Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Nokia shares take 'icy plunge' after profit warning

Nokia shares take 'icy plunge' after profit warning

Nokia shares crashed 22pc after the world's largest mobile phone company said it might not make a profit in its core business this quarter, slashed revenue forecasts, and scrapped all targets for 2011.

Nokia shares take 'icy plunge' after profit warning

Stephen Elop, chief executive, said earlier this year Nokia is like a man on a burning oil platform, who must decide whether to plunge into icy waters or perish. Photo: EPA

By Josephine Moulds

5:53PM BST 31 May 2011

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The Finnish company is struggling to keep up in a mobile phone market that has been transformed by the BlackBerry, iPhone, and Google's mobile operating system, Android. In China, it has been hit by price competition for cheaper phones.

Earlier this year, Stephen Elop, chief executive, said Nokia was like a man on a burning North Sea oil platform, who must decide whether to plunge into icy waters or perish. His language yesterday was less flowery, but the numbers suggest the "icy plunge" has been far from easy.

The core devices and services division may only just break even in the second quarter, rather than achieve the 6pc to 9pc operating margins that had been forecast. Sales are expected to be "substantially below" the previous target of €6.1bn to €6.6bn (£5.3bn to £5.8bn) for the quarter.

Nokia said it could not provide financial forecasts for the rest of the year, and any previous targets are no longer valid.

"Going through this transition, it's hard," Mr Elop said. "There is definitely less visibility than we'd like; 2011 will be a difficult year."

He is betting on a new alliance with Microsoft to regain market share in the smartphone market. Research by Gartner shows that Nokia's share of the global smartphone market in the first quarter crashed to 27pc from 44pc a year earlier.

Mr Elop said yesterday Nokia still plans to ship its first product with Microsoft's Windows operating platform in the fourth quarter this year.

Ryan Kim from technology blog GigaOm said: "It will have to get that first wave of devices right or risk losing even more of its reputation. The margin of error keeps getting smaller for Nokia with each passing quarter."

stephen elop, north sea oil, nokia shares, mobile phone market, mobile phone company, core devices, finnish company, forecast sales, oil platform online, revenue forecasts, google, financial forecasts, burning oil, 6pc, operating margins, target, iphone, price competition, new alliance, first wave

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Monday, May 30, 2011

Lily pads

photo

Lily pads

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new york botanical garden

garden

new york

flowers

water

lily pads
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Nocturne #2

photo

Nocturne #2

Sidney Bay from a Ferry

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Sea

Velvet

Sydney

Manly

Ferry

nocturne

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night

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

0014 Boganvillia In Backyard 18-4-2010

photo

0014 Boganvillia In Backyard 18-4-2010

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Sydney

Greystanes

Gardenia Parade

Flowers

Boganvillia
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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Chamaedorea brachypoda

photo

Chamaedorea brachypoda

Rainforest understorey palm from Honduras and Guatemala.
Similar looking to C. stolonifera, but the fronds are very thin-textured, and the stems exceedingly slender.

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Chamaedorea

Chamaedorea brachypoda

Arecaceae

palm

tropical

Neotropical

Cairns botanic gardens

understorey palm, botanic gardens, fronds, honduras, guatemala

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Friday, May 27, 2011

NewGuineaBismark4

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NewGuineaBismark4

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Oceania

Pacific

Australia

New Guinea

Papua Niugini

Irian Jaya

Polynesia

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Cook

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Islands

travels

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culture

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TravelGeo

Paolo Del Papa
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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Blists Hill Victorian Museum Ironbridge Shropshire 220511

photo

Blists Hill Victorian Museum ironbridge Shropshire 220511

The Hay Inclined Plane

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Blists

Hill

Victorian

Museum

Ironbridge

Shropshire

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

IMG_6268

photo

IMG_6268

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Raw

hot air balloons

melbourne

balloons
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Iceland Halts Flights as Volcano Erupts

Icelandic aviation authorities closed the country's main airports and restricted flights over the island following a volcanic eruption that sent a plume of ash and dust high into the atmosphere.

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ICELAND

Reuters

A cloud of smoke and ash rises from the Grimsvötn volcano Saturday.

ICELAND

ICELAND

The broader impact of the eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano, which began on Saturday, remained unclear. It came slightly more than a year after eruptions of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused chaos as aviation regulators closed roughly 80% of European airspace during the Easter holiday.

Eurocontrol, an umbrella organization for air-traffic control across Europe, said Sunday that it expected "no impact…on European airspace" from the eruption through Monday. In a notice to aviation officials on Eurocontrol's website, the agency said the ash cloud could reach northern Scotland by Tuesday.

The cloud, which on Sunday climbed as high as 10.5 miles, could reach western France and northern Spain on Thursday if the eruption continues with its initial intensity, Eurocontrol warned.

