Harry Redknapp charged with £40,000 tax evasion

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has been charged with two counts of tax evasion.

Mr Redknapp, 62, was charged with cheating the public revenue of about £40,000 at Bishopsgate police station.

It relates to two payments totalling US $295,000 allegedly made by former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric to Mr Redknapp via a Monaco bank account.

Mr Mandaric was charged with tax evasion on Tuesday and both men are due before magistrates next month.

Mr Mandaric, 71, is currently the chairman of Leicester City.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said: "The CPS Revenue and Customs Division decided there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge Mr Redknapp.
"He is jointly charged with Milan Mandaric, the former chairman of Portsmouth Football Club, following an investigation by the City of London Police and HM Revenue and Customs."

A CPS spokesman told that, as a common law offence, there is technically no maximum sentence for the charge - meaning that an unlimited fine or prison sentence could be decided at a judge's discretion.

Ian Burton, his solicitor, said: "Harry has co-operated fully with investigators during the course of this inquiry and is confident of a successful outcome to these court proceedings."

Mr Burton, of law firm BurtonCopeland, added: "The £40,000 figure is our estimate."

The charges relate to Mr Redknapp's time as Portsmouth manager.

It is alleged he evaded tax and national insurance contributions between 1 April 2002 and 28 November 2007.

Mr Redknapp was originally arrested in November 2007 by investigators looking at deals between Portsmouth and Birmingham City.

At the time he accused the police of targeting him simply because of his high profile.

'Non-football matter'

He left the club in 2008 to join his current employer.

Tottenham Hotspur have previously said the case will not affect his employment because it was a private, non-football matter and pre-dated his tenure at the club.


Following the charges, a spokesman for the club told : "His position remains unaffected and it is a private matter."

Since taking over at Tottenham Mr Redknapp has guided the club from the threat of relegation to contention for European qualification this season.

Portsmouth are mired in financial difficulties and have been unable to pay players on several occasions.
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie was also questioned during the 26-month police inquiry about the transfer of former player Amdy Faye to the club from French side Auxerre for £1.5m in August 2003.

Mr Storrie was subsequently charged with concealing a signing-on fee during the deal by paying it into the midfielder's bank account. He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 20 January.

Birmingham City's former managing director Karren Brady and former co-owner David Sullivan were also investigated by police, but no further action was taken against them.

Mr Redknapp is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 11 February.

In May 2008 Mr Redknapp sued City of London Police for arresting him and searching his home in Poole, Dorset.

The High Court ruled the search was unlawful and granted him £1,000 in damages.

Dexter star Michael C. Hall battles cancer

Actor Michael C. Hall, who stars in US TV show Dexter, has announced that he has been battling cancer and is in remission from the disease.

The 38-year-old said he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he described as a "treatable and curable condition".
His spokesman said Hall was in complete remission but would continue treatment.

In his award-nominated role, he plays Dexter Morgan, a Miami police analyst who moonlights as a serial killer.

In a statement to People magazine, Hall said: "I feel fortunate to have been diagnosed with an imminently [sic] treatable and curable condition, and I thank my doctors and nurses for their expertise and care".

Hall, who also starred in the long-running US drama Six Feet Under, still plans to attend Sunday's Golden Globes, with his wife Jennifer Carpenter - who plays his sister on the show.

He is nominated for best dramatic actor, while the show is on the shortlist for best drama.

A fifth series of Dexter is due to go into production later in the year.

Space station needs 'extension to 2020'

Europe wants a decision in 2010 on an extension to the life of the International Space Station (ISS).

At the moment, no programme for its use nor any funding has been put in place to support the platform beyond 2015.
But the European Space Agency's (Esa) Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain, told the uncertainty was undermining best use of the ISS.

He said he was persuaded of its worth, and expressed the desire to keep flying the station until at least 2020.

Only by guaranteeing longevity would more scientists come forward to run experiments on the orbiting laboratory, he argued.

"I am convinced that stopping the station in 2015 would be a mistake because we cannot attract the best scientists if we are telling them today 'you are welcome on the space station but you'd better be quick because in 2015 we close the shop'," he said.

The weightless environment on the station enables scientists to study systems and processes without the bias of gravity. Already it is providing new insights into infectious and degenerative diseases, and is expected to return new knowledge in a host of other fields as well, such as materials science.

But scientists needed time to run their experiments, Mr Dordain said.

The ISS project is a partnership of five - the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada.

Budget consideration

One of the biggest issues holding up an agreement on station-life extension is the human spaceflight review ordered by US President Barack Obama.

The Americans are developing a new vision for space exploration, and the rockets and spacecraft they will need to implement it. The future of US participation in the ISS is intimately tied to the outcome of the review.

Mr Dordain said no one partner in the ISS project could unilaterally call an end to the platform. A meeting would be held in Japan later in the year where he hoped the partners could get some clarity going forward.

"The decision must be taken early enough to put the budget in place, to build the hardware necessary and to decide on which transportation policy we shall use between 2015 and 2020. There are lot of aspects to be discussed and if decisions are not taken by the end of this year - beginning of next year - it will become more and more difficult to have the approach under which we will exploit the space station."
Mr Dordain said it was also essential the benefits were increased and the costs were reduced.

Increasing the benefits could include finding new uses for the station.

Esa has called for ideas on how to use the ISS as a platform for Earth observation. Mr Dordain said the agency had received about 20 very good proposals.
On the issue of reducing costs, there were many ideas on the table, he explained.


"First of all, we have four control centres - one in Houston, one in Oberpfaffenhofen, one in Moscow and one in Tsukuba - and these four control centres are working 24 hours a day. Question mark: Why can't we use only two of them for 12 hours and then the other two for 12 hours?"

He also questioned whether it was necessary for the station to be staffed by six astronauts at all times. If there were periods when little maintenance was required or the experiment load was light, could the ISS run on a smaller crew, he suggested.

One way to reduce costs would be to bring in new partners outside the current five - something Mr Dordain is keen to see discussed.

Construction of the space station is due to finish this year. Next month, two components built in Europe - a connecting node and a robotic control room - will be flown to the platform by the US shuttle Endeavour.

Tranquility and the Cupola, as they are known, will complete the non-Russian side of the ISS.

Obama outlines $117bn bank levy

President Barack Obama has said Wall Street must repay $117bn (£72bn) to taxpayers and criticised banks for "massive profits and obscene bonuses".

The tax is to recoup money US taxpayers are expected to lose from bailing out the banks during the financial crisis.

"My commitment is to recover every single dime the American people are owed," the president said.

The move follows populist anger at banks, seen as being responsible for causing the recent economic crisis.

Average American
"My determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people," the president said.

He said the aim was not to punish Wall Street firms but to stop abuses and excesses from happening again.
The Michelle Fleury said the president had made clear "in strong language" that the banks must repay the taxpayer, through what is being dubbed a "financial crisis responsibility fee".

