BEIJING:
A 24-year-old Chinese woman with stakes worth $1.3 billion in a real
estate firm, has become the world's youngest billionaire, replacing
Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz.
Kei Perenna Hoi
Ting, daughter of Ji Haipeng, chairman and CEO of Chinese real estate
developer Logan Property, is a non-executive director of the firm and
holds 85% stakes in it worth $1.3 billion, state-run China News Service
said.
A graduate from the University of London, Perenna Kei lives in Hong Kong.
Logan Property Holdings is run by companies and a family trust associated with Perenna.
The firm headquartered in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen focuses
on the development of mid and high-end residential housing.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Four Arrested Over Kidnapping Of Albino Girl In Tanzania
Police in Tanzania say they have arrested four people over
the kidnapping of an albino girl in the north of the country, where many
are killed and their body parts sold as lucky charms.
Four-year-old Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi was snatched on Saturday from her home in the Mwanza region by attackers armed with machetes, regional police chief Valentino Mlowola told state television.
"We have arrested four people, including the girl's father. We are still in the process of interrogating them so we can find out where the girl is - if she is still alive," the official said, adding the attackers may have been tipped off by neighbours.
At least 74 albinos have been murdered in the east African country since 2000, according to United Nations experts. After a spike in killings in 2009, the government placed youngsters in children's homes in a desperate effort to defend them.
A hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, albinism affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.
In August a UN rights expert warned that attacks against albinos were on the rise because Tanzania's October 2015 presidential election was on the horizon, encouraging political campaigners to turn to influential sorcerers for support.
Albino body parts sell for around $US600 ($A650) in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $US75,000.
AFP
.
Four-year-old Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi was snatched on Saturday from her home in the Mwanza region by attackers armed with machetes, regional police chief Valentino Mlowola told state television.
"We have arrested four people, including the girl's father. We are still in the process of interrogating them so we can find out where the girl is - if she is still alive," the official said, adding the attackers may have been tipped off by neighbours.
At least 74 albinos have been murdered in the east African country since 2000, according to United Nations experts. After a spike in killings in 2009, the government placed youngsters in children's homes in a desperate effort to defend them.
A hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, albinism affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.
In August a UN rights expert warned that attacks against albinos were on the rise because Tanzania's October 2015 presidential election was on the horizon, encouraging political campaigners to turn to influential sorcerers for support.
Albino body parts sell for around $US600 ($A650) in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $US75,000.
AFP
Monday, 29 December 2014
Football: Beautiful Game Raises The Bar In 2014
WORLD CUP 2014
Brazil World Cup had some exhilarating moments, breathtaking action, stunning reverses and a gripping script. It also had colossal controversies that threatened to sully the beautiful game
GOALS GALORE: With 171 goals (not counting penalty shootouts), the 2014 World Cup saw an average of 2.67 goals per game, equaling France 1998 as the highest-scoring WC since it moved to a 64-game format. And there were some spectacular ones too. James Rodriguez's effort against Uruguay was deemed as the best by FIFA. Close behind were Robin van Persie's flying header against Spain and Tim Cahill's thunderous volley against the Dutch.
GERMAN STEAMROLLER: Germany's 7-1 humiliation of five-time champions and hosts Brazil will remain an indefatigable memory - part of German folklore and Brazilian nightmare. But the match itself, in which eventual champions Germany went 5-0 up in a space of 18 first-half minutes, will remain an instance of total domination and unabashed capitulation of a sort never before witnessed in a World Cup semifinal.
KLOSE SHOT: As Germany dismantled Brazil in the semifinal, spoke by spoke, lost in the carnage at a shell-shocked Estadio Mineirao was the fact that in scoring Germany's second goal, striker Miroslav Klose set a new all-time record for goals scored in the World Cup by a single player with 16 --one more than the previous record of 15 held by former Brazil striker, Ronaldo.
VAN GAAL'S SWITCH: Louis van Gaal cemented his position as a tactical genius when he decided to switch goalkeepers right before The Netherlands' penalty shootout against Costa Rica. It raised more than a few eyebrows, including those of regular 'keeper Jasper Cillessen but coming off the bench, backup goalie Tim Krul succeeded in getting inside the skin of Costa Rican players and keeping their efforts out of the net. Costa Rica returned home, the Oranje progressed and somewhere in Old Trafford, the decision to replace to David Moyes with Van Gaal was made.
