PM reaffirms Afghan pull-out date (From South Wales Argus) - South Wales Argus
PM reaffirms Afghan pull-out date
11:36pm Monday 21st May 2012 in News
David Cameron has reaffirmed plans to withdraw British troops from Afghanistan amid fresh warnings the country could re-emerge as a terrorist haven once international forces have gone.
Attending the Nato summit in Chicago, the Prime Minister confirmed British troops - like other international forces - will end their combat role by the end of 2014.
"That is our deadline," he said.
Despite the international pull-out, he insisted the Taliban could not regain power by force of arms and he urged them to re-open negotiations with the government of President Hamid Karzai.
"The message to the insurgency is equally clear: you can't win on the battlefield; stop fighting and start talking," he said.
However senior officials acknowledged there was no guarantee that terrorists would not be able to re-establish a foothold in the country from which Osama bin Laden launched the 9/11 attacks.
"It is unrealistic to assume that Afghanistan is going to be completely secure and there is no possibility of a terrorist threat reemerging," said one official.
"But our achievements of the last decade mean that we will withdraw from a country where the threat is much reduced and where Afghan forces are now much more able to respond to that threat."
Officials have already raised the prospect that a small number of British troops - almost certainly special forces - could stay on in a counter-terrorism role after 2014.
Previously ministers have said any remaining British troops would be involved solely in the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Security Forces.
iPhone 5 will be the "Steve Jobs Phone" - PC Advisor
The iOSphere has happily concluded that iPhone 5 will be the Steve Jobs phone, because he purportedly "worked closely on the redesigned phone" before his death last October. See also iPhone 5 release date, specs and rumour round up.
The conclusion is based on a Bloomberg story which cites exactly one source, someone "with knowledge of the plans," as the basis for this assertion. Visit New iPhone 5 to have flexible display.
Bloomberg mentions a total of three such sources in the story, but each one for separate assertions. And the assertions don't amount to much, as one can tell from reading the rest of the story, which rehashes some rumors about screen sizes, some generalities about the competitive smartphone market, and so on. Go to iPhone 5 will "launch" in September.
For having talked with three people with knowledge of Apple's plans, there's precious little that's new or detailed information in the story. Bloomberg claims, again from one source, that iPhone 5 will be redesigned but offers not a single detail regarding how.
Another source repeats the previously circulated rumors that Apple has placed orders for displays "that are bigger than the 3.5-inch size now on the smartphone," but again without any detail as to what the larger size would actually be.
"Apple has been working on the new device since before the current iPhone 4S model was introduced last October, said one person with knowledge of the project. Jobs, who had gone on medical leave from Apple starting last January, played a key role in developing the phone, this person said."
Poland's Lewandowski looks forward to home help - UEFA
With UEFA EURO 2012 less than three weeks away, Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is savouring the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity of representing his country at a final tournament on home soil.
As the club season winds down across Europe and the competing coaches name their squads in advance of the 29 May deadline, excitement is building in the 16 countries taking part in the 14th continental finals. None more so than in Poland, where the Borussia Dortmund striker says a memorable time awaits the co-hosts' players and supporters.
"For every player this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, a tournament like this in your country," Lewandowski, a scorer of 22 goals in Dortmund's Bundesliga title triumph, told UEFA.com. "I hope that for the Polish players and fans this creates unforgettable emotions and will be a great experience."
With the honour of staging the finals also comes expectation, however, as Poland's frontline striker concedes. "There are advantages and disadvantages," the 23-year-old said. Having the fans and the entire country, including those in front of the television, behind us is an advantage, but the pressure and expectations will be great, so we have to prepare both physically and mentally."
Lewandowski's club-mate, Jakub Błaszczykowski, agrees, saying: "We're in a good position because we're playing at home. It might paralyse [players] or provide an extra stimulus, but, knowing our fans, I'm convinced they'll stand by us."
To hear the full interview with the Dortmund and Poland pair watch the video above.
UPDATE 3-Prosecutor says Gupta cheated, abandoned duties - Reuters UK
* Ex-Goldman director Rajat Gupta denies charges
* Current Goldman director set to testify for prosecution
* Former Goldman banker also on list to take witness stand (Recasts lead; adds opening arguments from prosecution, defense)
By Grant McCool
NEW YORK, May 21 (Reuters) - Former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta "threw away his duties" by divulging bank secrets to hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, a U.S. prosecutor said at the start of Gupta's insider-trading trial on Monday.
The defense punched back that the government had no direct evidence.
Gupta, 63, once a boldface name in business and charity circles, is the most prominent corporate executive charged in a U.S. government crackdown on insider trading in recent years. Galleon Group founder Rajaratnam, an erstwhile friend and business associate of Gupta, was convicted of insider trading a year ago and is serving an 11-year prison term.
