Van Persie accuses Adebayor of deliberate stamp

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie has accused former teammate Emmanuel Adebayor of deliberately trying to injure him with a stamp during their English Premier League defeat to Manchester City.

Robin van Persie has accused Emmanuel Adebayor of trying to deliberately injure him.
var CNN_ArticleChanger = new CNN_imageChangerAdebayor, who left Arsenal for City in July for a fee in the region of $40 million, seemed to lunge at the Dutch international who sustained a cut on the side of his head which required treatment.
Match referee Mark Clattenburg did not get a clear view of the incident in a match which City won 4-2 at Eastlands and Adebayor escaped punishment following the van Persie incident, although he was booked for his goal celebration in front of the Arsenal fans after he ran the full length of the pitch.
Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore has confirmed the governing body will take a "good close look" at the two incidents involving Adebayor who scored in the 80th minute.
But van Persie directed his ire towards Togo international Adebayor, who spent three-and-a-half years at the Emirates Stadium before his move to City, with a statement on the official Arsenal Web site.

Britain denies deal with Libya over slain London cop

The British government has not dropped the case of a British police officer who was shot dead outside the Libyan embassy in London 25 years ago, the Foreign Office insisted Sunday.

British PM Gordon Brown is said to have spoken to Libyan leader Colonel Gadhafi about the Fletcher case in July.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown raised the killing of Yvonne Fletcher with Libya's leader, Moammar Gadhafi, as recently as July, when he visited Tripoli, a Foreign Office spokesman said.
"It is vital that the investigation is allowed to resume by the Libyans. The Fletcher family deserves answers. We continue to make every effort to press the Libyan Government to allow Metropolitan Police Service to visit," said the spokesman, who declined to be named in line with government policy.
Fletcher was shot in the back outside the Libyan People's Bureau, as the diplomatic offices were officially known, during a peaceful demonstration in 1984. London's Metropolitan Police say the shots that killed her came from the embassy.
Libya refused to let British police officers into the building to investigate that April 17, 1984 shooting, leading to what Scotland Yard calls "an 11-day siege" of the embassy. It ended with the occupants of the building being flown to Libya.

Clijsters into final amid controversial scenes

Serena Williams' bid to defend her U.S. Open title ended in controversy after the defending champion angrily remonstrated with a line judge at the end of her semifinal match against unseeded Kim Clijsters on Saturday.

Williams talks to head referee Brian Earley after being penalized in her semifinal against Clijsters.

The Belgian had been a set and 6-5 up when the line judge foot-faulted Williams on a second serve to give Clijsters match point.
Williams turned angrily to shout at the line judge and gesticulated with her racket, while some reports quoted Williams as saying "If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat and kill you."
The line official informed match umpire Louise Engzell about the incident and tournament referee Brian Earley came on to the court as matters came to a head.
Should Serena show more respect to tennis officials or was she right to be angry? Sound Off below.
Williams continued to argue with the officials and disputed the version of events given -- before she stormed off to shake hands with Clijsters having realized she had been penalized a point on match point for verbal abuse.

Suspect in 10 bank robberies arrested

A man suspected of robbing at least 10 banks in four states has been arrested, according to an FBI investigator and the Missouri State Patrol.

The FBI says this surveillance image shows Chad Schaffner, who they say robbed at least 10 banks.

( Chad Schaffner was arrested Saturday in Callaway County, Missouri, according to a dispatcher for the Missouri State Patrol and an FBI investigator close to the case.
The arrest took place in Kingdom City, Missouri, at about 2:45 p.m., said Missouri State Patrol radio operator Paula Price.
Authorities received a tip from someone who recognized Schaffner and gave his whereabouts, she said. Price would not say where the arrest took place, but said it occurred without incident and did not happen during a traffic stop. Kingdom City is about 100 miles west of St. Louis, Missouri.
Schaffner, 37, faces charges including bank robbery in Tennessee; burglary in Indiana; armed robbery in Illinois; and receiving stolen property in Ohio, Price said. He also faces drug charges from the Missouri State Patrol, she said. Schaffner is suspected of robbing banks in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, according to the FBI.

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Easy Rider’ Rides Again

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/12/09 - There are very few films that define a generation. “Easy Rider” was one, even though it was a terrible movie.This writer saw the original and it changed his life.Now a sequel of sorts has emerged, though Dennis Hopper is neither director, nor Peter Fonda not the star. Yet moves must be made to clear the way for the new fans.Yet as flawed as Hopper’s first film was, it was an appropriate fast ride through our youth. We all wanted to become outlaws, till we saw the final scene.Now there is new one, with new actors.One of the world’s quintessential cult film classics is roaring back onto the big screen. The long-awaited sequel/prequel EASY RIDER: THE RIDE BACK is ready to go on the road and slated to hold sneak peek screenings in select cities starting in October

NFL 2009: Get your Popcorn and Beer Ready

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 09/12/09 - The NFL season kicks into high gear this Sunday with a full slate of games and no shortage of intriguing storylines that will surely captivate fans and media alike. Besides the return of Tom Brady and Michael Vick and the arrival of T.O. in Buffalo, fans must also wonder: How will Brett Favre’s veteran presence impact the Super Bowl contender Minnesota Vikings? Can the Detroit Lions, who were the NFL’s first 0 - 16 team in 2008, be victorious in at least one game this season? Which team will be the surprise team of 2009 - 2010? Stay tuned every Sunday and Monday night. By the time February rolls around, all questions will be answered.

