Samoa skip this Friday

Samoa skip this Friday goes directly from Thursday 29 to Saturday December 31

For over a century, Samoa has been 5 hours behind Miami and Washington, about 10 of London, 11 Madrid, 18 in Beijing and 21 in Sydney.

This will encourage trade and every week he missed two days of trading, according to the prime minister.

This change will mean the loss of tourist attraction that had the town of Falealupo, the last point at sunset.

Samoa and New Zealand territory of Tokelau in the South Pacific, made a somersault in time to skip a calendar day, a measure aimed at facilitating trade and seen as a challenge to God by a religious group.

For over a century, Samoa has been 5 hours behind Miami and Washington , about 10 of London , 11 Madrid , 18 Beijing and 21 in Sydney.

The change over a century ago was adopted by American business initiative to streamline the administration of naval trade with California, but the situation has changed.

Tokelau will make the same change in the calendar as it has its administrative offices in Samoa with the implementation of this Law from the International Date Change , Samoa jump midnight on December 29 directly to 31, so it will one of the first countries to welcome the New Year with the consequent loss of life from one day to about 180,000 Samoans.

Also Tokelau, a territory composed of three atolls in New Zealand and where close to 1,400 people , joined this initiative because most of its administrative operations are located in Apia, capital of Samoa.

The date change will leave Samoa addition to the other, which is under the sovereignty of the United States and located an hour's flight, a day away on the calendar, so this shift will create the feeling of having made a long journey.

On the tourism side, all is not optimistic in Samoa since the town of Falealupo , the last point at which the sun was lost that title has been an appeal taken into account by visitors when choosing a destination during this time.

Now is the Samoan American territory that will have these significant places, but in contrast, the people of Samoa, Tokelau and Kiritimati Island will be the first to welcome the New Year.

Proposal to facilitate trade

The measure was proposed last May by the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele , who said that every week then lost two days of business because when your country is Friday in Australia and New Zealand is Saturday and Sunday hours in the their compatriots go to church in Sydney and Wellington already working as it is Monday.

Sailele defended the arrangement and said that promote trade with its two main partners, Australia and New Zealand, and tourists to avoid losing flights by the confusions of dates.

He also recalled that 90% of overseas Samoans reside in these two countries in Oceania and in that sense, he considered "vital" the adequacy of the schedule.

Once the leap into the future, the government will face the challenge of demonstrating to citizens that the impact on trade has been positive and that the measure has an impact on improving the quality of life , especially in those families living with about $ 20 a month, recently said Keni Lesa Mat'afa local commentator in an editorial in the Samoan Observer newspaper.

The people of Samoa, Tokelau and Kiritimati Island will be the first in the New Year Samoans addition there are also skeptics who are upset with the measure, especially the followers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to consider changing the line date is only imaginary and that its application violates the cycle of God's creation in a week.

"God does not recognize our right to remove an arbitrary calendar day, eliminating the weekly cycle. Seventh-day Adventists will not recognize this change," said Noeline Cutts in a letter last October to the Samoan Observer.

The main complaints received by the old system arose when there was the killing of a national New Zealand or Australia and his family had to organize the funeral.

Samoan Prime Minister explained that if the death happened on Friday came a "logistical nightmare" because "there were only a few hours to organize the trip to New Zealand before they close the immigration offices and banks during the weekend."

Samoa's economy depends on agriculture , remittances from Samoans living abroad, an emerging tourism industry and the growing trade with the countries of Oceania, China and Singapore.

Slots

The international date line date change, invented by Scottish Sandford Fleming in the late nineteenth century, is in the line of 180 degrees longitude and imaginary zigzag through the Pacific Ocean.

This was set at the conference held in Washington in 1884, organized to decide what had to be the prime meridian , whether Paris or London.

The defender of Greenwich , Richard Strachey, then suggested that the date change should happen "in a deserted place on Earth and not in the center of civilization."

Eight years later, the then ruler of the archipelago, Laupepa Malietoa , Samoa decided to put in the time today to facilitate trade with the United States.

Kiribati, near Samoa, decided in 1995 to move the international line of changing the date and time unifying the archipelago where the western part was about 22 hours ahead of EDT.

Paris opens first bar nap in downtown

The siesta is a practice that "is not very common in France."

In "Zen Nap Bar" located in an elegant shopping arcade in central Paris, guests can pay for sleep and relax for a few minutes.

It has six cabins of napping, three of them equipped with massage chairs.

The "Zen Bar Siesta," a small hotel located in an elegant shopping arcade in the center of Paris, has become the first store in France in which customers can pay for sleep and relax for a few minutes.

One of the founders of the business, Christophe Chansavang said Thursday that it is a practice that "is not very common in France" , but seeks to "evolve the mindset slowly. " "In France it is a taboo topic a bit, that's why people come here to rest a while without them knowing anyone in the office," said Chansavang, 31.

For 12 euros you can enjoy a "microsiesta" 15 minutes The building, located in the Passage Choiseul, has six cabins of napping, three of them equipped with automatic massage chairs charged as cost "several thousand dollars" and three beds in which to lie or be subject to a shiatsu massage. Customers, more women than men, are essentially professionals who work in an office area and go to "bar naps" without an appointment.

There, for 12 euros (about 15.4 U.S. dollars), you can enjoy a "microsiesta" of 15 minutes. Rates increase gradually to 27 euros (35 dollars) for a "real nap" of 45 minutes, although you can subscribe to reduce the amount of fertilizer. Besides tea, users can also enjoy an organic pedicure practiced by fish or buy different products related to cosmetics and relaxation.