The eruption comes as European and international air-safety regulators have been struggling to establish standards for dealing with volcanic activity. Last month, European Union aviation officials hosted an ash-cloud exercise "to test new procedures" on the anniversary of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

That event, and European governments' widely varied reactions, showed existing standards to be insufficient. A major problem was that the ash created was much finer than that from most volcanoes, and so traveled much farther. No previous volcano had occurred so near major air routes and had such an impact on global aviation.

Prompted by the massive air-traffic disruptions, regulators, technical experts and industry officials last summer launched a flurry of activity. The International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations, was designated to lead the way to develop the first clear-cut global safety standards for flying through volcanic ash.

A volcano in Iceland sends ash 20 kilometers into the air, European air traffic not affected. Video courtesy Reuters.

Since then, however, some of the effort appears to have become bogged down by engineering, political and institutional complexities, according to people close to the matter. International agreement on a new standard is many months, if not years, away, these people said. An ICAO-sponsored progress meeting is slated for Montreal in late July, focused on permitting airlines to make their own risk assessments.

Even within Europe, old arguments about national authority are slowing progress.

Earlier this month, the European Union's European Aviation Safety Agency issued some preliminary proposals based on international analyses to help carriers and regulators deal with future eruptions. At the same time, the agency asked for comments on whether binding rules should be pursued.

The EASA proposals don't appear set to establish a firm international standard. EASA stressed that individual countries "will not be bound by any part" of the ICAO group's technical analysis and recommendations, "although they may consider that to some extent it should be taken into account."

The push for flexibility comes because the impact of volcanic eruptions varies widely, depending on geology and meteorology. They can produce clouds with huge variations in the size and chemical composition of the ash inside.

Atmospheric testing and modeling for such details remains rudimentary, according to experts, and that makes it hard to develop any coherent safety standards.

Engine-makers and aircraft manufacturers, for their part, continue to balk at proposing specific standards, partly because of liability concerns. But industry officials also have stressed the difficulties of recreating volcanic ash conditions in ground tests.

Some engine makers have said that making engines less susceptible to ash damage also would make them less fuel-efficient—a distasteful option at a time of climbing fuel prices and growing concerns about aircraft emissions of greenhouse gases.

Further complicating the discussions: U.S. carriers, regulators and manufacturers have argued for voluntary and collaborative industry decision-making, rather than imposition of centralized government mandates. For decades U.S. airlines have used ash advisories to make individual decisions on where and when they deemed it safe to fly during eruptions—much the way carriers deal with thunderstorms or other hazardous weather.

As a result, there is significant international study and discussion under way about ash safety standards, but no consensus yet on binding rules.

Because there are huge scientific and engineering uncertainties about potential hazards posed by various types and levels of ash concentrations, the ICAO's high-level task force has proposed a compromise. The experts want to allow airlines to make their own risk assessments about whether to fly in or through ash clouds—but national regulators stil would have to sign off on the methods and procedures carriers relied on to reach those conclusions.

The ICAO group hasn't proposed any numerical standards. Instead, it proposes that carriers pay special attention to determining alternate airports, providing updates on movement of ash clouds, enhancing pilot training, stepping up maintenance and keeping close track of in-flight incidents.

According to the group's draft report, airlines that decide to fly into ash-contaminated areas also should have more stringent standards to ensure all onboard systems are working properly before takeoff.

When it comes to national regulators, the ICAO proposals envision beefed-up oversight. Regulators must require that carriers have "a formal, robust and transparent method" to assess risk, including reliance on an adequate and well-trained staff, according to the ICAO draft report.

Such general guidelines, however, could leave Europe's aviation industry subject to the same haphazard and unpredictable patchwork of flight restrictions as in 2010, according to some safety experts.

Write to Daniel Michaels at daniel.michaels@wsj.com and Andy Pasztor at andy.pasztor@wsj.com

civil aviation organization, international civil aviation, air traffic control, traffic disruptions, international civil aviation organization, ash and dust, aviation authorities, ash cloud, safety regulators, aviation officials, global aviation, northern scotland, european governments, umbrella organization, global safety, northern spain, massive air, western france, cloud of smoke, easter holiday

India.wsj.com

Monday, May 23, 2011

dawn stillness

photo

dawn stillness

...far too early in the morning....

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lerrynpics

copyrightlerrynpics2011

cornwall

polzeath

dawn

sea

blue

landscape

stillness online, dawn

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FS E464.307-2-2011-05-16-Padova

photo

FS E464.307-2-2011-05-16-Padova

E464-307 Padova 16th May 2011

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Italy

Euro

Europe

Italian

Train

Trains

Trainz

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Rail

Platform

Station

FS

Trenitalia

Ferrovie Dello Stato

Passenger

Padova

Loco

Locomotive

Engine

Electric

Class 464

E464-307

464307
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Sunday, May 22, 2011

0001 Diamond Princess Cruise Ship In Hobart Harbour

photo

0001 Diamond Princess Cruise Ship In hobart Harbour

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Australia

Tasmania

Hobart

Boats

Water

Hills

Houses

Diamond Princess

diamond princess cruise ship, princess cruise ship, hobart

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Judges block Home Secretary from deporting convicted terrorist

Judges block Home Secretary from deporting convicted terrorist

A convicted terrorist banned from Britain for being a risk to national security has been stopped by the courts from being deported.

