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Quake, tsunami alert hit Chile as new leader sworn in
03/11 | 16:11 GMT
©AFP / Martin Bernetti
Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, accompanied by his wife Cecilia Morel, waves during his inauguration ceremony at the Congress in Valparaiso. A 7.2-magnitude aftershock and four other tremors have rocked disaster-hit Chile, triggering a tsunami alert just minutes before billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new president.
©AFP / Martin Bernetti
Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, accompanied by his wife Cecilia Morel
VALPARAISO, Chile (AFP) - A 7.2-magnitude aftershock and four other tremors rocked disaster-hit Chile Thursday, triggering a tsunami alert just minutes before billionaire Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new president.
The quake was the strongest aftershock of more than 200 which have shaken the South American nation since the massive 8.8-quake of February 27 which sparked a killer tsunami and left almost 500 confirmed dead.
The latest aftershock was centered 114 kilometers (71 miles) south of Valparaiso, where it caused some to flee in panic from the Chilean parliament as right-wing tycoon Pinera prepared to take over power.
"I swear," Pinera said as he took the oath of office, inheriting the presidential reins from popular leftwing leader Michelle Bachelet and now facing the huge challenge of rebuilding the nation.
But parliament was evacuated shortly afterwards as Chile still reels from one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded.
The National Emergency Office, sharply criticized for its slow reaction to February's deadly quake, swiftly issued a tsunami alert for central areas of Chile, including Valparaiso.
But Haiwaii-based The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a "destructive widespread tsunami."
©AFP / Claudio Santana
Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia (left) and Fernando Lugo of Paraguay
Pinera's first task as president was set to be a visit to the ravaged coastal town of Constitucion, one of the worst hit by last month's quake and the giant waves that followed, that left some two million homeless.
It was not immediately clear whether the latest strong aftershock would alter his plans.
Pinera's January victory spelled an end to the ruling left-wing coalition that has governed Chile since the end of General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship 20 years ago.
But his presidency will be marked by the aftermath of the quakes.
"We won't be the government of the earthquake, we'll be the government of reconstruction," Pinera said recently, naming five new governors in each of the worst-hit central regions.
The 60-year-old not only faces the challenge of reconstruction -- which analysts estimate could cost up to 15 billion dollars -- but also takes over from a highly popular outgoing leader.
Bachelet scored an 84 percent popularity rating in a post-quake survey, even amid criticism of a slow government reaction to the disaster.
Bachelet on Wednesday issued a farewell statement boasting that her left-wing Concertacion coalition had in the past 20 years turned Chile into "a country of high credibility."
©AFP / Simon Uribe
A supporter of Chile's President Michelle Bachelet holds a newspaper
Pinera, a self-proclaimed centrist, has promised he will build on the policies practiced by his predecessor, rather than replace them.
After vowing austerity during his campaign, he was now expected to ramp up spending, borrow abroad and dip into savings from export revenues from the key copper mining industry.
During his campaign, Pinera deflected accusations of potential conflicts of interest between his political ambitions and his corporate empire, promising to sell the bulk of his shares in airline LAN Chile before taking office.
He also successfully put a distance between himself and Pinochet's dictatorship, which had enjoyed the backing of several right-wing parties now behind the billionaire.
Although Chile's economy shrank two percent last year, its first contraction in a decade, it was forecast before the quake to grow between 4.5 and 5.5 percent this year.
Pinera -- who had pledged to boost annual growth to six percent as the Latin American model of economic success emerged from the financial crisis -- was now under pressure to rebuild the nation.
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Canadian skier Guay wins overall Super-G ski title
03/11 | 13:25 GMT
©AFP / Joe Klamar
Canada's Erik Guay competes in the men's Alpine skiing World Cup Super G Slalom in Garmisch Partenkirchen. Guay won the men's Super-G race at the World Cup finals with Croatia's Ivica Kostelic second and Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal third.
©AFP / Joe Klamar
Erik Guay
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AFP) - Canada's Erik Guay won the men's Super-G race on Thursday here at the World Cup finals with Croatia's Ivica Kostelic second and Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal third.
The 28-year-old won only the third World Cup race of his career when he finished fastest down the Kandahar course in a time of 1min 26.36sec with Kostelic second at 0.39sec and Svindal third at 0.63sec.
The victory gave Guay the Super-G Crystal Globe as the overall winner in the discipline for the season and the Canadian admitted he was shocked at his win.
"Absolutely not," he replied when asked if he had expected to win.
"I thought about it a lot though and I knew I had a small chance.
"I had no pressure on me at all, all I had to do was go very hard."
Having also had his first World Cup here in 2007 in the downhill, this was Guay's second Super-G win in four days after winning at Kvitfjell in Norway last weekend.
With the world championships being held here next year, Guay has said he is a fan of the Kandahar course.
"I love it here," he said.