"There are concepts that are close to ours, but as this there are none in France , "said the founder, who praised the virtues of a nap mid-day because it facilitates the "physical and muscular" and also "intellectual It improves memory and creativity, "he said.

Although Chansavang has traveled to destinations such as Barcelona, Mallorca and Ibiza and speaks a little Spanish, the inspiration for his "bar naps" comes from Asia, said. Open this location since last September, the owners now reflect on the possibility of opening other centers in the business district of La Defense, outside Paris , or in other French cities like Lyon (East), Lille (north) or Montpellier (south).

France bans Europes tallest minaret called Sarkozy

The name of the minaret is in protest at the president's decision to close a Gaulish place of worship.

Rachid Nekkaz, the employer paid for the land it would rise half a million euros.

The French authorities banned a businessman raised in a town outside Paris a minaret of 35 meters, the highest in Europe, which sought to baptize in the name of President Gallo, Nicolas Sarkozy , to protest the decision to close a of worship.

The provocative project businessman Rachid Nekkaz, crashed with the Prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department Sarkozy, who refused permission to raise the pharaonic work in Gennevilliers, on Sunday newspaper reported Le Parisien .

Nekkaz, former presidential candidate and founder of the French association "Touch not my Constitution" very combative against the law to ban the burka wear on the street, bought the land on which stands the place of worship intended to close the authorities.

He did it with another leader of the associative sector from depressed neighborhoods on the outskirts of Paris, an initiative by pursuing attention by the closure of a place where, according to them, local Muslims prayed every Friday from For over 30 years.

They paid for the land half a million euros , according to Le Parisien , which ensures that they planned to lay the foundation stone on 26 January, Sarkozy's birthday.

Monastery Greek real estate fraud and money laundering

At the request of the Prosecutor of Thessaloniki, police in Greece has been placed under house arrest Efrem, the abbot of the monastery of Vatopedi (Mount Athos), accused of a multimillion-dollar real estate fraud and money laundering, local radio stations reported .

The prosecutor in Thessaloniki, accompanied by police officers and a doctor came on Saturday in the autonomous territory of Mount Athos, on the island of Patmos, to examine the religious and determine if it can be stopped. Al found that his health is delicate, it was decided to keep it guarded house arrest in the convent.

The case broke in 2008, and several members of the conservative government then had to resign for alleged involvement The doctor said Sunday that the health of the religious "slightly improved" , so that "within two or three days may be transferred to jail. "

Efrem is a key figure in a scandal of misappropriation of public lands and money laundering that began in 2008 and in which they are implicated several members of the then Conservative government. Three ministers, including the State Zeódoros Rusópulos, had to resign, although it is doubtful that they are held.

They are also charged 32 others , mostly senior officials, but also a notary, wife of the then Minister of Maritime Affairs, Giorgos Voulgarakis, Greek and several well-known businessmen.

The Vatopedi monastery, built in the tenth century, claimed, from the early 2000, the property of Lake Vistonida and thousands hectares in the surrounding area. Based on alleged documents of the eleventh century, whose veracity has not been proven, the convent demanded that land.

A Greek court ruled in 2005 in favor of the convent in exchange for the land was state property of high value placed on the outskirts of Athens and Thessaloniki, which Efrem could make a profit of millions of dollars in profits.

Efrem's lawyers denounced Sunday "a politically motivated conspiracy "and asked the Supreme Court Prosecutor to cancel the arrest warrant issued by the Office of Appeals of Thessaloniki.

The abbot has close relationships with several Russian officials , including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin . His arrest provoked the indignation of the Russian foundation "Apostle Andreas", controlled by the head of the Russian Government.

The Archbishop of Athens, Ierone, criticized the arrest of the abbot and called it " extremely severe ", especially to have occurred on Christmas Day before Newyear 2012.

More than 100,000 people in Pakistan prosted

More than 100,000 people in Pakistan denounced the corruption of his government

The exestrella cricket and new opposition political figure Imran Khan on Sunday has shown the level of popular support generated by getting together more than 100,000 people in the streets of Karachi to express their rejection of corruption and malpractices of the present government Pakistan .

Jan, 59 years old, is leading the wave of popular discontent with the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of People's Party Pakistan (PPP) and facing heavy pressure from the military leadership over the scandal of 'Memogate', among other problems.

Police have estimated that the concentration convened by Jan has had the participation of between 100,000 and 150,000 people , while former player's game of cricket, Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI), has raised the figure to 500,000.

Even if that mobilization had stayed in the lower estimate, it is the largest demonstration held in Karachi in recent years . To his fans and the music is patriotic, Jan has promised that if elected will end the endemic corruption that Pakistan suffers.

"We need a government to change the system and put an end to corruption, so we need the PTI comes to power, "he proclaimed to the crowd. "The first thing to do is put an end to corruption," he stressed. The new opposition political figure says that will end the massive corruption "in 90 days."

US condemns Attack on churches in Nigeria

The White House said Sunday its "sincere condolences" to Nigeria by the attacks of the Islamic sect Boko Haram against Christian churches that left at least 39 people , condemning the "senseless violence" and "tragic" loss of lives in the Christmas day.

We offer our sincere condolences to the people of Nigeria and especially to those who lost relatives and loved ones," White House said in a statement.

After condemning the "senseless violence and the tragic loss of life on Christmas Day," the White House said he has been in contact with Nigerian officials "about what initially appear to be acts of terrorism" to express the commitment to help " to bring those responsible to justice. "

For his part, Secretary General of the UN , Ban Ki-moon , also condemned the attacks and called for an end to all acts of "sectarian violence" in the country, and reiterates its firm belief that no goal can justify recourse to violence. "

Ban "condemns in the strongest terms" the attacks and expresses its condolences to the people of Nigeria, as well as "to the families who lost loved ones, "according to a statement released by a spokesman.