New Wizard of Oz in Making

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today/ C21) 9/11/09 — Endemol France has poached IMG Entertainment’s formats chief to handle format acquisitions in the territory and overseas, replacing Grant Ross, who has left only months after being promoted.
International formats players converge on London 11 Sep 2009Some of the world’s biggest formats buyers and producers; including Sony, Fox, Discovery, Ten Network, Studio Lambert, ITV Global, Comcast, Ned 3, Viasat, Australia’s Lifestyle Channel, Armoza and Zig Zag are coming together at C21’s Formats Lab Live in London on October 2 to discuss The Next Big Thing in non-scripted televis

Iran nuclear plans 'revealed' on Web site

An online news organization has published what it said is a copy of Iran's proposals to the United Nations which were supposed to address international concerns about its nuclear program.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

This week, Iran distributed its proposals to the diplomatic representatives of the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members, plus Germany.
The proposals have not been released to the public and CNN cannot independently verify that the five-page document on ProPublica.org is the actual proposal submitted to the U.N.
ProPublica.org describes itself as an independent news organization that "produces investigative journalism in the public interest."
The United States -- one of the permanent members, or "P-5" -- believes Iran's proposals are "not really responsive" to the concerns about its nuclear program, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Thursday

Coast Guard to review exercise after Potomac security scare

The U.S. Coast Guard promised a "thorough review" after a training incident Friday along the Potomac River briefly triggered concerns about the security of President Obama on the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

U.S. Coast Guard vessels appear Friday between the Memorial and 14th Street bridges on the Potomac River.
The Coast Guard will "take a good, hard look" at how it handled the routine training exercise to determine if the security scare that followed could have been avoided, Vice Adm. John Currier said.
Federal agency emergency operations centers were not aware of or notified about the exercise on the Potomac, and they began implementing response procedures, a federal source said.
Even the police department's Harbor Patrol, which is responsible for patrolling the river, was not notified, law enforcement sources in Washington said.
The patrol has now demanded the Coast Guard notify it in the future before any training exercises on the Potomac, the sources said.
The Coast Guard did not alert other agencies when it conducted the exercise, Currier said

Del Potro reaches his first U.S. Open semis

Sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina ended the U.S. Open semifinal hopes of Croatian 16th seed Marin Cilic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

Juan Martin Del Potro celebrates a point against Marin Cilic during their quarterfinals U.S. Open match Thursday.
Del Potro kept unforced errors to 24, less than half Cilic's 53, and converted all of his break points in their quarterfinal match on Thursday. Del Potro, reaching his first U.S. Open semifinals, will face either Fernando Gonzalez or Rafael Nadal, whose quarterfinal match was suspended Thursday night because of rain.
Eleventh seed Gonzalez of Chile and number three seed Nadal of Spain were in their 2nd straight tie-breaking set, with Nadal leading 7-6 (7-4), 6-6 (3-2) when play was suspended.
Nadal, the six-time grand slam winner and reigning Australian Open champion, has been coming off a two-month lay-off due to knee tendinitis, a break that kept him from defending his 2008 Wimbledon crown. Gonzalez's best prior performance at the U.S. Open was as a quarterfinalist in 2002, and he was a semifinalist at the French Open this year.

IAAF urges caution over Semenya intersex claims

The international governing body for athletics urged caution Friday after reports that the world-champion South African runner Caster Semenya has both male and female organs.

The front cover of You magazine shows Semenya after a recent makeover.

The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia and The Sun newspaper in Britain reported that gender tests ordered by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) show the 18-year-old is a hermaphrodite.
Neither paper named the source of their information. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies would not discuss the findings with CNN. "I simply haven't seen the results," Davies said.
"We have received the results from Germany, but they now need to be examined by a group of experts and we will not be in a position to speak to the athlete about them for at least a few weeks.
"After that, depending on the results, we will meet privately with the athlete to discuss further action." Has Semenya been treated fairly?
The IAAF issued a statement, saying no decision on the case will be announced until the experts can look at the results.
A final decision regarding the case is not expected before the IAAF Council meets in late November in Monaco, the IAAF said.

Taiwan's Chen, wife sentenced to life

Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was convicted Friday on corruption and money laundering charges, and was sentenced to life in prison, according to officials at Taipei City Court.

Former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian walks inside the Taipei Detention Centre in Tucheng on Friday.

He was fined 200 million New Taiwan dollars (U.S.$6.1 million) as well.
Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen, who earlier had been convicted of lying to prosecutors, also was convicted on similar charges. She received a life sentence and was fined 300 million New Taiwan dollars (U.S. $9.1 million), according to the Central News Agency, Taiwan's official news agency.
The former president was not at the courthouse when the verdict was read. He had asked to be excused and was being held at a detention center.
Supporters of Chen gathered outside the courthouse hours before the verdict, wearing bright-green shirts, and carrying yellow balloons and banners. Riot police stood by in case the crowd got out of control as they protested the verdict.

Digital contacts will keep an eye on your vital signs

Forget about 20/20. "Perfect" vision could be redefined by gadgets that give you the eyes of a cyborg.

The surface of the eye can be used to measure much of the same data you would get from blood tests.

The tech industry calls the digital enrichment of the physical world "augmented reality." Such technology is already appearing in smartphones and toys, and enthusiasts dream of a pair of glasses we could don to enhance our everyday perception. But why stop there?
Scientists, eye surgeons, professors and students at the University of Washington have been developing a contact lens containing one built-in LED, powered wirelessly with radio frequency waves.
Eventually, more advanced versions of the lens could be used to provide a wealth of information, such as virtual captions scrolling beneath every person or object you see. Significantly, it could also be used to monitor your own vital signs, such as body temperature and blood glucose level.
Why a contact lens? The surface of the eye contains enough data about the body to perform personal health monitoring, according to Babak Parvis, a University of Washington professor of bionanotechnology, who is working on the project.

