United Nations Day

Constitutional Affairs and Justice minister Mary Nagu (R) meets Oscar Fernandez Taranco, the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, when she arrived at the Karimjee grounds in Dar es Salaam yesterday for a ceremony to mark UN Day.

Minister Dies In Road Accident

The Late Hon. Salome Joseph Mbatia, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children

The deputy minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Salome Mbatia (55), died yesterday evening in a motor accident that occurred at Ilembula in Njombe District, Iringa Region.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Samwel Sitta, said that Minister Mbatia, her driver and another unidentified person died when their car was hit by a lorry which was overloaded with timber.

The Speaker said it was yet to be established whether the other person who died was the minister`s personal assistant or a government official from Iringa who had accompanied her.

``She was on a tour to sensitise women on bad traditions that contribute to maternal and child mortality,`` Sitta said. He added that both the Bunge Office and the Prime Minister's Office expected to get more details on the incident today.

Meanwhile, Thobias Mwanakatwe of PST Mbeya has quoted the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Dr David Mathayo, who was at the scene of accident, as saying that the accident occurred at 5pm and involved the minister�s car and a lorry that was coming from Njombe and heading to Makambako.

Dr Mathayo said the lorry had a face to face collision with the minister`s car at Sankoti, after which the lorry crashed on top of the car, making the exercise to remove the bodies from the wreckage to be extremely difficult.

Mathayo was heading to Tunduru to begin a tour of Ruvuma Region. Reports from the area indicate that former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye was also on the same tour with the late Mbatia.

The Iringa Regional Police Commander, Advocate Nyombi, said he was heading towards the scene of accident and would later on issue a statement. Bodies of the victims have been preserved at Kibena Hospital in Njombe.

The deceased minister was once the CCM national treasurer. She served as the CCM special seats MP until her death. She was awarded a Degree in Personnel Administration in the Netherlands in 1982.

In between 1982 and 1983 she undertook her MA in Management in the United States. She also held the post of deputy minister for Finance and Planning before being transferred to another ministry, a position she held until yesterday.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Biashara Consumer Services Co. Ltd. General Manager from 1990 to 2000
Biashara Consumer Services Co. Ltd. Marketing Manager from 1979 to 1989
Board of Internal Trade District Sales Manager from 1978 to 1979
Board of Internal Trade Marketing Manager from 1977 to 1978
Board of Internal Trade Management Trainee from 1976 to 1977
Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children Deputy Minister 10/17/2006 to Date
Ministry of Planning, Economy & Empowerment Deputy Minister from 1/1/2006 to 10/16/2006

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE
Chama Cha Mapinduzi - CCM National Executive Committee Member from 2002 to 2005
Chama Cha Mapinduzi - CCM The Central Committee Member & National Treasurer from 2002 to 2005
Chama Cha Mapinduzi - CCM Member of Parliament of Tanzania from 2000 to Date
Chama Cha Mapinduzi - CCM Member of UWT National Council from 1998 to 2005

Joint team proposes 100,000/- minimum wage

The Public Service Joint Council yesterday recommended to the government to raise civil servants minimum wage to 100, 000/-, up from the current 84,000/-.

The recommendations, according to council chairperson Anastasia Mmuni, result from the fact that the government's financial position does not allow paying more money.

The council is composed of trade union representatives and government officials.
She said some of the items in the salary package would not be taxed so as to allow low income workers attend to their basic needs.

For his part, Permanent Secretary Mathias Kabunduguru of the Ministry of Public Service Management said the ministry would digest the proposals, and any decision would be arrived at on the basis of the government�s financial capacity.

"This is just a proposal. The ministry cannot make a final decision. It is upon the government to consider whether it has the resources to pay the proposed wages," said the PS.

The minimum wage debate had previously locked trade unions leaders and the government into a prolonged tug of war.

The announcement of raising the minimum wage to 84,000/- was faulted by the trade unions, which regarded the new scale as peanuts and wanted it increased to at least 300,000/-.

Recently, trade unions had organized demonstrations to pressure the government into increasing wages of civil servants, as the government played down their demands.

No govt help for Tanzanians nabbed over crime overseas

President Jakaya Kikwete has said the Government will not bail out Tanzanians living outside the country who are involved in criminal acts and other breaches of the laws in their countries of residence.

He declared the position during talks with Tanzanians living in France, whom he asked to respect all the laws, regulations and rules guiding their stay in the respective foreign countries.

"Nobody forced you come this way and so you must observe all laid down regulations obtaining in your host countries," said the President, warning: "If you engage in illegal businesses such as drug trafficking and thefts, you will face legal action and risk being hauled to jail."

He said that the Government would stand by only those wrongly charged with crime and not otherwise, elaborating: "If there is proof that one has indeed not committed any offence and is thus in trouble by mistake, the Government will do all it can to help."

President Kikwete also used the occasion to remind Tanzanians living in foreign countries to help their relatives back home out of economic difficulties down to the village level and to think of investing in Tanzania.