The Government of Nigeria organized a national security summit in early 2012. According to the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard, President Goodluck Jonathan took the decision after meeting with the heads of the security forces and the army in an emergency meeting held yesterday to mark the attacks.

Wave of attacks

At least 39 people were killed Saturday in Nigeria as a result of five attacks of the Islamic sect Boko Haram against Christian churches in which religious services were held Christmas.

The bloodiest occurred in Madalla , a city close to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, as the emergency services at least 35 bodies recovered after the attack on the Catholic church of Santa Teresa.

Northern Nigeria has been plagued this year by attacks attributed to the radical group Boko Haram, whose name means "non-Islamic education is sin" and that struggle for establishment of a state ruled by Sharia law in the area of the country, Muslim majority.

The wave of attacks on Sunday exceeds the deadliest attack to date by the terrorist group that was responsible for one in August against UN headquarters in Abuja, which killed 24 people.

Moroccan secular leftists protesting

Moroccan secular leftists protesting in the streets without their Islamist allies

The protest movement February 20 (20F) on Sunday held a protest demonstration in the main cities of Morocco , the first of which hits the streets after his divorce from his ally, the banned Islamist movement Justice and Charity .

In Rabat, the youth opposition movement managed to get over 700 people in a protest march where demonstrators demanded "dignity, freedom and social justice" with its classic slogan: "The people want to drop the corruption and despotism" .

Also, the protesters demanded a parliamentary monarchy and raised pictures of Moroccan personalities that called them to go, especially Ali Hima, newly appointed as director of King Mohamed VI , as militants 20F for no "promises no possibility of change in the country. "

This is the first protest organized by the 20F after the breakup of Justice and Charity on 19 December with this movement.

Meanwhile, a dozen monarchist tried to deal with young leftists and chanted slogans Moroccan national anthem "God, Country and King", in an attempt to silence the protesters chanted "Long live the people." Meanwhile, the forces involved in forming a belt up to prevent contacts between young protesters and monarchist.

Secular

The Islamist movement, which constituted the bulk of the protesters, attributed his decision to ideological reasons for the secular nature of the promoters of the youth movement and because, according to Islamists, 20F and not get the desired goals and became "a means of outpouring of popular anger. "

The Islamist movement last month joined the Moroccan version of the " Arab Spring "and had a continuous presence of their young massive street demonstrations in a strange alliance of leftists and Islamists who shared only the slogans" against corruption and despotism ".

In fact, different manifestations held almost weekly since last February in Morocco, Justice and Charity youths marched together but not mixed with leftist protesters 20F.

The people want to drop the corruption and despotism

According to vice president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Abdelilah Ben Abdeslam , who attended the march, this rally, "said the ongoing process of the claims of 20F until their demands are heard."

One member of the 20F, Omar Radi, said that the movement's demands revolve around "more democracy , separation of powers and freedom ", but questioned whether" the new constitution or new government going to do some of these claims. "

The president of the new government, the Islamist Abdelilah Benkiran , secretary general of the Justice and Development Party, winner of the November 25 legislative, has repeatedly expressed its willingness to dialogue with the 20F.

In other cities such as Tangier and Casablanca, the presence was massive, according to organizers, in Casablanca and was marked by the participation of leftist intellectuals and artists.

Two South Korean delegation crossed the northern border to express condolences

The only two Korean delegations authorized by Seoul to travel to North Korea to give his condolences for the death of dictator Kim Jong-il, who died on December 17 , crossed the border on Monday between the two countries, reported the South Korean agency Yonhap .

Pyongyang warned Seoul on Saturday consequences "catastrophic" in inter-Korean relations if not allowed to travel to North Korea, South Korean citizens wishing to express condolences over the death of Kim.

Last Friday, the communist regime announced that it would to any group in the neighboring country that would give his condolences to the North Korean capital, Seoul and soon after announced only authorize the trip north of the two delegations.

The two committees combined total of 19 people and are led respectively by the chairwoman of Hyundai , Hyun Jeong-eun, and the former First Lady Lee Hee-ho, widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

Promoters of Reconciliation

Seoul decided to authorize the travel of these two personalities and his companions because North Korea sent delegations when their husbands died, both active promoters of reconciliation between the two Koreas over the past decade.

The South Korean delegation held a lunch meeting with senior North Korean officials in the capital, Pyongyang, before their respects to Kim Jong Il, Yonhap said the South's Unification Ministry.

The two Koreas are technically at war since 1950

In 1994, when he died the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-sung , father of Kim Jong-il, Seoul offered no sympathy or send an official delegation.

On this occasion also gave his condolences Seoul or released state delegation, while expressing sympathy to the people of North Korea, and allowed individuals and businesses to send messages of condolence, as well as authorize the journey of these two groups.

It requires approval from the Ministry of Unification in South Korea any person or organization wishing to cross the border between the two Koreas technically at war since the Korean War (1950-53) concluded with an armistice was signed today without a final peace.

Kim Jong-un, "the only party leader"

Just this Monday the newspaper of North Korean Workers Party referred to Kim Jong-un , appointed to succeed his father Kim Jong-il , the leader of the main body of the training.

The designation, number of articles published in the newspaper Rodong Sinmun indicate that the young successor, whose age is estimated at just less than 30 years , is in process of taking control of the country after the death of North Korean leader.

"All the Party organizations in the country are advocating the ideology and leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong-one with a single thought , "the newspaper said. "We will stake our life," he added, "to protect the Central Military Commission, headed by the dear Comrade Kim Jong-un."