Renault refer Nelson Piquet Jr. to police

The Renault Formula One team have commenced legal proceedings against former driver Nelson Piquet Junior over allegations made by the Brazilian that he was asked by the team to deliberately crash his car in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore has issued a statement confirming legal proceddings against Nelson Piquet Jr.

It has been claimed that Renault boss, Flavio Briatore, in order to maximize the chances of Fernando Alonso winning the 2008 race, planned the crash of teammate Piquet Jr.
Renault have hit back against the allegations concerning the event made by Piquet Jr in an official statement on their Web site.
"Managing Director Flavio Briatore personally wish[es] to state criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior [have commenced] in France concerning the making of false allegations," the statement read.
The statement added the three-times former world champion and his son had also attempted to "blackmail the team" into allowing Piquet Jr to continue to drive until the end of the 2009 season.
Renault, who dismissed Piquet Jr as their driver in August, confirmed they have referred the matter to the British police.

Here's the official Sony PSP-3000 versus PSP-2000 LCD comparison image. Click to see full size.

Sony added the antireflective technology to improve the PSP's outdoor playability. We took our two PSPs outside for some side-by-side testing under the bright California sun. Neither system was playable in direct sunlight, but the PSP-3000's display performed better than the 2000's when we took a look at both systems in a shady area beneath a tree. We had difficulty taking pictures of the PSP's antireflective screen in action outside--please bear with our angled indoor shots. The new system has the same video-out port and uses the exact same video cables as the PSP-2000, but Sony has upgraded the PSP-3000's video output to support gameplay output on interlaced displays using composite video cables. The move will surely excite gamers dismayed over the fact that the PSP Slim can output gameplay video only to progressive scan displays. Now they can buy a new PSP instead of an HDTV.
The PSP-3000's other major upgrade is its new built-in microphone. Sony put the integrated microphone into the PSP design roadmap after seeing the success of the headset-enabled SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo. Sony placed the microphone pickup beneath the screen to the right of the volume buttons, well out of thumb reach, to prevent any inadvertent muting.

PRESS RELEASE: Win tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup with your best football image

Sony World Photography Awards calls all sports and photography enthusiasts
Do you love sport? Are you passionate about photography? Would you like to go to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sponsored by Sony?
As sports fans get ready for the biggest football event of next year, the Sony World Photography Awards – one of the largest global photographic competitions – is looking to uncover the best amateur football photographs in the world for the 2010 Campaign Award. The winning photographer will win tickets, travel and accommodation to a FIFA World Cup game in South Africa.
Combining the global love for football and sports photography, the Campaign Award seeks to find an image that captures the emotion and the passion of football from the fan’s point of view - the highs, the lows, and the incredible lengths supporters will go to support their teams. The award is now in its second year and was won in 2009 by Pakistani photographer Sarah Ahmad for her photograph titled “The Love of the Game: a cook, a cleaner, a mother… and an attacking midfielder”.

Prepare for the New Sony PlayStation 3 Slim, What You Need to Know

PlayStation fans, the confirmation is finally here. Sony Entertainment has announced the new Sony PlayStation 3 or PS3 Slim going to be available worldwide starting September 1st 2009. (Pre-order here)
What's the big difference between the new PS3 Slim and the bulky PS3? Well, just by looking at the price tag, the new PS3 Slim is going to cost only $299. It is less expensive than the bulky PS3. If you are waiting for the price of a PS3 console to come down, now September is a good time to jump in and you will be able to enjoy the new PS3 Slim.
The major visible differences between the new PS3 and the old one are PS3 Slim is not shiny and is less touch sensitive as it is replaced by a textured surface and physical buttons, and a lot smaller and thinner.
The PS3 Slim comes with 120GB harddrive, built in Wi-Fi network card, and the same two USB ports in the lower left front panel. It is still not compatible with PS3 games, lacking IR functionality and the ability to install other operating systems such as Linux.
The PS3 Slim not only cuts down the price, but it also cuts down the physical size (33% smaller), the weight (39% lighter), and the power use (34% less).

sony PS4 Future of consoles to be released

Are the next gen console PS4 or Xbox 3 really coming soon?In this age of gaming wars where companies fight for the supremacy of the gaming industry, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have been competing. These companies have been trying hard to woo the consumers with variety of features. In addition, most of all the age of integration has come now with adding of more than one device into the other. Gadgets are made such that they perform works of other gadgets too.For example the PlayStation 3 which is a gaming rig and a technology marvel is made for killer graphics and excellent performance. Apart from that, a blu ray drive is integrated into it so that it can be used as a blu ray player eliminating the need to buy a standalone blu ray drive. A 160 gb hard disk is also added in the drive so that one can save photos , videos, songs and others. In Wii, you have card reader so that one can connect media to the console and use it as a media player. Xbox console is the best ever online gaming device now with millions and millions of people using it for online gaming.Millions of dollars have been diverted to the research and development of these devices over the past years where each company tried to outcast the other by improving their consoles. The playstation updated to playstation two and later on to playstation three. Xbox released a normal Xbox and then upgraded to Xbox 360. Like this the fight among these companies have brought to the best of gaming devices available now .But since they made a trend of bring up newer consoles now and then , everyone is looking forward for a Xbox 3 and the PS4 . Though these are good enough for now, the rumors of next generation of consoles under development are creating raves.Considering the amount of money spent on the development of these consoles the companies would not want to release out a new one they still did not capitalize much on it yet. and also this will cause a heavy pressure from the software manufacturers as all that they made for these consoles will be obsolete if a newer console comes up . so possibility of releasing a newer version of these consoles until 2012 -2013 is very meek .Why should they release a new console when the rigs they made are good enough for some more year from now and it’s a strongly wise decision to stick to it. But then again if someone else dares to launch a new console sooner they can capitalize on that initially but sooner and later due to the completion others will also have to follow and release newer model but eventually it’s the consumer who will be happy with such kind of move than the companies.So finally it is clear that there is as such no need to release newer models but they will certainly delay the release as long as possible . However, someone will blink first in between for sure!!

