Pakistan flood survivors protest slow aid

AP – Angry flood survivors gesture as they block a highway demanding food, shelter and water in Sukkar, Pakistan, …

By ASHRAF KHAN, Associated Press Writer Ashraf Khan, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 37 mins ago

SUKKUR, Pakistan – Angry flood survivors in Pakistan blocked a highway to protest slow delivery of aid and heavy rain lashed makeshift housing Monday as a forecast of more flooding increased the urgency of the massive international relief effort.
Pakistan's worst floods in recorded history began more than two weeks ago in the mountainous northwest and have spread throughout the country. Some 20 million people and 62,000 square miles (160,000 square kilometers) of land — about one-fifth of the country — have been affected.
The scale of the disaster has raised concerns it could destabilize the country, which is pivotal to U.S. hopes of defeating al-Qaida and the Taliban.
Hundreds of victims blocked a major highway with stones and garbage near the hard-hit Sukkur area, complaining they were being treated like animals. Protester Kalu Mangiani said government officials only came to hand out food when media were present.
"They are throwing packets of food to us like we are dogs. They are making people fight for these packets," he said.
The U.N. children's agency warned 3.5 million children were at high risk of deadly waterborne disease such as diarrhea and cholera. It said it did not have enough funds to distribute clean water to victims, or give them medical care.
The Sindh irrigation minister, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, said the dam in Sukkur faced a major test of its strength as floodwaters coursed down the Indus River into Pakistan's highly populated agricultural heartland.
"The coming four to five days are still crucial," he said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew over the flood-hit area Sunday and said he had never seen a disaster on such a scale. He urged the international community to speed up assistance.

The world body has appealed for an initial $460 million to provide relief, of which about 60 percent has been given.
Britain's deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg accused some nations of failing to offer sufficient support.
"The response from some sections of the international community has been lamentable," Clegg said, without naming the countries he believed had failed to offer appropriate help.
Britain's government has so far provided 16.8 million pounds (US$26 million) in emergency aid in response to the floods, making it one of the largest foreign donors.
The European Union also announced it was considering forming a task force to better coordinate emergency aid in the future after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the EU's euro 40 million ($51 million) in humanitarian aid was insufficient.
The latest flooding over the weekend hit a poor region on the border between Sindh and Baluchistan provinces.
Sher Khan Bazai, the top government official in Nasirabad district, said 25,000 families had been made homeless by waters 8 feet (2.5 meters) high in some places. About 4,000 small villages had been either cut off or washed out.
"Water is everywhere," he said.
Once the floods recede, billions more dollars will be needed for reconstruction and getting people back to work in the already-poor nation of 170 million people. The International Monetary Fund has warned the floods could dent economic growth and fuel inflation.
While local charities and international agencies have helped hundreds of thousands of people with food, water, shelter and medical treatment, the scale of the disaster has meant many millions have received little or no assistance.

Jetliner crashes on Colombian island; 1 killed

AP – A plane that crashed lays in pieces along the runaway at the airport on San Andres island in Colombia, …

24 mins ago

BOGOTA, Colombia – A Boeing 737 jetliner with 131 passengers aboard crashed as it prepared to land and broke into three pieces at a Colombian island in the Caribbean early Monday. The region's governor said it was a miracle that only one person died.
Colombian Air Force Col. David Barrero said officials were investigating reports the plane had been hit by lightning before crashing at 1:49 a.m. (3:49 a.m. EDT; 0649 GMT) on San Andres Island, a resort area of 78,000 people about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of the Nicaraguan coast.
San Andres Gov. Pedro Gallardo said 125 passengers and six crew members had been aboard Aires Flight 8520, but the only person killed was Amar Fernandez de Barreto, 68.
"It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God," that only one person died, said Gov. Pedro Gallardo.
Officials said 119 people were treated or checked at local clinics and five of them were seriously injured.
The state government said in an e-mail that passengers aboard the plane that left Bogota about midnight included eight U.S. citizens and four Brazilians. They were not identified.
Passengers said the pilot had announced an impending landing and all seemed normal as the plane descended through rain.