He said that would supplement efforts by the Government to bring about radical economic growth and development in the country.

The President stated that the government has made significant strides in efforts to improve the people"s welfare and develop various sectors and services, notably access to social services like water, education and health as well as agriculture and infrastructure.

He admitted that poverty was generally still at a high level, with the gross domestic product standing at a lowly $370 per year, and called on the people not to expect miracles from the Government "because even Rome was not built in a day".

Commenting on the war against HIV/AIDS, the President said there was encouraging progress and the authorities and institutions concerned were working hard to prevent new infections.

"Our focus is to shield coming generations against the scourge by keeping new infections at bay. That is one reason the government has launched a countrywide HIV/AIDS voluntary testing campaign," he explained.

President Kikwete also discussed the state of corruption, governance and the rule of law in Tanzania, saying the country was politically stable and there was marked growth in freedom of speech and popular participation in active politics.

He added: "The Government is determined to ensure peace, consolidate our national unity and root out corruption. But we would like to see politicians stop preaching disunity because, if the inflammatory utterances some have been making are left unchecked, they could fuel instability and plunge the country into chaos".

Fake goods: CTI appeals to China, India

The Confederation of Tanzania Industries CTI yesterday appealed to governments of Far Eastern countries to institute restrictive measures to prevent importation of counterfeits into the country's domestic markets.

CTI and other organizations have launched anti-counterfeit campaigns as reports show that most of fake products found in Tanzanian markets originate from China and India.

"We believe the two governments are aware of such industries producing counterfeit goods within their countries. It is wrong to say that these governments are unaware of counterfeit goods being produced by their own people," said CTI Chairman Reginald Mengi during a press conference held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Some of the products which are extremely prone to counterfeits are cosmetics, toiletries, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

He said Tanzanians had the right to genuine products because a lot of people had already lost their lives due to fake drugs, if not fire incidences resulting from fake electrical equipments.

CTI strongly believes that the war against counterfeits will only bear fruit if governments of the exporting countries will make serious efforts to tame the manufacturers of counterfeits.

Mengi said if these countries failed to stop production of such goods, Tanzanians should stop buying commodities from these countries until they stopped manufacturing counterfeits.

"There are world spots which specialize in manufacturing of counterfeits aimed at countries where anti-counterfeit regulations are either weak or not enforced effectively," he said.

He said Tanzania had turned into a victim of counterfeit foods and drugs that had direct negative effect on people�s health and lives.

Counterfeit machines gadgets, instruments and electrical equipment endanger the safety of people as they may result in the destruction of lives and properties.

Economically, counterfeits erode internal markets and business confidence in a given economy, and negate inward investment in the economy.

This is risky to foreign investors because they cannot invest in an economy whose goods will compete with sub-standard and fake versions of the same products.

The CTI chairman said people who dealt in counterfeits were organized criminals who made huge profits which they could then utilize to interfere with the effective enforcement of anti-counterfeit laws and regulations.

"It is alleged that these are the same criminals who deal with drug trafficking", he said.

He challenged the government to deal with counterfeits as it dealt with drug trafficking.

He commended the Fair Competition Commission, Tanzania Bureau of Standards and Tanzania Food Drug Authority for their efforts in curbing counterfeits.

Meanwhile, FCC Director General Godfrey Mkocha has said that stronger laws to punish people dealing with counterfeits will be instituted.

Apart from destruction of their goods, the culprits will also pay a fine amounting to five million shillings and go to jail for two years.

He called upon retailers to stop buying counterfeits from importers and report to FCC whenever they came across fake goods.

A Quality Assurance Officer from the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority said they had established small laboratories at Dar es Salaam Port, Mwanza, Arusha, Tanga Kilimanjaro and Mbeya towns aimed at testing the quality of imported commodities.

He said according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10 percent of all the drugs were counterfeits.In collaboration with FCC, they have formed a national task force that will fight against counterfeits and involve different stakeholders.

Lilian Kimaro, a Deputy Registrar Intellectual Properties of the Business Regulatory and Licensing Authority (BRELA) said producers had to put their trade mark on every product going into the market.

Give students overseas exposure in their practical training - Kilaini

The Auxiliary Bishop of Dar es Salaam Arch Diocese, Methodius Kilaini, has underscored the importance of sending college and university students for practical training out of the country to provide them with exposure in different fields.

Kilaini said this on Monday in Dar es Salaam when biding farewell to 15 third-year students from Daughters of Maculate Institute (DMI) - St. Joseph Group of Institutions who left on the same day for a two months practical training in India.

It is very significant to send ICT and engineering college students for practical training outside the country. This will enable them get exposure and knowledge exchange that will help them to cope with job market, he said.

He said India was among the world lead countries in ICT and engineering where students are employed even before finishing their course because of quality education they have.

Today my dream for sending students to India has come true. I am sure that after the two months practical training the students will acquire good knowledge in their field of studies. This will help them to enter in job competition, he said
He appealed to the students to behave well in order to give good image of Tanzania.