'CTRL+S' HOWARD: In the last of the second-round matches, the USA faced an onslaught from supremely talented Belgium, but the Europeans were continuously denied by goalkeeper Tim Howard, before finally succumbing in extra-time. The US custodian's tally of 15 saves is the highest number made by a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since records started being taken in 1966. His performance also sprung a spate of Internet memes and Howard became part of social media folklore.
BRAZIL'S HUMILIATION: An entire nation's dream died on that fateful night at Belo Horizonte. Germany mauled hosts Brazil 7-1 condemning the latter to their first competitive home defeat in 39 years. It was not just a loss, it was the ultimate humiliation of Brazilian football. Many mourned its demise. The home side's defence, discipline and passion was totally absent on a night that will always haunt the the South American nation. The aura of the five-time world champions is gone forever.
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Oscar of Brazil is consoled by head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after 1-7 defeat in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal against Germany in Belo Horizonte on July 8, 2014. (Getty Images)
NEYMAR'S SPINE: Colombian defender Juan Zuniga kneed Neymar in the back and broke Brazil's spine in the quarterfinals. The flamboyant striker lay prone on the ground in unbearable pain having suffered a fractured vertebrae. A couple of inches higher could have paralysed Neymar and ended his career for good. The fans chanted Neymar's name and the team held aloft his No. 10 shirt prior to the semifinal kickoff against Germany but the trauma that followed proved just how much Brazil missed their marquee striker.
GHANAIAN ANTICS: The Ghana team refused to train just days before their final group match against Portugal because of a row over appearance fees. The Ghana govt stepped in and sent more than $3 million in cash by airplane to Brazil to pay the players. Ghana expelled two of their players following allegations of physical and verbal attacks in the camp. Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were both suspended by the Ghana Football Association.
REFEREE DEMOTED: Referee Yuichi Nishimura was demoted to fourth official after his controversial decisions during the opening game between Brazil and Croatia. Nishimura incurred the wrath of the Croatians after awarding a soft penalty to the hosts, failing to punish a Neymar elbow on Luka Modric with a red card, and disallowing what looked to be a perfectly legitimate Croatian goal.
EURO LEAGUES
Real got the decima in Spain, while Man United went into a freefall in England. Europe was buzzing all the time...
LA DECIMA: Finally, Real Madrid earned their 10th Champions League title - after a wait since 2002. After years of spending fortunes, the trophy found its way to the Bernabeu. It couldn't have been sweeter for Cristiano Ronaldo. He was signed to win this one five years ago. And the mystical moment arrived in Lisbon, where he had burst into prominence.
MESSI GOES ON AND ON: The wizard's club form and personal form are running on parallel tracks. Barcelona ended up trophy-less last season and is now chasing Real at the winter break but one just can't seem to stop Lionel Messi from scoring. His record-breaking hat-trick saw him surpass the all-time top scoring record in the La Liga, held by Telmo Zarra (251 goals).
ATLETI, THE THIRD FORCE: Atletico Madrid bucked the trend by winning the Spanish League, snubbing the domination by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Under Diego Simeone's leadership, Atletico managed to win the title in front of a packed Camp Nou.
GOALS GALORE IN PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City and Liverpool both ended the 2013-2014 English Premier League season with a goal tally in excess of 100. This was the first time the league witnessed two clubs cross the century-mark in the same season.
TRANSFER HIGH: Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez fetched a combined sum of £138 million for their respective clubs. The controversies surrounding Suarez's "appetite" for staying out of trouble did not detract Barcelona from pursuing the Uruguayan for £75m. Spanish rivals Real Madrid swooped in on James Rodriguez (£63m), whose cause was aided by his brilliant performances in the FIFA World Cup.
UNITED'S DOWNFALL: The post-Alex Ferguson era was a nightmare for Manchester United, who failed to qualify for a place in Europe for the first time since 1982. David Moyes, who had received the backing of his predecessor, failed to get the best out of the players at his new club and was eventually sacked with four games to play in the season.
SERIE A PICKS THE WRONG ONE: Italian football federation chose Carlo Tavecchio over Demetrio Albertini as president, the former winning 63 per cent of the votes. Tavecchio is a career politician with five criminal convictions ranging from forgery to tax evasion. No wonder Italian football is languishing where it is now and no sign of languishing where it is now and no sign of improvement is noticeable, Juventus' strong show notwithstanding.
MARIO AT IT AGAIN: Mario Balotelli shot himself in the foot, once again! He posted an image of video game character Super Mario on a social networking site that included a message which read, "Be like Mario! He is an Italian plumber created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican. He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew." He apologized, of course.