"It may go some way to quelling the anger of the average American," our correspondent said.

The tax would apply only to financial firms with assets of more than $50bn.

There are reckoned to be about 50 of these institutions - although many did not accept any taxpayer assistance and many others have already paid back what the government lent to them.

'Drag on sector'

Analysts said the fact that the fees levied on banks would be spread out over a decade would diminish their impact.

"It throws some sand into the gears," said Robert Albertson, chief strategist at Sandler O'Neill in New York.

"It's one more thing dragging on the sector, but it's spread over 10 years, so it's not so consequential. It's petty theft from bank balance sheets."

The levy comes ahead of the latest reporting season on Wall Street, with banks expected to report record bonuses.

The tax will claw back some of the losses from a $700bn taxpayer bail-out of American banks known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (Tarp).

It was drawn up in the midst of the financial crisis in 2008, following the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers and multi-billion dollar rescue of insurance giant American International Group (AIG).

It helped stem the crisis by injecting public capital into the biggest US banks and restoring confidence in the banking syste

No plans to reschedule X Factor

ITV says it has no plans to reschedule this year's X Factor, despite reports that Simon Cowell is trying to move the show from its autumn slot.
An ITV spokesman said the announcement that Cowell was launching a US version of the show was "no surprise".


"We are absolutely planning for the X Factor to return this autumn and next," ITV said in a statement.

Cowell said he would be involved in both shows, sparking speculation that the UK series may be moved.

New challenge

Earlier this week, Cowell, 50, announced he was leaving Fox TV's American Idol as a judge to launch a US version of the X Factor on the same network.

The music mogul, who owns the rights to the X Factor format, said he would be a a judge on the new show.

ITV said the star would continue with "both his on-screen and production role" on the UK version of the X Factor.

On Monday, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox, said the US X Factor would also be screened in the autumn.

It is not clear how Cowell will be able to participate in both.

The ITV spokesman said, "we've got plans", but refused to expand further.

Cowell said he was offered a lot of money to stay with American Idol.

"But that wasn't the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge," he said.

It has been reported that Cowell stands to make more money with the X Factor than if he had stayed on American Idol.

Earthquake devastation emerges in Haiti

The extent of the devastation from a huge quake in Haiti is slowly emerging, with a number of UN peacekeepers among thousands of people feared dead.

Jordan, Brazil and China have all reported deaths, and France says it fears the Tunisian head of the UN mission in Haiti has been killed.

The 7.0-magnitude quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, struck south of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday.

The Red Cross says up to three million people have been affected.
Describing the earthquake as a "catastrophe", Haiti's envoy to the US said the cost of the damage could run into billions of dollars.

A number of nations, including the US, UK and Venezuela, are gearing up to send aid.

The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince, was quickly followed by two aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5 magnitude.

The first tremor had hit at 1653 local time (2153 GMT) on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said. Phone lines to the country failed shortly afterwards.

China has already indicated in reports in state media that eight of its peacekeepers are dead, with another 10 unaccounted for.
The AFP news agency quoted the Jordanian army as saying three of its peacekeepers had been killed and 21 wounded.

The Brazilian army said four of its peacekeepers had been killed and a large number were missing.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the UN HQ had collapsed "and it would appear that all those who were in the building, including my friend [UN mission head] Hedi Annabi... and all those who were with him and around him are dead".

A French official also told AFP that about 200 people were missing in the collapsed Hotel Montana, which is popular with tourists.

There were also some reports of looting overnight.

Rachmani Domersant, an operations manager with the Food for the Poor charity, told Reuters the capital had been in total darkness overnight.

"You have thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go."

People were "trying to dig victims out with flashlights", he said. "Hundreds of casualties would be a serious understatement."

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.

Thoughts and prayers

With communications destroyed by the earthquake, it is not yet possible to confirm the extent of the destruction, although there were reports on Wednesday of many bodies piled in the streets.
People in the capital were lifting sheets on bodies to try to identify loved ones.

Haiti's ambassador to the US, Raymond Joseph, said there was "no way of estimating" the casualties.

"I'm quite sure we're going to face a disaster of major proportion," he told ABC.

Mr Joseph said the presidential palace, the tax office, the ministry of commerce and the foreign ministry had all been damaged.

Haitian President Rene Preval and his wife both reportedly survived the quake.
US President Barack Obama said his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Haiti and that he expected "an aggressive, coordinated [aid] effort by the US government".
Venezuela says it will send a 50-strong "humanitarian assistance team".

The Red Cross is dispatching a relief team from Geneva and the UN's World Food Programme is flying in two planes with emergency food aid.

The Inter-American Development Bank said it was immediately approving a $200,000 grant for emergency aid.

The UK said it was mobilising help and was "ready to provide whatever humanitarian assistance may be required".

Canada, Australia, France and a number of Latin American nations have also said they are mobilising their aid response.

Pope Benedict XVI has called for a generous response to the "tragic situation" in Haiti.

Shouting and screaming

In the minutes after the quake, Henry Bahn, a visiting official from the US Department of Agriculture, said he had seen houses which had tumbled into a ravine.
"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Mr Bahn, who described the sky as "just grey with dust".

He said he had been walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake.

"I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just heard a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."

Tweets from troylivesay spoke of the worst damage being in the Carrefour district, where "many two and three storey buildings did not make it".

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, a tsunami watch was put out for Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas, but this was later lifted.

Fresh snow falling across UK brings more disruption

Fresh snow has hit many parts of the UK, causing more problems for transport amid further limits on road gritting.

Met Office warnings of heavy snow are in place for north-west England, the West Midlands and southern England.

Rail and air travellers face delays and cancellations, with several airports shut, while many roads are closed, including the M48 old Severn Bridge.

Hundreds of schools are closed. Some pupils taking exams had difficult journeys on treacherous roads.

Runways at Gatwick, London City and, Birmingham International airports were closed because of snow, causing delays and cancellations. Southampton and Cardiff have now reopened.

Heathrow Airport reported the cancellation of 84 mostly short-haul or domestic flights, both arrivals and departures.
Much of Yorkshire is experiencing its worst disruption of the winter due to black ice, with many roads impassable. Four gritting lorries slid off North Yorkshire roads.


Similarly, in West Yorkshire, two vehicles hit buildings and a taxi slid down an embankment onto a house roof. Some 187 West Yorkshire schools are shut and the ambulance service is reporting one of its busiest days so far.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said there had been a four-fold increase in calls during Wednesday morning and was on "a higher alert status".

Facebook fugitive back in custody

A prisoner who updated his Facebook profile while on the run from an open prison in Suffolk has been captured.

Suffolk Police said burglar Craig Lynch, 28, who absconded from Hollesley Bay Prison on 23 September, was arrested in Kent on Tuesday night.

He has been charged with escaping from lawful custody and will appear at Bexleyheath magistrates in London later.

He had a Facebook following of more than 3,400 people across the world.

