Dubai group looking to buy Afghan bank

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- A Dubai-based conglomerate is seeking approval to buy a bank in Afghanistan as authorities there try to restore confidence in the scandal-tainted financial industry.

The CEO of Alokozay Group's Afghan operations said in an interview Sunday the family company sees "great potential" in the nation's banking sector despite decades of war and the near collapse of the country's largest private lender amid corruption problems last year.

"We want to bring in professionals and set up a bank that's basically recognized worldwide," Jalil Alokozay told The Associated Press. "If someone comes in and has a proper plan and empowers the professionals, then there are lots of opportunities here in Afghanistan."

Putin's promises sound like a 2012 campaign spiel

MOSCOW (AP) -- Vladimir Putin has given Russia's farmers, blue-collar workers, soldiers, parents and retirees good reasons to want him back in the Kremlin.

In a four-hour nationally televised appearance, the prime minister said not a word Wednesday about his plans for next year's presidential election. The topic has been a subject of fervent debate in recent weeks as President Dmitry Medvedev has shown a desire to stay on for another term.

But by portraying himself as the defender of a strong Russia and making a string of campaign-like promises to improve the lives of ordinary people, Putin sent an unmistakable signal that he intends to reclaim the presidency.

Clinton visits Tokyo in show of support for Japan

TOKYO (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday that America would stand by Japan, saying she was confident the country will fully recover from its tsunami and nuclear disasters.

"We are very confident that Japan will recover and will be a very strong economic and global player for years and decades to come," Clinton told Prime Minister Naoto Kan during a brief visit to Tokyo intended as a morale boost to the crucial U.S. ally.

Geithner confident Congress will raise debt limit

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says Republican leaders have privately assured the Obama administration that Congress will raise the government's borrowing limit in time to prevent an unprecedented default on the nation's debt.

But a top Republican quickly pushed back Sunday and said there was no guarantee the GOP would agree to increase the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling without further controls on federal spending.

Geithner told ABC's "This Week" and NBC's "Meet the Press" that Republicans told President Barack Obama in a White House meeting last Wednesday that they will go along with a higher limit.

A Consumer's Guidebook to Health Care Modernise

The six-month capable age 26 on your health plan if he or she can not get coverage done a job. Recently policies can not refuse coverage for children capable age 19 based on pre-existing medical specifies. "Grandfathered" plans can, nevertheless, they in additional to can laid yearly dollar restrains on coverage and call for patients to serve invite approximately cautionary overhauls.

Nearly people in the private market are awaited to move to recently plans by 2014. Analysts tell nearly plans in the group market will likely have suffered their "grandfathered" condition because of changes made to them.

Newport Beach Houses - Purchase A New Houses to Live in

Are you still searching a new houses to stay in? California is a big state. There are a lot of people here. And there are several good places here you can spend your life time. You have many options if you choose the California as your next home. If you love live in downtown where many good places can be accessed easily, then you are able to choose Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco. But if you like to live in peace out of the town, thes Newport Beach Houses is the great selection that you will never get anything better.

Assertive China Plays Down Sea Disputes

China has brushed off complaints from its neighbors over disputes about maritime boundaries. The rebuff comes after Beijing announced it will be more active diplomatically this year.

A day after Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Beijing's foreign policy will serve the country's economic development, China reasserted its sovereignty over the resource-rich South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Tuesday brushed off recent protests from the Philippines and Vietnam following separate incidents in the disputed waters.

Women’s Representation in World Parliaments Remains Low

A new survey released to coincide with International Women's Day shows women are making political gains, but their numbers in world parliaments remain low. The survey by the Inter-Parliamentary Union finds just over 19 percent of parliamentarians worldwide are women, compared to 16.3 percent in 2005.

As in previous years, the Nordic countries come out on top with an average of nearly 42 percent women in parliament. The survey finds Arab states are at the bottom of the world table for women in parliament; nevertheless the region is making progress, going up from 4.3 percent in 1995 to 11.7 percent last year.