RACISM AT ITS PEAK: Atalanta fans threw bananas at AC Milan full-back, Kevin Constant. This incident was widely regarded by many as one of the worst moments in Italian football during the 20132014 season.
TITO LOSES THE BATTLE: Ex-Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova lost his battle against cancer at 45. He had earlier fought off a malignant tumour in 2011 but was unable to fight it this time. Under him, Barcelona it this time. Under him, Barcelona had equalled Real Madrid's record of points in a season when they finished with an amazing 100.
LET'S HAVE ITALIAN: Luis Suarez is no stranger to controversy. Having bitten his opponents on a football field twice before, the Uruguayan finally thought it fit to sink his teeth on the World Cup stage. And he chose Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini as his victim. After initial denial, he finally admitted his guilt. FIFA later banned him from all footballing activities for four months and suspended him for nine international matches, including World Cup fixtures. -TOI
Brazil World Cup had some exhilarating moments, breathtaking action, stunning reverses and a gripping script. It also had colossal controversies that threatened to sully the beautiful game
GOALS GALORE: With 171 goals (not counting penalty shootouts), the 2014 World Cup saw an average of 2.67 goals per game, equaling France 1998 as the highest-scoring WC since it moved to a 64-game format. And there were some spectacular ones too. James Rodriguez's effort against Uruguay was deemed as the best by FIFA. Close behind were Robin van Persie's flying header against Spain and Tim Cahill's thunderous volley against the Dutch.
GERMAN STEAMROLLER: Germany's 7-1 humiliation of five-time champions and hosts Brazil will remain an indefatigable memory - part of German folklore and Brazilian nightmare. But the match itself, in which eventual champions Germany went 5-0 up in a space of 18 first-half minutes, will remain an instance of total domination and unabashed capitulation of a sort never before witnessed in a World Cup semifinal.
KLOSE SHOT: As Germany dismantled Brazil in the semifinal, spoke by spoke, lost in the carnage at a shell-shocked Estadio Mineirao was the fact that in scoring Germany's second goal, striker Miroslav Klose set a new all-time record for goals scored in the World Cup by a single player with 16 --one more than the previous record of 15 held by former Brazil striker, Ronaldo.
VAN GAAL'S SWITCH: Louis van Gaal cemented his position as a tactical genius when he decided to switch goalkeepers right before The Netherlands' penalty shootout against Costa Rica. It raised more than a few eyebrows, including those of regular 'keeper Jasper Cillessen but coming off the bench, backup goalie Tim Krul succeeded in getting inside the skin of Costa Rican players and keeping their efforts out of the net. Costa Rica returned home, the Oranje progressed and somewhere in Old Trafford, the decision to replace to David Moyes with Van Gaal was made.
'CTRL+S' HOWARD: In the last of the second-round matches, the USA faced an onslaught from supremely talented Belgium, but the Europeans were continuously denied by goalkeeper Tim Howard, before finally succumbing in extra-time. The US custodian's tally of 15 saves is the highest number made by a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since records started being taken in 1966. His performance also sprung a spate of Internet memes and Howard became part of social media folklore.
BRAZIL'S HUMILIATION: An entire nation's dream died on that fateful night at Belo Horizonte. Germany mauled hosts Brazil 7-1 condemning the latter to their first competitive home defeat in 39 years. It was not just a loss, it was the ultimate humiliation of Brazilian football. Many mourned its demise. The home side's defence, discipline and passion was totally absent on a night that will always haunt the the South American nation. The aura of the five-time world champions is gone forever.
Oscar of Brazil is consoled by head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after 1-7 defeat in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal against Germany in Belo Horizonte on July 8, 2014. (Getty Images)
NEYMAR'S SPINE: Colombian defender Juan Zuniga kneed Neymar in the back and broke Brazil's spine in the quarterfinals. The flamboyant striker lay prone on the ground in unbearable pain having suffered a fractured vertebrae. A couple of inches higher could have paralysed Neymar and ended his career for good. The fans chanted Neymar's name and the team held aloft his No. 10 shirt prior to the semifinal kickoff against Germany but the trauma that followed proved just how much Brazil missed their marquee striker.
GHANAIAN ANTICS: The Ghana team refused to train just days before their final group match against Portugal because of a row over appearance fees. The Ghana govt stepped in and sent more than $3 million in cash by airplane to Brazil to pay the players. Ghana expelled two of their players following allegations of physical and verbal attacks in the camp. Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were both suspended by the Ghana Football Association.