Scales of justice: Judges block Home Secretary from deporting convicted terrorist

The courts stopped the terrorist's deportation Photo: PA

By David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent 9:40PM BST 21 May 2011

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The Muslim man, who cannot be named, was found guilty of terrorism in Tunisia and has already been extradited once to Italy, where he was accused of being involved in helping to send Islamists to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, ordered that he be kept out of Britain because his presence would not be "conducive to the public good for reasons of national security", adding that there was evidence he had been involved in "extremist radicalisation".

However, after he was acquitted in Italy, he returned to Britain and has been allowed to stay by the Court of Appeal while he fights Mrs May's ruling. The court's decision has exposed what experts said was a "loophole" in immigration law which would allow "dangerous" people to stay here.

Experts said the case would have serious implications for the Home Office's ability to exclude terrorists and those suspected of terrorist offences, effectively creating an open border for terrorists while they pursue legal challenges.

Although only a small number of people would be affected, they could pose serious risks to national security.

The Tunisian terrorist is likely to use human rights legislation to argue that it is unsafe for him to be returned to his home country, so he can stay permanently in Britain.

Lord Justice Pill, Lord Justice Rix and Lord Justice Lloyd backed the terrorist's right to be in Britain while he mounts an appeal. Lord Justice Pill commented that denying him access to Britain could lead to "potential injustice". The case puts the judiciary and the Government at loggerheads once again, and comes after the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, warned MPs against using parliamentary privilege to reveal the identities of those who have obtained injunctions to protect their privacy.

Anthony Glees, a professor of security and intelligence at the University of Buckingham, said: "The judiciary are putting the rights of terrorists and terrorist suspects above the rights of ordinary people in this country to go about their daily lives in peace.

"This is a very dangerous precedent if it is allowed to stand. It used to be the case that if the home secretary said someone could not enter this country then that was the end of the story."

The man, known only in legal documents as MK, was convicted of terrorist offences in his absence by a Tunisian military court. He arrived in this country in 2001 and successfully claimed asylum.

The Sunday Telegraph knows the identity of MK but has been prevented from disclosing it by the courts because he is an asylum seeker. The exact details of his criminal conviction in Tunisia are not known.

He lived in Manchester with his wife and daughters. It has been claimed he is a veteran of the Bosnian war, where he fought with the Muslim Mujahideen Brigade.

MK was arrested in a dawn raid by Greater Manchester Police in November, 2007, on a European arrest warrant at the request of an Italian investigating magistrate.

The 53-year-old was held as part of a series of coordinated raids across Europe against an alleged north Italy-based network recruiting fighters for Iraq and Afghanistan. Seventeen were detained in total and a senior Italian politician said at the time that the raids had “decapitated” a “Salafist jihadi” network of terror cells.

Poisons and ignition devices for explosives were seized in a number of northern Italian cities. The suspects were also accused of falsifying identity documents allowing them to travel clandestinely from one European country to another.

Court documents show that MK was accused of “membership of a criminal organisation for the purposes of terrorism”. British police also claimed that the network was involved in forging documents between 2003 and 2005.

He then fought a lengthy legal action, using human rights laws, against extradition, arguing that he could ultimately be sent to Tunisia, where he would be tortured. His action failed and he was sent to Italy in 2008, where he was charged with offences including providing forged documents to jihadis.

In July, he was acquitted of terror-related charges in Italy but convicted of falsely procuring a document. Because of time spent on remand he did not have to serve a further sentence.

Once again his lawyers launched a human rights case to prevent him being deported to Tunisia.

In April last year the Home Office warned MK that his refugee status could be revoked because there was reason to believe he had been involved in “extremist radicalisation and facilitation”, adding that there were “reasonable grounds for regarding him as a danger to the security of the United Kingdom”.

On Aug 7 last year Italian authorities ordered MK to leave the country within five days. He took a train to Switzerland and was arrested at Zurich airport on Aug 25 trying to board a plane to Dublin.

The Swiss decided to send him to Britain — possibly because he had a travel document issued by the Home Office — and he was arrested on the morning of Aug 27 at London City Airport.

When British immigration officers tried to send MK back to Zurich, they were prevented by an injunction. The Home Office tried to overturn the injunction but its case was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The challenge hinged on interpretation of the Immigration Act 1971 and other immigration legislation. The court hearing included a debate about the meaning of the word “while” in the phrase “while he is in the United Kingdom” from the 2002 Nationality, Asylum and Immigration Act.