Articles published by the newspaper, which described Kim Jong Un as leader of the powerful Central Military Commission and ask for loyalty to his person, suggest that the youth plays, de facto , the positions of president of this organization and general secretary of the Workers' Party, according to Yonhap.

Kim Jong-il last year named vice president of the Central Military Commission Kim Jong-un, his youngest son, who was promoted to the rank of four-star general in his first major step to consolidate its position as successor to lead the North Korean regime militarized

Funding difficulties persist for European banks

This follows from the last quarterly report of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

The sovereign debt crisis and the increased dependence of banks, especially the French and Italians, the liquidity of the ECB.

Increases the reluctance of banks to lend to them.

Each is more difficult to find funding dollars.

The difficulties of funding for European banks will persist due to the sovereign debt crisis, which has increased the dependence of French and Italian banks the liquidity of the European Central Bank ( ECB ).

This follows from the last quarterly report of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in December, released this Sunday, in which analyzes the situation of public debt markets and banks. The BIS, based in the Swiss city of Basel , remember that the end of 2014 bank debt maturing in the amount of $ 2 trillion (1.5 trillion euros).

13% of this amount is government guaranteed debt, which has been produced primarily in 2009 maturities that may hinder its extension to reasonable terms. Due to the increasing reluctance of banks to lend to each other, "of the interbank market effectively shifted the balance of the Eurosystem", notes the BIS.

The use of ECB deposit facility where banks can deposit their money in one day has already passed the 300,000 million euros and the ECB's lending to banks has doubled this amount does not include emergency assistance individual banks.

More than half of ECB loans to European banks has gone to French banks, Irish and Italian . French banks have borrowed 141,000 million euros. Italian banks have also borrowed 111,000 million, increasing its reliance on ECB funding to 2.8% of their balance sheets.

Difficulty dollar funding

European banks also have many difficulties to find financing in dollars in U.S. money market which has increased the cost of dollar-euro exchange to the highest level since December 2008. The mutual fund money market U.S. finance have left European banks (-42% from late May) to avoid indirect exposure to sovereign debt risk, according to the BIS.

Emerging markets have been adversely affected by the crisis in the euro area to alleviate the funding constraints, the ECB announced this week two new liquidity operations in euros with a maturity of three years. In addition, six major central banks around the world, led by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and the ECB agreed on a concerted action to halve the cost of dollar swap lines and establish lines of trade in other currencies .

The BIS notes that the premium paid by financial institutions to exchange euros in dollars fell from 151 to 119 basis points, after learning of concerted action.

In the reporting period, between early September and December, banks in the euro area have tightened the conditions and have increased interest rates on loans to businesses and homes and planned to do so in the fourth quarter. One of the key factors behind this hardening was the worsening of the conditions to which the banks themselves get funding. For example, syndicated loans in the proportion of banks in the euro area in global new loans fell in October to 18% from 26% a year earlier.

The average interest rate of all new loans from banks in the euro area companies increased one percentage point year on year to end September. Banks in Greece and Portugal increased interest rates by two percentage points.

The emerging markets have been adversely affected by the crisis in the euro area, which has led investors to withdraw 25 000 million (18.797 million euros) of emerging market funds in August and September, especially equity funds . There has been a repatriation of assets by investors in the euro area. The withdrawal of 25,000 billion emerging markets fund portfolio inflows match of 85,000 million euros at the euro area, a large part of France.

Rajoy in summit of European Peoples Party

Rajoy will meet with the secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Timothy Geithner.

First international meeting of the next president after the elections.

Transfer the message that Spain is a viable deficit will honor its commitments.

The next prime minister, Mariano Rajoy , travels Wednesday to Marseilles, where it will be s u first international event after winning the elections , to participate in the Summit of European People's Party (EPP) and have meetings with Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

seen before on Thursday with some of the major European leaders late Rajoy have an interview with the secretary of the U.S. Treasury , Timothy Geithner. The financial responsibility of the Government of Barack Obama the next president starts with a round of contacts co n several presidents and prime ministers in Europe.

According to Rajoy himself stressed, which transmit to Geithner and European leaders to interview the morning is the same: Spain is a country that will honor its commitments viable deficits, urges end to doubts about the sovereign debt of several countries euro area through the new Treaty Merkel and Sarkozy proposed and make reforms to enhance competitiveness.

Speech in Congress

This Thursday the agenda of the next president will be charged more, attend a multilateral meeting behind closed doors with government leaders and prime ministers of PPE, and then star in bilateral meetings with Merkel, Sarkozy, President of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Thereafter, the PP leader will speak at the plenary of the Congress of the European people.

The Marseille is the first international Rajoy after winning the elections of 20-N and, although he has already spoken by phone with Merkel and Sarkozy, in Marseille will have the opportunity to directly tell the foundation of his economic plan, which focuses on containment of the deficit.

NATO will not trust their security to Russia

U.S., against Russia and NATO share missile defense.

NATO admits that negotiations are at a "dead" but expected to agree on a proposal that the agreement of the parties.

U.S. rejects the Russian proposal for a joint missile defense between NATO and Russia in Europe, said the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, in an interview published Wednesday by the Russian daily Kommersant.

Daadler and reiterated the U.S. position to the proposal made at the time by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, which called for creating a joint Russia-NATO, in which each party is responsible for the security of a sector the continent.

Only the Alliance, not a foreign power can guarantee the security of its members and their territory "The NATO can not accept that idea. Only because we are convinced that only the Alliance, not a foreign power, can ensure the safety of its members and its territories. Nor Moscow wants his safety is in the hands of NATO, "the U.S. diplomat.