REFEREE DEMOTED: Referee Yuichi Nishimura was demoted to fourth official after his controversial decisions during the opening game between Brazil and Croatia. Nishimura incurred the wrath of the Croatians after awarding a soft penalty to the hosts, failing to punish a Neymar elbow on Luka Modric with a red card, and disallowing what looked to be a perfectly legitimate Croatian goal.
EURO LEAGUES
Real got the decima in Spain, while Man United went into a freefall in England. Europe was buzzing all the time...
LA DECIMA: Finally, Real Madrid earned their 10th Champions League title - after a wait since 2002. After years of spending fortunes, the trophy found its way to the Bernabeu. It couldn't have been sweeter for Cristiano Ronaldo. He was signed to win this one five years ago. And the mystical moment arrived in Lisbon, where he had burst into prominence.
MESSI GOES ON AND ON: The wizard's club form and personal form are running on parallel tracks. Barcelona ended up trophy-less last season and is now chasing Real at the winter break but one just can't seem to stop Lionel Messi from scoring. His record-breaking hat-trick saw him surpass the all-time top scoring record in the La Liga, held by Telmo Zarra (251 goals).
ATLETI, THE THIRD FORCE: Atletico Madrid bucked the trend by winning the Spanish League, snubbing the domination by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Under Diego Simeone's leadership, Atletico managed to win the title in front of a packed Camp Nou.
GOALS GALORE IN PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City and Liverpool both ended the 2013-2014 English Premier League season with a goal tally in excess of 100. This was the first time the league witnessed two clubs cross the century-mark in the same season.
TRANSFER HIGH: Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez fetched a combined sum of £138 million for their respective clubs. The controversies surrounding Suarez's "appetite" for staying out of trouble did not detract Barcelona from pursuing the Uruguayan for £75m. Spanish rivals Real Madrid swooped in on James Rodriguez (£63m), whose cause was aided by his brilliant performances in the FIFA World Cup.
UNITED'S DOWNFALL: The post-Alex Ferguson era was a nightmare for Manchester United, who failed to qualify for a place in Europe for the first time since 1982. David Moyes, who had received the backing of his predecessor, failed to get the best out of the players at his new club and was eventually sacked with four games to play in the season.
SERIE A PICKS THE WRONG ONE: Italian football federation chose Carlo Tavecchio over Demetrio Albertini as president, the former winning 63 per cent of the votes. Tavecchio is a career politician with five criminal convictions ranging from forgery to tax evasion. No wonder Italian football is languishing where it is now and no sign of languishing where it is now and no sign of improvement is noticeable, Juventus' strong show notwithstanding.
MARIO AT IT AGAIN: Mario Balotelli shot himself in the foot, once again! He posted an image of video game character Super Mario on a social networking site that included a message which read, "Be like Mario! He is an Italian plumber created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican. He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew." He apologized, of course.
RACISM AT ITS PEAK: Atalanta fans threw bananas at AC Milan full-back, Kevin Constant. This incident was widely regarded by many as one of the worst moments in Italian football during the 20132014 season.
TITO LOSES THE BATTLE: Ex-Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova lost his battle against cancer at 45. He had earlier fought off a malignant tumour in 2011 but was unable to fight it this time. Under him, Barcelona it this time. Under him, Barcelona had equalled Real Madrid's record of points in a season when they finished with an amazing 100.
LET'S HAVE ITALIAN: Luis Suarez is no stranger to controversy. Having bitten his opponents on a football field twice before, the Uruguayan finally thought it fit to sink his teeth on the World Cup stage. And he chose Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini as his victim. After initial denial, he finally admitted his guilt. FIFA later banned him from all footballing activities for four months and suspended him for nine international matches, including World Cup fixtures. -TOI
Sports: Rory McIlroy ends year as top player
Rory McIlroy made it a career total of 60 weeks as world number one on Monday with the final golf rankings of the year. The Northern Irishman started the year as world number six, but after wins in the British Open in July and in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at the start of August he was back at the top. He cemented that position with his fourth major title win at the US PGA Championship and ended the year almost three ranking points clear of second-placed Henrik Stenson of Sweden. Tiger Woods, who was top-ranked at the start of the year, slumped to 32nd due to a run of injuries and related problems with his swing. Masters champion Bubba Watson is the top-ranked American at fourth with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama the top Asian at 16th.
