World News

Barcelona midfielder Xavi says players mainly to blame for Rijkaard's firing (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News) BARCELONA, Spain - FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez thinks the players bore the biggest responsibility for the firing of coach Frank Rijkaard.

Xavi: Players mainly to blame for Rijkaard's firing (The Globe and Mail) Barcelona midfielder thinks the players bore the biggest responsibility for the coaching move

Barcelona midfielder Xavi says players mainly to blame for Rijkaard's firing (Slam! Sports) BARCELONA, Spain - FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez thinks the players bore the biggest responsibility for the firing of coach Frank Rijkaard. "We feel very guilty about what has happened and about the decision.

Ratings & Review (WTA Tour) Fans of chef “Tim Raue, one of the ‘ junge wilde ’ (young wilds)”, credit him for translating his “good ideas” into “excellent”, “inventive” New French–International cooking that “never fails to excite”, making “multiple” visits to this “quiet, romantic” venue on the top floor of Wilmersdorf’s modern Swissôtel “a joy”; critics, though, claim the menu “tries very hard to be interesting” but ...

Bar Europa (Sydney Morning Herald) Speed-daters abound as two dynamic types contemplate a show of their own.

Coca-Cola Invites People to 'Connect with the World over a Coke' in Celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games (Centre Daily Times) With three months to go until the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Coca-Cola is inviting people in the U.S. to celebrate the Olympic ideals of unity, optimism and inspiration. Long before the first medals are awarded in August, Coca-Cola will build excitement for the Olympic Games with the launch of a multi-faceted Olympic-themed program in the U.S. Anchored by a group of ...

Coca-Cola Invites People to 'Connect with the World over a Coke' in Celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) ATLANTA----With three months to go until the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Coca-Cola is inviting people in the U.S. to celebrate the Olympic ideals of unity, optimism and inspiration.

PGA of America joins nine nations at Third World PGA Conference (PGA) PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka and Director of Consumer Marketing, Player Development and Research Paul Metzler made up the U.S. delegation at the third World PGA Conference, April 25-28, in Sydney, Australia.

Coca-Cola will give Americans a taste of how Coke is enjoyed around . the world with the release of limited edition, ... (InfoBolsa) the world with the release of limited edition, Olympic-themed collectible 09/05/2008 15:38:00 Business Wire With three months to go until the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Coca-Cola is inviting people in the U.S.

America's Polo Cup Sees U.S. Battle Italy This Weekend (Leesburg Today) The United States will battle Italy this weekend at Morven Park near Leesburg to claim the 2008 Land Rover America's Polo Cup. "There is no other match, no other field like this in the world," according to Event Chairman Tareq Salahi.

SiliconSystems Expands Asia-Pacific Presence With New Office in the People's Republic of China (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) SiliconSystems, Inc., a world leader in advanced storage technology, today announced that it has expanded its Asia-Pacific operations by establishing an office in Shanghai, the company's first in the People's Republic of China.

Microsoft Expands Commitment to Accessibility and High-Quality Education Across Asia Pacific Region (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Today, in his keynote address at the Government Leaders Forum-Asia in Jakarta, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates announced several new programs, partnerships and offerings that strengthen Microsoft's commitment to and investment in delivering accessible technology and transforming education for citizens across the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

Asia's love of 'living art' koi fish growing (AFP via Yahoo! News) Koi, an ornamental fish which enthusiasts liken to a moving work of art, are gaining popularity across Asia thanks to changing lifestyles and increasingly sophisticated tastes, experts say.

Stocks Retreat in Europe and Asia; U.S. Index Futures Decline (Bloomberg.com) May 9 (Bloomberg) -- Stocks slumped in Europe and Asia and U.S. index futures fell as American International Group Inc.'s record loss and oil's climb above $125 a barrel heightened concern the credit crisis and surging commodity costs will damage corporate profits.

Stocks Retreat in Europe and Asia; U.S. Index Futures Decline (Bloomberg.com) May 9 (Bloomberg) -- Stocks dropped in Europe and Asia and U.S. index futures fell as oil reached an all-time high above $124 a barrel and American International Group Inc. said it needs to raise $12.5 billion after two straight record losses.

Economist says $10 bln could double Africa food production (AFP via Yahoo! News) US economist Jeffrey Sachs blasted the West Thursday for responding to the world food crisis by shipping "unsustainable" aid, and said just 10 billion dollars could double Africa's food production.

Africa: Malawian Media Institutions Dominate Namisa Awards (AllAfrica.com) Malawi's two media institutions have dominated this year's National Media Institute of Southern Africa (NAMISA) awards which are held annually during commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day.