Patrick Mercer, a Conservative MP and security expert, said: “This is particularly worrying in view of the Home Secretary’s efforts to exclude this man. The immigration Acts have been exploited and this loophole needs to be closed.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are disappointed by this judgment, but its ramifications are limited. The UK’s exclusions regime will continue to bar people from this country when they seek to subvert our shared values.”

home affairs correspondent, lord chief justice, human rights legislation, parliamentary privilege, david barrett, muslim man, lord justice, legal challenges, immigration law, open border, loggerheads, home secretary, court of appeal, theresa may, loophole, deportation, tunisian, extremist, bst, injustice

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Friday, May 20, 2011

waves

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waves

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sunset

coucher de soleil

tide

mare

landscape

paysage

seascape

holidays

coast

cte

vacances

photos

photography

pictures

wallpaper

fond d'cran

geotagged

sea

water

mer

Saint Jean de luz

basque

europa

France

vagues

waves

europe

light

lumire

reflets

reflections

Francia

Frankreich

color

colour

couleur

beach

plage

nightfall

dusk

crpuscule

hiver

winter

sand

sable

ocean

eau

aquitaine

evening

view

sun

soleil

shadow

ombre

bay

baie

Canon

nuages

clouds

atlantique

atlantic ocean

euskadi

basque country

pays basque

nature

exbr

natur

pyrnes-atlantiques
Flickr.com

Osama bin Laden's biggest video moments

Osama bin Laden's biggest video moments

Osama bin Laden made 35 video or audio recordings to be broadcast to the world before his death last month, most of which were broadcast on the Arabic television station Al Jazeera, here are some of the most significant.

Osama bin Laden's biggest video moments

The former leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden Photo: AFP

Andy Bloxham

By Andy Bloxham 9:22AM BST 19 May 2011

Follow Andy Bloxham on Twitter

Osama bin Laden's most significant video moments:

Denial of 9/11 attacks on New York

Bin Laden sends a statement to Al Jazeera after Pakistan warns the Taliban to hand him over after the terror attacks on the US. The man praised the attacks but said: "I stress that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own motivation."

US forces find video in Jalalabad

The US State Department released a clip of bin Laden on December 13, 2001, which they said had been captured by their military in Jalalabad, close to Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. The US translation of the tape suggested bin Laden knew in advance of the 9/11 attacks but independent experts later contradicted the translation, saying it was inaccurate at the most important points.

Admission of responsibility for 9/11

On October 29, 2004, just days before the US presidential election, bin Laden sent an 18-minute video to Al Jazeera, in what was his first appearance for nearly three years. In it, he admits personally directing the attackers and said: "God knows that the plan of striking the towers had not occurred to us, but the idea came to me when things went just too far with the American-Israeli alliance's oppression and atrocities against our people in Palestine and Lebanon."

He said the idea of destroying the towers came after seeing apartment blocks blown up during Israel's war with Lebanon in 1982, explaining: "it entered my mind that we should punish the oppressor in kind and that we should destroy towers in America in order that they taste some of what we tasted and so that they be deterred from killing our women and children."

Criticism of international system

After a three-year gap, bin Laden appeared in a one-minute video clip in September 2007 which was obtained by the US Government after it was shown on an Islamic website. In the clip, he criticises Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who was in office as PM, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, and the political author Noam Chomsky.

There are questions, as has often been the case, about whether or not the clip was authentic.

Flood relief

After severe flooding in Pakistan late September 2010, bin Laden released an audio tape calling for more coordinated relief efforts by Muslims. It was largely a surprise to most people that the Al Qaeda leader was interested in aid but it indicated a move towards a different kind of political manoeuvreing.

Watching himself on television

US forces said they seized the largest haul of terrorist intelligence from a single person after they killed bin Laden in a compound in Pakistan earlier this month. Among the items were five clips of video. In one, he appears stroking his beard appearing bedraggled and wearing a beanie hat, while clutching a remote control and watching himself on television.

Praise for the Arab Spring

In an echo of the flood video, bin Laden encourages Muslims to have more control over the arrangement of their society by capitalising on current events. In the audio clip, released by Al Qaeda after his death, he calls for more "tyrants" to be overthrown.

us presidential election, al jazeera, us state department, apartment blocks, video moments, arabic television, bloxham, first appearance, jalalabad, independent experts, 9 11 attacks, audio recordings, oppressor, terror attacks, television station, atrocities, attackers, osama bin laden, bst, oppression

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mirando al futuro

photo

Mirando al futuro

Enhorabuena!!!

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chica

girl

cara

face

playa

beach

mar

sea

Galicia

Spain

Espaa

texturas

textures
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Reflections

photo

Reflections

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instagram app

square

square format

iphoneography

Lomo-fi
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Caged In

photo

Caged In

The last stop after a massive 15hr photo session over the weekend. By this stage Phil, Garry and myself were stuffed. But being so close to sunset decided to wait it out. I think that it was colder here than it was during the night.
Still a great time was had by all!!
Large is for the win!

