Photo released by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) on July 27, 2011, shows the medals of 2012's London Olympic Games. London celebrated the one year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games and revealed the medals on Wednesday. (/LOCOG)LONDON, July 27 () -- The London Olympic medals were unveiled on Wednesday while the city was celebrating the mark of one year to go until the opening ceremony of the the 2012 Games.The Olympic medals, designed by British artist David Watkins, were unveiled to the world tonight by the British Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise and the LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe in the presence of IOC President Jacques Rogge and Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald at a special ceremony in Trafalgar Square, central London.Rogge said, "It is the pinnacle of a sporting career to become an Olympic champion but I am confident that receiving one of these medals will make it all the more special in London next year."The Olympic medals' circular form is a metaphor for the world. The front of the medal always depicts the same imagery at the summer Games - the Greek Goddess of Victory, Nike, stepping out of the depiction of the Parthenon to arrive in the host city.On the reverse of the medals, the dished background suggests a bowl similar to the design of an amphitheatre.The core emblem is an architectural expression, a metaphor for the modern city, or as a geological metaphor as a tough crystalline growth which is deliberately jewel like.The grid brings both a pulling together and sense of outreach on the design - an image of radiating energy that represents the athletes' achievements and effort. 1 2 3 1 2 3
by Ben Ochieng and Chris MgiduNAIROBI, June 12 () -- Kenya said on Tuesday the anticipated fall of the key seaport of Kismayu by mid August from the grip of Al-Shabaab will be key to successful shift of power from the Somali government to a civilian administration.Prime Minister Raila Odinga said so long as Kismayu was still under the control of the Al-Shabaab, the possibility of neutralizing the group will remain distant because the seaport served as its economic hub."August will be a crucial month for Somalia owing to the fact that it will be a transitional period to an elected civilian government in Mogadishu and this will only happen when the whole of the country has been liberated," Odinga said.Kismayu, Somalia's third largest city is considered the hub of the militant group, Al-Shabaab, which formally merged with the dreaded global terror network, the al Qaida, after several years of pledging loyalty and ideological similarities."Without controlling Kismayu, it's very difficult to completely neutralize Al-Shabaab. It has taken time because our forces felt that to move in otherwise would have lost a lot of lives both civilian and military," Odinga said.Last Thursday, the Kenyan soldiers backed by Somali forces carried out airstrikes in Kismayo in an attempt to force Al- Shabaab out of the port city."Due to that fact, Kenya Defense Forces will form part of the joint forces under African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) for afinal onslaught to wrestle Kismayu from Al-Shabaab," Odinga told foreign correspondents in Nairobi when he hosted them for a working breakfast meeting.The KDF which officially joined the African Union Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) on June 2 after the signing of the agreement with AU is using naval warships which are patrolling the coast off Kismayu targeting militant camps and bases in the economic hub.Sources said several fighters of the al Qaida allied group were killed during the airstrike which has disrupted operations of the militants.But Kismayo unlike Afgooye supplies the insurgents with steady income in the form of taxes and is an extremely strategic city for Al-Shabaab fighters who have reportedly reinforced their numbers in the port city which is home to top leadership of the ragtag.With almost a sixth of the entire Somali territory covered militarily, the Kenyan soldiers say there is every reason to remain vigilant against possible incursion following threats by Al- Shabaab to bring down Kenya's skyscrapers.He said Kismayu will be attacked through land, sea and air, adding that the international community should be available to support Somalia, especially in liberated areas. He said massive funding will be needed for this post-conflict reconstructions process."We urge the international community to invest in the infrastructure of hope and opportunities in Somalia, covering health, education, vocational training, transport and communications, job-creation and food production," Odinga said.Odinga said the rehatting of KDF troops numbering 4,660 personnel to the restructured AMISON was completed last week after Kenya signed the final deal in Addis Ababa."Kenya moved into Somalia last October after kidnapping of local and foreign nationals by Al-Shabaab in the country became untenable. That is when as a country we said enough is enough," Odinga said.He said substantive gains have been realized in areas of central Somalia that have been liberated from Al-Shabaab and civilian authority established organized.Odinga said a nucleus Somali National Army must also be established by integrating militia groups into the TFG force and retraining them."They can then take control and support local administrations that must be established to resume normal social services," the PM said.He said the militants blamed for grenade and landmine attacks in Kenya are under intensive pressure from allied forces and are already fleeing to mountain hideouts in Puntland."The authorities in Puntland and Gulmudug need support to prevent the fleeing militants combining with other groups," Odinga said, adding that the cross border incursion into Somalia has brought security challenges in the country."We are taking a number of steps in response. A program to install CCTV cameras in major urban areas is being rolled out," he said."Security agencies are conducting 24-hour surveillance in sensitive areas. We have increased naval patrol and inspection of speed boats and merchant ships."