Google 'may pull out of China after Gmail cyber attack

Internet giant Google has said it may end its operations in China following a "sophisticated and targeted" cyber attack originating from the country.

The company did not accuse the Chinese government directly, but said it was no longer willing to censor its Chinese search engine - google.cn.
This could result in closing the site, and its Chinese offices, Google said.

The top executive of its Chinese rival Baidu called the move "hypocritical" and financially motivated.

Google said the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists were the primary target of the attack, which occurred in December.

The search engine has now said it will hold talks with the government in the coming weeks to look at operating an unfiltered search engine within the law in the country, though no changes to filtering had yet been made.

Google launched google.cn in 2006, agreeing to some censorship of the search results, as required by the Chinese government.

It currently holds around a third of the Chinese search market, far behind Baidu with more than 60%.

Email targeted

In a blog post announcing its decision, Google's chief legal officer David Drummond said: "A primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists."
The company said its investigation into the attack found two accounts of its online mail service - Gmail - appeared to have been accessed.

However, the attack was limited to accessing account information such as the date the account was created and subject line, rather than e-mail content, it said.

It said it had also discovered that the accounts of dozens of US, China and Europe-based Gmail users, who are "advocates of human rights in China", appeared to have been "routinely accessed by third parties".

It said these accounts had not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but "most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on users' computers".

At least 20 other large companies from a wide range of businesses were similarly targeted, it added.

'Makes me sick'

In a blog, the chief architect of Baidu said Google's decision to quit was for financial reasons, rather than a human rights issue, as Google had failed to dominate the Chinese search market.


"What Google said makes me sick," he said. "If you are to quit for the sake of financial interest, then just say it."
Google's decision to concede to China's demands on censorship in 2006 led to accusations it had betrayed its company motto - "don't be evil" - but Google argued it would be more damaging for civil liberties if it pulled out of China entirely.

technology correspondent Rory Cellan Jones said Google had also seen a significant amount of internal dissent over its decision to operate under censorship.

In 2008, it signed the Global Network Initiative agreement with rivals Microsoft and Yahoo, pledging better protection of online privacy and freedom of speech against government interference.

Those commitments, however, are weighed against the commercial opportunities that China provides as a fast growing market.

Nearly 340 million Chinese people now online, compared with 10 million only a decade ago.

Last year, the search engine market in China was worth an estimated $1bn and analysts previously expected Google to make about $600m from China in 2010.

But unlike most markets, Google comes second in search in China.

It has 31% of the market compared with about 60% controlled by market leader Baidu, which has a close relationship with the Chinese government. Yahoo has less than 10%.

Microsoft has a tiny share of the Chinese market with its new Bing search engine, but in December the technology giant said it was committed to China, calling it "the most important strategic market".

Chile apologises over treatment of indigenous people

Chile's president has apologised to the descendants of a group of indigenous people who were shipped to Europe in the late 19th Century and exhibited.

The remains of five Kawesqar Indians, from the country's southernmost region, were honoured in a ceremony after being flown back to the country.
Taken in 1881, they were displayed as curiosities in European cities.

President Michelle Bachelet said the government had been guilty of "neglect in the face of such abuses".

"As we near the bicentennial of our independence, we have to confront both the brightest points and the darkest moments of our history," she said in Santiago.

She said the mistreatment of the indigenous people was due to racist attitudes towards "our indigenous forefathers, whose human dignity was trampled upon".

The bones were discovered in the Swiss city of Zurich where they had been kept for more than a century.

The five, who died there - some of tuberculosis - were among a group of 11 tribespeople captured by German explorers in 1881.

Six were allowed eventually to return to Chile and one died during the voyage home.

From Santiago, the remains of the five who died in Europe were flown to Punta Arenas, in the far south of Chile.

They will be buried in a traditional indigenous ceremony at a remote island close to Tierra del Fuego.

Ancient map with China at centre goes on show in US

A historic map of the world, with China at its centre, has gone on display at the Library of Congress in Washington.

The map was created by Italian missionary Matteo Ricci in 1602. It is one of only two copies in existence in good condition.

Because of its rarity and fragility - the map is printed on rice paper - the map has become known as the "Impossible Black Tulip of Cartography".

This is the first time it has been on public show in north America.

Ricci created the map at the request of Emperor Wanli who wanted it to help scholars and explorers.

'Revered by Chinese'
The map was purchased by the James Ford Bell Trust in October for $1m (£0.62m), making it the second-most expensive rare map ever sold.

It denotes different parts of the world with annotations and pictures.
In the Americas, for example, several places are named including Chih-Li (Chile), Wa-ti-ma-la (Guatemala) and Ka-na-ta (Canada), and Florida is described as "the Land of the Flowers".

Ford W Bell, a trustee for the James Ford Bell Trust, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper, that the map was "one of the two best in terms of quality, as far as we know".


"Ricci was a very smart missionary. He put China right at the centre of this new universe, this new globe, to underscore its importance," he said.

"Ricci, of course, was the first Westerner to enter Beijing. He was revered by the Chinese, and he was buried there."

The first secretary for cultural affairs at the Chinese embassy in the US, Ti Ban Zhang, said in a statement that the map represents "the momentous first meeting of East and West".

Shar-pei wrinkles explained by dog geneticists

Scientists who have analysed the genetics of 10 pedigree dog breeds believe they now have the answer.

Their research identifies 155 distinct locations in the animals' genetic code that could play a role in giving breeds their distinctive appearances.

In the Shar-pei, the team found differences in a gene known as HAS2 which makes an enzyme known to be important in the production of skin.

"There was probably a mutation that arose in that gene that led to a really wrinkly puppy and a breeder said, 'hey, that looks interesting, I'm going to try to selectively breed this trait and make more of these dogs'," explained Joshua Akey from the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle, US.

Small differences
The pedigree dog has become a fascination - and a remarkably useful research tool - for geneticists.
The domestication of the grey wolf more than 10,000 years ago, and the selective breeding that followed, has resulted in more than 400 breeds - each with a distinctive physique, coat colour and temperament.
These discrete populations give scientists the opportunity to compare and contrast the genetics of the different groups, making it easier to find the causes of specific traits.

"Man's best friend" is helping scientists locate the faulty genes that cause disease in both dogs and humans, as well giving a useful insight into how evolution works at a molecular level.

Dr Akey and colleagues studied 32 wrinkled and 18 smooth-coated Shar-peis and compared a specific stretch of their DNA with that of other breeds.

The team found four small, but significant, differences in the genetics of the two skin types of the Shar-pei versus the other breeds. These single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as they are called, were located in the HAS2 gene.

New targets

"HAS2 makes hyaluronic acid synthase 2, and it's an enzyme that makes hyaluronic acid, and that's one of the principal constituents of the skin," explained Dr Akey.

"There are rare human cases where there are mutations that lead to really severe wrinkling in humans, too.