Pictured: Jenny, the world's oldest gorilla, celebrates her 55th birthday (Daily Mail) The world's oldest gorilla celebrated her 55th birthday today with a four-layer frozen fruit cake and banana leaf-wrapped treats. Jenny's caretakers at the Dallas Zoo say she's having a few joint issues and her eyesight isn't what it used to be but she still looks good for an old ape. 'It's a special milestone for us,' said Todd Bowsher, curator of the zoo's Wilds of Africa exhibit

Africa urged to address deforestation and drought (SABC News) By Thami Dickson Drought and deforestation are the greatest environmental challenges which pose a threat to poverty alleviation efforts in Africa and the rest of the developing world. Yet, they are neglected by many governments.

Funding crisis clouds World Cup TV plans (Mail and Guardian) A funding crunch could delay South Africa's plans to have digital broadcasting in place for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the chief executive of state-run telecommunications firm Sentech said on Thursday.

VN to attend world congress and performing arts festival for young people (Vietnam Net) VietNamNet Bridge - Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre will represent Vietnam to the 16th world congress and performing arts festival for young people from May 9th to 18th 2008 in Adelaide, Australia.

Vietnam to join world stage congress for young audience (Nhân Dân) Nhan Dan- Director and deputy director of Youth Theatre Le Hung and Truong Nhuan will be Vietnam’s representatives to the 16th World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young People (ASSITEJ 2008) slated to take place in Adelaide, Australia , from May 9-18.

Two Thirds Of People With Asthma Do Not Lead A Full Life Because Of Their Condition (Medical News Today) Two in three people with asthma feel that their condition is in some way preventing them from achieving what they want from life and one third of patients are living in fear of having an attack, according to a new survey released to mark World Asthma Day. The survey also found that a third of people with asthma worry about the impact asthma will have on their future health.

World's most dangerous beaches (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A beach vacation usually conjures up images of lying on white sand relaxing not dicing with death but Forbes.com has come up with a list of the world's most dangerous beaches.

U.N. says 1.5 million people affected by Myanmar storm (Reuters via Yahoo! News) The United Nations estimated 1.5 million people have been "severely affected" by the cyclone that swept through Myanmar, as the United States expressed outrage with the country's junta over delays in allowing in aid.

WCC celebrates world culture (The Bellingham Herald) BELLINGHAM — The 12th annual Intercultural Festival, a celebration of world culture and diversity, will be at Whatcom Community College today.

Why Doesn't Evolution Discourage Suicide? (LiveScience.com via Yahoo! News) Around the world, in just about every culture, some people decide to take their own lives. It happens far more often than most people realize, making news only in prominent cases, as with Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as the "D.C. Madam," who apparently chose to kill herself last week rather than face up to 55 years in prison.

8:45 a.m.: 'Grand Theft Auto' hijacks culture (The Herald Bulletin) Grand Theft Auto IV car-jacked pop culture this week. The controversial and coveted video game sold about six million units in the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 formats, reaping more than $500 million in worldwide sales.

Latin America Charting a New Course in 'Post-American' World (Washington Post) WASHINGTON -- The decline of U.S. influence in the world has been fodder for a lot of media analysis lately. "We're just not that strong anymore," columnist Thomas L. Friedman wrote this week in The New York Times. "We are not who we think we are. We are living on borrowed time and borrowed dimes."

International Food Fair and Culture Show (Caltech Today) From 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9, in Avery Courtyard, over 15 Student Clubs representing a range of cultures and continents will provide samples of foods from around the world. For $3, attendees can sample tastes of Zenzai, Mici, Tourtiere, Ba Bao Fan, Kimbab, and much more.

Machel tops world music awards (Trinidad Express) big winner: Soca Superstar, Machel Montano, poses with his awards after taking home the Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer, Most Outstanding Stage Personality of the Year and the much-coveted, Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year Awards, at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMAs) ceremony, held last weekend at the Apollo Theatre in New York.

A unique concert of world music (Queens Courier) The sound of music will fill the Free Synagogue of Flushing when choirs from nine diverse houses of worship come together for an Interfaith Choral Festival on Sunday, May 18.

Country music legend Eddy Arnold dead at 89 (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Eddy Arnold, country music's "Tennessee Plowboy," whose rendition of "Make the World Go Away" was an international hit in the 1960s, died on Thursday at age 89 in Nashville after a lengthy illness.

Eddy Arnold, 89, country music star (International Herald Tribune) Arnold personified the evolution of country music in the years after World War II, from a rural vernacular to an idiom with broad mainstream appeal.

Warner Music Drops on Wider Loss, Suspended Dividend (Update1) (Bloomberg.com) May 8 (Bloomberg) -- Warner Music Group Corp., the world's third-largest record company, posted its biggest drop in New York Stock Exchange trading after reporting a wider second- quarter loss and suspending its quarterly dividend.

