Villa will not lie down - Lambert

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says his team cannot "lie down" after an FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Millwall rounded off a miserable week.

Villa, 17th in the Premier League, lost 2-1 at the Den three days after being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by League Two side Bradford City.

"It's not great, but you have to keep going," Lambert told BBC Sport.

Defeat at Millwall was Villa's first FA Cup Loss at the hands of a Championship club since being beaten in the the third round by Sheffield United in 2005

"You take your medicine, pick yourself up and go again. There's no way you can lie down."

Darren Bent had given Villa the lead against the Championship side, only for Danny Shittu to level.

Then, with the tie heading for a replay, John Marquis's 89th-minute header put 2004 finalists Millwall into the fifth round.

"We conceded from a set-piece when we were up a goal and their second goal was just a crossed ball," added Lambert.

"I wouldn't mind if we were being cut open with brilliant play but we're losing goals to bog-standard stuff at the minute. Individual errors are costing us.

"It's easy for me to say we practice in training, but we do. However, that's when your mate doesn't want to cut your eye in. In matches, you can't be afraid to get cut and get hurt."

Despite Villa's poor run, Lambert is still believed to have the support of Randy Lerner, with the Scot praising the club's American owner.

“There's a line between supporting your club and creating a passionate atmosphere but we don't want to step over that line”

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett after some of his club's supporters threw bottles on to the pitch "Randy has been brilliant," said former Norwich boss Lambert. "Whatever happens happens, but he's been brilliant with me. He's a really good guy."

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett praised his side as they reached the last 16 of the FA Cup for the second season running.

"I thought it was a terrific performance from the whole team," he said.

"We deserved to win and I was so pleased for John Marquis that he got the winning goal. He has been out for a long time and has worked so hard to get back to fitness."

Jackett did, however, criticise Millwall fans that caused play to be delayed during the second half when bottles were thrown at assistant referee Mark Scholes.

"We can't condone people throwing bottles on to the pitch. That doesn't help us," he said

"There's a line between supporting your club and creating a passionate atmosphere but we don't want to step over that line."

Police made three arrests following the incident.

Wall Street up on new confidence

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota 25 January 2013 Last updated at 23:07 GMT  Analysts are starting to revise their end-of-year forecasts for stock markets Wall Street has continued to break recent records on the back of stronger economic data and better profits news from corporate America.

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes of major US companies closed at their highest since late 2007.

US homes sales data and profits growth at household goods giant Procter & Gamble underpinned investor confidence.

"The bottom line is that corporate America is doing exceptionally well," said JP Morgan strategist Joe Tanious.

But analysts also pointed to recent data from China and Germany, and Japan's pledge to stimulate its economy, as helping to propel shares upwards.

European banks said they would repay the European Central Bank much more than expected of the loans the bank gave them during the financial crisis, another positive factor.

The S&P edged up 8.14 points, or 0.54%, to 1,502.96, the first time it has closed above 1,500 since 10 December, 2007.

The Dow Jones rose 70.65 points, or 0.51%, to 13,895.98. The was its highest since 31 October 2007.

News that sales of new homes in 2012 were the highest since 2009, sparked hopes that the US housing market turned a corner last year.

"Economic data in the US has been trending higher, albeit modestly. Things are incrementally better," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial.

Thomson Reuters data released on Friday showed that of the 147 S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings, 68% exceeded analyst's expectations.

The S&P 500 has advanced 5.4% so far this month, and the Dow is up 6%, prompted many market experts to raised their end-of-year target for the two indexes.

We the Afghan air bars on drugs

15: 08 GMT-updated 25 January 2013  the Afghanistan is one of the largest global producers of the Afghanistan opium more large private airline, Kam Air, was banned from receiving US military contracts in the midst of allegations of drug trafficking, officials say.

The U.S. military said it conducted a survey which showed that Kam Air transport of large quantities of opium on civilian flights to neighbouring Tajikistan.

The countries of Central Asia is a transit route key used by drug traffickers.

Owner of the airline firmly denied the allegations.

Zemary Kamgar said that he was consulting with his lawyers on the move to the United States and that his legal team would establish a means of defence.

Update the index of Kam Air appeared to light in an article published in the Wall Street Journal Friday.

Corresponding say Kam Air is the first Afghan major company sanctioned by the US Army over allegations of drugs.

It is not known exactly how much business the company - which correspondents say has mounting debts - will lose after moving to the United States.

Lester Carroll American army spokesman told the BBC that the decision to blacklist Kam Air was taken after an investigation was made into allegations of drug trafficking.

"The Commander of the Central Command authorized the contracting organizations not to do business with Kam Air based on the information that was in the inquiry," he said.

M. Kamgar said the allegations were "insulting to thorough security checks" conducted by the Afghan and Tajik.

He said that although he had not received a written confirmation from United States moves against Kam Air, the index may also be the work of hungry competitors in the transportation of military equipment.

Allegations of drug trafficking have also been strongly denied by the Afghan Transport Minister Daud Ali Najafi who told the BBC that security at Kabul international airport controls are very tight.

Officials say it would be impossible to Kam Air systematically ignore the security at the Kabul airport

"It is impossible to the drug using civilian flights," he said, "because the private airport security company checks all members of the crew, baggage, passengers and the aircraft itself before the authorization is granted for all flights [to fly]."

Correspondents say that the American movement comes at a time of concern among Western countries more and more to the Afghanistan booming drug trade.

While a report bythe United Nations Office on drugs and Crime (UNODC) in November, said the opium production in Afghanistan had fallen by a third, it also said that the area of land used to cultivate crops increased by 18%.

Kam Air operates a fleet of some 16 aircraft, including cargo planes s Boeing 767 and 747 - and Antonov aircraft that fly to many destinations.