"So, that suggested it was a good candidate to look at; and sure enough, when we sequenced it we saw that that gene explained wrinkling in Shar-peis,"

Simon Cowell to leave American Idol

American Idol judge Simon Cowell has confirmed he will leave the programme at the end of this season as he takes British show The X Factor to Fox TV.

Cowell, whose contract ends following the show's ninth run, said he was offered a lot of money to stay.

"But that wasn't the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge," he said.

It has been reported that Cowell stands to make more money with the X Factor than if he stays on American Idol.

Speculation
The music industry mogul owns the rights to the X Factor format - and will serve as an executive producer on the US version of the show - meaning he stands to make more than his current reported pay packet of $36m (£22.3m).

Cowell said there were many people who wanted his Idol job, but said the judges should not be the stars of the show.

"Fundamentally, the most important reason we do this is to find talent," he said.

Speculation has already begun about who will join Cowell on the X Factor, with former judge Paula Abdul, who left American Idol last year, among the leading contenders.

"I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity, because I miss her," Cowell said.

However, he did rule out former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham - who briefly joined the judging panel on American Idol last year.

'Delighted'
The star said he wanted to leave the show "on a high" and added he was "very proud of what the show has achieved".

In a statement released by Fox, Cowell said: "I'm thrilled that we have put a date on the launch of the US version of The X Factor, and delighted to be continuing to work with Fox.
"We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this."

Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox, refused to discuss a possible replacement judge for Cowell on American Idol.

"We have to take our time on that," he said.

"We have to make sure the chemistry of the judges is as good as it can be."

American Idol has been the country's most popular television programme for the last five years and has launched stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

However, viewing figures have been shrinking since its 2005 peak when it averaged more than 30 million weekly viewers.

In April last year, the show attracted 22.3 million viewers.

Both Cowell and Rice have insisted that both shows would complement each other, not detract.

Israel rebukes Turkey over a television series

Israel has issued a stern rebuke to Turkey's ambassador over a television series which depicts Israeli intelligence agents as baby-snatchers.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was caught on camera urging cameramen to note the ambassador's low seating position at a meeting on the issue.

The incident has been widely seen in Israel as an intentional humiliation.

And Turkey has summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest against the treatment of its ambassador in Israel.

A Turkish diplomat said the Israeli ambassador, Gabby Levy, had been summoned to a meeting the Turkish foreign ministry's under-secretary in Ankara.

"We demanded an explanation and conveyed our annoyance," the Turkish diplomat told the AFP news agency.

Although the Israeli ambassador was reprimanded over the incident, he was not subjected to the indignity of squatting on a low sofa.

'Preaching morality'
On Monday, Israel's foreign ministry denounced the Turkish television series and what it called an "unbridled attack" in comments by Turkey's PM.

Footage of Mr Ayalon urging journalists to make clear that the ambassador was seated on a low sofa, while the Israeli officials were in much higher chairs, has been widely broadcast by the Israeli media.

He is also heard pointing out in Hebrew that "there is only one flag here" and "we are not smiling".

One Israeli newspaper marked the height difference on the photo, and captioned it "the height of humiliation".

The meeting with the Turkish ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, was called over the fictional television series Valley of the Wolves, popular in Turkey.

It depicts Israeli intelligence operatives running operations to kidnap babies and convert them to Judaism.

Last October Israel complained over another Turkish series, which depicted Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians. In one clip, an Israeli soldier shoots dead a smiling young girl at close range.

Israel has also been angered by heavy criticism on Sunday by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused it of using disproportionate force against the Palestinians.

Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement denouncing the television series and Mr Erdogan's comments as "anti-Israel".

"Turkey is the last country that should preach morality to Israel and to the Israel Defense Forces," the statement said.

Turkey has long been an ally of Israel, but relations have deteriorated as Turkey has repeatedly criticised Israel's conduct in its operation in Gaza a year ago.

Rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the offensive, which Israel said was aimed at ending rocket fire by Hamas.

Federal Reserve makes record profit

The Federal Reserve made a profit of $52.1bn (£32.2bn) in 2009, a rise of 47% over the previous year.

The sum allowed the central bank to pay a record $46.1bn to the US Treasury last year.

That was the largest amount ever paid by the central bank since its creation in 1914.
The record figure was largely thanks to its attempts to support the financial system throughout the ongoing financial crisis.

The Fed funds itself from its own operations and returns any profits to the Treasury department.

Taxpayer gains

The figures suggest that US taxpayers have, so far, gained money from the US government's action in propping up the system.

Some of the profit has come from interest earned on government bonds and mortgage-related securities - including those of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The emergency lending programmes instituted by the central bank during the last year's financial crisis helped swell the Fed's balance sheet to more than $2tn.

They were designed to keep down interest rates and get banks lending to each other again, hoping to spark an economic recovery.

The Fed could also lose money on its holdings if it sells them at a time when they have fallen in value.

The Fed also earned money from its emergency loans to banks and other firms, such as the giant carmakers. It charged both interest and fees on these.

Explosives alert closes US port

A major US port in the state of North Carolina has been closed after containers carrying explosive material were found punctured in Morehead City.

Police have told people to evacuate the area. Some are said to be leaving.

Morehead City Police Chief Wes Lail said the chemical involved was pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) - a powerful explosive.
The Morehead port - one of the deepest on the US East coast - is a major entry point for commodities.

The cause of Tuesday's incident was not immediately clear.

A police spokesman told Reuters news agency: "As a precaution, they have evacuated the port area... everything indicates this was by accident."

PETN is used both in military ammunition and for industrial explosions.

It was also the substance allegedly used by a Nigerian man accused of trying to destroy an airliner about to land in Detroit on Christmas Day.

Reports say there is no sense of panic in Morehead City.

Resident Drew Hall told the Associated Press news agency by phone: "Everybody is going about their business. Why get nervous? Things happen. You can't freak out in times like this."

Complaints greet Google Nexus One phone

Google is being inundated with complaints about its Nexus One phone.
The touchscreen smartphone was launched on 5 January and can be bought directly from Google and used on almost any phone network.

But confusion over who should answer customer queries has led many to file complaints on support forums.
Many people are unhappy with Google only responding to questions by e-mail and are calling for it to set up phone-based support.

Phone frustration

Americans can buy the Nexus One directly from Google for $529 (£331) or on a contract with T-Mobile for $179 (£112). In the UK the phone will be available via Vodafone but prices and launch dates have yet to be released.

The support forums that Google has set up for the Nexus One are filling up with complaints from many of the first to buy the phone who need help.
The top query, with more than 500 responses, is about how much people should pay for the phone and whether existing customers of T-Mobile can get the device at a reduced rate. Only new customers of T-Mobile will be able to pay $179.

Many are also trying to get more information about the phone they have placed an order for to see how long it will take to reach them.

Almost 500 people have logged problems with the Nexus One's support for 3G wireless networks. Others reported bugs when synchronising contacts or getting the handset to work with existing Google accounts.