Speaking on behalf of the students, a third year diploma student in the faculty of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Lughano Kusiluka, said that the students expected to get enough knowledge from different engineering industries that they will visit in India.

India is advanced in the field of ICT and we are going to utilize this opportunity correctly to ensure that we come back with skills that will help our country develop on ICT sector, he said.

He said his team was prepared to represent the country and was ready to meet any challenge that they might face during the field training.

NSSF to put up a 4.2bn/- modern structure for PCCB

The National Social Security Funds (NSSF) and Estim Construction CO. Ltd yesterday signed a contract for the Prevention and Control of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) new offices worth 4.2m/- in Dar es Salaam.

Briefing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the NSSF Managing Director Dr. Ramadhani Dau said that the contract will be signed today after completion of formalities with the respective company at Upanga area in Dar es Salaam.

We want PCCB to work in good atmosphere so that their fight against corruption using modern technology can be successful, he said.

Dau said that the modern seven-floor building will serve as the head office of PCCB and will be handed over to the government in December 2008.
He said that the government will begin to return the funds with interest soon after the project is finished, and will hand it over to PCCB.

According to Dau, this will be another project aimed at reducing shortage of office accommodation in the country coordinated by his organization.

This project is the same as the construction of government houses in Kijitonyama and Tanzania People Defence Force (TPDF), he added
Speaking at the ocassion, the PCCB Director General, Edward Hosea, hailed the two organizations for efforts to improve the working environment for corruption watchdog.

Hosea said that the dream of PCCB to have a modern office with new technology will finally be realised.

Church starts work on centre for 300 orphans

The Eastern and Coastal Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania has started construction of Sowise Orphanage Center at Wazo Hill in Dar es Salaam, which will accommodate 300 orphans from different parts of the City.

Speaking to The Guardian in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the chairman of the Planning and Economic Committee of the Diocese, Nikubuka Shimwela, said that the construction of the Orphans Centre was now at its foundation stage.

He said that his diocese was expecting to spend more that 200m/-, and on Sunday this week the church will organize a fund-rising event to collect money for the purpose. The event will take place at Mbezi Beach Lutheran Church.

``During the event, we expect to collect a total of 85m/-. The anticipated collections and those we collected earlier will be invested in social, economical and spiritual projects in the country, and hope that orphans and widows will benefit from the different social projects the church will establish,`` he said
Elaborating, he said that some funds will be used to support widows, construction of a hostel and a new training centre for orphans from different areas which will be located at Mataya village in Bagamoyo District.

In 2005, the diocese managed to collect a total of 11m/- while in 2006 we got about 95m/- during fund rising occasions. This year, we believe that we will obtain more funds because many people have shown interest to support us, said Shimwela.

According to him, the Dioceses initiative stemmed from the need to increase the number of marginalized, unprotected and vulnerable children (orphans) for care, he said.

As a Diocese, we have decided to embark on constructing these centers after observing that inadequate residential facilities are the major problems that face orphans and widows in the city, he said.

He said the Diocese has decided to engage into such programmes in a bid to help the Government in its efforts to support people improve their livelihood, and bring sustainable development in their communities.

Shimwela appealed for massive support from individuals, private sector, donors, and government, to help them meet their intended goals.

As a Church we need to support these children because, most of the orphans, especially those living in extended-families� structures, face countless forms of discrimination and have limited access to education, health, and other social services,he said.

Right now the Diocese is actively involved in supporting orphans from different areas of Dar es Salaam -Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke, in terms of social needs and other related services.

According to him, as a Church, they have a role to play because orphans need love, motherly care, and access to basics of life, including education, to prepare them for dynamic and growing challenges of globalization.

Elaborating on a new training centre, Shimwela said that it will be constructed at Bagamoyo and will serve as income-generating project for the Diocese to support orphans and widows and other social and economic development activities.

Ukonga prisoner set to be conferred with degree by Open University Saturday

Ukonga Prison

A prisoner of Ukonga prison, Haruna Gombera, will be among the graduands to be conferred with a degree during the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) 19th graduation ceremony to be held on Saturday.

In his briefing to the press yesterday, the OUT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tolly Mbwette, said that the university was proud to award a degree to a prisoner because it was a fulfilment of one of its targets to reach the underprivileged in the community.

Prof. Mbwette explained that while in prison, Gombera managed to carry out his studies including assignments, research and examinations under the supervision of the faculty staff in collaboration with prison authorities.

The documents for studies reached him under the special permission from the prison authorities, he said.

He said Gombera who was enrolled in the faculty of law in 2004 has been in forefront to help his fellow prisoners know and obtain their rights.

Prof. Mbwette explained that Gombera managed to pay fees for his studies under the support by Human Rights International organization and other prisoners he helped win their cases.

He said that the college plans to request the regional directors to visit various remand prison to sensitize prisoners pursue different courses at the university.
So far we have only two prisoners in the faculty of law, one graduating this year, I hope the number will rise in the coming future, he said.