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sunrise

16x9

hut

barn

dead trees

nikon

d700

Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D

nikond700

frost

cold

winter

morning

rows

farm

landscape

photo session, nikkor, great time, sunset

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

London 2012 Olympic tickets: questions and answers as money is taken

London 2012 Olympic tickets: questions and answers as money is taken

Read Telegraph Sport's key questions and answers as London 2012 begin to take money from the accounts of successful ticket applicants.

London 2012 Olympic tickets: questions and answers as money is taken

Once in a lifetime: Tom Daley advertising Olympic tickets Photo: LONDON 2012

Jacquelin Magnay

By Jacquelin Magnay, Olympics Editor 12:33PM BST 16 May 2011

The debiting process has begun. What happens now?

Locog will take money from your Visa account from today (May 16) until June 10, 2011.

If no money has been taken have I missed out?

No, Locog is spending the next few weeks finalising the cascading of ticket categories and so may not start taking money from your account for some time. Locog says it will have finished debiting the monies by June 10.

When will I know what tickets I have?

Locog will inform you by June 24, 2011 as to which tickets you had successfully ordered.

What if I don't have the money in my account?

Locog says it will try to debit the money on more than one occasion. If the transaction fails, Locog will immediately try a second time. If it fails again Locog will contact you and you will have several days to put money into the account. If on the third time the transaction fails Locog will cancel your entire order. They will not fill a partial order.

I don't want all these tickets now. Can I sell them on?

Yes, but only for the face value of the tickets and only on the official Locog ticket exchange website which will be set up early next year. Any profiteering of tickets is illegal.

When will I find out where I am sitting?

You may have to wait awhile to find out. Locog has not released any seating plans, nor where particular price categories are located in venues. It appears you will only find out seat numbers and location when the tickets are mailed out. Tickets will only be mailed out in May or June next year.

Will I get another go to apply for tickets?

If you are unsuccessful in securing any tickets in this public offer Locog will offer all unsold tickets to you, via a direct sale, in early July for a period of about a fortnight. Locog has not yet confirmed the length of this window of opportunity. If you have received a partial order of your ticket order you will have the next access to the direct sale of tickets for about a fortnight.

Will there be any tickets on general sale?

Yes. Locog will release all unsold tickets available to the general public for direct sale around December, 2011.

Are there other ways to get ticket packages outside of the main ballots?

Yes, the official ticket package tour operators still have ticket packages for sale. These packages are more expensive than the public offer because they contain hospitality and or accommodation components as well. Contact Thomas Cook, Prestige Ticketing or Jet Set Sports.

I've missed out. Can I still apply for test event, Paralympics tickets and Cultural Olympiad?

Yes, Test event tickets – for the first cluster this summer – will go on sale on May 26. Cultural Olympiad tickets for the big name ''festival'' acts will go on sale in October. Paralympics tickets will be offered in a ticket application process similar to this public offer, with applications open from September 9 until September 30.

2012 olympic tickets, jacquelin magnay, visa account, tom daley, telegraph sport, seat numbers, ticket categories, price categories, london 2012, exchange website, ticket exchange, locog, face value, monies, bst, third time, questions and answers online, second time, june 24, olympics

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Monday, May 16, 2011

London 2012 Olympics: World Cup bid team leader Andy Anson joins British Olympic Association board

London 2012 Olympics: World Cup bid team leader Andy Anson joins British Olympic Association board

England 2018 World Cup chief executive Andy Anson has been appointed to the British Olympic Association as a non-executive director to boost its commercial acumen.

London 2012 Olympics: World Cup bid team leader Andy Anson joins British Olympic Assoctiation board

Main man: Andy Anson led 2018 bid team Photo: PA

Jacquelin Magnay

By Jacquelin Magnay 10:01PM BST 16 May 2011

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As revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, Anson, the former commercial director of Manchester United and chief executive of tennis’s ATP Tour before leading England’s doomed bid, was selected to fill one of two independent director positions.

The other new BOA appointee is lawyer Denise Jagger, a partner with international law firm Eversheds and previously a director of Asda.

Anson’s appointment comes as the World Cup bid is under renewed scrutiny following Lord Triesman’s claim in Parliament that some Fifa members behaved improperly and demanded favours in return for votes. England attracted only two votes in the Fifa election.

Anson labelled Fifa’s decision to run bid processes for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments “a mistake” and criticised the fact that England’s excellent technical report had been overlooked. His move to the BOA also comes as the latter seeks to boost its finances in the pre-Olympic period following a climbdown in the dispute with London 2012 organisers over the distribution of any Games profit.

Anson said he was thrilled to be able to bring his experience to the organisation.

“It is an exciting moment in time to be involved with Olympic sport in the UK and I am thrilled to be able to add my commercial and sports management experience to the BOA board at the governance level to benefit Team GB athletes in London 2012 and beyond,” Anson said.