Many are also complaining about the amount of time that it takes Google to respond to queries. Google said it would answer problems via e-mail though any response may take a day or two to arrive.

Frustrations were also reported by those that had turned to either T-Mobile or HTC for help and had been bounced back and forth between the handset maker and the mobile operator. Conflicting information about the phone, particularly if it supports 3G, is being given by Google's partners.

A common sentiment on the support forum was that for the $500 people have paid for the phone they should be able to call a dedicated help line.

"Right now it's a big mess," said KseniaCoffman on the forum.

Google has answered a handful of the questions posted on the query but so far the vast majority lack a response from the search firm.

"We've worked closely with our Nexus One launch partners to make support available through a variety of channels," said a spokesman for Google. "This is a new way to purchase and support a mobile phone, and we're committed to sorting out the few kinks that do exist."

China faces growing gender imbalanc

More than 24 million Chinese men of marrying age could find themselves without spouses by 2020, says the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The gender imbalance among newborns is the most serious demographic problem for the country's population of 1.3 billion, says the academy.

It cites sex-specific abortions as a major factor, due to China's traditional bias towards male children.
The academy says gender selection abortions are "extremely common".

This is especially true in rural areas, and ultra-sound scans, first introduced in the late 1980s, have increased the practice.

Forced prostitution

The latest figures show that for every 100 girls born in China, 119 boys are born, the academy says in a new book.

Researcher Wang Guangzhou, quoted by the Global Times newspaper, said the implications were that men in poorer parts of China may remain single throughout their life.
"The chance of getting married will be rare if a man is more than 40-years-old in the countryside. They will be more dependent on social security as they age and have fewer household resources to rely on," he said.


In some provinces, 130 boys are born for each 100 girls, the book says.

Experts at the academy also predict the gender imbalance will lead to more inter-generational marriages, where a wife is older than her husband.

A reluctance among young urban Chinese to have a first or second child is exacerbating the problem.

Academy sociologist Yan Hua said: "People's minds have changed a lot during the last 20 years.

"Young couples either don't want to have a second child, or would prefer to live a DINK (Double Income No Kid) life."

The growing imbalance means that forced prostitution and human trafficking has become "rampant" in some parts of the country, according to the researchers.

While analysts admit there is definitely a pronounced gender imbalance in China, they also say that exact information is difficult to obtain because some families are thought to avoid registering female babies in order to make it easier for them to have a second child.

US and French soldiers among six killed in Afghanistan

Six international soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, Nato officials said, making Monday the deadliest day for foreign troops there in two months.

The dead include three Americans killed in southern Afghanistan and one French soldier north-east of Kabul, Nato said.

The nationalities of the other two have not yet been released.

The deaths came as a poll commissioned and others showed most Afghans are increasingly upbeat about the state of their country.

Of more than 1,500 Afghans questioned, 70% said they believed Afghanistan was going in the right direction - a big jump from 40% a year ago.

Deadly patrols

The Americans died in a clash with militants during an "operational patrol" in southern Afghanistan, US military spokesman Col Wayne Shanks said.

France has said one of its soldiers was killed and another wounded while patrolling with Afghan troops in Alasay, a valley largely under militant control.
A non-commissioned officer paid with his life for the commitment of France to the peace and security of the Afghan people, and an officer was very gravely wounded," a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.

Nato said one other soldier had died in eastern Afghanistan and another in the south - but did not give their nationalities.

The Mark Dummett, in Kabul, says the latest casualties bring the death toll for foreign troops in Afghanistan this year to 15.

It suggests that 2010 will be just as bloody - if not more so - than last year, which was the deadliest for international forces since the US-led invasion in 2001.

The high death toll is partly because insurgents have changed their tactics and are using more powerful bombs, our correspondent says.

But it is also because foreign troop numbers are rising, he adds.

President Barack Obama announced last month that an additional 30,000 US troops would be deployed quickly in Afghanistan to fight the insurgency.

The reinforcements will take the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000.

In a recent interview on US TV, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, said the troops surge was having the desired affect and the tide was turning against the Taliban.

The insurgency is largely concentrated in southern and eastern Afghanistan, but analysts say it is moving to the previously calm north and west.

On Sunday, an American service member and two Afghan road construction workers were killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, a suicide bomber killed seven CIA agents at America's Forward Operating Base Chapman near the eastern Afghan city of Khost.

'False positive' concern over prostate cancer test

One in eight men screened for prostate cancer will test positive when they do not have the disease, a major European trial has shown.

A positive result can mean undergoing invasive tests such as biopsy as well as potentially unnecessary treatment.

Screening with prostate specific antigen (PSA) is not routinely offered in the UK but government experts are reviewing evidence from the study.

Cancer Research UK said men should talk about the pros and cons with their GP.

Early data from the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, which is being conducted in seven countries, showed in March 2009 that deaths could be cut by 20%.
But other recent evidence has cast doubt on the long-term benefits of screening, suggesting some men may end up being "over-treated" for slow-growing disease that would never cause a problem in their lifetime.

Now data from the Finnish part of the European trial has shown that for every eight men screened - tests are being done on a four-yearly basis - one ended up with a false positive result, even with a fairly high PSA threshold.

Those men who tested positive but were later found not to have cancer were twice as likely not to agree to screening in the future even though they were at risk of developing the disease later, the British Journal of Cancer reported.

'Adverse effects'

The researchers have said more research is needed to make screening more accurate and to help pick out those who are most likely to have a true positive result.
Study leader, Dr Tuomas Kilpelainen, said: "I don't think routine screening should be advised until more is known on the adverse effects and costs of screening.

"If a man has urinary tract symptoms and is concerned he could have prostate cancer, the most important thing is to consult a GP or a urologist."

There is currently no organised screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK but men can request a PSA test if they want and demand is increasing.

Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "While the European trial, of which this Finnish study is a part, showed for the first time that prostate screening with PSA can save lives, it also suggested that 48 men would have to be treated in order to save one life.

"False positives are an issue for any screening programme, and this Finnish paper is very helpful at gaining an understanding of how they might figure in the context of prostate screening."

Results from both the European trial and a large study being carried out in the US are due this year, Cancer Research UK said.

Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said the paper showed there were "two sides" to using PSA for prostate cancer screening.

"Although for some men detecting prostate cancer early through screening can be life-saving, on the other hand the test will be abnormal for around one man in eight without cancer being detectable at that time.

"For this reason, it is important that men in their 50s and 60s can to talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of having a PSA test and only have the test if they feel it is right for them.

Detroit motor show goes electric

The first Detroit motor show after US carmakers General Motors and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy opens later.

The event, which is set to premiere 60 new models, remains the most important motor show in the US, in spite of the crisis that has rocked the industry.

Electric cars are to take centre stage, as Detroit tries to reinvent itself as a base for new automotive technologies.

Small petrol-powered cars are also due to be popular, a shift from previous years when large cars dominated.