About 1145 graduands out of which 700 are male and 445 female will be conferred with different certificates, diplomas, and degrees.

This graduation will make the total number of graduands reach 3905 since the Open University of Tanzania began to confer degrees in 1999, Prof. Mbwette said.

Residents of Singida disappointed by IGP Mwema`s statement

Recent statement by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Said Mwema that the police could apply excessive force including killing if necessary, in the process of restraining mob actions has sparked heated debate in Singida.

In interviews with residents of Singida following stoning a suspect who was held in police custody to death, many respondents said that the IGP statement is likely to fuel hostility between the police and civilians.

Speaking at a media conference in Dar es Salaam on Monday IGP Mwema warned people against taking law into their own hands, insisting that suspects should be handed over to law enforcers and subsequently to court.

The police chief was referring to two incidents in the recent past where crowds in Kagera and Singida regions invaded police stations causing massive destruction of property and killing of suspect who was under police custody.

In Kagera, more than 300 people stormed Chato district police station to demand release of three people alleged to be murder suspects involved in human skin business. The station was set ablaze, files at DC�s office destroyed and a government vehicle burnt down.

The most recent incident in Singida involved more than 200 emotionally charged people who marched into a police post at Ilongero village, broke into the cell and pulled out the murder suspect, Khalfani Nkindwa-Mile(28) and killed him in front of the police.

He was accused of defiling and strangling to death two children aged 4 and 6 years last week who were out to fetch water from a nearby pond at around 6.30pm. The other suspect was still at large.

Shadrack Magadula, resident of Singida said the police are to blame for the poor past records that forment social disorder as recently witnessed in the neighborhood.

He questioned the rationale to bring back to the same village the suspect arrested in a distant village while knowing that the villagers still harbored fresh memories of the horrific incident that left the entire village devastated.

�They should have taken the suspect to the regional headquarters bearing in mind that the magnitude of the offence committed was grave,� Magadula said.

Another resident, Hawa Makala said the statement by the IGP could not only incite hatred between the police and the public, but could adversely affect people�s attitude towards the role of the police, which is protecting the public and their property.

�I am afraid criminals will also misuse the amnesty pronounced by the government as they would run to police stations for safety after committing crimes believing that they would be set free within no time,� Hawa observed.

She said, on the other hand, the statement could also be misinterpreted by the public that suspects should just be finished off immediately before arrival of police to their rescue.

The Singida Regional Commissioner, Parseko Kone, condemned the killing of the murder suspect insisting that people should leave to the police and court to the arrest and prosecution of suspects instead of killing them.

However, the RC was bitterly disappointed the brutal killing of the children, the incident that sparked a chain of disorder in the area.

He said the regional authorities would visit Ilongero village on Friday to console the bereaved families and talk to the villagers about the urge for respect of the rule of law.

Meanwhile, police in the area are holding six people including the village chairman of Ilongero accused of inciting violence that led to the killing of the murder suspect at the police post.

Dutch smash 'voodoo' child trade

The children were allegedly trafficked into the sex industry

Police in the Netherlands say they have cracked a crime ring which allegedly trafficked Nigerian children into the West to work as sex slaves.
At least 19 people were arrested in the Netherlands and five other countries including the US and Britain.

Traffickers used voodoo to gain a hold over children before smuggling them abroad in a racket which exploited the asylum system, police say.

Scores of underage Nigerians, mainly girls, may have been trafficked.

Dutch authorities had been investigating the disappearance of 140 Nigerian children from asylum-seeker holding centres since January 2006.

Several of the children were later found working as prostitutes in France, Italy and Spain, according to Dutch police.

'Voodoo vow'

Thirteen arrests were made in Dutch cities and towns while a further six people, all Nigerians, were detained in New York, Madrid, Dublin, Coventry and Antwerp.

Police said Germany and France were also involved in the operation but did not give details of any arrests there, though they said that "dozens" of arrests and searches of premises had been made overall.

Those arrested are suspected of people-trafficking and involvement in a criminal organisation, falsifying travel documents, fraud and money-laundering.

The Hague has asked for the suspects arrested abroad to be extradited to the Netherlands.

"The human-traffickers supplied the victims with false travel documents, flight tickets and instructions to seek asylum upon arrival at Schiphol Airport [Amsterdam]," a police statement said.

"The minors were placed in open shelters in the Netherlands, which made it relatively easy for the criminal organisation to keep control over the victims.

"Voodoo sometimes also kept the minors in line. In Nigeria they were forced to take a vow before a voodoo priest to repay a so-called debt.

"This debt had to settled with the earnings made in the prostitution. At their final destination the minor victims are under the constant supervision of a so-called 'Madam'."

Sudan rebels 'hold China oil men'

Justice and Equality Movement leaders want an independent Darfur

A Darfur rebel group has claimed it has attacked a Sudanese oilfield in the Kordofan region, taking a Canadian and an Iraqi oil worker hostage.
The group, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), said it attacked the facility, run by a Chinese-led consortium in the Defra oilfield.