"The course is great and I hope I can learn some German by next February."
Overall World Cup leader Carlo Janka finished joint 11th at 1.38sec behind, but his rival for the global title Benjamin Raich of Austria finished only sixth at 1.13sec back and did not earn enough points to take top spot.
"Tomorrow (Friday) is a new race, an open race, we will both try and get some more points," said Janka with the men's giant slalom taking place here Friday before the slalom - Raich's speciality - on Saturday.
"In slalom racing, Benni has really done well, so it's still in his hands."
The result leaves Janka top of the standings at 1097 points with Raich second on 1059 while Switzerland's overall downhill winner Didier Cuche is third on 907.
©AFP/DDP / Thomas Lohnes
The 28-year-old won only the third World Cup race of his career
"I knew it would be a hard nut to crack (to take the lead), but I just did my best, I can't do more than that," said Raich.
"If you give everything and it's not enough you just have to tell yourself you did your best.
"I didn't expect him (Janka) to win (the downhill on Wednesday), that was quite a surprise.
"I now have to do my best over the next two days."
The loudest cheer of the day went to Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein who celebrated his last race before retiring by skiing down dressed in a jacket and tie with only a pair of shorts covering his legs.
"I can't believe it myself, I have to admit," he said after 20 years of World Cup racing.
"My heart's still in it, I've skied my whole life - 20 years in the World Cup.
"Now everything's going to change, but I think it's a very good decision to stop now. I think it's time."
The 38-year-old, who won silver at the world championships in 1999, finished at 59.23sec back, but had the whole crowd on their feet as he breezed down, even stopping to shake hands with course officials.
"It's so nice (to hear the crowd cheer), I always wished it would end like this, that the people can celebrate with me," he said.
"It was rather chilly to race (in shorts), I must admit.
"Oh well, you just have to grit your teeth a bit."
Sports
Canadian skier Guay wins overall Super-G ski ...Israel under pressure as prospects of talks fade
03/11 | 14:37 GMT
©AFP
VIDEO: Israel criticised over its decision to announce new Jewish settlements before talks. Duration: 00:48
©AFP
Prospects for indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks lay in tatters after the Arab League came out against them unless Israel reversed its plans to build more settler homes in the occupied territories. Israel found itself under increasing international pressure Wednesday over its decision to announce new Jewish settlements just as US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Jerusalem to promote the talks. Images and soundbites.
Video Gallery
Israel under pressure as prospects of talks ...Mexican Carlos Slim world's richest in new ranking
03/11 | 12:29 GMT
©AFP/File / Ronaldo Schemidt
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim (pictured in 2009) has dethroned Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world wealthiest person. The new annual list saw the 70-year old Slim catapult from third place last year to the top spot, thanks to the success of his America Movil company, Latin America's biggest mobile phone operator.
©AFP/File / Ronaldo Schemidt
Carlos Slim, a widower with six children, is a well-known public figure in Mexico
NEW YORK (AFP) - Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim has dethroned Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world wealthiest person and China is fast catching up with the number of US billionaires on the annual Forbes rich list.
The new annual list saw the 70-year old Slim catapult from third place last year to the top spot, thanks to the success of his America Movil company, Latin America's biggest mobile phone operator.
Slim's fortune was estimated at 53.5 billion dollars, according to Forbes, which said his wealth increased by 18.5 billion in 12 months.
Gates, 54, slipped to second place with 53 billion dollars while American super investor Warren Buffett was third with 47 billion dollars.
The United States remained by far the dominant home of the super-rich, with 403 billionaires, or 40 percent of the world's ten-figure fortunes, down from 45 percent.
China moved up to second place with 64 billionaires, including 27 newly minted ones. Including Hong Kong, China has 89 billionaires.
Share in Slim's America Movil, of which he owns a 23-billion-dollar stake, have gained 35 percent in a year. Slim learned his business acumen from his father, a Lebanese immigrant, who gave each of his children a savings book to manage income and expenses.
©AFP/Graphic
The United States remained by far the dominant home of the super-rich
He studied civil engineering and later built up the telephone monopoly Telmex after acquiring it from the government in 1990.
A widower with six children, Slim has handed over the daily operations of his companies to his three sons and business partners but remains a well-known public figure in Mexico.
He has recently made investments in telecommunications across the Americas, and have diversified his holding in areas of water and electric utilities.
Forbes counted 1,011 billionaires from 55 countries, up from 793 last year, though still below the pre-crisis 1,125 listed in 2008.
Gates' worth has increased from an estimated 40 billion dollars last year.
The Microsoft co-founder had held the title of world's richest for 14 of the previous 15 years.
Buffett, who at 79 is considered one of the most reliable and successful Wall Street investors, has gone up from 37 billion dollars in the recession hit list last year.