The Alliance insists on cooperation in which the parties to respond only to defend its territory.

"We can accept an adapted version of the Russian proposal (defense) sector. NATO will defend its territory, and Russia on their own. Together we can determine how our systems can cooperate to enhance missile independent European security and protect the Iranian threat, "he said.

In late November, the Russian president announced the deployment of a radar and ordered to reinforce the security of the facilities of Russia's strategic forces in response to U.S. refusal to give written assurances that its missile defense system in Europe does not threaten the Russian nuclear power.

A quagmire

"There is nothing new among the measures announced by President Medvedev. The most important thing we heard is that the door to dialogue remains open. We intend to cooperate with Russia, but at the same time we intend to deploy our missile defense " Daadler said.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO acknowledged that at present negotiations between the Alliance, the United States and Russia on the missile shield are in neutral. " We are in a quagmire, but no exit. We are all ready to talk. We see clearly our differences and we are ready to overcome them. No one hands down and surrendered, including representatives of Russia, "he said.

Pakistani terrorist group claimed the attack in Kabul

This is the first time a group outside Afghanistan claimed an attack there.

The terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi to Alami is against Shia Muslims and is related to the terrorist network Al Qaeda.

The Pakistani terrorist group Laskhar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami on Tuesday has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that has left over 60 dead Shiites during the celebration of the Muslim holiday of Ashura in Kabul, as reported by the U.S. television NBC. On Wednesday it was known that a victim is a U.S. citizen, as confirmed estodounidense embassy in Kabul, which has ruled that the deceased worked for the U.S. government.

A spokesman for the fundamentalist group has claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to the delegation of the NBC in Pakistan. "It's the first time that anyone outside of Afghanistan claimed responsibility for an attack in this country, "said reporter NBC in Pakistan, Mushtaq Yusufzai.

According to the newspaper The Long War Journal , Lashkar-e-Jhangvi to Alami is a subsidiary of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a terrorist group against Shiite Muslims and the terrorist network linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban settled in the tribal regions Pakistan.

A bicycle bomb leaves four dead in northern Afghanistan Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has an extensive network of militants in Pakistan and has carried out numerous attacks in the tribal regions, mainly in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber , where insurgent groups have a strong presence.

Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has most of its fighters located in the Tribal Territories Federal agencies, particularly in South Waziristan and Arakzai.

Kabul suicide bombing has claimed the lives of at least 60 people, including women and children , and left a s 160 injuries of varying degrees. The target was a Shiite shrine located in the heart of Kabul, where hundreds of people celebrated the Ashura. It was the deadliest bombing attack in the capital since 2008.

The festival of Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson , Hussein, in the battle of Karbala, in what is now part of Iraqi territory, in 680. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai , said Tuesday it is "the first time" by an act of terrorism "so horrible" during the Ashura celebrations in the country. The Afghan president, who is currently on a European tour to meet with top political leaders, has announced that it anticipates his return to Afghanistan to visit the families of the victims.

Bicycle bomb attack

In addition, at least four people have died -including an Afghan soldier, and 17 were injured because of a bicycle bomb exploded near the main mosque in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

The explosion caused a fire in the mosque, where many Shiites and Sunnis were praying together. The city streets were crowded with people celebrating Ashura, but for now, no one knows for certain if the target of the attack were Shiite faithful.

Banco Santander sold some 910 million euros

He sold the Chilean group CorpBanca by 1,225 million dollars (about 910 million euros).

The transaction Spanish financial group generated a profit of 615 million euros.

Banco Santander in the Latin American country has a workforce of around 1,400 employees and a network of 78 offices.

The Banco Santander sold Banco Santander Colombia and its subsidiaries in the country the group CorpBanca Chile by 1,225 million dollars (about 910 million euros), which Spanish financial group generated a profit of 615 million euros.

The Santander Group has informed the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) has reached agreement with Corp Banca to sell business units in Colombia.

Banco Santander in the Latin American country has a market share of 2.7 percent in credit and resources, with amounts of 2,100 and 3,200 million euros, respectively, a workforce of around 1,400 employees and a network of 78 offices.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2012 and is subject to obtaining regulatory approvals and a delisting tender offer aimed at the minority shareholders, owners of 2.15% of the bank's capital.

Businesses affected by the transaction (Banco Santander Colombia and the group's subsidiaries in that country) in 2010 reached a profit of $ 54 million, 0.5% of the total benefit of Grupo Santander.

The Santander Group to strengthen its balance the gains on the sale of Banco Santander Colombia and its other subsidiaries, amounting to 615 million euros.

EU prepares for future summit

EU prepares a key to the future summit of the euro and to calm markets

Budgetary discipline should be fixed and established mechanisms for joint debt issuance.

The European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, designed to make the bailout fund with more capabilities and financial resources.

José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero attends his last European Council.

The leaders of the European Union on Wednesday preparing a decisive summit for the future of the euro , which is expected to agree a set of short-term measures to calm the tension in the markets and other long to seal the budgetary discipline and pave the way emissions of common debt.

Twenty-seven are still studying the document sent to them on Tuesday the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy , with a long list of ideas , including providing the permanent bailout fund (MEDE) with new capabilities and more financial resources.

David Cameron will not accept changes to the treaties without safeguarding the City 's community leader also suggested that the European Stability Mechanism (MEDE), which entered into force will be brought forward to 2012, can participate directly in the recapitalization of banks and also has the characteristics of a lending institution.

The latter would allow unlimited access to the European Central Bank (ECB) and act as a true firewall on the debt crisis , a demand raised by France but had always been rejected by Germany.