Jem said its action was a message to China to stop helping the Sudanese government with their war in Darfur.

China is a major investor in the energy industry in Africa.

But it has faced some criticism for maintaining close links with the Sudanese government in Khartoum as international concern over the situation in Darfur has continued to rise.

The Canadians and the Iraqi both worked on the oilfield run by the Chinese-led consortium, the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company in Sudan's Defra oilfield.

Jem said the Chinese company had one week to leave Sudan.

No-one from the Sudanese oil ministry was available to confirm or deny the incident.

In April, seven Chinese oil workers were kidnapped by rebels in Ethiopia and later released.

The men were seized during a rebel attack on a Chinese oil installation in eastern Ethiopia, when nine Chinese and 65 Ethiopians were killed.

Beijing's rocketing ambition

Despite a ban on US components, China's space industry is advanced

China's former leader Mao Zedong once quipped that his country could not launch a potato into space - but times have changed.

The launch of China's Moon probe Chang'e 1 is the latest in a series of achievements attained by the country's space programme recently.

Chang'e 1's launch is the first stage of a lunar exploration project that could see China put a man on the Moon within 15 years.

But critics, particular those in the United States, worry China's space programme also has a threatening, military aspect.

Those fears were voiced in August by Lt-Gen Kevin Campbell, head of the US army's Space and Missile Defence Command.

He warned that China might be just three years away from being able to disrupt US military satellites in a regional conflict.



China often repeats that it does not want to initiate an arms race in space.

But its ability to turn space into a battlefield was demonstrated in January when a ground-launched missile successfully destroyed a defunct weather satellite.

Military expert Andrew Yang, of the Taiwan-based China Council for Advanced Policy Studies, says China is building up its military capabilities in space.

"The space programme is run by China's defence industry so the military is heavily involved," he explains.

A380 superjumbo lands in Sydney

A commercial A380 flight took off from Singapore

The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has landed in Sydney on its first commercial flight, after a seven-hour journey from Singapore.
Singapore Airlines took delivery of the huge plane, dubbed the Superjumbo, just over a week ago and passengers bought seats in a charity online auction.

It can carry some 850 passengers but took about 450 to Sydney.

The Superjumbo's advent ends a reign of nearly four decades by the Boeing 747 as the world's biggest airliner.

'Phenomenal'

The new aircraft suffered almost two years of delays because of a number of construction problems but took off on time.

One of the passengers on board, Laurence Watts, told the BBC it was a "phenomenal" plane.

"I'm actually sitting in the economy class on the lower deck of the plane," he said.

"The most amazing thing is here you have two classes of economy, split over two decks, with stairs in between the two, which I think is a huge novelty for everyone.

"The plane itself - the space is bigger than anything you can imagine. I can look out the window to my right at the moment and I can see a wing that looks bigger than most ordinary planes."

Hundreds of staff and passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport watched it lift into the sky, snapping the moment with pocket cameras and camera phones.

Passengers paid between $560 and $100,380 to be on the inaugural flight.

Australian welcome

Sydney Airport has had to make modifications to fit the giant plane, the BBC's Nick Bryant reports from the city.

Two 20th Century design icons - Sydney's Opera House and its Harbour Bridge - will form the backdrop for what the Airbus consortium hopes will become an emblem of the 21st.

With the Superjumbo's wing span almost the size of a football pitch, the airport has spent millions to accommodate the new plane.

To cope with the two decks of seating, it has had to construct new aero bridges.

It has also had to realign one of the taxi ways and strengthen a tunnel which runs underneath the main runway.

Suu Kyi 'to meet Burma official'

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has reportedly left her home - where she is under house arrest - to hold talks with a government official.
She was taken to meet Aung Kyi, a retired general recently appointed to liaise with her, diplomats say.

Aung Kyi was given the post earlier this month in an apparent concession to the international community.

Burma's junta has been heavily criticised by the UN for its crackdown on anti-government protests last month.

UN concern over Olympic pollution

Beijing is often shrouded in smog

Air pollution in Beijing will not significantly improve before next year's Olympic Games, a United Nations report suggests.
In some cases, pollution is said to be more than three times the safe limits set by the World Health Organization.

The report seems to contradict claims from Beijing Olympic officials that air quality will not be a problem.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said events may be postponed if pollution was too bad.

Official quits over Iraq security

Richard Griffin was appointed in June 2005

The man in charge of security for US diplomats in Iraq has resigned after heavy criticism of how foreign private security firms in Iraq are supervised.
US state department official Richard Griffin did not mention the issue in his resignation letter.

But he left just a day after the department moved to strengthen government oversight of the firms.

The changes were prompted by the deaths of Iraqi civilians in an incident involving the Blackwater company.