AP/Periodico El Isleno, Richard Garcia

But suddenly it hit short and then slid onto the runway on its belly as the fuselage fractured. It wound up on one end of the runway, crumpled and in pieces, as passengers scrambled or were helped to safety.
Firefighters quickly doused the beginnings of a fire on a wing, said police Gen. Orlando Paez.
Ninety-nine passengers were taken to the Amor de Patria Hospital on San Andres, said the hospital director, Dr. Robert Sanchez.
"It's incredible. For the dimension (of the accident), there should be more," he said.
Sanchez said an initial examination indicated that Fernandez de Barreto may have died of a heart attack.
Twenty other passengers were treated at another clinic, according to the national civil aviation agency.
Barrero, commander of the Caribbean Air Group, said by telephone from San Andres that "the skill of the pilot kept the plane from colliding with the airport."
He said the cause of the accident was uncertain. "You can't speculate. Lightning? A gust of wind? The investigation will say."
The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said in a Twitter posting that it has 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-100 planes.
It said it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes of what happened."
Barrero said part of the 7,800-foot (2,380-meter) runway had been closed because parts of the plane were still scattered across it. But enough was usable that air ambulances would be able to land.
Paez said by telephone that a group of police officers who had been waiting at the airport for the plane to take them back to the Colombian mainland aided in rescuing the victims.

Two hearts combine as one!

Two hearts combine as one.
we hold one key thats bigger than the sun.
Lets hold hands and touch other soul, we one heart ready to be unfold
bring the spoon, I got the milk, you be my cereal, I be your bowl.
baby come sit next to me I will hold you like its cold; and if this heart happen to get cold
our love will live on like never get old.
your pain is my pain your tears fall like rain
one love, one heart, one diamond ring.
wherever you go I will always be with you; one dress
one kiss, I DO.
I can read your mind like a book, we both on the same page
like a fish we hook.
feel the wind, hear the ocean, you my one last lucky token
you keep your heart, I keep mine, baby thats past tense.
let our heart speak for itself doesn't that make sense.
this poem is about to be done; BABY WAIT, OUR HEARTS has officially combine as ONE.

Stallone durable at box office with "Expendables" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sylvester Stallone outmuscled Julia Roberts at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday to score the biggest opening of his career with his new film "The Expendables."
The action hero's all-star mercenary thriller earned an estimated $35 million across the United States and Canada during its first three days of release, distributor Lionsgate said.
The opening, which was in line with bullish expectations, marks a boost not only for Stallone, who directed and co-wrote the project as well, but also for Lionsgate, whose Lions Gate Entertainment Corp parent is fending off a hostile takeover from investor Carl Icahn.
Julia Roberts, whose career has been almost as cold as Stallone's in recent years, followed at a distant No. 2 with "Eat Pray Love." The big-screen adaptation of a bestselling memoir of a woman's international search for herself, opened with $23.7 million, also in line with expectations.
The female-skewing drama was released by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, which topped the box office last weekend with "The Other Guys." The Will Ferrell cop comedy fell to No. 3 with $18 million, taking its 10-day total to $70.5 million.
A third newcomer, the comic-book adaptation "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," bombed at No. 5 with $10.5 million. It marks the second disappointment this month for General Electric Co-owned distributor Universal Pictures, following "Charlie St. Cloud."
Stallone, 64, was last in theaters with a pair of modest retreads revisiting his glory days, 2008's "Rambo" and 2006's "Rocky Balboa." They opened to $18 million and $12 million, respectively.
His best opening, before accounting for ticket-price inflation was the $33 million start for the children's movie "Spy Kids 3D" in 2003. On an adjusted basis, he did better with a pair of films in 1985: "Rambo: First Blood Part II" and "Rocky IV," with about $45 million each, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.
"The Expendables," whose multinational lineup includes English tough guy Jason Statham, Sweden's Dolph Lundgren and Chinese martial-arts veteran Jet Li, revolves around a team of mercenaries who inflict carnage on a fictional South American dictatorship. Bruce Willis and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have cameos. Roberts' older brother Eric, from whom the actress was once estranged, plays a villain.
The film was made by independent producer Avi Lerner's Nu Image/Millennium for about $85 million. Lionsgate paid $20 million for distribution rights.