Eight years since the 'dark day'

By Roger Hardy BBC Middle East and Islamic affairs analyst
Across the United States, the memory of 9/11 - that fateful Tuesday in 2001 when suicide attacks struck New York and Washington - is still very much alive.
This year the annual commemoration of the attacks in the US has been given a new name - the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have called on Americans to carry out community service as a way of honouring "the heroes of that dark day".
Down but not out
Dealing with the legacy of 9/11 is one of Mr Obama's toughest challenges.
There has been no repeat of 9/11 on American soil - but around the world al-Qaeda and its extended family are still in business.
Three recent events show that the global threat remains real:
the hotel bombings in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in July
the assassination attempt in August against the Saudi prince who is in day-to-day charge of his country's internal security
and the conviction this week of three British Muslims for their involvement in a plot to bomb seven transatlantic airliners in 2006.

Al-Qaeda leaders could still be winning the global battle for hearts and minds
The consensus among most experts is that al-Qaeda is down but not out.
It has been weakened by constant pressure from the US and its allies. Some of its middle-ranking leaders have been killed in US air strikes by pilotless Predator drones.
In two important countries where it once seemed strong - Iraq and Saudi Arabia - it has been pushed on to the defensive.
But the same experts tend to think that, in the global battle for Muslim hearts and minds, al-Qaeda has outperformed its adversaries.
Its ideology still seems to have a potent appeal to disaffected young Muslims around the world

United Nations: Drop the US Dollar as World Reserve Currency

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United Nations: Drop the US Dollar as World Reserve Currency

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UN: Drop the Dollar and use the SDR, made up of US$, Yen, Euro and Pound
New York, United States, 9 September, 2009. The United Nations has stepped into the debate on the future of the US Dollar - to urge that it be dropped as the world's reserve currency. What was once seen as a slightly crackpot idea has quickly gained traction in world capitals, particularly Beijing, Moscow and Tehran, but this is the first time that a world organisation has openly taken this position.
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The UN Conference on Trade and Development, or UNCTAD, has said in its new report that trade imbalances and the breakdown in the way currencies and capital rules work was 'largely' responsible for the financial crisis. Although this fact has been pointed out by many economists and politicians, no-one has spelled out a potential solution - until now. It is calling for the biggest overhaul of the world's monetary system since World War II. In effect, it is suggesting that a new composite or artificial currency be created, that would be a weighted basket of major currencies. In other words, rather than having the US Dollar as the sole reserve currency, the new system would bring in a range of currencies that should balance out into a more stable system. The idea would be to use the IMF's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which are formed from a basket of currencies but are used for accounting purposes only. Under the plan, the 'supranational' currency would start to be used for active trading

Obama urges action on healthcare

Mr Obama had strong words for opponents of healthcare reform
"Less Spocky, More Rocky".
That is what the New York Times' Maureen Dowd said Barack Obama needed to show in his all-important address to Congress.
He has tried using his Spock-like powers of logic, reason and argument to persuade the public to back his precious healthcare reform, but so far it has not really worked, hence the need for the kind of fight-back and grit personified on screen by Sylvester Stallone.
The reality is that the president needed to show both passion and force of reason in his speech.
Determined
To Congress, he needed to show political resolve - that he was determined to press ahead with his healthcare reform.
But he also needed to explain to the public, in a calm, reassuring manner, what those reforms entailed and to add clarity - something he has not really done so far.
Some opinion polls show the public is now more confused about what is being proposed than they were several months ago.
The town hall meetings held up and down the country over the summer have shed plenty of heat, but not much light.
While Democrats have been greeted by angry crowds and howls of protests at those meetings, the president received cheers and applause when he entered the House of Representatives. You would hardly guess that his approval ratings have taken a tumble.

Wales 1-3 Russia

Russia edged an action-packed World Cup qualifying encounter against a youthful Wales side at the Millennium Stadium.
Igor Semshov gave the visitors the lead in Cardiff late in the first half after being set free by Andrei Arshavin.
Wales were back on level terms thanks to James Collins as the defender turned in Aaron Ramsey's near-post corner.
But a low Sergei Ignashevich free-kick and Roman Pavlyuchenko's injury-time third, from a defensive blunder, ended Wales' last faint qualification hopes.
With Group Four leaders Germany also winning on Wednesday evening, brushing aside Azerbaijan 4-0, it is they and Russia - a point behind the Germans on 21 - who are in pole position to reach the finals in South Africa.
606: DEBATE
Wales have got a great team just need a finisher up front
akaUnique
Wales' performance, if not the result, offered some salve to the home defeat in front of a disappointing crowd of 11,589.
There was also hope with Finland being held 1-1 away to bottom side Liechtenstein that Wales can still overhaul the Finns for third place and earn a better draw for future qualifying campaigns.
Wales are five points behind Finland but their next group game is against those opponents in Helsinki on 10 October.
The home side had started brightly in Cardiff and it took just five minutes for Collins to record Wales' first attempt on target.
Unfortunately for John Toshack's side the big defender, who had stayed up after a corner, was unable to get much power on his back-post header and Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev collected comfortably.
Then a minute later Wales debutant Brian Stock collected a loose ball 25 yards from goal on the right and the Doncaster Rovers midfielder fizzed a rising shot across the face of goal.
Inevitably Russia got their slick passing game going and Alexander Kerzhakov played a one-two before tumbling theatrically in the Wales area after running into Collins.
Referee Manuel de Sousa waved that penalty appeal away but needed a longer, harder look when Chris Gunter dived in clumsily on Vladimir Bystrov and was fortunate to be given the benefit of the doubt.

