Tuesday, September 25, 2012

UK to extradite radical Muslim cleric to US

(AP) ? Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has lost a court appeal to be extradited to the United States to face terrorism charges, including allegedly trying to set up an al-Qaida training camp in rural Oregon, officials said Monday.

The European Court of Human Rights gave its final approval for the cleric's extradition Monday, ending a long-running legal battle. The decision means that al-Masri, considered one of Britain's most notorious extremists, could be deported within weeks.

Al-Masri and four other terrorism suspects in Britain had argued that in the U.S. they could face prison conditions and jail terms that would expose them to "torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" in breach of the European human rights code.

In April, the Strasbourg, France-based human rights court rejected those claims. Al-Masri and the others lodged an appeal to that ruling, but on Monday the court said the appeal had failed.

"Today the Grand Chamber Panel decided to reject the request," the court said in a statement. It did not give a reason for refusing the appeal.

Britain's Home Office welcomed the decision. "We will work to ensure that the individuals are handed over to the U.S. authorities as quickly as possible," it said.

The suspects, who are accused of crimes such as raising funds for terrorists, could face life sentences in a maximum-security prison.

The U.S. accuses Al-Masri, who is blind in one eye and wears a hook for a hand, of assisting the taking of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998 and of conspiring to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon, between 2000 and 2001.

He is also accused of preaching jihad ? holy war ? in Afghanistan.

The cleric, who is known for his fiery anti-Western and anti-Semitic outbursts, claims he has lost his Egyptian nationality, but Britain considers him an Egyptian citizen. He is currently serving a seven-year prison term in Britain for inciting hatred.

__

Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-09-24-EU-Britain-Radical-Cleric/id-2c6a73c8ae6f42f3a09af0c63adc888c

cinnamon challenge lou dobbs rock salt david letterman march of dimes james randi wargames

Swiss Researchers Build A Flying Robot That Can Right Itself When It Crashes

Screen Shot 2012-09-25 at 4.38.02 PMJust as man-hacks can repair their trajectories as they whiz towards Gordon Freeman's head, these little robots from the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems can now pick themselves back up when they crash. This little feature solves a problem that has long been the bane of flying robotics hobbyists everywhere as they watched their AR Drones and other bots fling themselves to pieces against walls and plant life.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/PI2gSSHYotE/

colton dixon houston weather dwyane wade the night they drove old dixie down levon oklahoma city bombing robbie robertson

Americans to spend more on Halloween this year

Getty Images stock

Americans are planning to spend on average $79.82 on costumes, decorations, and candy. That's up from $72.31 last year, and $66.28 the year prior.

By Ben Popken, NBC News contributor

If the pirates look more menacing, the porch decorations more extravagant, and the sexy costumes for poodles a little sexier, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Consumer spending this Halloween is set to reach $8 billion, a 10-year record high, according to a new survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Americans are creaking open their wallets a little more this year, saying they're planning on spending on average $79.82 on costumes, decorations, and candy. That's up from $72.31 last year, and $66.28 the year prior. More will be joining in the trick or treating and Halloween party-going and throwing, too, with participation up to 71.5 percent from 68.6 percent last year.

Driving the trend: Adults. That's right, Halloween isn't just for kids any more. The greatest increase in costume spending comes from adults on their own costumes, up $200 million, while family spending on costumes for kids is only up $100 million.

Dropping more in a down economy might sound foolhardy, but Halloween is one holiday where you can get more boo for your buck. Individuals on average spend an average of over $100 on both Valentine's and Easter, and over $150 on Mother's Day. The key events of those holidays might last for just a few hours, while the fun of Halloween can go all day and night. Then there's the buildup and preparation, the post-Halloween night story-sharing, and those visits to the trick or treat bag, which, depending on your discipline, can go for weeks (or days, or hours...)

Ultimately it's as simple as the pleasure in pretending to be someone - or something - else for an evening. ?Halloween for consumers has really become a form of escapism,? Pam Goodfellow, Consumer Insights Director for BigInsight, told NBC News. ?We're forgetting about the economy for the night.?

Goodfellow, whose firm conducted the research for the NRF, said that Americans have gotten their finances in shape in the past few years and are deploying their dollars more strategically. ?We're waiting for these targeted times to relax a little,? she said.

However, it's not all candied apples. One quarter of those surveyed said the economy will make them spend less. 18 percent plan on making a costume instead of buying and 36.1 percent will buy less candy.?