Another short-term measures proposed by Van Rompuy is to increase IMF resources through bilateral loans that can help troubled euro countries.

In other respects, Van Rompuy proposed to the Twenty shield the fiscal discipline of the euro countries through various forms of exchange agreements (some of them immediate and easy approval and other long-term and long ratification).

The aim is that the commitment of the countries of the euro fiscal discipline open the door "long term" to the creation of a "joint debt" (Eurobonds, called otherwise).

However, this step only come after a stepwise procedure and on the basis of strict criteria for budgetary discipline and economic competitiveness, according to various sources have been explained and diplomatic community.

Heads of State and Government of the Twenty initiate discussions with an informal working dinner on Thursday, beginning at 18.30 GMT.

The summit will formally begin on Friday morning and will run throughout the day.

Approaching postures

Despite the importance of the meeting, EU sources expect moved that the meeting ends without major delays due to previous contacts have enabled Van Rompuy bring positions in many of the points.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron , arrived in Brussels after having warned that not accept changes to the treaties without safeguards to protect the interests of his country, especially the City , the City of London and an economic engine in the UK.

This will be the last European Council President in office of the Spanish Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero , who leaves office in two weeks after nearly eight years as Executive and a number of community summits to his credit.

Putins party wins

Putin's party wins, but suffers a blow to the Russian elections

United Russia loses a lot of power and maneuverability to get around 50% of the vote.

In 2007 achieved 67% of the vote.

The Communist Party is the second largest party with 20%.

Putin played out ahead of the 2012 presidential.

Allegations of irregularities and cyber attacks.

Russian cosmonauts also voted from space.

The ruling party United Russia (RU) of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin once again won the parliamentary elections on Sunday in Russia , although strongly weakened compared to the previous elections of 2007 (so did 67% of the vote and 315 seats).

With 93% of the votes counted RU gets around 50% of the votes. This means that the ruling party loses the constitutional majority (300 out of 450 seats in the Duma or lower house) and, as highlighted by the president of Russia and number one on the UK list, Dmitri Medvedev , "will have to seek support from other game. " The next most voted was the Communist Party with almost 20%.

Recipients by falling popularity of the Communists UK, almost double the 2007 result , at least two other parties, the Social Just Russia (RJ) and the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, Parliament would agree also with the 12% to 13 % and 11% to 14%, respectively.

The benefit from falling popularity of RU are primarily the Communists almost doubled the result of 2007 (11.5%), as Fair Russia (7.7%). Also increased the nationalists of the eccentric Vladimir Yirinovski, which won four years ago by 7.7%.

Loss of power in Parliament

The loss of the constitutional majority in Parliament, United Russia held until now means that you will not have much freedom to enact reforms that are expected. The result also would be a blow to Vladimir Putin , United Russia candidate ahead of the 2012 presidential.

United Russia claims victory

Before they left the official results, the ruling party United Russia proclaimed his victory: "United Russia has won," said Boris Gryzlov, chairman of the Supreme Council of the ruling party.

The UK leader attributed to the crisis the sharp decline of the ruling party and recalled that in several European countries the crisis caused the electoral defeat of the ruling parties. "Amid the global economic crisis have received the support of the electorate. While in the UK, Spain and Portugal in the 2010-2011 elections the ruling parties changed us and we can say that UK will continue (the party) ruling, " said.

Allegations of fraud and cyber attacks

The opposition parties, especially communist denounced the multiple violations of electoral law detected during Election Day.

While the ruling party accused the opposition of "campaigning" during the day, the opposition denounced fraud in favor of the ruling party. "We have seen a sea of violations," declared the Communists. Meanwhile, the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party echoed: "The geography of violations covers the entire country." For its part, Yabloko surmounted saying that "elections have become the game of 'catch the forger red-handed.'"

The day was also marked by distributed denial of service (DDOS) left unused web pages radio Echo of Moscow and the electoral observation NGO Golos (The Vow). Alexei Venediktov, director of Echo of Moscow, said the attack against the station is "an attempt to prevent dissemination of information on irregularities in the elections. "

Italian Government approves the adjustment plan to save 24,000 million euros

Men should contribute 42 years to get his pension and 41 women.

One measure of the plan includes the freezing of pensions that are higher than 960 euros.

According to Monti, the measures are particularly "incisive about tax evasion."

The prime minister has announced compensation waived his remuneration executive leader and Minister of Economy.

The EC welcomes the Italian setting but warns that further reforms will be needed.

The Council of Ministers of the Italian government headed by Mario Monti approved on Sunday the first executive budget adjustment of technocrats and that this Monday will be explained in the Parliament of Italy , government sources.

The approval of the package of economic measures and financial, which aims to save 24,000 million euros, was scheduled for Monday , but decided to advance the Council of Ministers, which has lasted over three hours, after Monti presented the plan to unions , business, social partners and political parties.

Monti, who appeared at a press conference, said his government has " a short term "and" a firm commitment to help Italy out of a grave crisis, a crisis and an economic malaise and Italian society that threatens to destroy what was built by four generations of Italians. "

Italian public debt is the fault of the Italians, who have not given importance to the future of the nation's children

He said that "the great Italian public debt is not the fault of Europeans, is the fault of the Italians in the past have given importance to the future of the nation's children. "

According to Monti, "we have been aware of the need to create the conditions for growth in Italy," to bring under control the deficit and public debt, and "we have also given a very particular weight to equity. "

He said "we have also had to distribute sacrifices and have been careful to distribute them. You will see that our measures are particularly incisive in terms of tax evasion. "

The European excomisario added: "The plurality of sacrifices we want to be seen as a reawakening of the economy Italian, Italian society. "

He added that the labor reform will be addressed the coming weeks: "We have not looked at the labor market, but it will be a definitive step" to give greater weight to merit and competition and greater openness.

