osei, Roselyn Ngissah, John Dumelo, Nana Ama McBrown and others.

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Emotional machines the next step in robot evolution

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Scientists at Poland’s Wroclaw University of Technology are taking human-robot interaction to another level with their EMYS android, which expresses human-like dispositions, such as anger, surprise, confusion joy, and sadness. The researchers say they are working towards a future where people and machines will interact in an entirely natural way. Jim Drury reports.

The ability to feel and express emotion help separate humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. It also distinguishes us from our constantly evolving creation – the robot. But Polish scientists believe they’ve taken a huge leap forward in bridging the android-human interaction gap. They’ve devised what they call the EMotive headY System – EMYS for short – a robot which expresses various human-like emotions and moods. One moment EMYS can show surprise………..the next joy………….it can even get upset.

Chief designer Professor Krzysztof Tchon believes EMYS will allow for much closer relationships between people and robots. SOUNDBITE (Polish) EMYS CONSTRUCTOR, PROFESSOR KRZYSZTOF TCHON, SAYING: “The robot is meant to accompany humans in their domestic environment or at the office. It has to be useful to humans, so it has to perform some functions useful for humans. And it is supposed to accompany humans for long periods of time, so it has to be polite.

That’s why the robot is able to express emotions to a certain degree and also read humans emotions and react accordingly.” The automaton uses an animated neck, three discs and a set of eyes to express nine different emotional states. Jan Kedzierski helped design and build EMYS. SOUNDBITE (Polish) EMYS CONSTRUCTOR, JAN KEDZIERSKI, SAYING: “The construction of the robot can be divided into three parts – the balancing platform, torso with hands and the head. The balancing platform is interesting because it behaves very naturally, the way a human behaves. Constructing the arms was quite a challenge because they had to be both light and capable of certain gestures. The most interesting part is the head, comprised of two discs and moving eyes, allowing the expression of certain emotions.” The robot was designed as a part of a European Union research program.

Its creators say the development of robots like EMYS, able to communicate without speech, represents a potentially huge breakthrough in android evolution. They hope their machine will herald a time when human-robot interaction is natural and unselfconscious, a future they say is well within sight. Jim Drury, Reuters.

Reuters

Cabbie Arrested For Rape

Daily Guide Africa
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BUSTED! Teye Kwame

A 33-YEAR-OLD taxi driver is in the grips of the Sakumono District Police for allegedly raping and robbing a passenger at knife point.

The suspect, Teye Kwame, a resident of Kotobabi No2 on the Spintex Road in Accra, was said to have taken his victim to an unsecured area and raped her in the taxi.

ASP Michael Addae, Sakumono District Crime Officer, told DAILY GUIDE that on January 19, 2012, the victim (name withheld) boarded the suspect’s taxi with registration number GS 3593-11 at about 2:30 am from Kotobabi No2 to Flower Pot on the Spintex Road.

Upon reaching an unsecured area, the driver was said to have parked, pulled out a jack knife and pointed it at the throat of his victim and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

After the act, according to the Crime Officer, Teye furiously pulled the victim from the vehicle naked and dragged her to a distant away from the scene, after which he sped off, leaving the victim to her fate.

He said the cabbie sped off with his victim’s handbag, a pair of slippers and an unspecified amount of money which were all in his car.

ASP Addae noted that while investigations were being conducted into the matter, another victim was said to have lodged a complaint at the Sakumono Police Station against the suspect for using the same method to rob and rape her.

On January 19, 2012, the victim, who was walking around Legon in Accra, was said to have spotted the suspect and identified him as the rapist.

 He was immediately arrested by the East-Legon Police in Accra and transferred to the Sakumono District Police Command where he was rearrested.

ASP Addae noted that the suspect would be arraigned when investigations into the matter were concluded.

He admonished the public, especially women, to be mindful of such miscreants and avoid staying out late or walking alone at night.

From Vincent Kubi, Sakumono

German Human Rights Commissioner appalled by the jailing of Ethiopian journalists

APO
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German Human Rights Commissioner appalled by the jailing of Ethiopian journalists

BERLIN, Germany, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today (26 January), a group of Ethiopian journalists and opposition politicians were sentenced to prison terms of between 14 years and life. In this connection Federal Government Human Rights Commissioner Markus Löning issued the following statement:

“I am appalled by the convictions. Freedom of the press is one of the foundations of every democracy. The Ethiopian Government has taken notable steps to take their country forward.