More money and business news:

Source: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2012/09/25/14096131-americans-to-spend-more-on-halloween-this-year?lite

ncaa bowl schedule ncaa bowl schedule whats going on bowl projections bedlam bedlam cotto vs margarito 2

Monday, September 24, 2012

Saudi-led consortium wins Morocco solar energy bid

RABAT, Morocco (AP) ? Morocco awarded a $1 billion contract to build a solar power plant to a Saudi-led consortium on Monday, as part of this country's ambitious plans to harness the sun's energy and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The Moroccan Solar Energy Agency said that the consortium, led by Saudi International Company for Water and Power together with the Spanish Aries IS and TSK EE, would build a 160 megawatt solar power plant in the southern Moroccan town of Ouarzazate.

In 2009, Morocco announced a $9 billion project to build five solar plants to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity by 2020 ? 38 percent of its energy needs. It is hoping to eventually even export surplus solar-generated electricity to Europe.

"We are counting on mobilizing all our efforts to reach this goal, despite the crisis," said Mustapha Bakkouri of the solar energy agency.

Bakkouri said the Saudi consortium submitted the "best technical and financial offer."

Four consortiums were competing for the bid for the Ourzazate plant. The Saudi consortium's proposed plant would produce one kilowatt of energy for $0.19, as opposed to $0.24 offered by two of the other competitors, Italy's Enel and Spain's Abeinsa ICI.

The funding for the consortium will come in part from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. The aim is to have the plant completed by the end of 2014.

The government will seek bids for other solar plants before the end of this year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-led-consortium-wins-morocco-solar-energy-bid-153652570--finance.html

Chavez vs Martinez Yunel Escobar Irish Daily Star seth macfarlane justin tv justin tv Black Mesa

Police accused of killing man five days after wedding

The couple

?When on September 15, 2012, Ugochukwu Ozuah, married Joan, his girlfriend of nearly two years; family and friends rejoiced with them at The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Lagos.

The 36-year-old man and Joan then stayed at the Whispering Palms, a beach resort in Badagry, for three days for their honeymoon.

The couple?s joy was however cut short on September 20, 2012, when the groom was allegedly shot and killed by policemen attached to the Anthony Division.

Ozuah, an indigene of Anambra State and Mechanical Engineering Graduate of the University of Ado Ekiti, was allegedly killed close to the UPS Bus Stop along Oworonsoki-Oshodi Expressway while dropping his friend off.

The friend, Erikefe Omene, who came from the United Kingdom to attend the wedding, told PUNCH Metro that he still could not understand why the policemen shot the deceased.

He said, ?I went to visit Ozuah at his house at Oke Olowo Estate on Thursday. When it was around 10pm, I wanted to leave but he said taxis were not allowed into the estate so he decided to drop me off outside the estate where I would get a taxi. We got into his car, a Honda CRV, and he drove out. As we approached the expressway, there was an ash/blue car that stopped around the same time to drop someone.

Ozuah and Joan on their wedding day

?An individual came out of the car which was now parked side by side with ours. Because of the manner with which it was parked, I didn?t know the type of car it was. Policemen approached the said car and I thought it was just a routine check so we didn?t pay it much attention.

?Ozuah parked the car and we both alighted so we could stop a taxi but before he to shut the door, one of the policemen said, ?Who?s there? Who goes there?? And shot Ozuah who then fell flat on the floor. Individuals from the ash/blue car suddenly ran behind Ozuah?s car to where I was and I thought the policemen might come around to shoot. So, I ran back into the estate.?

Omene said he went to the deceased?s house to inform his wife of what had happened. He said Joan, and her in-laws took another car and drove back to the scene.

He said upon returning to the scene about 10 to 20 minutes later, he saw more policemen standing near Ozuah who was lying down in a pool of his own blood.

He said, ?By the time we arrived the scene, there were many policemen there. The Divisional Police Officer said he just received a phone call that someone was shot. I then told the DPO that it was a policeman that shot my friend. The DPO then asked me to explain and I narrated the story to him. He said, ?Are you sure it wasn?t someone in black that shot your friend??

?At this point, Ozuah?s wife started shouting that we should rush him to a hospital. Although he wasn?t moving, his body was still warm. So, we laid him on the backseat and her brother-in-law drove him down to the hospital.?

Omene said he remained with the DPO and reiterated what had happened but the DPO was adamant, saying the killers must have been armed robbers in police uniform.

Omene added that he and the DPO then drove to the hospital where the doctor said Ozuah was dead.

It was learnt that Omene immediately went to the police station where he wrote a statement.