James Collins celebrates scoring Wales' equaliser against Russia
There was a pleasing cut and thrust developing in the game, with Ramsey and Sam Ricketts - catching the eye with a dashing display from right wing-back - looking particularly dangerous for Wales.
Stock was also playing his part in a more holding midfield role, looking every inch the likely successor to the likes of the retired Carl Fletcher and Carl Robinson.
But Wales were thankful to Wayne Hennessey midway through the half as the keeper had to react quickly twice in succession to keep his goal intact.
First the Wolves stopper had to be alert when Danny Gabbidon nearly diverted an Arshavin cross into his own net, then Hennessey flung himself left to turn a Kerzhakov shot round the post.
Wales were still showing their teeth on the counter and Joe Ledley was unfortunate he could only direct a header at Akinfeev after good work from Ricketts.
But nine minutes before half-time Russia finally broke through thanks to the brilliance of captain Arshavin.
The Arsenal player cut in from the right and hit a slide-rule pass into the path of Semshov, momentarily lost by Stock, who struck a low, angled shot into the bottom left corner.
Wales had two half-chances to get back on level terms before the break, as Craig Bellamy fired over from a tight angle with team-mates hoping for a cross, while Dave Edwards just lacked the pace to finish Gabbidon's through-ball.
But Russia, vying for top spot in Group Four with Germany, were penned back within nine minutes of the restart.
Bellamy's persistence earned a corner on the left and Collins got across his marker to turn home Ramsey's near-post cross, the Aston Villa defender scoring his second international goal.
The equaliser drained Russia's confidence and for a while the visitors were hanging on.

Russia's Sergei Semak tussles with Wales captain Craig Bellamy
Gunter cut in from the right to fire a speculative shot over the bar, before Ramsey scuffed his effort wide from the edge of the area.
Then Edwards did well to win a goalmouth scramble to get a shot away, only for a deflection and Sergei Semak's acrobatic overhead kick to clear the danger.
But Russia regained their composure and Gabbidon did well to throw himself in front of an Arshavin shot as the midfielder ghosted into position.

Scotland 0-1 Netherlands

Scotland's World Cup dream ended as a late Eljero Elia goal gave Group Nine winners Netherlands victory despite a brave effort from George Burley's side.
Dirk Kuyt struck the Scots' post early on, while Kenny Miller fired against the Dutch crossbar.
A Steven Naismith shot struck a Dutch post and Miller's effort on the rebound was saved by Michel Vorm.
But the Dutch made it eight wins out of eight when Elia pounced on David Weir's mistake to run clear and score.
And so the dream died with nine minutes left on the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009.
It had been a terrific performance by the Scots, but Elia's strike meant that Norway clinched the runners-up spot after their 2-1 victory over Macedonia - and raises question marks about the future of manager Burley.
Both sides had been forced to do without their first-choice goalkeepers, Scotland's Craig Gordon and Holland's Maarten Stekelenburg failing fitness tests earlier in the day.
David Marshall came into the home side after losing 11 goals in his previous three internationals and nearly conceded another within minutes of the kick-off.


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Interviews - George Burley, Darren Fletcher and David Weir
Kuyt fired a snap shot from 20 yards that struck the outside of the far post before the ball bounced clear.
Scotland soaked up that early pressure and ought to have opened the scoring after nine minutes.
Alan Hutton's superb early cross found Scott Brown sneaking unmarked into the box, but the midfielder skewed his half-volley just wide from eight yards.
Wesley Sneijder had recovered from an injury picked up against Japan to start for the Dutch and forced Marshall into his first save after 24 minutes with a 22-yard drive that the keeper did well to turn over the crossbar.
That sparked the visitors into life and Scotland were split open by a fine through ball from Robin van Persie, but Marshall did superbly to block Arjen Robben's low effort from 14 yards.
The home side responded and Miller fired a volley off the underside of the crossbar from a difficult angle wide on the right.
Naismith, playing wide on the right in his first Scotland start, had the ball in the net off the far post but was pulled up for offside - a narrow but probably correct decision.
The Rangers forward struck the post with his next effort after 38 minutes, his low drive being turned on to the post by Vorm and Miller should have found the net from eight yards only for the goalkeeper to recover and turn the ball to safety.

Wozniacki ends Oudin US Open run

Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki brought an end to the amazing run of American teenager Melanie Oudin with victory in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The Dane, 19, showed why she is ranked ninth in the world with a 6-2 6-2 win over the 17-year-old Oudin.
Wozniacki will next meet unseeded Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer in a first Grand Slam semi for both women.
Wickmayer beat Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5 6-4 in a scrappy encounter to win the first of Wednesday's quarter-finals.
Oudin, ranked 70, had become the story of the US Open as she beat Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova on her way through to the last eight.
But after the day session had overrun, Oudin and Wozniacki began their match in a nearly empty Arthur Ashe Stadium as the night-session crowd filed in.
This has been a great experience for me, I've had a great run
Melanie Oudin
It was a low-key atmosphere compared to Oudin's previous matches and her performance fell flat in the face of some measured play from Wozniacki.
The Dane broke straight away as Oudin made numerous unforced errors and again to lead 5-1, before Oudin finally got going on her forehand side and cut the deficit.
A nervous game followed from both players but Wozniacki converted her third set point when Oudin sent a forehand long.
The American's chance to get back into the match came at 2-2 in the second set but a wayward backhand and forehand saw two break points go begging and Wozniacki reeled off four straight games to seal a place in the last eight.
"She's such a strong player, she doesn't give you anything for free," said Oudin, who made 43 unforced errors.
"This has been a great experience for me, I've had a great run. Caroline played a great match today. I hope to come back next year and do even better."
606: DEBATE
who knows, we may even have an all-Belgian final!
princeSchadenfreude
Wozniacki said: "I've never passed the fourth round before. When I made the quarter-finals I was so happy. Now I'm in the semi-finals and hopefully I can try and win the next match."
Wickmayer, ranked two places above Bondarenko at 50th in the world, snatched a tight first set in the earlier quarter-final and, although Bondarenko led 4-1 in the second set, a series of errors cost her dear.
"Playing semis in a Grand Slam is great, amazing," said the 19-year-old. "Before this my best was second round, so it's so exciting, it's all been amazing.
"When you get to the third or fourth round you start surprising yourself but actually I've been staying pretty calm. I've worked really hard for this.