Official World rankings at the end of 2014:
1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 11.04pts 2. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 8.13 3. Adam Scott (AUS) 7.71 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 7.27 5. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 6.70 6. Justin Rose (ENG) 6.69 7. Jim Furyk (USA) 6.62 8. Jason Day (AUS) 5.81 9. Jordan Spieth (USA) 5.75 10. Rickie Fowler (USA) 5.47 11. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.11 12. Martin Kaymer (GER) 4.86 13. Billy Horschel (USA) 4.78 14. Phil Mickelson (USA) 4.47 15. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.16 16. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 4.12 17. Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 4.02 18. Zach Johnson (USA) 3.83 19. Dustin Johnson (USA) 3.78 20. Chris Kirk (USA) 3.76
Official World rankings at the end of 2014:
1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 11.04pts 2. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 8.13 3. Adam Scott (AUS) 7.71 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 7.27 5. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 6.70 6. Justin Rose (ENG) 6.69 7. Jim Furyk (USA) 6.62 8. Jason Day (AUS) 5.81 9. Jordan Spieth (USA) 5.75 10. Rickie Fowler (USA) 5.47 11. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.11 12. Martin Kaymer (GER) 4.86 13. Billy Horschel (USA) 4.78 14. Phil Mickelson (USA) 4.47 15. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.16 16. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 4.12 17. Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 4.02 18. Zach Johnson (USA) 3.83 19. Dustin Johnson (USA) 3.78 20. Chris Kirk (USA) 3.76
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
"Memorable" Moments From the 2014 World Cup
Every 4 years the FIFA World Cup captures the attention of the entire globe. I've compiled some of the most epic moments - everything from last second goals to choreographed celebrations.
1. Greece's Papastathopoulos Hits the Equalizer in Stoppage Time:
Greece
hadn't scored a goal for the entirety of the 90 minute regulation time.
The teams had just entered the extra stoppage time when Sokratis'
perfectly placed kick ties the game for Greece!
2. Pablo Armero's Goal Sparks Amazing Group Dance It's really fun to watch Colombia score goals because they have half-a-dozen choreographed dances prepared! Watch their first goal from the Colombia vs Greece game to see what I mean.
3Lionel Messi's Goal at 90'+1.
Rolene Strauss Crowned Miss World
Names Of Mascots For Rio 2016 Olympics, Paralympics Announced
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
This billionaire just paid $4 million for a Nobel Medal only to give it back
This post is in partnership with Time. The article below was originally published at Time.com.
One of the richest men in Russia, Alisher Usmanov, has come forward as the anonymous buyer of James Watson's Nobel medal, which was sold for more than $4 million at an auction at Christie's in New York last week.
Usmanov, who is worth an estimated $15.9 billion, has now revealed he will return the piece to Watson who shared the 1962 Nobel prize in medicine for discovering the structure of DNA, alongside Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins.
This was the first time a living recipient of the Nobel Prize has sold their medal. Watson told the Financial Times in November that he had been spurned by the scientific community and made to feel like an "unperson" since he gave an interview in 2007 in which he suggested that black people were inherently less intelligent than white people.
Watson has said he needs the money but would also give some of the proceeds to different research institutions and charities and that he hopes to re-enter public life as a result.
"A situation in which an outstanding scientist sells a medal recognizing his achievements is unacceptable," Usmanov said in a statement.
"It is important for me that the money that I spent on this medal will go to supporting scientific research," Usmanov added, "and the medal will stay with the person who deserved it."
One of the richest men in Russia, Alisher Usmanov, has come forward as the anonymous buyer of James Watson's Nobel medal, which was sold for more than $4 million at an auction at Christie's in New York last week.
Usmanov, who is worth an estimated $15.9 billion, has now revealed he will return the piece to Watson who shared the 1962 Nobel prize in medicine for discovering the structure of DNA, alongside Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins.
This was the first time a living recipient of the Nobel Prize has sold their medal. Watson told the Financial Times in November that he had been spurned by the scientific community and made to feel like an "unperson" since he gave an interview in 2007 in which he suggested that black people were inherently less intelligent than white people.
Watson has said he needs the money but would also give some of the proceeds to different research institutions and charities and that he hopes to re-enter public life as a result.
"A situation in which an outstanding scientist sells a medal recognizing his achievements is unacceptable," Usmanov said in a statement.
"It is important for me that the money that I spent on this medal will go to supporting scientific research," Usmanov added, "and the medal will stay with the person who deserved it."
Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi accept Nobel Peace prize
PAKISTANI schoolgirl Malala
Yousafzai has become the youngest ever Nobel laureate after receiving
the Peace Prize in Oslo, sharing it with Indian child rights campaigner
Kailash Satyarthi.
“A young girl and a somewhat older man, one from Pakistan and one from India, one Muslim, the other Hindu; both symbols of what the world needs: more unity. Fraternity between the nations!” said Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel committee.
Malala, 17, who was given the prestigious award in Oslo City Hall overnight, became a global icon after she was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban in October 2012 for insisting that girls had a right to an education.
Mr Satyarthi, 60, was recognised by the Nobel committee for a 35-year battle to free thousands of children from virtual slave labour.
Malala was 15 when a Taliban gunman shot her in the head as she travelled on a school bus in response to her campaign for girls’ education.
Although she almost died, she recovered after being flown for extensive surgery in Birmingham, England.
She has been based in the city with her family ever since, continuing both her education and activism.
Mr Satyarthi’s organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Movement to Save Childhood) prides itself on liberating more than 80,000 children from bonded labour in factories and workshops across India and has networks of activists in more than 100 countries.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) there are about 168 million child labourers around the world.
Nobel winners receive eight million Swedish kronor ($1.28 million), which is shared in the case of joint wins.
Malala, Satyarthi given Nobel Peace Prize
MALALA Yousafzai of Pakistan and Kailash Satyarthi of India have received the Nobel Peace Prize for risking their lives to fight for children's rights.
THE 17-year-old Malala, the youngest ever Nobel winner, and Satyarthi, age 60, collected the award at a ceremony on Wednesday in the Norwegian capital to a standing ovation.Saying that all children have a right to childhood and education instead of forced labour, Nobel committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said "this world conscience can find no better expression than through" this year's winners. The Nobel awards in medicine, physics, chemistry and literature are set to be presented in Stockholm later on Wednesday. The award ceremonies are always held on December 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.
Rugby:Eddie Jones calls on Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to help Japan’s World Cup preparations
JAPAN’S national rugby team coach
Eddie Jones has sought the counsel of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola
to incorporate the Spanish football manager’s tactics into his rugby
selection.
According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, the former Wallabies coach made several trips to Germany to meet with the former Barcelona player and coach, whom he described as the best soccer manager in the world.
Jones decided to contact Guardiola to seek technical advice in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup that will be held in Britain next year, where Jones’ goal is to reach the quarter-finals.
Jones’ aim was to get tips on how to make his team tactically more flexible so as to facilitate changing formations as the game progresses.
“Rugby and soccer are very similar in that you always want to move the ball into space,” Jones said.
“Bayern Munich and his previous team, Barcelona, played the most fantastic passing game you have ever seen.
“I really think we can improve greatly with adjustments in the way we train.”
According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, the former Wallabies coach made several trips to Germany to meet with the former Barcelona player and coach, whom he described as the best soccer manager in the world.
Jones decided to contact Guardiola to seek technical advice in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup that will be held in Britain next year, where Jones’ goal is to reach the quarter-finals.
Jones’ aim was to get tips on how to make his team tactically more flexible so as to facilitate changing formations as the game progresses.
“Rugby and soccer are very similar in that you always want to move the ball into space,” Jones said.
“Bayern Munich and his previous team, Barcelona, played the most fantastic passing game you have ever seen.
“I really think we can improve greatly with adjustments in the way we train.”
‘If You Scream, No One Comes’
Children were raped, beaten and drugged at Mangrove Yoga Ashram, say victims at Royal Commission into child sexual abuse
IN the foothills of Mangrove
Mountain, some went in search of peace at a yoga ashram, instead their
children were drugged, raped and beaten.
Disturbing details have been revealed of the abuse suffered by
children in the 1970s and 80s at a Royal Commission into child sexual
abuse at the Mangrove Yoga Ashram on the NSW Central Coast, Australia.The ashram north of Sydney was founded by a disciple of the Indian guru who established the Satyananda Yoga movement, which helped spread the practice around the world.
The commission has heard from nine witnesses, including an account last week from one victim who was stripped naked when she was seven years old and held down while the skin between her breasts was cut by a swami. He then licked the blood and had intercourse with her during an initiation ceremony.
Some of the most shocking testimony has come from the “handmaiden” of the abusive yoga master and spiritual leader Swami Akhandananda.