Britney Spears Strips Down For V Magazine

source : Britney Spears Strips Down For V Magazine
stifling and half-clothed on the cover of V Magazine, Britney Spears declares, "The b***h is back and better than ever!" The savage pop singer, whose seventh studio album, 'Femme Fatale,' lands March 29, talks openly about her album, boys and fame, adding that she has moved past the media scrutiny that plagued parts of her career.

"I effort to block off it all out and not pay attention to anything they write about me in the magazines or online. I'm done with that," Spears told V Magazine. "I have acquired to always abide true to myself and never let what other people say about me change who I am. It's a very important lesson that took me a long time to learn."

Makeityourring Diamond Engagement Rings Symbol of Endless Love

Reason out of choosing diamond is that they believed as symbol of love, purity and unity. This attain Makeityourring Diamond Engagement Rings are one of the most popular alternatives in engagement rings. You can find that these days couples prefer presenting kakeityourring diamond engagement ring to their beloved and the reason of its popularity is its unique look and it has the power to melt heart. Hence by presenting diamond engagement ring to your beloved you will show her that how romantic you are and how much you love her.

The first thing which you must consider if you want to present a perfect diamond engagement ring to your loved one is the size of her ring finger. Always remember if you will present her a ring of a perfect size then you will make her feel that she is the happiest woman on the earth.

Defense: Suicides planned before ex-nurse involved

FARIBAULT, Minn. (AP) -- A defense attorney for a Minnesota man accused of trolling the Internet for suicidal people and encouraging two to kill themselves told a judge Thursday that the victims already had plans to take their lives and his client's online conversations with them had no impact.

William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aiding suicide in the deaths of an English man and a Canadian woman. Attorneys for both sides presented oral arguments Thursday to Rice County District Court Judge Thomas Neuville, who has up to 20 days to decide whether Melchert-Dinkel is guilty.

Picking out Diamond Engagement Rings

While you're Picking out diamond engagement rings, pick out carefully as these ring is something that your future wife wish hopefully wear for the rest of her life. Not entirely diamond rings are engagement rings. Diamond engagement rings ordinarily have one diamond bigger than the rest or consist of a single diamond. These types of diamond engagement rings are called a solitaire.

Long time ago, women wore diamond rings that were nammed cocktail rings. They were utilised for fancy dress and not worn all of the time. On the contrarily, diamond engagement rings are worn all of the time and more women ne'er take out them. Diamond engagement rings frequently attach to a wedding band in addition to, as part of a set.

China Reacts Cautiously to Events in Egypt

China's authoritarian government has reacted with caution to the ousting of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak.

China's ruling Communist Party called Saturday for stability in Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak - saying foreign powers should not interfere.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu repeated in an online statement China's guarded response to events in Egypt since pro-democracy protest began 18 days ago.

He did not mention Mr. Mubarak's resignation or how he was toppled from power, instead he repeated the same words from a press conference held last Thursday.

School Won't Allow Student With Seizures to Take Marijuana Pill

A Colorado teenager who was prescribed medical marijuana for a neurological condition is being told he cannot attend his school if he is "under the influence," kdvr.com reported.

The teenager, who is not being named for privacy reasons, has myaclonus diaphragmatic flutter - a condition that causes him to have seizures in his chest and throat.

The boy's father, Shan Moore, said the marijuana can be taken in the form of a lozenge or a pill. However, under state law, the teen cannot have marijuana on school property, so he cannot keep it at the nurse's office like other medications.

Mark Madoff's Widow Turned Away Ruth at Memorial Service

Ruth Madoff flew from Florida to Greenwich, Conn., to attend a private memorial service for her son Mark after his suicide last December -- but was turned away by his unforgiving widow, Stephanie.

The first lady of fraud mourned at a friend's house and sat shiva alone, a family source told People magazine. She passes most of her days and nights alone and numb, the friend said.