Wickmayer had won one match in six Grand Slams before New York
"Every match I can win. I'm really excited. I'm really happy."
Wickmayer becomes the second unseeded Belgian to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, following the progress of her idol, former world number one Kim Clijsters, on Tuesday

A Family Feud Destroys Oasis While Blast From The Past Makes A Comeback

A Family Feud Destroys Oasis While Blast From The Past Makes A Comeback
By Andrea Frascione
Oasis Is On The Fritz - And Blast From The Past Seems To Be Today’s Music
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today/RPRN) 09/08/09 —Famed Brit-pop band Oasis has split up on this, their fifteenth year, in the music business. Touted by Rollingstone magazine as the ‘second-coming of the Beatles’, Liam and Noel Gallagher’s debut album in 1994, Definitely Maybe, succeeded in turning the UK, and eventually, the rest of the world, on its heels. Despite much controversy throughout the group’s career, Oasis remained a solid, respected, rock n’ roll icon. As reported by the BBC, Noel Gallagher left Oasis prior to a scheduled appearance at a French music festival last weekend, and the remainder of their European tour has since been

New York Rolls out the Red Carpet for Fashion Week

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 09/08/09 - The fashion world ascends on New York this week as top designers and celebrities prepare for the start of New York’s Fashion Week September 10th. The extravaganza in Manhattan is the first of four major fashion shows, ahead of Milan, Paris and London. The event will showcase the ready-to-wear 2010 spring-summer collections from some of the industries’ biggest designers, including Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and more.
This year’s show is intended to have a cozy, romantic atmosphere. One of the latest as-seen-on-tv obsessions, the Snuggie, will be a main feature on the runways, as models will strut their stuff in the latest colors and cuts of the Snuggie. Spring 2010 will also be about delicate romance. Expect to see models floating down the catwalk in light, flowy dresses with beautiful draping and soft ruffles.

Behind the fashion and romance lie more important initiatives, with the runway hopefully acting as a springboard for the economic side of the industry.

Melrose Place’ to Premiere Tonight After ‘90210’

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz leads the CW’s new teen wave
By Matthew B. Zeidman
NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 9/8/09 – After “90210” widened the CW’s flowering teen-drama base last season, the network decided to remake yet another part of the “Beverly Hills: 90210” franchise, the scandal-laden “Melrose Place.” Fans of the rich and naughty will finally get a look at the finished product tonight at 9:00 p.m. EDT (on the East Coast), when entertainer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz heads the largely unknown cast.
Simpson-Wentz will play the role of Violet Foster, a wide-eyed, yet sexy country girl transplanted to Southern California. Several actors from the original series have signed on for regular roles and guest appearances, including Laura Leighton, who will reprise her role as Sydney Andrews.
“Melrose Place” will be a return to acting for 24-year-old Simpson-Wentz, who first took the national spotlight in 2002 with a supporting role on family-friendly dramedy “7th Heaven.” “7th Heaven” was the flagship show for several years on the CW and one of its predecessor networks, the WB, and originally starred Jessica Biel and Barry Watson

DVD: Bedknobs and Broomsticks

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/8/2009 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks, originally released in 1971, has many similarities to Mary Poppins (1964). It’s a musical that combines live action and animation. It shares with Mary Poppins actors David Tomlinson and Reginald Owen, Disney songwriters the Sherman Brothers, director Robert Stevenson, art director Peter Ellenshaw, and music director Irwin Kostal.
In Bedknobs and Broomsticks, apprentice witch Miss Price and three Cockney children war evacuees seek sorcerer Emelius Browne, who turns out to be an illusionist con man, and not a very good one. Browne is played by David Tomlinson. Price is played by Angela Landsbury. The three children are played by Cindy O’Callaghan, Roy Snart and Ian Weighill. They travel on a enchanted flying bed across war-torn England and beyond searching for the missing

Sigma releases 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS

Sigma has announced an image-stabilized telephoto zoom in the shape of the 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS. Suitable for use on both APS-C and full frame cameras, this lens incorporates Sigma's Optical Stabilization technology allowing hand-held shooting at shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than usual, along with a circular diaphragm for attractive rendition of out-of-focus backgrounds. The minimum focus distance is 1.5m giving a maximum magnification of 0.26x; unlike Sigma's non-stabilized 70-300mm zooms there's no extended macro focusing option. The lens will available for users of Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony SLRs at a SRP of £399.

Samsung releases HZ25W superzoom digital camera

Pre-IFA 2009: Samsung has released the HZ25W (WB5000 in Europe) with 24x optical zoom. A variant of other recently launched superzooms, the camera offers a field of view of 26-624mm equivalent, 3.0 inch LCD and a 12.47 MP sensor. It features 720p HD video recording in an advanced H.264 format, but does not provide an HD output. Other features include RAW format shooting, Image Stabilization, P/A/S/M shooting modes and enhanced Face Recognition

Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi lens upgrade group test

It’s fair to say the majority of people buying the new Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi will do so with its kit lens. This bundled EF-S 18-55mm delivers a 3x optical zoom range covering wide angle to short telephoto and is a good general purpose starter lens. The fact it’s included for little extra cost over the body-only price makes it a no-brainer.
While the EF-S 18-55mm performs surprisingly well for its price though, you’ll really need to upgrade to something better to make the most of your 400D / XTi. Upgrading also gives you the opportunity to enjoy a longer focal range along with features which could include Image Stabilisation to combat camera-shake, improved focusing, or greater capabilities in low light.