Small and electric

The change in emphasis towards more fuel efficient cars comes as US drivers are becoming increasingly concerned with
Regulatory requirements are also being tightened amidst an increasing focus on the importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars in order to curb global warming.

Chrysler, which is now controlled by Fiat, is pinning its hopes on rebadged versions of the Italian carmaker's cars, while GM will unveil its Chevrolet Spark city car.

Ford, meanwhile, is unveiling its new Focus, hot on the heels of its introduction of the smaller Fiesta at the Los Angeles motor show last month.

The hope is that Detroit's automotive industry can be revived, thus helping to create jobs in Michigan, where unemployment reached 15.8% last year.

But Detroit's incumbents will face tough competition from non-US carmakers.

European and Asian carmakers will place great emphasis on petrol-electric hybrids or electric concept cars at this year's show.

Luxury venue

Beyond the ageing Cobo centre, an alternative show venue has popped up this year at the MGM Grand Detroit casino, where a string of European luxury car makers that have been staying away from Detroit in recent years are showing off their wares.


Supercars made by the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari will be on display, as will a stable of cars from UK carmakers Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin, all of them attracted back to the city by the ease and low cost of displaying at the casino rather than creating entire stands at the main show.

3D TV is being billed as possible industry saviour

3D TV is being billed as a possible saviour for recession hit manufacturers looking to boost sales.

On the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show, CES, in Las Vegas, all the big names unveiled 3D TV's.

Industry experts said the picture looks promising with a survey showing around 3.4m 3D TV sets will be sold in the US this year.

"It's a challenging market. We need something to kick us out of this," said Panasonic's Elsuke Tsuyuzaki.

"To me, the thing that's going to get us there is 3D," added the firm's chief technology officer.

"2009 is a year none of us want to repeat," said Gary Shapiro the president of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) which hosts the annual tech gathering.

The association has predicted that for the coming year the whole consumer electronics industry should eke out a slight revenue increase of 0.3%. The rise of $440m (£280m) will take expected revenues to $165.3bn (£105bn)

However Mr Shapiro noted that lower average selling prices for TVs will be a drag. CEA expects TV revenues to decline 2% in this sector to $22.1bn (£14bn) even though unit sales will go up 5% to 37.7m (£24m)

Movie boost
For several years the industry has talked up the arrival of 3D TV in the home to little effect.

Many however believe 2010 really is the breakthrough year for the technology, helped in large party by the growing number of 3D movies at the theatre and the success of James Cameron's sci-fi epic Avatar.


"While 3D has taken a number of years to penetrate in the movie theatres, I believe this is the year it will begin to enter the home," Jeffrey Katzenberg, the head of Dreamworks Animation.

However he added a caveat to that statement.

"It usually takes from five to ten years to transition from one platform to a newer one. To go from analogue to digital has taken about ten years so that is why I say to you this is the year in which 3D is going to enter the home in a really meaningful way."

Mr Katzenberg, who is known as a 3D evangelist, said he is so confident about the future of that vision that he has committed his studio to make 3D versions of all its future movies.

During CES, he announced Dreamworks would release Monsters vs. Aliens as a 3D Blu-ray disc in an exclusive promotion with Samsung and Technicolour.

In 2010 around 20 out of 170 movies will be made in 3D, double the number from last year.

Industry play
Samsung is just one of the big TV makers betting a huge chunk of the bank on 3D being a winning proposition for consumers and for the company.


It, along with the other top names such as Sony, LG and Panasonic, put on ritzy displays at CES to show the hundred thousand plus attendees what the future holds.

There were also announcements galore.

The Discovery Channel said that it is forming a joint venture company with Sony and IMAX to deliver 3D TV channels.

UK satellite operator BSkyB said it is also planning to launch a 3D service later this year and ESPN said it will show at least 85 sports events this year on its new ESPN 3D channel.

Panasonic revealed a tie-up with top US satellite provider DirecTV to launch three high-definition 3D TV channels by June to try and jump-start demand for 3D TVs and content.

"Once you see it you get it," said Panasonic's Mr Tsuyuzaki during a CES session on the issue called "3D Hope or Hype."

"It will take off a lot more quickly than a lot of people expect."

Price point
That is certainly what the Consumer Electronics Association said it was told by those it surveyed on the issue.

"One of the key findings is that we don't need to convince consumers that 3D is different," said Shawn DuBravac, the CEA's chief economist.

"This is the struggle we had with HDTV (high-definition TV.) 25% of consumers say they will own a 3D TV over the next three years. By 2013, a quarter of all sets sold will be 3D," added Mr DuBravac.

Right price

"3D is gaining a ton of momentum unlike any other technology in recent history," said Buzz Hayes, senior vice-president of Sony's 3D tech centre.

"The market is ready for it and a lot of people are embracing it."

One important factor the industry has to get right is pricing.

"The TV industry is desperate and they are latching onto 3D as hard as they can" Gartner research's principal analyst Van Baker.

"They have done the flat panel upgrade. It will be a hard sell to get people to spend big bucks again on 3D TV so soon after paying out for an HDTV."

Those in the business agree it is an important consideration.

"I think all the CE (consumer electronics) companies are waiting to see what the others do (on pricing)," said Ahmad Ouri, chief marketing office of Technicolor.

"It can't be double the price tag, or it's a non-starter."

Israel to construct barrier along Egyptian border

Israel's government has approved plans for the construction of a barrier along its border with Egypt in a bid to keep out illegal migrants and militants.

It will be built along two parts of the border - near the Red Sea city of Eilat and on the edge of the Gaza Strip.


PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was taken to secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character, but that refugees would still be allowed to seek entry.

In recent years, thousands of migrants have crossed into Israel via Egypt.

At least 17 migrants, mostly African, have been killed since May by Egyptian police, who say they are trying to stop people trafficking.

Eritrea is the most common country of origin for people trying to cross illegally from Egypt to Israel, followed by Ethiopia and Sudan.

'Illegal aliens'

On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said he had approved the construction of sections of barrier that would block the main infiltration routes along the 266km (166-mile) frontier, and the installation of advanced surveillance equipment.

The project is set to cost $270m and take two years to complete.
"I took the decision to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators and terrorists. This is a strategic decision to secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character," the prime ministers said in a statement.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel would "remain open to refugees" from conflict zones, but added: "We cannot let tens of thousands of illegal workers infiltrate into Israel through the southern border and inundate our country with illegal aliens."

Egyptian security sources said Israel had not informed them of its plans, but that they would not object so long as the barrier was built on Israeli soil.


Israel has also been building a controversial barrier in and around the occupied West Bank in recent years. It says it is needed to defend Israeli citizens from attacks by militants. Palestinians, however, consider it a land grab.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory ruling that the barrier was illegal and should be removed.

Egypt is meanwhile building an underground barrier along its border with Gaza to stem the smuggling of weapons through tunnels.

Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic elected Croatia president

The opposition Social Democrat, Ivo Josipovic, has won Croatia's presidential election by a wide margin.

Mr Josipovic won 60.3% of the vote in the second round run-off, beating the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic.


Correspondents say the result was expected, but the margin of victory even larger than polls had predicted.

Mr Josipovic has pledged to lead an "uncompromising fight against corruption" and to help the government complete EU membership talks this year.

The 52-year-old law professor and classical music composer succeeds Stipe Mesic, who will step down in February after 10 years as president.

'More just Croatia'

Addressing his supporters in Zagreb on Sunday evening after the official results were announced, Mr Josipovic said his victory was for "all honest people regardless of their voting preferences".
"This is a victory which we can all celebrate because it is my deep belief that all of us want a better and more just Croatia," he said.

"I deeply believe that all of us want to live in a country in which work is rewarded and crime punished, in a country of social security and justice."

His opponent, Mr Bandic, was tarnished by corruption allegations during the campaign.

Mark Lowen, says that as president, Mr Josipovic will have very little say in policy making, but will hope to take the country into the EU by 2012, becoming the bloc's 28th member.
He has been criticised for lacking charisma, but is likely to co-operate both with Brussels and the Croatian government, led by Jadranka Kosor, which has been tackle corruption if its EU hopes are to be fulfilled, our correspondent says.

Croatians have been largely unenthused by this election, reflected by the low turnout of 50.3%, slightly up on the first round, he adds.

Frustrated with widespread corruption, they have also been hard hit by the global financial crisis, with Croatia's economy likely to show barely any growth this year. Unemployment remains at around 16%.

Our correspondent says the new president will be hoping to restore popular faith in politics, as well as steer Croatia towards calmer and cleaner waters.

Sunday Mirror's Rupert Hamer killed in Afghan blast

A British journalist has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said.

Sunday Mirror defence correspondent Rupert Hamer, 39, was embedded with the US Marine Corps when his vehicle was hit by a bomb near Nawa in Helmand.

The father-of-three's Mirror colleague, photographer Philip Coburn, 43, is in a serious but stable condition.

A US marine was also killed in the blast on Saturday, and five marines were seriously injured.

It had initially been reported that an Afghan soldier had also been killed but that was later corrected.

Mr Coburn, from Larne in County Antrim, broke one leg and had the other amputated below the knee. He is due to be flown back to the UK on Monday.

'Hugely popular'

The Mirror journalists had flown to the region on New Year's Eve for a month-long assignment.

Mr Hamer had been a Sunday Mirror journalist for 12 years and was married with children aged six, five and 19 months.

Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver said: "Rupert believed that the only place to report a war was from the front line and, as our defence correspondent, he wanted to be embedded with the US Marines at the start of their vital surge into southern Afghanistan."
She added: "Affectionately known as Corporal Hamer in the office, he was a gregarious figure, a wonderful friend who was hugely popular with his colleagues."

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened by this tragic news".

He said: "My heartfelt thoughts and sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of Rupert and Philip.

"Their courage, skill and dedication to reporting from the front line was incredibly important and ensured that the world could see and read about our heroic troops.

"Their professionalism and commitment to our forces will not be forgotten."

Sun political editor Tom Newton Dunn, who worked as defence editor alongside Mr Hamer, said: "Rupert was not just an excellent journalist in his field but also a thoroughly nice person and I don't think he had an enemy in Fleet Street, let alone in the armed forces."
A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col Richard Kemp, knew Mr Hamer and said he had worked very closely with the military.

He said: "You won't hear a bad word said about him. He was extremely well liked and well respected as a journalist, he was fearless in his reporting, he wouldn't let anybody off the hook easily, but he also understood the way the military worked.

"He had great empathy with soldiers in particular on the ground and some of the work he did for the Sunday Mirror without a shadow of a doubt helped improve the lot of the soldier who was fighting in Afghanistan and elsewhere."

Chris Hughes, the Daily Mirror's security correspondent, said the atmosphere in the newsroom was one of "deep shock".

"Lots of people phoning in - journalists and military types phoning in expressing how sad they are to discover that Rupert, who was a friend to many of them, has been killed," he said.

'Great respect'
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said Mr Hamer and Mr Coburn had accompanied him on his most recent trip to Afghanistan.


"I got to know them well and I was impressed by their hard work and professionalism," he said.
"My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of both men at this extremely distressing time."

Conservative leader David Cameron sent his condolences to Mr Hamer's family, adding British journalists in Afghanistan did a "crucial job".

Mr Hamer is the second foreign journalist to be killed in Afghanistan in recent days.

Michelle Lang, 34, from Canada's Calgary Herald, died along with four Canadian soldiers in a roadside bomb attack at the end of December.

News of Mr Hamer's death came as the head of the Army told Radio live he expected to see fewer British military casualties in Afghanistan from the end of this year.

And General Sir David Richards said he believed it would be possible to bring down the number of troops in Afghanistan in about 18 months.

"The essence of our military operation is likely to remain broadly as it is today," he said.

"I personally anticipate as we get this business of 'mass' right - the numbers of boots on the ground, a result of allied enhancements and a growth in the Afghan army and police - that I would see a diminishing level of casualties from the end of this year.

"But it could be a tough year until we reach that."

China 'overtakes Germany as world's largest exporter

China's exports rose 17.7% in December, state media has reported, suggesting the country has overtaken Germany as the world's largest exporter.

The rise, compared to a year earlier, breaks a 13-month decline in trade as a result of the global downturn.

Xinhua said total exports for 2009 were $1.2tn (£749bn), but total foreign trade over the year was down 13.9%.

Correspondents say the figures will lead to new demands from China's competitors that it revalue the yuan.

Last year saw a continuing decrease in China's trade as the global economic downturn led to a fall in demand for its products.

But in the last few weeks of the year, there was a far greater rise than forecasters had expected, with foreign exports reaching $130.7bn, up 17.7% on the previous December.

China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) said exports overall in the year were $1.2tn, down 16% from in 2008, while imports were 11.2% down from a year earlier at $1.01tn.

The politically sensitive total trade surplus was down 34.2% to $196.1bn.

The figures suggests China will surpass Germany's export total for the whole of 2009, although this will not be confirmed until Germany's full-year data is published in February.

Yuan demand

A spokesman for GAC said the increase was "an important turning point" for the country.
"It is safe to say now that Chinese exporters have come right through the period of weakness," Xinhua quoted statistician Huang Guohua as saying.

The Chris Hogg in Shanghai says many of China's producers are low-cost manufacturers who assemble equipment such as i-Pods using foreign components.

The latest figures are being seen as an indication that those manufacturers have proved resilient in the downturn and are benefitting as their customers restock, says our correspondent.

But the figures are likely to lead to renewed complaints from China's trading competitors that its currency is undervalued, he added.

Led by the US, they say it is unfair that China has been able to make its good cheaper by keeping the yuan weak, but Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has said China "will not yield" to foreign demands that it revalue the currency.