Ozuah?s remains were said to have been deposited at the morgue of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja

At the home of Nkechi, the deceased?s elder sister, on Friday, sympathisers came in droves to condole with the family.

The deceased?s younger sister, who wept bitterly, told our correspondent that Ozuah was, until his death, the only surviving son of the family.

?Our mother gave birth to three girls and two boys. One of our brothers died in 2008 and Ugochuckwu (Ozuah) was the only surviving son. Our father is late and when I got married three years ago, he (Ozuah) was the one who gave me away. It feels like a nightmare that he was killed just days after his wedding and he had no child. Our mother is still alive. What a tragedy,? she said.

Omene, who also wept profusely, described the deceased as a jovial and straightforward person.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said it was armed robbers that killed Ozuah and not the police.

Braide, in a a text message, said, ?No, it?s falsehood. The guy was actually killed by armed robbers in a Sports Utility Vehicle, not the police please.?

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/police-accused-of-killing-man-five-days-after-wedding/

ron paul 2012 zynga stock zynga stock sam houston state university sam houston state university bradley manning whoopi goldberg

Factual Place Rank Wants To Make Location Data More Relevant

factual-logoFactual is a company that provides open data sets for developers, most notably its location data sets and APIs. The company just announced that it has added thousands of new locations to its U.S. point of interest sets, for a total of over 22 million places in the U.S and 62 million places around the world. But with all these places, how might developers filter through these to make sure the results are relevant for their apps? Well, Factual also announced a new feature: Place Rank, which will enable developers to sort query results by relevance.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/5xWvOnJSbe0/

kingdom of heaven national enquirer whitney houston arizona republican debate arizona debate enquirer national inquirer knicks vs heat

Sunday, September 23, 2012

No Big Deal: Marquee Names Stay Put at the NBA Trade Deadline

Rumored deals involving Shaquille O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady lit up the blogosphere in the days and hours leading up to the NBA trade deadline yesterday. But once league general managers concluded their telephone conversations around 3 p.m., the handful of low-impact deals that were finally consummated failed to match the pre-deadline hype.

No current or former all-stars changed addresses yesterday, leaving behind something that could easily be called "Salary Dump 2009."

The Orlando Magic was the only contender to make a fairly significant trade, as it addressed the loss of injured all-star point guard Jameer Nelson by acquiring Rafer Alston from the Houston Rockets in a three-team deal that also involved the Memphis Grizzlies. The Washington Wizards were looking to shed salary to avoid paying the luxury tax in 2010 but decided to stand pat after failing to move Etan Thomas and/or Mike James.

With the economic crisis encouraging fiscal responsibility around the league, few teams were looking to absorb the huge salaries of some star players. And few deals were motivated exclusively by basketball reasons, with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings -- three teams that wouldn't be in the playoffs if the season ended today -- among the most active.

The Knicks acquired former Wizard Larry Hughes from Chicago for Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson. Former Maryland Terrapin Chris Wilcox will join Hughes in New York, after Oklahoma City dealt him to the Knicks for Malik Rose and cash. Wilcox and Joe Smith had returned to Oklahoma City late Wednesday, after the Thunder rescinded a deal with the New Orleans Hornets for center Tyson Chandler. Chandler failed his physical.

The Knicks' deals help clear cap space for 2010 -- Hughes makes $13.6 million next season in the final year of his deal; Wilcox is a free agent this summer -- when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh head a star-studded free agent class.

The Kings were active for the second day in a row, sending Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth. The Kings also were involved in a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors that sent Will Solomon from Toronto to Sacramento, Patrick O'Bryant from Boston to Toronto and a conditional second-round pick the Celtics. On Wednesday, the Kings sent Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago for Drew Gooden, Andr?s Nocioni, Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons, and later shipped Ruffin to Portland for Ike Diogu.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland were two teams that sought to make dramatic moves yesterday but failed to nab a big name, or any name, for that matter.

The Cavaliers dangled Wally Szczerbiak, whose $13.8 million contract expires after this season, but were unable to pry Antawn Jamison or Caron Butler from the Wizards or Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks. According to a league source, Cleveland spoke with the Phoenix Suns about acquiring O'Neal for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic but were rebuffed. Portland was unsuccessful in dealing Raef LaFrentz and his expiring $12.7 million contract.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wp-dyn/rss/sports/index/nba/index_xml/~3/nbJDIF_jsm4/AR2009021903202.html

alistair overeem alistair overeem texas a m insight bowl russell brand files for divorce bowl game schedule katy perry and russell brand