Leica X1 and brief hands-on

Alongside the M9 Leica has also announced the X1, a compact camera with a large APS-C sensor and a fixed 35mm equivalent field-of-view F2.8 autofocus lens. Featuring a design reminiscent of M-series rangefinders, complete with analogue-style shutter speed and aperture dials, the camera offers a choice of fully automatic or manual control. A 2.7" LCD and 12Mp CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 100 to 3200 round off the specification. Registered owners will be able to download a copy of Adobe Lightroom to process the camera's DNG raw files. During our visit to Leica two weeks ago we were lucky enough to get our hands on a pre-production camera, click through for our initial impression and hands-on pictures. (

Leica M9 and hands-on preview

Leica has officially revealed the M9 - a full frame version of its M-mount rangefinder. The Leica M9, with its 24 x 36mm, 18 megapixel sensor is, according to the company: 'the world's smallest full-frame system camera.' The body is available in a new 'Steel Gray' finish and offers minor button re-arrangement over the M8 - all the major changes relate to the internals. The Kodak-developed CCD sensor features improved offset microlenses to optimize performance at the edges of the frame along with a sensor cover with improved filtering of infrared light so lens-mounted IR filters are no longer needed. Most importantly, the 35mm film-sized sensor means every Leica M-mount lens provides the originally intended field of vie

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The great Valentino

Valentino Rossi is one of only a handful of champions in the modern era whose popularity has transcended their sport. As the Italian maestro closes in on an eighth world title, CNN charts the rise of the charismatic king of two wheels.






Valentino Rossi celebrates his 102nd victory at the Brno Grand Prix in the Czech Republic.



more photos » Born in Urbano, Italy in 1979, Valentino Rossi's achievements in the sport are nothing short of extraordinary. Eight world titles, 102 wins and over 150 podium finishes have already made him the most successful rider of all time.



Rossi began racing karts as a ten-year-old, before moving to two wheels in 1992. Four years later in his first Grand Prix season he won -- aged seventeen -- at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic in the 125cc World Championship

10 tips for getting a pay raise in a recession

The recession is a good excuse for employers to introduce a pay freeze, but what if you think your hard work deserves greater financial reward? Four experts share their tips for getting a pay raise during the downturn.






With a bit of luck, you could get a pay raise, even in the current economic climate.



1. Knowledge is power, so before you pursue a pay increase, do some research."Compare your salary with that of your colleagues and with job adverts so you know the market salary for your position," says Sherridan Hughes, occupational psychologist with Career Analysts.



2. "You need to justify a pay raise," says Corinne Mills, managing director of Personal Career Management. She says you need to show your boss that you are exceeding your job requirements.



"You need to demonstrate that you have brought in business or have taken on additional responsibility. Perhaps redundancies mean you have been doing the jobs of two people," says Mills.



3. Don't work harder for that pay increase, work smarter -- and work in line with the goals of management. So says Robert Weil, president of Institute for Coaching. "Increased pay and bonuses go first to those who impact the bottom line or impact what is most important to management," he says.



4. Weil says you must make sure your actions and daily plan are aligned with your company goals. "If the company, for example, wants more business from existing clients, then make sure you are putting all of your energy into that. If your company wants to cut costs, make sure you are doing that," he says. "Think outside the box, get creative and be resourceful".



5. It's not all bad news. David Randall, a career consultant with Career Energy, says that even in the depths of the downturn, some businesses are giving pay raises.



"Firms need talent and talent costs money -- if they don't pay then people will go elsewhere. That applies in large measure to executives, who are by definition talented," he says.



Do you have any tips for getting a pay raise? Sound Off below



6. Randall says that when you approach your boss for a raise you need to create a win-win deal for both of you. You should say that your goal is to have a higher salary and you want to know what to do to perform to a higher level that justifies that salary.



"It could be you can do that by working in a different way, by taking on more responsibility or by meeting certain targets that your manager can set," he says. "Whatever it is, a deal can usually be worked out that will create the extra value to justify a pay increase."



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7. Ask nicely. Mills says it's important to discuss your request in a pre-arranged meeting. She says that even if your boss says no, they might be able to set a date for a pay review, perhaps in six months. If a date is set for a future review, confirm it in writing, even if it's just an email.



8. Remember, not all jobs are equal and not all are suffering from the downturn. Randall says, "Businesses need to keep up with the state of labor market supply. In shortage areas they will have to pay people in order to retain them."

9. It can seem extreme but sometimes threatening to leave is what it takes to make your boss realize your value to the company, says Hughes. But she adds, "If you threaten to leave your job if you don't get a pay raise, you must be prepared to follow through with your threat."

10. "Manage expectation," says Mills. "Times are tough and if it's not in your contract that you will get a salary raise each year, don't think you have an automatic right

New 'Windows phones' coming in October

Microsoft is hoping that a new crop of phones will help the company in its quest to stay relevant in the cell phone market. The first phones running Windows Mobile 6.5 will launch worldwide October 6 and will include phones running on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless. full story

Increasingly credible allegations of vote fraud were the topic of conversation Monday night for a meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, U.N. officials and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, senior State Department officials said.






A man walks past a billboard with a photo of Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on September 6, 2009.