Premier League - Maradona wants Villa job

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has informed Aston Villa he would be willing to take over the Villa Park hotseat.

Martin O’Neill resigned as boss last week, with Kevin McDonald leading them to a 3-0 opening-day victory over West Ham in the caretaker role.
Ajax boss Martin Jol and USA coach Bob Bradley have been linked with the West Midlands club - but Maradona believes he could be the man to lead them this season.
"I think Diego would be very open to the idea of coming to England and managing Aston Villa," his official European representative, Walter Soriano, told the Sunday Mercury.
"He is very attracted to English football and the way of life in your country and I know he would be very willing to move there.
"He loves the English countryside and your respect for privacy, so he would be very happy there, especially at a big club like Aston Villa."
Maradona left his post of Argentina coach in acrimonious circumstances last month, having impressed at the World Cup until La Albiceleste were smashed 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.
Soriano added: "If the owner Randy Lerner wants to make him a serious offer, I am sure he would get a very positive response.
"Diego is currently talking with a number of clubs in Europe – including another one in England – about a management role and is looking at his options carefully."
Maradona has had a chequered football career. Regarded as one of the all-time great players alongside Pele, he suffered from alcohol and drug problems later - culminating in him being thrown out of the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
He struggled in a few coaching posts before emerging from a stomach-stapling operation in 2007 slimmer and healthier than he had been for years.
He then just managed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, before surprising many with his team's flamboyant and goal-happy performances at the finals.

Premier League - Drogba hits Chelsea hat-trick

Didier Drogba fired a hat-trick as Chelsea cruised to a 6-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge.

The promoted visitors could not live with Drogba, who struck once before the break and twice after it before he was withdrawn to save West Brom further embarrassment.
Florent Malouda bagged two goals, while Frank Lampard also got in on the act.
Chelsea's six-goal haul took them top of the Premier League, ending Blackpool's brief stint at the summit.
The scary part for the rest of the division is that the champions did not play anywhere near their best. Their tempo was slower and their passing less slick than for most of last season - yet West Brom were totally outclassed.
It does not get much easier for Roberto Di Matteo's side - their next three away games are against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti brought Petr Cech back to displace Hilario - the Czech a reassuring presence between the sticks. Lampard also shook off an ankle injury picked up against Hungary on Wednesday.
Chelsea had a disappointing pre-season, culminating with defeat in last Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley, but this played out like a particularly one-sided exhibition match.
In front of a subdued Stamford Bridge crowd, Chelsea strolled to a victory that was never in doubt as soon as Malouda opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
Goalkeeper Scott Carson spilt Drogba's free-kick and saved John Obi Mikel's follow-up, but could do nothing as Malouda seized on the second rebound and swept it into the net.
The Frenchman scored 11 times after the turn of the year last season, and has started the current campaign in similarly predatory fashion. It is a mystery why a sizeable constituency of Chelsea fans prefer Joe Cole.
The match ambled along, with West Brom's best effort coming from Graham Dorrans, whose deflected shot brought a decent save from Cech. At the other end, Carson parried a Lampard free-kick and Malouda headed the rebound over.
When the second came, it was as soft as Premier League goals come. Drogba bought a free-kick off Gabriel Tamas 30 yards out and struck his shot at the wall - only the masonry crumbled, allowing the ball through.
Carson should still have saved it, but the ball skipped off the turf and went over his gloves. A dismal collective effort from the promoted side.
Chelsea scored a century of Premier League goals last term, including four hauls of seven or more, and they quietly went about running up the score against dishevelled opponents.
Drogba made it three following more poor defending from set-pieces. John Terry headed a corner goalwards, it was blocked but West Ham failed to clear and the striker slammed in a left-foot shot from close range.
Next came the pick of the goals, as slick interplay from Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole allowed Lampard to sidefoot in from close range.
The England man was them promptly withdrawn to allow Yossi Benayoun's Premier League debut for Chelsea.
On 68 minutes, Drogba completed his hat-trick with a shot from the edge of the box that owed much to a Tamas deflection that completely wrong-footed Carson.
There was still time for Malouda to pour on the agony, latching on to an Anelka through ball, rounding Carson and firing in off the post.

