Congratulations to Senator Chuck Grassley for cracking what may be the best one-liner so far at the Sotomayor confirmation hearings; best of all, it was a sexual innuendo. Following an interruption by an anti-abortion protester during Grassley…
Posts Tagged ‘return’
Grassley Cracks Sex Joke At Hearing: “People Always Say I Have The Ability To Turn People On”
July 14th, 2009 |
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Swiss court releases Mobutu money
July 14th, 2009 |
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A Swiss court has ruled that the assets of Mobutu Sese Seko, former leader of Zaire, now the DR Congo, who died in 1997, be returned to his family.
The court rejected an appeal to extend a freeze on assets worth more than $6m that are held in Swiss bank accounts.
Switzerland had repeatedly blocked the release of the funds, which were said to have been gained illegally.
But the court said the Democratic Republic of Congo had waited too long to seek the return of the money.
‘Harsh setback’
The appeal was brought by Mark Pieth, a criminology professor at Basel University.
He described the court’s decision as a "harsh setback" for DR Congo, and for all those who had sought the return of the money.
Mobutu seized power in Congo in 1965 and changed its name to Zaire in 1971.
He governed for nearly 32 years, living in extreme luxury whilst most people lived in poverty. He was overthrown in 1997 by Laurent Kabila, the father of DR Congo’s current President Joseph Kabila.
Mobutu died a few months after his overthrow while in exile in Morocco.
The Swiss banks blocked his accounts, starting years of legal wrangling.
The DR Congo government said the money had been stolen.
But Swiss prosecutors said the DR Congo authorities took too long to ask for the return of the money, under the statute of limitations.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Beckham in Premier League U-turn
July 14th, 2009 |
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Former England captain David Beckham would consider a return to the Premier League to boost his chances of playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy, said he would never turn out for another English side when he left Manchester United in 2003.
But in a U-turn, he stated: "Never say never. I would definitely consider it.
"When I left my heart was in Manchester – I couldn’t see myself playing against United. Now I wouldn’t rule it out."
Beckham has a five-year Major League Soccer contract, which began in 2007 and allows for him to spend the off-season on loan at a European club.
"We’re getting past it, we’re moving on. I regret the way that I went about this process and I also regret some of the things I said"
Galaxy captain Landon Donovan on his falling out with Beckham
He has only recently returned to the United States following a five-month spell with AC Milan.
His interest in a return to England is likely to spark rumours of a move to Chelsea this winter after he impressed new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was Milan coach during the player’s time in Italy.
However, a return to Serie A seems the more likely move.
"Obviously, Milan expressed that they want me to go back, so I don’t see any reason why that would change," added Beckham, who left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid.
"We’ll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there."
And Beckham, who is England’s most capped outfield player with 112 appearances, has reiterated his desire to see out his Major League Soccer contract.
"I intend to stay until the end of my contract and maybe further," he confirmed.
"I’ve always said that. I’ve always said, even when I went to Milan, that I’m committed to the Galaxy and to MLS, and that hasn’t changed."
Beckham is currently trying to mend relationships with players and fans in Los Angeles that soured after he opted to stay in Italy rather than return to the US for the start of the MSL season.
606: DEBATE"Would you want Beckham at your club"
BBC Sport’s Peter Scrivener
His Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan suggested Beckham had shown a lack of commitment and that his level of dedication to the club had waned since his arrival in July 2007.
The duo met, along with manager Bruce Arena, when Galaxy training resumed on Monday, and Beckham said: "I’m not going to talk about what was said. That was between me, Landon and the manager but we had a good talk."
Donovan too is keen to put recent events behind him, adding: "We’re getting past it, we’re moving on.
"There’s a lot of things I regret. I regret the way that I went about this process and I also regret some of the things I said.
"Some good will come out of it. I really believe that. I believe we’re getting to the bottom of things we needed to." </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
â€Lovers of Musharraf†planning grand London welcome for former dictator
July 14th, 2009 |
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A large group of Britons of Pakistani origin, comprising businessmen, professionals, academicians and intellectuals is giving finishing touches to a grand ‘welcome and launch’ event for former President Pervez Musharraf who has made London his temporary abode.
The group, which calls itself ‘Lovers of Musharraf’, is planning to hold the event on or around July [...]
Kalsoom Lakhani: Pakistan Refugees Reluctant To Return For Lack Of Trust In Government Security
July 13th, 2009 |
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This past Thursday, Prime Minister Gilani announced that a “phased return home” for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Malakand Province will begin today, July…