"She told me, 'At night, it gets to me -- the shame, the disgrace, all the stuff that killed Mark.' "
When Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme collapsed, Mark and his brother, Andrew, warned their mother: It's him or us.

Mugabe Refuses Appointment of New Deputy Prime Minister

The new president of the small Movement for Democratic Change party, Welshman Ncube, has sought an appointment with President Robert Mugabe so he can be sworn into office as deputy prime minister of Zimbabwe. Our reporter informs that President Robert Mugabe says Arthur Mutambara, the outgoing deputy prime minister in the inclusive government, and also a member of the small MDC, must remain in his position.

Scientist Arthur Mutambara was voted out as president of the small MDC at its congress attended by 4,500 delegates in Harare last month.

What You Need to Know About Pregnant Sex

Prospective parents can breathe a sigh of relief: According to the latest research, sex during pregnancy is almost always safe.

The latest primer for physicians on the topic, published today (Jan. 31) in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, advises pregnant women and their partners to engage in sex according to the couple's comfort level. The only exception is in the case of high-risk pregnancies. In those cases, sex may sometimes carry risk, the authors wrote, though the evidence is limited.

"Sex in pregnancy is normal," the researchers wrote. "There are very few proven contraindications and risks to intercourse in low-risk pregnancies, and therefore these patients should be reassured."

Missing Michigan mother, 2nd woman found buried

(CNN) -- A man has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of two Michigan women, including a mother who went missing shortly after her children left on the bus for school, authorities said.

Investigators found the bodies of Amy Henslee, 30, and Tonya Howarth, 36, Friday morning. They had been buried and appeared to have died after receiving multiple gunshot wounds, Van Buren County Prosecuting Attorney Juris Kaps told reporters.

Henslee's husband told police she was missing Monday, prompting a police investigation in Hartford Township, Michigan.

Glee: Bieber Episode

An episode of Glee wholetotally revolved,centralized just about Justin Bieber is in the acts, concording to TVLine.

Although not alot of particulars of the episode have been {revealed|, the casting will cover up various of Justin's songs and he will figure into the plot of Glee Justin Bieber episode.

The episode is presently scheduled to air on February 15th, but possibly exchanged around.

No discussion yet on whether Justin will come out in the episode or not. Lea Michele lately told that she believed Justin would be "amazing" for the show.

Glee returns on February 6th following the Super Bowl and then will air a Valentine's Day episode two days later.

Petra Nemcova Engaged

Czech model Petra Nemcova is set to merry British actor Jamie Belman after just eight months of dating. The couple met last year after being introduced by mutual friends and the stars spent the holidays together with both of their families.

British Vogue magazine now reports Petra Nemcova Engaged to Jamie Belman after Belman recently proposed. In the past, Nemcova, 31, has been romantically associated to Oscar winner Sean Penn and singer James Blunt. She lost her previous fiance, Simon Atlee, in December 2004 when he was killed in the catastrophic Asian tsunami. The model was a survivor of the disaster.

Since the tragic event, She has dedicated herself to aiding others affected by the tsunami, and is now President and Chairwoman of the euphoric Hearts Foundation which works with the children who survived the disaster. "When the tsunami happened, I wanted to aid in any possible way," she said.

Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas Reunite for New Duet Track

Miley Cyrus is reportedly going to hook up with Nick Jonas again for a studio project (Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas Reunite). The "Hannah Montana" actress previously collaborated with him and his Jonas Brothers bandmate in 2009 song "Before the Storm" which appears among "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" materials.

"Returning to the studio w/ Miley Cyrus & Nick Jonas on 1/14," tweeted Shakur Green who once worked with Miley in her "The Time of Our Lives [Walmart EP]". He additionally wrote, "Can't release any additional information about the project other then it's going to be one of the top albums of 2011."

"We're only recording 7-10 records. She has other producers she working with besides myself!" the music producer went on spilling more beans on the joint record. "I will share this info: It's going to be a double disk duet album!"