Shishy, who had legal guardianship of children at the retreat in the 1980s, was completely controlled by Swami Akhandananda, bringing young girls to the swami for sexual initiation, which she believed was for their “spiritual growth”.
Former child residents claimed that Shishy, who was second-in-charge at the ashram, slapped them so hard it affected their hearing and eyesight and on one occasion the force slammed their heads against a wall.
On Monday she denied this but admitted she did slap children and brought young girls to the swami for sexual initiation, which she believed was for their “spiritual growth”.
However, Shishy said she was also the victim of shocking abuse. She told the commission that she had to drink Akhandananda’s urine as part of a traditional contraceptive method and her vagina was slashed with nail scissors. The yoga master also sexually assaulted her with a double-barrelled shotgun.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Olympics' swimming, triple jump and race walking under threat
Some Olympic events, such as race walking and some swimming
events, are under threat after new rules were agreed by the IOC.
Triple jump and synchronised swimming are also sports identified as vulnerable under the changes approved by the IOC as part of a sweeping reform of the Olympics.
Australia's Jared Tallent has won silver at the last two Olympics in the 50km walk and with Nathan Deakes Australia has been on the dais in the 20-kilometre walk in two of the past three Olympics.
Australia also has a talented triple - and long - jumper in Henry Frayne, who jumped a personal best 17.23 metres two years ago as a 22-year-old before injury and who now is returning to fitness is a medal chance for Rio.
The IOC approved a change to cap the total number of athletes at a summer games at 10,500 and 310 events instead of a 28-sport limit.
The changes will be not be introduced in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but they appear likely to foreshadow the return of baseball, softball and squash for the 2020 Games in Tokyo given the popularity of baseball in particular in Japan.
Karate and surfing could also be introduced as Olympic sports as the IOC seeks to broaden the sports appeal and to attract younger sports fans. But for each event or sport added another existing sport must go.
"This is a major breakthrough," Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said. "We were at a dead-end situation with 28 sports."
Asked which events could make way for new sports, he replied: "Synchronised swimming and maybe triple jump."
Sebastian Coe, head of the British Olympic Association and IAAF vice-president, immediately sought to insulate triple jump from attack, saying: "Triple jump is a sacrosanct sport in track and field."
He also defended race-walking but acknowledged there was pressure on athletics saying: "There are roughly 10,500 athletes in an Olympics and we [athletics] take roughly 2200 - a fifth of all competitors and 47 different disciplines. Does that mean track and field needs to be vigilant about protecting its events then the answer is almost certainly 'yes it will'."
Other IOC members are understood to believe there are too many marginally different swimming events and there is need for reform there. Michael Phelps was able to win eight gold medals in one Games in 2008 due to the large number of similar swimming events.
Julio Maglione, president of swimming's international federation FINA, said: "I don't know what will happen, this is the truth, it's a difficult moment.
"I suppose that it's a problem we discuss in the future, we don't know what's going to happen with us, athletics, gymnastics."
In other rule changes - part of the greatest shake-up in the Olympics since 1999 - it was agreed that Games will be able to staged in more than one city or even in different countries in the future as the IOC sought to cut the increasingly prohibitive costs of hosting an Olympics.
with agencies
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/olympics-swimming-triple-jump-and-race-walking-under-threat-20141209-123ixg.html#ixzz3LQBOoZCy
Triple jump and synchronised swimming are also sports identified as vulnerable under the changes approved by the IOC as part of a sweeping reform of the Olympics.
Australia's Jared Tallent has won silver at the last two Olympics in the 50km walk and with Nathan Deakes Australia has been on the dais in the 20-kilometre walk in two of the past three Olympics.
Australia also has a talented triple - and long - jumper in Henry Frayne, who jumped a personal best 17.23 metres two years ago as a 22-year-old before injury and who now is returning to fitness is a medal chance for Rio.
The IOC approved a change to cap the total number of athletes at a summer games at 10,500 and 310 events instead of a 28-sport limit.
The changes will be not be introduced in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but they appear likely to foreshadow the return of baseball, softball and squash for the 2020 Games in Tokyo given the popularity of baseball in particular in Japan.
Karate and surfing could also be introduced as Olympic sports as the IOC seeks to broaden the sports appeal and to attract younger sports fans. But for each event or sport added another existing sport must go.
"This is a major breakthrough," Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said. "We were at a dead-end situation with 28 sports."
Asked which events could make way for new sports, he replied: "Synchronised swimming and maybe triple jump."