To be sustainable however, any development needs to go hand in hand with respect for human rights. It is vital for the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion to be safeguarded in Ethiopia.”

Journalists Reyot Alemu, Woubshet Taye and Elias Kifle (in absentia), ENDP leader Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher (Ethiopian National Democratic Party) and opposition supporter Hirut Kifle have been found guilty under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and Criminal Code of offences including the “planning, preparation conspiracy, incitement and attempt of terrorist act”.

“Like the whole international community I am personally gravely concerned about the future of the freedom of the press and of opinion in Ethiopia in the light of the numerous arrests and trials of journalists and opposition politicians under the Anti-Terrorism Code.”

Human rights policy

SOURCE 

Germany – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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PHILIPPINES: Protect journalist facing threats to his life

William Nicholas Gomes
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Dear Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales,

PHILIPPINES: Protect journalist facing threats to his life

Name of journalist facing threats: Ronald Allan Mascardo, editor and publisher of a local newspaper Dadiangas Balita in General Santos City.
Details about his threats: He received threats via his mobile after he made a speech against those involved in the murder of another journalist, Chris Guarin. Guarin was murdered in front of his wife and daughter on January 5, 2012.

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the threats to the life of Ronald Allan Mascardo, whose details are mentioned above. I am aware that the threats on Mascardo came after he openly criticized those involved in the murder of Chris Guarin.

Guarin, publisher and editor-in-chief of a daily community newspaper Tatak News, was earlier shot dead at 10pm on January 5, 2012 in the same city. During Guarin’s burial ceremony on January 15, Mascardo criticized those who allegedly ‘masterminded’ his murder. In his speech he was reported to have said:

“It deeply hurts. What do they think about us journalists? Don’t we have family, wives, children? Only because of the personal business interest of the others, of their interest to earn a living, they kill people to feed their family?” A day after, he received threatening messages from sender +63946 4823367 on his phone: “GIHAGIT MO ANG NAGPATAY KAY CHRIS GUARIN IKAW ANG SUNOD” (You are daring the killers of Chris Guarin. You will be next).

We are deeply concerned that Mascardo is now being targeted because of his criticism against those involved in the murder of Guarin. However, we see this not solely as an attack on Mascardo’s exercise of free speech as an individual and as a journalist, but also openly challenged the police establishment and the local government of General Santos.

We therefore urged you to ensure that investigation on who had made threats on him is adequately investigated upon. As you are aware, it is the primary responsibility of the police to ensure the security and safety of Mascardo, his family and those working for him, knowing full well of the threats on him. While we appreciate the police provision of security escorts on him, however, we have reservations as to how police escort operates.

Thus, we urge that adequate resources must be allocated to ensure the safety of Mascardo and that of his family. Also, we urge you to ensure that effective and adequate investigation in determining those who are responsible in the murder of Guarin is also conducted. We are of the opinion that those who made threat on Mascardo could also have responsibility into the pre-meditated murder of Guarin.

We trust that you take action in this matter promptly.

Yours sincerely,

William Nicholas Gomes
William’s Desk

www.williamgomes.org

Cool pictures of flights

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Some fresh pictures

Flights:

Spirit flight over San Diego. Lindbergh control during flight tests in April or May
Flights

photos San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives
Catalog #: 04_02659Album: 29Description: Spirit flight to San Diego. Lindbergh control during flight tests in April or mai.Date: 1927Ryan NEG:. 3074Nom album: Photos NYP Spirit – Vol 2Référentiel San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives

Wallpaper

– Maiden flight AF380 – CDG / JFK
Flights

photos ? Christopher RAMOS
Wallpaper 1920×1200 – Air France A380 – F-HPJA – MSN 033 – Flight inaugural20 November 2009: Air France Flight 380 about to enter its inaugural flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG / LFPG), the “Kennedy Airport (JFK / KJFK) New York. Photos: Thomas Lomino http://www.businesstraveltours.com//goto/http://www.flickr.com/photos/25695066@N00/Julien Chalus. http://www.businesstraveltours.com/cool-pictures-of-flights-22.htmlThank you so much.

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