christian louboutin bootsSEOUL, Nov. 16 () -- Australian five-time swimming Olympic champion Ian Thorpe said Wednesday he is not disappointed about his recent slow performances and still aims to compete in next year's London Olympics Games.The swimming legend announced his return to the pool in February after retiring in 2006. He failed to make the podium at meets this month in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo."I'm not disappointed at all. I expected my first race wouldn't be that fast and that's what it was," Thorpe said in a press conference marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Australia.The biggest challenge for him now is the trial for the Australian Olympic team in March next year."It's pretty natural for anyone who has spent any time out of the pool, let alone how long I've spent. So my performance is on track, where I'd like to head...and technically, I'm swimming better," he said.He didn't hide the difficulties he is facing with his comeback, likening it to restarting a car after five years."It doesn't matter how good the car is, it's still going to be difficult and I'm experiencing this," he said."There are...some things I need to improve on, but I think most importantly, I rediscovered love and passion for the sport. I don't think I can underestimate the value of that," added Thorpe.
WELLINGTON, April 2 () -- The New Zealand government Monday unveiled a proposed new law that would make it illegal for banks and other finance lenders to give loans that result in "substantial hardship" for borrowers.Consumer Affairs Minister Chris Tremain said the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill would better protect consumers from irresponsible lenders."The government is getting tough on loan sharks and lenders who don't play fair. Money lenders should not be able to prey on desperate people, leaving them and their families trapped in a spiral of debt," said Tremain in a statement."These will be the biggest changes to consumer credit law in a decade. It is time for a significant shift in lending laws to increase protection for borrowers and target irresponsible lenders. "Other changes in the legislation included a requirement for more timely and complete disclosure of loan terms, and extending the "cooling off" period for borrowers to cancel their loans, and new controls against misleading, deceptive or confusing advertising.Lenders would face being banned from the industry for non- compliance, under the proposed law."With such significant changes, it is important that we get it right. I'm looking forward to touring the country and getting feedback from the community services that deal with people who have been targeted by loan sharks," said Tremain."I am also looking forward to meeting with members of the lending industry. I know many lenders are calling for changes like these to help rid the industry of those who give it a bad name."The legislation was necessary because too many unscrupulous lenders were preying on desperate people, trapping them in debt which left them worse off, he saidThe proposals followed the Financial Summit in August last year when 250 people from community groups, budgeting services, NGOs, banks, financial regulators, and credit providers gathered to discuss ways to tackle irresponsible lending.The Bill would target lenders who gave loans that borrowers would clearly struggle to pay back; those who misled customers who failed to understand the real cost of a loan; those who failed to disclose essential information or who took disproportionate security.Once submissions on the Bill had been considered, the legislation would be finalized and introduced to the Parliament, and the government hoped to pass it by mid-2013, he said.The initiatives in the draft legislation were expected to create downward pressure on interest rates, he said.
DAMASCUS, Jan. 17 () -- A total of six people, including two law enforcement personnel, were killed Tuesday in separate attacks carried out by "armed terrorist groups" in Idlib province in northern Syria, the state-run SANA news agency reported.Two law enforcement force members were killed and two civilians were injured when armed groups opened fire at a police vehicle that was passing by al-Mala'ab roundabout in Idlib, said SANA.Also in Idlib Tuesday, about four civilians were killed and seven others were injured when an explosive device "planted by terrorists" went off on the road connecting Idlib with the town of Saraqeb, another hotbed of violence in northern Syria.The explosive device was detonated from a distance, said SANA, adding that the intensity of the blast caused the bodies of passengers to get seriously distorted.The injured were taken to hospitals, according to SANA.The attacks came just one day after at least nine people were killed in separate attacks across Syria, according to Syria's private and official media.Earlier this month, Riad Asaad, the Turkish-based commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, threatened to step up attacks on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's security forces.The Syrian government has said that the turmoil in Syria was plotted by terrorists and foreign-backed armed gangs and more than 2,000 army and security personnel have been killed during the months-long unrest.
LAGOS, Jan. 6 () -- Unions in the Nigerian aviation sector on Friday directed their members to shut down operations and participate in the nationwide industrial action called by Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) over the fuel subsidy removal by the government.The NLC plans to launch an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday over the removal of fuel subsidy on Jan 1, which has pushed up the pump price of petrol from 65 naira to 141 naira.In a statement issued by the Assistant General Secretary of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Mohammed Tukur at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, the Air Transport Services Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) unanimously directed compliance with the call to strike.Tukur urged all domestic airline operators to be cautious during the strike.He advised the operators not to deploy their aircraft till they were sure they had enough technical and operational staff at work.According to him, it would be economically suicidal for airline operators to deploy their aircraft for commercial flights when there would be no passengers to lift due to transportation problems on the road.He said the possible withdrawal of service by Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) would also jeopardize air safety.Tukur said if the Federal Government deployed military ATCs to provide skeletal service at the airports, it would amount to violation of standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization."We cannot allow our members to risk their investments by allowing the military to handle commercial flights," he added.
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