Winfrey's new network sued by ex-employee

A woman who worked on Oprah Winfrey's new TV network Own is suing the company, alleging she was "subjected to a hostile work environment" due to her disability. 

Catherine Dunn, who suffers from central nervous system disease multiple sclerosis, started as an assistant at the cable channel in 2008.

She claims she was badly treated because of her condition, and was forced to take leave because her symptoms were worsened by the stress of working in a "hostile" environment.
Dunn alleges in a suit filed on Friday at Los Angeles Superior Court that while she was on stress-related leave, she was replaced by "a non-disabled and younger employee", according to TMZ.com.
Dunn is suing the network for wrongful termination and is seeking unspecified damages.
Winfrey's new network will debut in early 2011.

Idol producer denies Lopez 'diva' reports

The executive producer of American Idol has denied reports Jennifer Lopez is out of the running for a judging job on the hit US talent show because of her diva demands - insisting the star is "a wonderful woman". 

Following the announcement that Ellen DeGeneres has stepped down from the panel after just a year on the series, and the planned departure of Simon Cowell, Idol bosses are eager to sign up two big names to boost the show's appeal.

Lopez and Steven Tyler were in the running as the favourites to take a seat at the judging panel, but reports suggested Lopez had been pulled from the possible replacements due to her escalating demands.
But executive producer Nigel Lythgoe hints the Jenny From The Block hitmaker still has a chance of landing the role and admits he has never witnessed her demanding ways.
He tells Extra, "These people don't know Jennifer Lopez. She's a wonderful woman. I've never seen her be a diva in her life!"
And Lythgoe is adamant former judge Paula Abdul is definitely not returning, insisting he wants attention to focus on the new talent and not the judging panel.
He adds, "Paula is under contract to another company so I don't think that she enters the frame on this occasion.
"As far as I'm concerned, I would like the attention to go on the kids, because it's about the talent that comes on this show and sings."

Katy Perry cheats on Russell Brand

Welcome to RasMedo! Music's weekly round-up of the latest and best new music - five songs you'll be hearing a lot more of over the coming days. Check out our suggestions in tracks, downloads, leaks and links below and let us know if you think they're going to fly or die.

Katy Perry 'Teenage Dream'

Judging by the saucy video to the title song from her new album, it looks like Katy Perry is trying to get her revenge in early on fiancé Russell Brand. The famously randy comic has promised to remain faithful to the US star. Let's just hope he doesn't get fact and fiction confused after he's seen her romping (in a car, motel room, underwater) with a moody hunk in the follow-up to ‘California Gurls'. (Watch it here)

Eminem 'Love The Way You Lie'

The second single from Eminem's new album, ‘Recovery', may already be a worldwide smash but that's not where the story ends. Because the video was issued this week and has become an online sensation. It clocked up an astounding 6.6 million hits in one day and broke all previous YouTube records. With an all-star cast including Rihanna and Megan Fox plus a burning house, you can see why. (Watch it here)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor ‘Not Giving Up'

Confusion surrounds Sophie Ellis-Bextor's future. New album ‘Straight To The Heart' has been delayed more times than she and that bloke out of The Feeling have had hot dinners, amid rumours the record will never see the light of day. Now there is this, the hands-in-the-air upcoming single, ‘Not Giving Up', featuring trance DJ Armin van Buuren, which sounds like the party is far from over. (Hear it here)

Scissor Sisters ‘Any Which Way'

For a band named after a sex act, the title of the latest single from third studio album ‘Night Work' doesn't leave too much to the imagination. Some doubt whether the New York act have ever really matched the hype and anticipation that followed their breakthrough. Well, clearly no expense has been spared on the video to ‘Any Which Way', which is a technicolour feast for the eyes. (Watch it here)

Mirrors ‘Ways To An End'

Like fellow hotly-tipped newcomers Hurts, Mirrors present a monochrome, smartly tailoured outlook that will serve them well. Equally, they have a way with pop music to suggest the ‘80s renaissance won't be ending any time soon. Often compared to the likes of Kraftwerk, New Order and Depeche Mode, it is OMD that the Brighton four-piece most resemble. Upcoming support dates with their electro forefathers will surely only see their star rise further, as will ‘Ways To An End'. (Hear it here)