At present, foreign private security contractors have immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law but the Iraqi government is reportedly preparing a bill to make them accountable locally.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters news agency that the bill was being discussed in the cabinet and would be submitted to parliament "soon".

Microsoft buys stake in Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook less than four years ago.

Microsoft has paid $240m for a 1.6% stake in Facebook that values the hugely popular social networking site at $15bn.
Facebook spurned an offer from Microsoft's rival Google, which was also keen to invest the site.

Microsoft will also sell internet ads for Facebook outside the United States as part of the deal that took several weeks of negotiating.

Microsoft already provides banner advertising and links on the US site.

Mark Zuckerberg started the online social networking site in his Harvard University dorm room less than four years ago.

Mr Zuckerberg, 23, has indicated he would like to hold off on an initial public offering for at least two more years.

He rebuffed a $1bn takeover offer from Yahoo last year.

Advertising magnet

Facebook hopes to become an advertising magnet by substantially increasing its current audience of nearly 50 million active users.

Facebook allows users to set up personal web pages and communicate with each other.

Google and Microsoft have crossed horns before for hot Internet properties.

Google beat Microsoft with a $1.65bn acquisition of online video sharing site YouTube last year.

Facebook expects to make a profit of $30m this year so on conventional valuations a $15bn price tag would look expensive.

Dumped oil painting 'worth $1m'

Despite its adventures, the painting is in excellent condition

A painting stolen 20 years ago then found lying in a pile of rubbish on a New York City street could fetch up to $1m (£488,000) at auction next month.
The 1970 painting Tres Personajes (Three People) by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo was taken from a warehouse where the owners had placed it while moving.

It was found by Elizabeth Gibson as she took her morning walk four years ago on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

It is now being sold by the widow of the original owner.

Match of The Day!

Simba Striker Ulimboka Mwakingwe is doing his things after leaving behind the Young African Defender on yesterday at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro when Simba won again 1-0. Simba Defender Nurdin Bakari(suffering from heart attack) is the one who struggled for a goal.

Simba Sports Club (Watoto wa Msimbazi)

The Young African

Hassan ban reduced to two matches

Hassan attacked an opponent during the game against Burundi

Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan has had a three-match ban imposed for attacking an opponent reduced to two matches on appeal.

This means he will only miss his country's opening African Cup of Nations game against Cameroon in Ghana next year.

Caf banned the Anderlecht midfielder for three matches after attacking an opponent with his boot during Egypt's goalless draw with Burundi in the qualifiers last month.

But he apologised for the challenge in an appeal to the continent's football governing body.

His ban now lasts until the game against Cameroon, leaving him free to play in their second Group C match against Sudan.

He has already served the first match of his suspension when Egypt beat Botswana 1-0 earlier this month.

Gilberto dropped from Ahly squad

Gilberto will miss the first-leg clash with Etoile in Sousse

Egyptian side Ahly have dropped Angolan midfielder Gilberto for the first leg of the final of the Champions League because of injury.

The 24-year-old was excluded from the 19-man squad for the game against Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel on Saturday.

Gilberto failed to recover from an Achilles problem in time for the game in Sousse.

Ahmed Belal was included in coach Manuel Jose's squad after recovering from a fractured foot.

The striker has been out of action for the past five months because of the injury.

Ahly met Etoile in the final of the competition in 2005, crushing the Tunisians 3-0 to claim the trophy after the first leg ended in a goalless draw.

Etoile, who are appearing in the final of the competition for the third time, are seeking to win the title for the first time in their history.


Squad

Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari, Amir Abdul-Hamid

Defenders: Emad Al-Nahhas, Shadi Mohamed, Ahmed Al-Sayed, Wael Gomaa, Islam Al-Shater, Rami Adel, Ahmed Shedid

Midfielders: Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed Sedik, Hassan Mostafa, Anis Boujelbene, Hossam Ashour, Mohamed Abou-Treika

Strikers: Emad Meteb, Flavio Amado, Osama Hosni, , Ahmed Belal

Chelsea 2-0 Schalke 04

Drogba dives to head Chelsea 2-0 in front

Goals from Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba put Chelsea within sight of the Champions League knockout stages in a comfortable win over Schalke.

Malouda put Avram Grant's side in front inside four minutes when his left-foot strike squirmed through the legs of embarrassed German keeper Manuel Neuer.

Drogba made the game safe two minutes into the second half when he dived to flick home Paolo Ferreira's's cross.

Soren Larson was closest for injury-hit Schalke when he headed against a post.

Benitez clings on to Euro dream

The odds are against Benitez's team qualifying for knockout stages

Rafa Benitez has not given up hope on Liverpool reaching the latter stages of the Champions League after defeat to Besiktas left them bottom of Group A.
The Reds have one point after losing 2-1 and almost certainly need to win their three remaining games to qualify.

"If we play like we did against Besiktas, we can win the final matches," said Liverpool boss Benitez.

"The players worked hard and you cannot blame them. The fans will be positive we can do it after seeing the game."