“I will use my global commercial insight from my work in football, tennis and the media to provide advice and guidance to support the wider family of Olympic sports and look forward to strengthening connections with the BOA’s key stakeholders.”

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said the two new appointments have attributes which will strengthen the board.

“I am delighted that these two incredibly talented and experienced individuals have agreed to join the BOA board as independent non-executive directors,” Moynihan said.

“Both Denise and Andy bring strong assets to complement the existing skill set of the board.”

The pair have been appointed to their voluntary positions for a two-year term.

A third independent director will be appointed later this year to chair the BOA’s audit committee.

london 2012 olympics, british olympic association, jacquelin magnay, commercial acumen, olympic period, atp tour, olympics world, olympic sport, 2012 olympics, telegraph sport, man andy, rsquo, triesman, director positions, olympic sports, team gb, independent director, commercial director, eversheds, anson

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2: match report

Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2: match report

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday May 15 2011.

PREVIEW

LIVE

REPORT

LIVERPOOL

0 - 2

FT

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Sunday, May 15 16:00

Premier League

Anfield

(HT 0-1)

ATT: 44,893

van der Vaart (9)

Modric (56)

Rafael van der Vaart - Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 match report

Party pooper: Rafael van der Vaart (centre) is congratulated by his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates after the Dutchman put his side ahead after just nine minutes at Anfield Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Rory Smith

By Rory Smith, Anfield 6:23PM BST 15 May 2011

Follow Rory Smith on Twitter

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Rarely can a poisoned chalice have been so fiercely contested.

Liverpool have long aspired to the Europa League as the only coronation gift available to Kenny Dalglish; Tottenham Hotspur have long scorned it as an unwelcome consolation. Seeing their Thursday nights booked up is hardly a prize either will treasure; both fought until their last breath to earn the right to complain, long and loud, next season.

Spurs are worthy of what will, if they beat Birmingham next week, be their place in Europe, although justice was only done in the most unjust of circumstances. They deserve it for this display and this season. They started brightly, endured a predictable dip and ended on a high. Both in this display and in this season.

But that their guests are better prepared, equipped and suited to an autumn of far-flung travel will not assuage Liverpool’s anger. Dalglish’s side fell behind to a fortuitous opener from Rafael van der Vaart and they lost thanks to the sort of decision which would have sent Ryan Babel scrambling to Photoshop.

Even Spurs seemed taken aback to see Howard Webb point to the spot when John Flanagan and Steven Pienaar’s shoulders collided outside the box. There was no intent from either party; Webb’s decision, and Luka Modric’s coolness, certainly spoiled one.

“I’m not here to sponsor the FA,” Dalglish said. “It is just unhelpful to everyone that we cannot express our true thoughts and it’s even more disappointing that the officials get away scot-free without having to come and explain their decisions.”

That anger was manifest in the Scot’s fans and players, too. On this of all days, when Dalglish was unveiled to a deafening roar as the club’s permanent manager, when Fenway Sports Group, the owners who have done so much to steer Anfield back on course, were present. Little wonder Pepe Reina, Lucas and Martin Skrtel were so ruthless in dealing with a streaker. It was no laughing matter.

Yet hindsight will tell them that sixth place, after the start to their season, is a feat. It will tell them that Spurs deserved this, Webb or no Webb. It will tell them, too, that for all Redknapp’s insistence that he has no interest in the Champions League’s ugly sister, he knows – to misquote Ian Holloway – that it is better to go home at the end of the night with someone, rather than all alone.

“I scared them into it,” the Spurs manager said. “I told them that if we qualified through the Fair Play league, we’d be back playing in June. We are not fighting for the Europa League. We are fighting for fifth, because you want to finish as high as you can.”

It worked. Spurs started excellently, pressing high, suffocating their hosts. Van der Vaart’s opener, volleyed in off Glen Johnson, was ample reward.

Andy Carroll missed the best chance of the half by ballooning a Skrtel cross over, while Luis Suárez, usually electrifying, offered the Kop the odd jolt rather than full charge.

When Webb intervened, Liverpool could not muster a response. Anfield will not be blessed with Europe next season. Spurs, now that they are there, may not appreciate it, but Liverpool will tell them that, even with poisoned chalices, you do not know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

luka modric, kenny dalglish, getty images, steven pienaar, ryan babel, webb point, tottenham hotspur, rafael van der vaart, spoiled one, team mates, rsquo, john flanagan, party pooper, van der vaart, anfield, league game, thursday nights, last breath, chalice, dutchman

Telegraph.feedsportal.com

WSP2011__1113

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WSP2011__1113

2011 Winter Star Party

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Southern Cross Astronomical So

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Jais Aben Beach

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Jais Aben Beach

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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Newport Beach Police Lightbar

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Newport beach police lightbar

The lightbar on the Newport Beach police SUV.