As for the costs of policy and steering gear, said, "we adopted a criterion of transparency at the level of international best practice and we decided inspire our asset declarations on the principle of not declaring only what we are asked public office now, but declare our entire heritage. "

Sacrifices and supports equal

Monti said that retributive compensation resignation as prime minister and minister of economy, but retains the income as a senator.

He also referred to the modification of the provinces and said the provincial boards will be abolished and that the provincial councils will have only 10 members.

The prime minister, who wants the decree is called Salva-Italy , announced that it will support the proposal of a tax on financial transactions in the European institutions, a point that Italy had so far had an opposite position.

He said there will be "sacrifice", but also actions in support of enterprises and liberalization in the interests of consumers and competition , while the fight against tax evasion and government priority will exclude the option of resorting to amnesties.

The Minister of Labour, moved

For its part, the Italian Minister of Labour, Elsa Fornero, boarded one of the most contentious issues, the modification of the pension system , with the increase in 42 years for men and 41 for women in the minimum years of contributions in order to receive pension "early" without resorting to quotas.

In the private sector, retirement is for women aged 62 years and for men at age 66 in 2012, with a penalty of 3% for those who are withdrawn, while the total equalization will age 66 years in 2018, he added.

After the minister concluded his speech excited, Monti said the plan calls for freeze pensions in excess of 960 euros per month and maintains the review of minimum pensions in line with inflation.

Europe wants more reforms

The financial vice-president of the European Commission, Olli Rehn , has said that the adjustment package approved by the Italian government offers "a much needed signal a new approach to economic policy," but warned that Rome will face more reforms soon.

Rehn said that the EC will conduct a detailed analysis when you get all the details, "but overall the package is timely and ambitious, giving a much needed signal a new approach. "

He stressed the efforts of fiscal consolidation , "to restore the credibility of the economy and control of their debt." D staked further that measures to increase tax revenues were partially offset by incentive tax to support enterprise and employment and welcomed the commitment to reinforcing the fight against tax fraud.

"In the area of pensions , some long-awaited measures are being introduced to reduce pension expenditure while reinforcing the justice system and increase the participation of the workforce, "he said.

Iran announced the downing of a reconnaissance aircraft of US

The demolition occurred in the east of the country.

Iran's armed forces have taken over the unit.

This demolition could increase tensions between U.S. and Iranian side facing the alleged military nuclear program.

U.S. denies any of its planes crashed or have been shot down.

Iran announced on Sunday the downing of a U.S. aircraft reconnaissance drone in eastern DRC, local news agency Fars , which is linked to the body of the Revolutionary Guards the agency said the device was RQ170 model had violated Iranian airspace and, after its demolition, was left to the Armed Forces Iran, which is not the first time they make these ads, because in January this year said they had shot down two unmanned aircraft U.S. in the Persian Gulf.

Drones RQ179 Sentinel of the U.S. Air Force are stationed in Afghanistan , a country with which borders Iran. It is also one of the devices in Washington have used more surveillance and attack operations , along with Pakistan, Iraq and Somalia.

Iran is in the midst of a political storm after publication, on October 8, a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which suggest suspicions that Iran's nuclear program has a military dimension , which Tehran strongly denies and says is purely civilian and peaceful.

Israeli and U.S. have raised the possibility of a military attack on Iran to halt its nuclear program, what the Iranians have responded that his answer will be "overwhelming "and that could strike targets all countries to participate in the attack in place of their choice.

U.S. denies demolition

While Iraq announced the demolition of this device, U.S. sources have reported that Washington has no indication that one of its planes has crashed unmanned Iranian territory or that has been knocked down. "There is no indication at all at this time that the Iranians have knocked this 'drone'" said the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Russia holds a day of reflection

Russia keeps on Saturday a day of reflection ahead of parliamentary elections this Sunday, considered a dress rehearsal for the presidential election in March 2012 and a clear favorite to win: the ruling party United Russia (RU).

As required by law from voting after midnight were banned election propaganda activities throughout the country and so far, according to authorities, there have been no notable irregularities. "We have not received any information that might be disturbing," said the press secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolai Konkin.

Almost 110 million Russians are called to the polls Sunday to elect 450 members of the Duma, the lower house of parliament in elections in which for the first time in post-Soviet Russian history involving all legally registered political parties , which are seven.

All the members of the Duma are elected by party lists, that to access the proportional allocation of seats required to obtain at least 7% of the votes cast. In addition, the training they get between 5% and 7% of the votes entitled to a seat.

The polls agree that RU, the list is headed by the outgoing president, Dmitri Medvedev will get absolute majority in the Duma, but you will lose a significant amount of seats and, with them, the qualified majority of two thirds required for approval of constitutional law.

Also maintained and increased its representation by the Communist Party, which has emerged as the second electoral force, the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party and the Social Just Russia. According to all surveys, training and liberal Yabloko Just Cause, like the nationalist Russian Patriots, are outside the parliamentary spectrum.

While no one doubts the victory of United Russia, the great intrigue of tomorrow's election is in many of the 302 seats lose that training is now official. From these results depend on the political future of Medvedev, who is running for the post of prime minister once he leaves the Kremlin if, as is taken for granted, the former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, won the March presidential 2012.

The opposition has alleged numerous irregularities during the election campaign and the leaders of the Communist Party and Fair Russia have even threatened to pull their supporters to the streets in case of election fraud. "There are growing signs that the Sunday there will be numerous irregularities and that the authorities are preparing different methods of direct falsification of the elections," said Andrei Yurevich, an expert with the nongovernmental organization defending the right to vote "Golos".