Besiktas 2-1 Liverpool

Gerrard gave Liverpool hope but was quiet for much of the game

Liverpool face an uphill task to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League after falling to defeat at Besiktas.

The hosts were gifted their first when Sami Hyypia deflected in Serdar Ozkan's strike and they doubled their lead when Bobo slid the ball under Pepe Reina.

Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool hope with a flying header on 85 minutes but it was too late for Rafa Benitez's side.

The Reds are now bottom of Group A with one point from three matches.

Football results

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 4-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Benfica 1-0 Celtic
Besiktas 2-1 Liverpool
Chelsea 2-0 Schalke 04
Marseille 1-1 FC Porto
Real Madrid 4-2 Olympiakos
Rosenborg 2-0 Valencia
Werder Bremen 2-1 Lazio

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Bristol City 2-1 Southampton
Cardiff 2-3 Wolverhampton

The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Cray Wanderers 2-3 East Thurrock
Gloucester 2-0 Stourbridge
Ilkeston Town 4-1 North Ferriby United
Maidstone Utd 3-1 Bury Town

Blue Square South
Lewes 0-0 Maidenhead Utd
Newport County 2-3 Bath City

Pakistan switch game from Karachi

Security has been a major factor on recent tours of Pakistan

Pakistan's fifth one-day international against South Africa on Monday has been moved from Karachi to Lahore because of security concerns.

The South Africans did not want to play in Karachi after last week's bombing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's convoy in which 139 people were killed.

"We deeply regret this decision, especially for the people of Karachi.

"But members of our contingent are not comfortable travelling there," said team manager Logan Naidoo.

"If possible, we will play in Karachi when we tour Pakistan next time."

Bomb attacks in the city have disrupted previous series, with New Zealand flying home in 2002 after an explosion close to their hotel, which killed 14 people.

South Africa refused to play there the following year and in 2005, England declined to play a five-day Test in the city, although they did take part in a one-day fixture.

Karachi is one of Pakistan's two main cricket centres and their board's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said: "We don't want touring teams to avoid playing here.

"But the main purpose is this tour should be completed on schedule and the final match is played."

The hosts were unable to persuade a security expert sent to the city by South Africa that it was safe for the team to fulfill the fixture.

"He felt that playing in Karachi was not feasible at this moment," said Naghmi.

Prior to the match in Lahore, the two sides will meet in the fourth game of the series in Multan on Friday, with Pakistan leading 2-1.

Lievremont appointed France coach

Lievremont takes over from Bernard Laporte as France coach

Former France flanker Marc Lievremont has been named coach of the nation's rugby team on a four-year deal.
The French Rugby Federation announced that Lievremont would succeed Bernard Laporte, who joined the government on Monday as a junior minister for sport.

Lievremont will be assisted by another former France star Emile Ntamack, who will coach the backs, while Didier Retiere will look after the forwards.

Lievremont, 38, the former Dax coach, won 25 France caps between 1995-1999.

"I realise that I am at the centre of a lot of attention and of hopes for the future," he said.

"I also understand that some people are disappointed, legitimately or not, but I consider myself to be a man with convictions surrounding both the sport and on the human front.

"I have not asked for anything from anyone. I respect all the coaches who were viable candidates for the post, but it is not for me to justify what has happened."

The appointment was heavily supported by Bernard Lapasset, the outgoing president of the French Rugby Federation and new president of the International Rugby Board, but not by Serge Blanco.

Blanco, the former French full-back and now president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), said a comprehensive review was needed of the World Cup and Laporte's eight-year reign before a new coach was selected.

"I don't know why the LNR was not consulted about this," said Blanco, who is favourite to replace Lapasset.

However, Lapasset rejected Blanco's criticism.

"These nominations are part of a four-year plan," he said. "This is not an individual choice but a long-term project and was discussed with the other coaches of professional rugby teams.

"This is not a dictator's decree, taken exclusively by me."

Lapasset added that while both Lievremont and Ntamack lacked experience they had the vital quality that they knew the young generation of French players well.

"It is important that the French squad integrates the young players coming through," said Lapasset.

"And it is they who know them best and who guided them to the Under-21 world title (in June 2006)."

Jean-Claude Skrela, the technical director of French rugby, said: "Marc Lievremont is a real player, a winner who never lets go and he knows the players in the French championship well.

"He was the ideal candidate for what is a turning point for French rugby."

Lievremont, whose last international was the 1999 World Cup final defeat against Australia, will work alongside Jo Maso, who stays on in his role of team manager.

Other candidates thought to be under consideration for the coaching job were Toulouse's Guy Noves, Stade Francais chief Fabien Galthie and Sale Sharks boss Philippe Saint-Andre.

The 37-year-old Ntamack made 46 appearances for France from 1994 to 2000. He and Retiere were the joint coaches of the France Under-21 side that won the world title last year.

France, who won the Six Nations four times under Laporte, finished fourth in the World Cup on home soil after being knocked out by England in the semi-finals and losing to Argentina in the play-off.