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Thursday, May 12, 2011

sepik river - papua new guinea

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sepik river - papua new guinea

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth, with over 850 indigenous languages and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just under seven million. The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of Papua New Guinea, like here in Sepik river.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Obama to Renew Muslim Outreach

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is preparing a fresh outreach to the Muslim world in coming days, senior U.S. officials say, one that will ask those in the Middle East and beyond to reject Islamic militancy in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death and embrace a new era of relations with the U.S.

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Protesters in Yemen Tuesday continue demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

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Mr. Obama is preparing to deliver that message in a wide-ranging speech, perhaps as early as next week, these officials say. The president intends to argue that bin Laden's death, paired with popular uprisings sweeping North Africa and the Middle East, signal that the time has come to an end when al Qaeda could claim to speak for Muslim aspirations.

"It's an interesting coincidence of timing—that he is killed at the same time that you have a model emerging in the region of change that is completely the opposite of bin Laden's model," Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser at the White House, said in an interview.

Since January, popular uprisings have overthrown the longtime dictators of Tunisia and Egypt. They have shaken rulers in Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen and Jordan, marking the greatest wave of political change the world has seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

But the push for democracy appears to have stalled in some countries. The street protests against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have morphed into a civil war, with North Atlantic Treaty Organization backing the rebels. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Bahrain's ruling Khalifa family have both met demonstrations with violence.

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Bin Laden's death gives Mr. Obama a chance to underscore the belief among many administration officials that the terror leader's relevance had already begun to diminish during the so-called Arab Spring. Mr. Obama, who has made outreach to the Muslim world a cornerstone of his presidency, plans to describe the Islamic world as at a crossroads, said U.S. officials, making the case that bin Laden represented a failed approach of the past while populist movements brewing in the Middle East and North Africa represent the future.

Mr. Rhodes said timing of the speech remains in flux but Mr. Obama could deliver it before leaving on a five-day trip to Europe on May 23. The White House is already telegraphing the message of the coming speech to the Islamic world by placing American diplomats on Arab television and radio, according to U.S. officials.

The White House is still debating, however, whether Mr. Obama should lay out a concrete plan for revitalizing the stalled Arab-Israeli peace process.

Many Arab governments have been pressing Mr. Obama to publicly outline his own parameters for the creation of an independent Palestinian state as a way to exert more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visits Washington next week. These diplomats said the Mideast's democratic surge is raising expectations among their own populations for an end to the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict.

White House officials said they are still reassessing the monumental changes in the Middle East and whether an aggressive U.S. push to resume peace talks would likely be successful.

Last week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas forged a unity government with the militant group Hamas, which the U.S. and European Union designate a terrorist group. Israeli officials have already cited Hamas's role in the Palestinian Authority as the reason why Mr. Netanyahu is unlikely to unveil any major new overtures to the Palestinians during his Washington trip.

"We need to sort through these issues as we consider the next steps on a peace process," Mr. Rhodes said. The May 20 Obama-Netanyahu meeting "is a chance for the U.S. and Israel to review the full range of issues, from Iran to the regional change to the peace process."

Arab officials and Mideast peace advocates say there are major risks for the U.S. and Israel in delaying a return to talks.

Mr. Abbas is pressing the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state during the September gathering of the General Assembly. He has specifically cited his frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations with Mr. Netanyahu, as well as the rising expectations among his own people as a result of the Arab Spring.

"There's clearly a lot going on in the region, and there's a case to be made and some are making it, that now is not the time," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder of J-Street, a U.S. lobbying group that advocates Washington laying out its own peace plan, something Israel's government opposes. "But we do believe that the only way to avoid U.N. action on a Palestinian state in a unilateral kind of way is for either the president or prime minister to put forward" a peace plan.

A number of lawmakers have cited Hamas's new alliance with Mr. Abbas as reason for the White House to move slowly in restarting the peace process. Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress during his Washington visit as well the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the U.S.'s most powerful pro-Israel lobby.

Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, on Tuesday broke with Israel's policy of keeping quiet on the regional turmoil, saying the international community's response to repression of demonstrations in Syria, Lybia and Yemen has been "inconsistent'' and "confusing." In remarks delivered before Mr. Netanyahu's scheduled White House visit, Mr. Lieberman added that the confusion sends a "damaging message to the people of the Middle East, and further erodes the path to peace, security and democracy for our region."

Mr. Obama is also scheduled to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II in Washington next week. The Arab monarch has been at the forefront of Mideast leaders calling for the U.S. to impose its own peace plan on the Israelis and Palestinians. Jordan's population is 60% Palestinian, and the king has faced his own popular protests in recent months.

—Evan Perez and Joshua Mitnick contributed to this article.

Write to Jay Solomon at jay.solomon@wsj.com

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Online.wsj.com

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Mt Wilson Trail

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Mt Wilson Trail

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Yellow Summer

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Yellow Summer

Yellows flowers in the dunes of the Mt. Maunganui beach.