Beijing has long said that it will not allow the yuan to trade freely until its domestic economy was strong enough to pick up any resulting decline in exports.

The slowing decline in Chinese trade has also been taken as a sign that the country's stimulus package is working.

Beijing raised tax rebates on exports several times in 2009, increased tax refunds and improved export credit insurance.

Venezuela's President Chavez warns price 'speculators'

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, has said troops will seize control of any business that raise prices in response to the devaluation of its currency.

He said there was no reason for prices to go up, and speculators' businesses would be handed over to the workers.


Venezuelans have rushed to the shops to buy imported goods before the bolivar's devaluation comes into effect.

Mr Chavez says devaluing the bolivar by at least 17% will boost competitiveness and reduce dependence on imports.

But critics say it will fuel inflation, which has already risen to 25%.

Pickpockets
The bolivar's official exchange rate, which is set by government decree, had been held steady at 2.45 to the US dollar since the last devaluation in March 2005.

But on Friday, President Chavez announced that it would now have two rates - 2.60 to dollar for "priority" imports, and 4.30 to the dollar for other items considered non-essential - a 50% devaluation.

He said that the two rates would have the effect of "limiting imports that are not strictly necessary and stimulating export policy".

Oscar Meza, director of the Venezuelan economic think tank, Cendas, predicted the move would push annual inflation above 33%.

"It's impossible for prices not to be adjusted," he told the Associated Press. "If they aren't adjusted, they'll disappear."

Mr Chavez dismissed the criticism on Sunday on his weekly television and radio programme, Alo Presidente, saying there was "no reason for anybody to be raising prices".

He urged his supporters to "publicly denounce the speculator" and warned business owners that he had asked the military to formulate an "offensive plan" that would see them "take over any business, of any size, that plays the bourgeois speculation game".

"I want the National Guard to hit the streets with the people to fight against speculation and take measures," he said, without specifying.

Luis Ignacio Planas of the opposition Copei party said the government was "acting like a pickpocket, sticking its hands in the pockets of Venezuelans, taking their money to continue financing and paying for an irresponsible economic policy".

Switzerland millionaire hit by record speed fine

A Swiss millionaire has been handed down a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) by a court.

The man was reportedly caught driving a red Ferrari Testarossa at 137km/h (85mph) through a village.

The penalty was calculated based on the unnamed motorist's wealth - assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) - and because he was a repeat offender.

It is more than double Switzerland's previous record speeding fine - handed to a Porsche driver in Zurich in 2008.

In the latest case, the motorist was clocked speeding 57km/h (35mph) faster than the limit, according to the cantonal court in St Gallen, eastern Switzerland.

"The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed," the court said in its judgement.

Swiss media reported that the man owns a villa with five luxury cars, including the Ferrari.

American Idol 'will flourish' with or without Cowell

American Idol judge Simon Cowell says the hit reality TV show "will flourish" with or without him.

"Whether I'm on it or off it, I think the show will flourish without me. I genuinely do," he told USA Today, ahead of the ninth season of American Idol.
Speculation over his future on the show followed his announcement that he will take rival British reality show The X Factor to the US next year.

"I really don't know until I hear it from him," said co-star Randy Jackson.

"The rumours get so wild and crazy, you just don't know what to believe," said fellow judge Jackson.

"It is pretty much a distraction," he added. "Let's focus on what we are judging... finding that next superstar talent."

Cowell has confirmed that he is still in negotiations with Fox, the network behind the talent show contest. He was named US TV's top earner last year, according to Forbes.com.

"I've had conversations - as you know, there's been speculation for months and months," he told USA Today.

"I'm very grateful," continued Cowell, whose current contract comes to an end following the show's ninth season. "I've had the best experience in my life since I've been on this show. I really like working in America."

The show has enjoyed massive success in the US since its inception in 2002, and has been a launch-pad for several singing stars, notably Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and the show's first winner Kelly Clarkson.

However the ninth season sees a dramatic shake-up in the judging panel, after singer and choreographer Paula Abdul announced her departure in August 2009.

"We look down the table sometimes and think, 'Where's Paula?'," said Jackson. "It's going to take a little getting used to. We're really sad about that."

Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Mary J Blige are among the guest judges who will feature in the audition rounds, while talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will replace Abdul when the show moves to Hollywood.

American Idol remains the most popular show in the US with the last series drawing an average of 26.3 million viewers, but ratings have seen a decline over the past three years.

"I think it can go on for some time," insisted Jackson. "I think it is the best music reality show that has ever been on TV."

Heart operation using MRI is world first

A British six-year-old boy has become the first person in the world to have a heart valve widened using an MRI scan for guidance rather than X-ray imaging.

Jack Walborn was born with the heart condition pulmonary valve stenosis, which reduces blood flow to the lungs.

Using MRI means patients are not exposed to radiation - particularly important for children.
The scan also provides a clearer image, and information about the body's tissues, in real time during surgery.
Jack's condition meant that the flow of blood from the right side of his heart was obstructed.

Surgeons decided he needed an operation called a valvuloplasty to widen the valve and increase blood flow.

This is done by inserting a catheter into a blood vessel in the arm or groin and guiding it to the heart.

At the tip of the catheter is a balloon which is gently inflated to widen the narrowed valve.

Glass fibre wire
X-ray imaging is usually used to track the progress of the catheter through the body.

But a team at the King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre in London has developed a way to use MRI scanning instead.

Previously, the magnetic field used in MRI caused problems with the metal guide wires used for cardiac catheterisation, making them move around inside the body and heating them up.

The King's team have come up with a glass fibre wire alternative with small iron markers along it that can be seen on the scan.

His mother Kerry said: "At first I was unsure about allowing Jack to be the first person to have this operation, but once I had spoken to the doctors I felt much more at ease as I knew he was in safe hands.

"His surgery was a great success and within an hour of coming out of theatre he was running around and back to being his lively self."

Judy O'Sullivan, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Technology is advancing at a great pace and in the future we hope that many more patients will benefit from the use of MRI scans rather than X-ray imaging, as MRI avoids exposure to radiation."

UPS to cut 1,800 management jobs

The world's largest package delivery company, United Parcel Service (UPS), is to shed 1,800 management and administrative jobs.

A reorganisation of one of its US operations has led to the job cuts from the firm's 340,000 US payroll.
But the firm, seeing improved shipping volumes, also increased its fourth-quarter profit forecast ahead of the results being released on 2 February.

UPS and rival FedEx are seen as strong indicators for the US economy.

The results of UPS are watched keenly because there is a strong correlation between demand for sending packages and the state of the US economy.

UPS said the job cuts will come as part of a reorganisation of its domestic small package division.

It is cutting the number of regions to three from five and the number of districts to 20 from 46.

"They're not cutting sales jobs, they're cutting back office jobs," said analyst Helane Becker of Jesup & Lamont Securities. "They take out back office, they take out cost."