Roddick suffers shock Lyon defeat

Roddick only forced two break points on the Santoro serve

Top seed Andy Roddick suffered a shock 7-6 2-6 6-4 defeat by Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix.
However, the American has already qualified for next month's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Richard Gasquet boosted his chances of reaching Shanghai with a 7-6 6-3 win over Belgian Christophe Rochus.

The Frenchman is 11th in the ATP Race standings, eight points behind eighth-placed German Tommy Haas.

"I've had a lot of physical problems lately with my elbow and knee and the court is also faster than last year which does not suit me," Gasquet said.

"I now need to reach the semi-finals at least to score points in the Masters Cup race."

F1 night race given green light

Marina Bay will be illuminated when the F1 roadshow comes to town

Formula One will stage a night race for the first time in its history in 2008.
The streets of Singapore, with the imposing Marina Bay as a backdrop, will be the venue for the historic race, which will take place on 28 September.

F1 officials also confirmed the Canada Grand Prix will be part of an extended 18-race 2008 calendar and a daytime street race would be held in Valencia.

It was announced that there will also be a total freeze on engine development for a period of 10 years from 2008.

A change can be made after five years but only with the unanimous agreement of all stakeholders and following a further two-year notice period.

There will be no exceptions for development of certain parts of the engine, as is the case under the current regulations.

It was announced earlier this year that the Belgian and Italian, plus the Japanese and Chinese races, would swap places in the 2008 calendar.

The French GP, which F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had previously said would not be on the calendar, was also spared at an earlier meeting.

The British Grand Prix will be on 6 July, while the season will end on 2 November in Brazil.

The Turkish race had already been moved from August to 11 May, to accommodate the Valencia event.

2008 Formula One calendar:
March 16 Australia (Melbourne)
March 23 Malaysia (Sepang)
April 6 Bahrain (Sakhir)
April 27 Spain (Barcelona)
May 11 Turkey (Istanbul)
May 25 Monaco
June 8 Canada
June 22 France
July 6 Britain (Silverstone)
July 20 Germany (Hockenheim)
Aug 3 Hungary (Hungaroring)
Aug 24 Europe (Valencia)
Sep 7 Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
Sep 14 Italy (Monza)
Sep 28 Singapore
Oct 12 Japan (Fuji)
Oct 19 China (Shanghai)
Nov 2 Brazil (Interlagos)

Maccarinelli suffers Sellers blow

Enzo Maccarinelli has been left looking for an opponent

Enzo Maccarinelli's fight with Ezra Sellers on 3 November has been blocked by the British Boxing Board of Control.
WBO cruiserweight champion Maccarinelli was due to face the veteran American on the undercard of the Joe Calzaghe - Mikkel Kessler fight in Cardiff.

But Sellers has been refused clearance by the BBBC and the Welshman must now find a new opponent.

"Sellers has boxed only once in three years," Board general secretary Simon Block told the South Wales Echo.

He added: "Before that, he suffered some substantial defeats in 2004, albeit to good men, and on that basis we thought he was not suitable for a world title fight - and the WBO agreed with us."

Around 55,000 people are expected to attend the Calzaghe - Kessler fight at the Millennium Stadium next month.

Promoters Sports Network confirmed to BBC Sport that they are still seeking a suitable replacement to face the Swansea fighter.

Possible opponents include Darnell Wison, Vincenzo Cantatore and Giacobbe Fragomeni.

Le Tour 2008 route to be revealed

Spain's Alberto Contador won the crisis-hit Tour this year

The 2008 Tour de France route is expected to favour the Alps at the expense of the Pyrenees.
The route for the 95th Tour, which will begin on 5 July in Brittany, will be revealed at 1130 BST on Thursday.

The prologue, which was last year hosted by London, has been dropped for the first time since 1967.

The 2007 race, won by Alberto Contador, was marred by several positive doping tests as well as the sacking of one-time race leader Michael Rasmussen.

In a bid to crack down on drug abuse, all riders next year will have to possess a "biological passport" under a scheme being set up by the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Wada and the UCI said on Monday they planned to collect blood samples from all professional riders to create a medical profile that would then be compared to the data registered in doping tests.

Next year's race is expected to go anti-clockwise, tackling the hilly Massif Central then the Pyrenees mountains before the yellow jersey battle moves up a notch in the Alps.

According to reports, the peleton will also make a brief foray into the Italian Alps.

Joke of The Day!

A man was brought before the judge and charged with Necrophilia (making love to a dead person)

The judge told him, "In 20 years on the bench, I've never heard such a disgusting, immoral thing."

"Just give me one good reason why I shouldn't lock you up and throw away the key!"

The man replied, "I'll give you THREE good reasons:

1. It's none of your damn business;

2. She was my wife; and.....

3. I didn't KNOW she was dead, she ALWAYS acted that way!"

So ladies try to move a little during the game.
Guys, if a lady is not moving, stop immediately and check if she is alive.