VN to attend world congress and performing arts festival for young people (Vietnam Net) VietNamNet Bridge - Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre will represent Vietnam to the 16th world congress and performing arts festival for young people from May 9th to 18th 2008 in Adelaide, Australia.

The Fight Stuff: 19 Great Martial Arts Flicks (Entertainment Weekly) THE MATRIX (1999) The Wachowski brothers reignited a nation's love for martial arts with this pivotal action flick, which found Keanu Reeves' Neo discovering that the world he knows is a computer-controlled lie — but a lie he can take advantage of.

Mamet packs a punch with martial arts 'Redbelt' (The Tennessean) Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and filmmaker David Mamet has returned to the enigmatic style of The Spanish Prisoner and The Winslow Boy in his latest film, Redbelt, despite its unlikely setting in the world of martial arts.

Arts offer educational foundation (The Times of Northwest Indiana) Imagine a life without the arts. There would be no entertainment, music or visual imagery. There would not be any photographs, colorful advertisements, paintings or video games. It would be a dull, lifeless world. We would once again be living in the Dark Ages. However, what advanced society out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance? The arts.

Vietnam to join world stage congress for young audience (Nhân Dân) Nhan Dan- Director and deputy director of Youth Theatre Le Hung and Truong Nhuan will be Vietnam’s representatives to the 16th World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young People (ASSITEJ 2008) slated to take place in Adelaide, Australia , from May 9-18.

Cameroon: Nation Could Host World Cup After Construction of Sports Complexes - Chinese Expert (AllAfrica.com) Li Chanqxin, representative of the Chinese Machinery Equipment Export and Import Company, CMEC, Wednesday, May 7, after signing the Sports infrastructural Development Convention with the Cameroon Government, told the press that Cameroon could host the World Cup after the execution of the FCFA 272 billion contract.

Triathlon: ZOOT Sports partners with Triangle international to sponsor 6 Ironman events world wide (RunnersWeb.com) A global leader in Triathlon and Multisports, ZOOT sports, teams up with Triangle International, the world’s largest international Ironman production company, to sponsor six Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races world wide.

Sports world spills onto news pages (USA Today) The fairy tale that once upon a time was sports is no more. If our televised sports don't tell us that, our sports section does. Is that the front page you grabbed by mistake? No, only the sports section, masquerading as the A section, with its news of drugs and boycotts, protests and negotiations, arrests and, occasionally, death.

Sports world begins to sputter under weight of fuel prices (USA Today) Eight high schools south of Detroit announced this week they are forming a new league of schools within a 15-mile radius. The cost of gas is one major reason.

Work on GBP 28million sports project seen on screen (Aberdeen City Council News) Work on Aberdeen's new GBP 28million Sports Village can now be watched via the world wide web. 2008/05/09 00:00:00

Travel Picks: World's most dangerous beaches (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A beach vacation usually conjures up images of lying on white sand relaxing not dicing with death but Forbes.com has come up with a list of the world's most dangerous beaches.

Middle Eastern Travel Industry to Face Profit Challenges Despite Growing Occupancy Rates (Hospitality Net) According to the latest research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), global tourism is expected to increase by 3.3% in 2008, in terms of total Travel & Tourism Demand, with growth averaging 4.4% annually over the next ten years. There are predictions that around US$3 trillion will be invested in Middle East tourism and infrastructure during the next 20 years. In the first quarter of ...

OQYANA World first unveils $5bn final master plan at Arabian Travel Market 2008 (AME Info) OQYANA World First, the first fully master-planned elite island community of the prestigious 'The World' development of Dubai, has unveiled the final master plan of its $5bn groundbreaking project, during the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2008.

Fewer than 100 Days till the 2008 Beijing Olympics: Authors of Forthcoming Book about China Share Tips, Travel ... (PRWeb) With the 2008 Beijing Olympics fewer than 100 days away, people from all over the world are making plans to travel to China. Physician authors Deborah and Joel Shlian, who have traveled extensively throughout China and based their latest book in China, are sharing their insights and tips on making the most of a trip to China. (PRWeb May 9, 2008) Read the full story at ...

Fewer than 100 Days till the 2008 Beijing Olympics: Authors of Forthcoming Book about China Share Tips, Travel ... (PRWeb via Yahoo! News) With the 2008 Beijing Olympics fewer than 100 days away, people from all over the world are making plans to travel to China. Physician authors Deborah and Joel Shlian, who have traveled extensively throughout China and based their latest book in China, are sharing their insights and tips on making the most of a trip to China.