Sebastian Coe, head of the British Olympic Association and IAAF vice-president, immediately sought to insulate triple jump from attack, saying: "Triple jump is a sacrosanct sport in track and field."
He also defended race-walking but acknowledged there was pressure on athletics saying: "There are roughly 10,500 athletes in an Olympics and we [athletics] take roughly 2200 - a fifth of all competitors and 47 different disciplines. Does that mean track and field needs to be vigilant about protecting its events then the answer is almost certainly 'yes it will'."
Other IOC members are understood to believe there are too many marginally different swimming events and there is need for reform there. Michael Phelps was able to win eight gold medals in one Games in 2008 due to the large number of similar swimming events.
Julio Maglione, president of swimming's international federation FINA, said: "I don't know what will happen, this is the truth, it's a difficult moment.
"I suppose that it's a problem we discuss in the future, we don't know what's going to happen with us, athletics, gymnastics."
In other rule changes - part of the greatest shake-up in the Olympics since 1999 - it was agreed that Games will be able to staged in more than one city or even in different countries in the future as the IOC sought to cut the increasingly prohibitive costs of hosting an Olympics.
with agencies
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/olympics-swimming-triple-jump-and-race-walking-under-threat-20141209-123ixg.html#ixzz3LQBOoZCy
Olympics Should be For Amateurs
Adam Scott looking forward to teeing off in Rio but thinks Olympics should be for amateurs
ADAM Scott would happily forfeit his
prized Olympic spot in 2016 if it meant golf’s much heralded return was
for the world’s best amateurs instead.The world No.3 dropped the bombshell at last night’s official
dinner before tomorrow’s start to the Australian PGA on the Gold Coast
The Olympic event in Rio de Janeiro is trumpeted as a tournament for 64 top pros.
Ever the practical mind, Scott said he felt uncomfortable with the fit for golf.When American pro Boo Weekley said the Olympic event should be for amateurs, Scott endorsed his view.
“People watch us (as pros) play 45 weeks a year,” Scott said.
“If you really wanted to grow the game you’d have the Olympics for amateurs.”
The defending Australian PGA champion said earlier at a private cocktail party that he has a huge regard for the Olympic ideals.
“Rio is not something I’ve thought a lot about, but it is something I have a desire to be part of,” Scott said.
“I’m not going to change my focus ... it will be on the four majors.
“The Olympics will not be my priority. I’ll prefer going to see the guys running fast.
SPORTS:Kosovo Is 205th Country To Join Olympic Games At Rio 2016
THE International Olympic Committee
have given official recognition to Kosovo allowing its athletes to take
part in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The IOC executive on Tuesday recognised the former Serbian province, which declared its independence in 2005, in October.
“This is one big day,” Besim Hasani, president of the Kosovo Olympic Committee, told the IOC session.
“This is the beginning of a new era for the Olympic movement in Kosovo.”
“Now they can start to prepare for Rio,” IOC president Thomas Bach said after the unanimous decision was agreed by the full 104-member assembly.
Serbia refuses to accept the independence of Kosovo, where NATO-led air strikes were used in 1999 to stop an offensive by Serbian forces against ethnic-Albanian separatists.
Bach said that Serbia had accepted Kosovo’s membership “in the interests of the athletes.”
Kosovo is now the 205th member of the IOC and its 50th member from Europe.
Kosovo’s Olympic committee has 30 sporting federations as members and six — table tennis, archery, judo, yachting, weightlifting and modern pentathlon — are full members of international federations. Seven more are close to being recognised.
Originally published as Kosovo is 205th country to join Games
The IOC executive on Tuesday recognised the former Serbian province, which declared its independence in 2005, in October.
“This is one big day,” Besim Hasani, president of the Kosovo Olympic Committee, told the IOC session.
“This is the beginning of a new era for the Olympic movement in Kosovo.”
“Now they can start to prepare for Rio,” IOC president Thomas Bach said after the unanimous decision was agreed by the full 104-member assembly.
Serbia refuses to accept the independence of Kosovo, where NATO-led air strikes were used in 1999 to stop an offensive by Serbian forces against ethnic-Albanian separatists.
Bach said that Serbia had accepted Kosovo’s membership “in the interests of the athletes.”
Kosovo is now the 205th member of the IOC and its 50th member from Europe.
Kosovo’s Olympic committee has 30 sporting federations as members and six — table tennis, archery, judo, yachting, weightlifting and modern pentathlon — are full members of international federations. Seven more are close to being recognised.
Originally published as Kosovo is 205th country to join Games
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