Eikenberry and the U.N. officials urged Karzai to allow Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission to thoroughly investigate vote fraud and determine which votes are accurate and then apply a very high standard to determine which votes are counted.



Once that is determined, Election Commission officials would determine if a runoff is necessary. Eikenberry spoke to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about his meeting with Karzai later in the day, the officials said.

Israel approves construction of more settlements

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has approved the construction of 455 housing units in the West Bank, his office said Monday.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has approved construction of housing units in the West Bank.

The move comes as Israel and the United States have been increasingly at odds over the settlement issue.

U.S. President Barack Obama has insisted Israel freeze all settlement activity as a necessary step toward advancing negotiations with Palestinians.

The Jewish settlements are spread throughout the Palestinian West Bank. Israel maintains the settlements are needed to accommodate growth from residents of existing settlements.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saed Erakat said Israel's approval of new settlements is a direct challenge to the international efforts to restart negotiations.

"Israel's decision to approve the construction of over 450 new settlement units nullifies any effect that a settlement freeze, when and if announced, will have," he said. "It further undermines faith in the peace process, and the belief that Israel is a credible partner for peace."

Sabri Saidam, adviser to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was also pessimistic.

"Israel's decision destroys the chances for peace and frustrates the efforts of the U.S. plan," Saidam said.

"Israel's rush to build more homes aims at controlling more land and creating new facts on the ground, and this does not support the possibility of building a state."

Passenger rescued in Philippine ferry sinking after 24 hours

-- A passenger on a ferry that capsized Sunday in the Philippines has been rescued after being in the water for more than 24 hours, officials said.




A woman and child arrive Sunday in Zamboanga after being rescued from the ferry sinking in the Philippines.



1 of 2





A helicopter rescued Lita Casunglon, said Perfecto Eden, commander of the Philippine coast guard, but he had no additional details.

Another member of the Philippine coast guard, Aquileo Gonzalez, confirmed that Casunglon was rescued after 24 hours in the water and taken to a hospital.

Nine people were killed and 957 rescued after the SuperFerry 9 capsized Sunday in the Philippines, officials said. Casunglon apparently was one of two people who had not been accounted for; the fate of the other was not immediately known Monday.

The ferry took off from the General Santos City and was bound for Iloilo City.

Survivors and their families received medical help and other assistance Sunday, the coast guard said. An investigation will be conducted after rescue operations are completed.

It was the third major incident involving the SuperFerry 9 in three years. No fatalities were reported in the other cases in 2006 and 2007.

Meanwhile, a Panamanian cargo vessel sank off the central coast of the Philippines. The 20 people on board -- 18 Filipinos and two South Koreans -- were rescued, the Philippine coast guard said

Federer & Djokovic into quarters

US OPEN

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 31 August - 13 September

BBC coverage: Live text commentaries on the website from 1600 BST each day, regular updates on 5 live, full commentary on 5 live sports extra in week two, both finals on 5 live. Live on Sky Sports and Eurosport.

2010 Mercedes S400 Hybrid Review; World's First Lithium Ion Powered Mass Produced Hybrid

The 2010 Mercedes Benz S-Class just got a little greener with the addition of a hybrid model to its lineup. The vehicle, the S400 Hybrid claims that it's the lowest CO2 emissions vehicle available in the luxury segment and will be the first mass produced vehicle to employ a lithium ion battery.

The hybrid model will receive the same updates that all S-Class vehicles receive for 2010. Basically, a minor freshening and not an entire makeover.

What differentiates the S-Class Hybrid from other S models is the addition of a lithium ion battery in the engine bay. The battery is a 32 cell, 120 volt, .9 amp hour unit that is not much larger than a standard lead acid battery. It incorporates a unique cooling system that routes the vehicle AC system refrigerant through the battery pack to keeps it cool. According to Mercedes, the lithium ion battery will last as long as the vehicle does.

The battery pack uses cells built in France by JCI-Saft, and outputs 0.7 kilowatt-hours of energy. ...

The 2010 Mercedes Benz S-Class just got a little greener with the addition of a hybrid model to its lineup. The vehicle, the S400 Hybrid claims that it's the lowest CO2 emissions vehicle available in the luxury segment and will be the first mass produced vehicle to employ a lithium ion battery. The hybrid model will receive the same updates that all S-Class vehicles receive for 2010. Basically, a minor freshening and not an entire makeover. What differentiates the S-Class Hybrid from other S models is the addition of a lithium ion battery in the engine bay. The battery is a 32 cell, 120 volt, .9 amp hour unit that is not much larger than a standard lead acid battery. It incorporates a unique cooling system that routes the vehicle AC system refrigerant through the battery pack to keeps it cool. According to Mercedes, the lithium ion battery will last as long as the vehicle does. The battery pack uses cells built in France by JCI-Saft, and outputs 0.7 kilowatt-hours of energy. ...

2009 Silverado Hybrid 1500 4WD Crew Cab Full Review

In America, we like to have our cake and eat it too - and it better be a big cake. The Chevy Silverado Hybrid epitomizes this ideology. Who says you can't have a fuel efficient vehicle to tow your boat? Who says you can't haul a load of drywall in a hybrid? Who says trucks can't be "green"? Chevy certainly wouldn't ascribe to those philosophies. As always in life though, there are compromises. Having spent the last week in the aforementioned paradoxical vehicle, I can tell you what I love about it, and what I'd rather forget.

Performance: Getting 20 miles per gallon out of a vehicle with a curb weight over 5,200 pounds is no easy task, but Chevy pulled out all the stops with the Silverado Hybrid. The 6.0-liter Vortec V8 uses variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management which shuts off four of the engine's cylinders while coasting or cruising at moderate speeds. Unless you're watching the informative display on the dash, you won't know how many cylinders are active. Switching...