©AFP/File / Prakash Singh
According to Forbes, oil-and-gas tycoon Mukesh Ambani is Asia's richest man
There has been a wealth resurgence after the financial turmoil of 2008 and 2009, with the top 10 worth a combined 342 billion dollars, compared to 254 billion dollars in the previous year.
"The global economy is recovering. The financial markets came back, especially emerging markets," said magazine editor-in-chief Steve Forbes.
"There's a 50 percent increase in general global wealth compared to last year," Forbes said.
Certainly the economy recovered for the super rich, who took a beating during last year's stock and commodity market collapses, but saw across-the-board gains this year.
The list includes 97 fresh billionaires, 62 of them charging out of Asia, a region that saw booming stock markets and several large public offerings in the past year.
Russia comes in third with 62 billionaires, many of them commodities kings who fell off the list last year, only to see their vast natural resource holdings regain value this year.
Europe is still the number two super-wealthy region, with 248 billionaires. The richest European is France's Bernard Arnault, 61, whose LVMH sells Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, and other luxury goods, with his net worth at 27.5 billion dollars.
©AFP/Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla
Bill Gates has slipped to second place in the rich list with an estimated $53 bln fortune
Just behind is Spain's Amancio Ortega, owner of the Zara clothing chain, with 25 billion dollars.
Asia trails Europe by only 14 billionaires and the region's net worth of 729 billion dollars is double what it was a year ago.
The region's richest man, oil-and-gas tycoon Mukesh Ambani, 52, climbed to four from seven on the list with a net worth of 29 billion dollars, up 9.5 billion.
Pakistan has its first person on the list, Mian Muhammad Mansha, at number 937 with an even one billion dollars.
Sorted by city, billionaires congregate first in New York, where there are 60, then Moscow with 50 and London on 32.
People
Mexican Carlos Slim world's richest in new ...Women in black protest in violence-hit Nigeria state
03/11 | 15:41 GMT
©AFP / Pius Utomi Ekpei
Dressed in black, thousands of women marched in a Nigerian city to express grief at a new bout of sectarian carnage and anger at the failure to stop it.
©AFP / Pius Utomi Ekpei
Locals said they would pray for an end to the bloodshed and they had no faith in the security services
JOS, Nigeria (AFP) - Dressed in black and wielding wooden crosses, thousands of women marched in a Nigerian city on Thursday to express grief at a new bout of sectarian carnage and anger at the failure to stop it.
The demonstration in the flashpoint city of Jos coincided with the start of a three-day fast ordered by the authorities in central Plateau state in a symbolic commitment to reconciliation between Muslims and Christians.
With recriminations still flying around over a weekend massacre of Christians in villages on the fringes of Jos, locals said they would pray for an end to the bloodshed and they had no faith in the security services.
"We are mourning because of the children that were killed on Sunday, we are coming as a mass to cry out," said 32-year-old Rebecca Adiwu as she joined in the mass protest in central Jos.
Some carried Bibles, others wooden crosses, and some held the branches of mango trees in a sign of solidarity.
"We do not want soldiers! No more soldiers!" the protesters chanted, waving their Bibles and crosses in the air.
Helen Laraba, a 26-year-old tailor who was among the women in black, also vented her anger at the military which has been accused of failing to respond to reports that gangs of machete-wielding Muslims had gone on the rampage.
©AFP/File / Str
Police said more than 100 people died in the killing spree, but the toll could be as high as 500
Troop reinforcements are now patrolling the city and the surrounding villages but locals said it was too little, too late.
"They said they would come and protect us, but they didn't do anything for us," said Laraba.
"We are going to church to cry (over) the killing of innocent people."
Women and children bore the brunt of the three-hour killing spree in the early hours of Sunday morning. The exact toll is unclear with police saying 109 people died while the local information commissioner put the figure at 500.
It was the latest in a long chapter of sectarian violence and came as locals were still trying to come to terms with Muslim-Christian clashes in Jos in January which left several hundred dead.
Jonah Jang, the governor of Plateau, announced late Wednesday a three-day state-wide fast "to forgive our sins and bring peace".
"I am already fasting. It's a symbolic commitment," said 36-year-old accountant Michael Kwakfut.
"It's for the healing of our land, because of (the) ... things that we have done and that have annoyed God."
©AFP / Pius Utomi Ekpei
Police have made 49 arrests over the massacre
Police have arrested 49 herdsmen from the mainly Muslim Fulani ethnic group for the killings and said they had confessed to have acted in revenge for attacks in January which left more than 300 mainly Muslims dead.
Announcing the fast, Jang said it was time to put an end to the violence that has long plagued the state.
"It is time to forgive and allow peace to reign. We must sheathe our swords. The responsibility of achieving peace is a collective one," he said.
The country, Africa's most populous, is divided almost in the middle between the two faiths.
Plateau straddles the mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
The latest attacks also caused about 8,000 people to flee their homes, according to the Red Cross.