The director of the NGO, Lilia Shibánova, was arrested early today for several hours in the Sheremetevo Moscow airport customs on arrival in Warsaw. The day before, a Moscow court sentenced "Golos" to pay a fine of 30,000 rubles, about $ 1,000 for publishing more than 4,500 reports of alleged illegal tactics in the campaigns leading up to parliamentary elections this Sunday.

"Pursuing an electoral observation organization when elections are held is not right. The only thing it serves is to damage our image, 'he told the Interfax news agency the head of the Human Rights Commission attached to the Kremlin, Mikhail Fedotov.

YouTube in the General Election

Recent statements by the CEO of Google in Spain indicate that YouTube is the fourth channel television consumption in the country, and launch joint EFE YouTube Channel General Elections 2011 , put the current popular video platform acquired by Google in 2006.

Says Javier Rodriguez Zapatero, president of Google in Spain, "YouTube is the fourth channel in Spain for television consumption in monthly audience." Although the comparison with RTVE, Telecinco and Antena 3 in terms of "channel" is not homogeneous, the truth is that the attention span of online audiences video consumption on new platforms will gradually eroding traditional channels. In addition to YouTube, we must take into account, for example, that only the social network Tuenti reproduce 6 million videos per day .

In this context and in view of the election campaign of 20N , YouTube and EFE have announced the launch of the 2011 General Election Channel to promote popular participation by submitting video questions to candidates.

TV election debates turned into a complex set of agreements between parties, the question arises whether a platform like YouTube could help restore a political dialogue based on the broadcasters and the parties have left out of the reach of voters. Background not lacking.

Former presidential candidate McGovern was hospitalized

Former U.S. Senator George McGovern, who lost the presidential election to Richard Nixon in 1972, was hospitalized in Sioux Falls emergency after a fall in which he hit his head, spread relatives. McGovern Democrat in 89 years age, whose medical condition has not been revealed, was admitted to hospital on Friday, just as he had scheduled a program of assistance to political analysis of C-Span "The Contenders". This program is unique in that interview candidates defeated despite It has helped change the history of the United States. Dean Simmons, dean of Dakota Wesleyan University, explained that his fall was recorded on Friday night outside the Center for Leadership and Public Policy at the center whose facilities are very close to home the former senator. Ann McGovern said his father was a strong blow to the head close to his eye and his face covered in blood, so paramedics took him to a local hospital and then flown by helicopter to hospital in Sioux Falls.

Obama called to lobby Congress

President Barack Obama on Saturday called on Americans to press Congress to pass the cut in payroll taxes than in these difficult times would benefit the middle class. In his Saturday radio message, the president said although the U.S. has created jobs in the private sector for the past 21 months straight, "this has not been enough for the Americans in trouble." "We must continue on this path to grow the economy by adopting cutting the payroll tax , which will give the middle class a tax cut of $ 500 billion and would provide more money to small businesses to hire more employees to halve their payroll taxes. "The president encouraged all Americans to tell the Congress not to raise taxes during holidays and acting in the best interest of middle class families and approve the cuts now, "he said. He explained that this week the people learned that the U.S. economy added another 140,000 in November private sector jobs. "Despite strong headwinds this year, the U.S. economy has created jobs in the private sector in a row in the last 21 months, nearly three million new jobs in total, more than 500 000 have been generated only in the last four months, "he said. Surge of negative "We need to maintain and strengthen this growth. That's why we have been fighting to pass a series of jobs bills through Congress, "he said. "independent economists say that these bills will create more jobs and the economy to grow even faster. Unfortunately, it seems that many Republicans in Congress do not share the same sense of urgency, "he complained. In recent months, he said, have said "no" to most of these bills for employment. "No" to return employment to teachers and firefighters. "No" to return employment to construction workers. And indeed this week, said "no" to cut taxes for middle class families, external Obama. Just last year, both parties met to cut payroll taxes for the typical middle class family in nearly a thousand dollars, but this cut and will expire at the end of this month. "If this happens, the same family will see their taxes go up in a thousand. We can not let that happen. In fact, I think we should further cut taxes on working families and small business owners, "he concluded.

Hispanic Republican Romney criticizes Democrats on immigration

Democratic lawmakers criticized Hispanic Wednesday's statements a favorite Republican U.S. presidential candidate for Mitt Romney, who was hard on the immigration issue in a debate the day before. Romney "feels the need to oppose any type of human politics, even if it means betraying the legacy of our nation that we were created by immigrants, "said Representative Silvestre Reyes Hispanic in a teleconference with reporters organized by the committee for re-election of President Barack Obama. Romney declared himself opposed to a comprehensive immigration reform and ran for the first securing U.S. borders, a national security debate with seven other Republican candidates. A deportation for Former Governor Romney also declared in favor of the deportations of undocumented, under President Obama are breaking records, with about 400 000 per year. "Anything other than deportation is not a solution" for Romney, criticized other Hispanic lawmakers invited to the meeting by the campaign committee, Charles Gonzalez. "We know that this is not a solution, "said Gonzalez, who heads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. While waiting for critical Romney distanced himself from his main contender in the polls to elect a Republican presidential candidate, former Congressman Newt Gingrich. "I'm ready to be criticized if I say that we have to be human when applied to law, without giving citizenship but looking for a way to legalize "the 11 million undocumented immigrants present in the United States, Gingrich said during the televised debate. "We can not have amnesty saying that people who come here illegally can stay for the rest of his life legally, "Romney said when asked about the issue.