Gesturing with his left arm toward Gupta in a Manhattan federal courtroom, prosecutor Reed Brodsky said the case "is about this man" and "how he violated his duties and abused his position as a corporate insider."
As Brodksy delivered his opening argument to the jury, Gupta stared at him, barely moving in his seat at the defense table. His wife, Anita, and their four adult daughters sat in the front row, also absorbed by the proceedings.
During his turn at the podium, Gupta's lawyer Gary Naftalis painted a very different picture of Gupta, who was born in India and attended Harvard Business School before heading to McKinsey & Co management consultancy.
Naftalis repeatedly told the jury that there was "no real, hard, direct evidence" against him despite 10 months of FBI wiretaps on Rajaratnam's phones in 2008 and 2009.
"Rajaratnam had sources all over town giving him information. He even had sources at Goldman Sachs," Naftalis told the 12-member jury, which includes a nurse, an elementary teacher, and two executives.
The trial is expected to last three to four weeks. The government will call its first witnesses on Tuesday.
One of the legal challenges for prosecutors in the trial is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Gupta was Rajaratnam's source for a host of secrets while serving on the boards of Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble between March 2007 and January 2009. They also have to prove Gupta benefited.
FALLING OUT
Naftalis argued in his 45-minute opening statement that Gupta had no reason to illegally spill corporate secrets to Rajaratnam, someone "he felt lost him a lot of money and betrayed him." The men had a falling out in 2008 and Gupta lost all $10 million of an investment with Galleon funds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brodsky told the jury that Gupta and Rajaratnam were invested together in a fund called Voyager Capital Partners for several years. He said while they went their separate ways "that doesn't undo what happened."
Gupta faces a possible maximum prison term of 25 years if he is convicted on the charges of securities fraud and conspiracy.
Goldman will play a key role at the trial. One of the government's core allegations is that Gupta tipped Rajaratnam to a $5 billion investment by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc in Goldman during the 2008 financial crisis and Goldman's surprise fourth-quarter loss that year.
Brodsky told the jury it would hear evidence that on Sept. 23, 2008, Gupta called Rajaratnam 16 seconds after a special Goldman board meeting approved the $5 billion investment.
Rajaratnam then ordered his traders to buy Goldman stock, prosecutors contend. The investment boost to Goldman was not made public or known to ordinary investors until after the market closed that day, Brodsky said.
"It was against the rules for Gupta or anyone else who knew to tell anyone else about it," Brodsky said in his statement.
Goldman has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Before the jury was seated, Brodsky told Judge Jed Rakoff that the government plans to call former Goldman banker Byron Trott, a long-time Buffett confidant, and William George, a director at the investment bank since 2002, as witnesses this week.
Other witnesses who could take the stand during the trial include Goldman Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, who testified for the government at the Rajaratnam trial and said Gupta breached his fiduciary duty to the investment bank.
The case is USA v. Gupta, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 11-907. (Reporting By Grant McCool; Editing by Martha Graybow, Tim Dobbyn, Maureen Bavdek and Bernard Orr)
Liverpool manager search continues - Football
Published: 21 May 2012 - 17:47:04
Liverpool will continue the process of sounding out prospective candidates for the vacant manager's job this week.
Another name was definitively removed from the list after Ajax coach Frank de Boer turned down the chance to discuss the position, while Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has said he expects to be in charge of the Ligue 1 club for the start of pre-season training.
Principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner opted for a recruitment process which involved sounding out the best possible candidates, irrespective of how numerous that list may have been. Press Association Sport understands by next week they could be in a position to draw up a proper shortlist of possibly up to five contenders.
But the Americans, assisted by managing director Ian Ayre, are determined to thoroughly examine all avenues to ensure they give themselves the best chance of finding the right man to succeed Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked almost a week ago.
De Boer turned down the chance to speak to Liverpool as he feels he has an unfinished job at his current club, despite winning back-to-back league titles having taken over from Martin Jol in 2010.
"I am honoured by the request but I have only just started with Ajax," the 42-year-old former Holland international told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "In Amsterdam, we are on a new path and I, along with Wim Jonk and Dennis Bergkamp - my colleagues on the technical side - want to bring success. That's why I will stay loyal to Ajax in the coming years."
Deschamps, having been considered for the job after Rafael Benitez's departure almost two years ago, was also believed to be one of the people FSG were keen to talk to.
Marseille finished a disappointing 10th in Ligue 1 but the former France international believes his future remains at the Stade Velodrome.
"It is expected that I be there next season," he told French journalists. "When it goes badly, there is need to recharge. I will leave on vacation but it is expected that I be there (Marseille) for July 2."
Former Porto and Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas remains one of the favourites while Wigan's Roberto Martinez has also been given permission to speak with Henry and Werner.
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or