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VH-NVZ

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VH-NVZ

Douglas C-47B VH-NVZ c/n 16135/32883 of the RAN Historic Flight parked at a sunny RAAF Wagga on 2Sep94.

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Monday, May 9, 2011

Tim Bresnan shows he is still worth his place in England side with fine display for Yorkshire

Tim Bresnan shows he is still worth his place in England side with fine display for Yorkshire

Yorkshire (254-7) beat Kent (161) by 93 runs

Tim Bresnan shows he is still worth his place in England side with fine display for Yorkshire

In form: Tim Bresnan put in a good performance Photo: GETTY IMAGES

at Canterbury 9:20PM BST 08 May 2011

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The countdown has begun. With less than two weeks until the Test squad to face Sri Lanka is announced, England have more captains (three) than settled fast-bowling berths (two).

Tim Bresnan began his campaign to claim the third seamer’s slot, and in a tidy eight-over spell, showed he had lost none of his Ashes form.

The rest period granted to England’s bowlers has condensed their early season into a month-long shoot-out, with the Test venue Cardiff as its prize.

The competition is fierce: Chris Tremlett returned last week; Steven Finn has taken 16 wickets this season; Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Woakes and Graham Onions have all made sparkling starts.

Little wonder, then, that Bresnan was busting a slimmed-down gut to get back on the field. He was not scheduled to play his first game until Wednesday, but having travelled to Nottingham with the Yorkshire squad last week, he insisted on featuring on Sunday. He has spent his enforced break redoubling his training, taking on extra gym sessions. He may be leaner than ever, but he is also as hungry as ever for wickets.

“I wanted to have eight overs in competition, rather than going straight into a championship game and having to bowl three spells,” he said. “I enjoyed the break, but last week I wished I was out there. I’m not a very good watcher.”

Taking the new ball as Yorkshire defended 254, Bresnan bowled with the aggression and intelligence we have come to expect. He was a consistent threat, floating in slower yorkers, pinging down searing bouncers.

Bresnan’s first spell reaped the wicket of Robert Key, who top-edged a pull to short midwicket; his second that of Geraint Jones, whose off stump was wrenched out.

Initially, though, it was a former England seamer, Ryan Sidebottom, who stole the show, taking two wickets in two balls to break the back of Kent’s chase. After Sam Northeast had edged behind, Martin van Jaarsveld upper-cut a short ball to David Wainwright at third man. Alex Blake then tried to cut a wide long hop from Adil Rashid and nicked it. Rashid finished with three wickets — despite bowling pretty badly — as Kent subsided tamely.

The foundations for Yorkshire’s win were laid by captain Andrew Gale. He declared his intent by thrashing James Tredwell’s second ball over long on for six and reached his hundred in 105 balls.

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Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Motoring in northern California

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Motoring in northern California

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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Unlucky Fried Kitten #9

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Unlucky Fried Kitten #9

Medway Eyes - Eyes All Around gig, Nag's Head, 6 May 2011

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Vintage Festival Market Day, Yalumba Winery

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Vintage festival market Day, Yalumba Winery

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Friday, May 6, 2011

Manchester United v Schalke: Dimitar Berbatov and Co were far from 'so-called second XI', says Ralf Rangnick

Manchester United v Schalke: Dimitar Berbatov and Co were far from 'so-called second XI', says Ralf Rangnick

Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to rest key players against Schalke may have represented a drop in standards to some, but Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick was not amongst them.

Manchester United v Schalke: Dimitar Berbatov and Co were far from 'so-called second XI', says Ralf Rangnick

Net gains: Manuel Neuer endured a tough time between the sticks for Schalke Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Telegraph staff 8:05AM BST 05 May 2011

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Two goals up from last week's first leg in Germany, Ferguson could afford to make eight changes from the side that lost at Arsenal on Sunday in order to keep his players fresh for the huge Premier League tussle with Chelsea on Sunday.

"If you look at their so-called second XI, Manchester United's quality stands out with Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson and their central defenders," Rangnick said.

"It shows that they are at an exceptional level.

"Most Bundesliga sides would be happy with that quality, possibly with the exception of Bayern Munich.

"It is difficult to predict the final. You see the quality of Barcelona. They have set the standard in Europe.

"But the final is at Wembley so that might give a slight advantage to United."

A slow start saw Schalke have the first half-chance of the night after only seven minutes, Jefferson Farfan sending a low shot fizzing just wide of the upright.

But once United settled into their rhythm, the writing was on the wall as Schalke's defence found themselves struggling to cope with the movement and speed of the home team's wide players, Valencia and Nani.

Rangnick added: "We have to admit we could have gone out in the quarter-final against Inter - (against United) we found out our level."

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Telegraph.feedsportal.com

Thursday, May 5, 2011

BCN: walk fast

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BCN: walk fast

Barcelona, spain, April 2011

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Icy World Map!

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Icy World Map!

I took the photo for those bright icy edge! and then I saw it is exactly like a World map!

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