Its only regular Asian passenger route is located between Kabul and Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, a country whose porous borders and political instability experts say makes it a popular transit point for drug traffickers.

Zaha set for medical with Man Utd --News World 24

News World 24::

Wilfried Zaha will undergo a medical with Manchester United in the next 48 hours before completing a £15m move from Crystal Palace.

The 20-year-old forward has agreed a five-and-a-half year deal but will be loaned back to Palace until the summer.

Born: 10 November 1992

Position: Winger/striker

Club career: Crystal Palace (2009-present)

Professional debut: v Cardiff (27 March 2010)

Appearances: 124

Goals: 15

England Under-19 caps: 2

England Under-21 caps: 5

England international caps: 1 United will pay £10m up front, with the fee potentially rising to £15m based on Zaha's appearances and success.

Zaha, who joined Palace as a 12-year-old, is expected to win his second England cap against Brazil in February.

Both clubs have refused to comment on a proposed deal, but Sir Alex Ferguson has been heavily involved in the talks, having remained in England as his squad travelled to Qatar on Sunday for a short training camp.

He was named the Football League Young Player of the Year last season and attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs.

Zaha, who came through the youth academy at Selhurst Park, has scored 15 goals in 124 appearances for the Eagles since his debut against Cardiff in March 2010.

He is a Palace's latest homegrown talent, following in the footsteps of Chelsea's Victor Moses and Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne.

Former Eagles forward Mark Bright has described Zaha as the biggest talent to emerge at the club since former England striker Ian Wright.

"He is probably the best prospect we [Palace] have had in terms of what he could go on to achieve," said the BBC pundit.

Samsung profits up 76% on mobile --News World 24

25 January 2013 Last updated at 02:39 GMT From News World 24 :: Last year was a good year for Samsung, after winning the battle of the Smartphones

Samsung Electronics said its profits surged 76% in the last three months of 2012, on the strength of its booming Smartphone business.

Net income rose to a record 7.04TN won ($6.6bn; £4.2bn), up from 4.01ten won in the same period a year earlier, beating analysts' expectations.

The Korean firm said its mobile profits more than doubled over the same period.

Last year, Samsung became the world's biggest Smartphone maker, overtaking Apple, its main rival in the sector.

"Overall its earnings momentum remains intact," said Lee Se-Chul, from Meritz Securities in Seoul.

"Smartphone shipments will continue to grow, even in the traditionally weak first quarter, as Samsung's got a broader product line-up and Apple appears to be struggling in pushing iPhone volumes aggressively."

Samsung did not provide data on the number of Smartphones it had shipped, but analysts estimate it sold 63 million Smartphones in the quarter.

Galactic sales

The firm said its Galaxy line of Smartphones and tablets has been its top seller, driving profits.

The handsets division, which sells about a quarter of all mobile phones in the world according to analysts, saw an operating profit of 5.44tn won, up from 2.56tn won a year earlier.

Earnings were also helped by Samsung's display unit, which made a profit, after losses a year earlier.

The unit enjoyed a sales boost from its organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) screen, used in the Galaxy Smartphones.

The Galaxy line of products from Samsung has been a huge success

The firm said its capital spending this year will be similar to 2012 levels, despite analyst expectations that it would be cut.

'Decelerating demand'

However, it did caution that increased competition in the Smartphone sector could lead to a softening of demand in some regions.

"The furious growth spurt seen in the global Smartphone market last year was expected to be pacified by intensifying price competition, compounded by a slew of new products," the company said in its earnings statement.

"In the first quarter, demand for Smartphones in developed countries is expected to decelerate, while their emerging counterparts will see their markets escalate with the introduction of more affordable Smartphones and a bigger appetite for tablet PCs throughout the year."

Both Apple and Samsung are facing tough competition in markets such as China from Smartphone-makers with more competitive prices.

Farc: Peace talks are accelerating --News World

25 January 2013 Last updated at 01:58 GMT From News World::  Farc spokesman Jesus Santrich gave an upbeat assessment of the third round of talks Colombia's peace talks are advancing at an accelerated pace – "in the rhythm of mambo", as a Farc spokesman put it.

After three rounds of talks, Jesus Santrich said common ground on land reform had been found.

The Colombian government negotiator, former Vice President Humberto de la Calle, said there were still were stark differences, but admitted some concord.

The negotiations were launched three months ago in an attempt to end five decades of conflict.

The government says it has cost the lives of more than 500,000 people.

The talks will resume in Havana in Cuba in a week's time.

While there appear to be some fundamental differences between the two sides, the left-wing rebels seem to have adopted a conciliatory tone.

"We believe there are concrete results in these advances in the land reform proposal," said Jesus Santrich. "We believe this is a mambo rhythm. It's subdued but accelerated."

But the rebels are pressing for guarantees that the results of the talks be recognized by a constituent assembly.

'Peace but not at any cost'

They fear a repetition of what happened in previous peace talks, when Farc members ended up being extradited after the negotiations.

President Santos said if the rebels resumed their attacks it would be "a sign of weakness".

The Colombian government had however already said that it had no intentions of submitting the results of the talks to an assembly.

Colombia's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, ruled out a ceasefire, as sought by the rebels.

Force declared the truce as peace talks began in Cuba, in November.

"We want peace, but not at any cost. Not if as a result of the conversations the guerrillas are able to get stronger and continue to wage war," he told reporters.

The Colombian government maintains its intentions of only halting military action once a peace deal has been signed.

They say the final aim of the negotiations is to get the rebels to abandon their armed struggle and join the legal political process.

Among the land reform issues proposed by the Farc is a demand that 25 million hectares (62 million acres) of land, more than 20% of the country, be handed over to the country's poor.

N Korea warns South of sanctions from news world

25 January 2013 Last updated at 06:42 GMT:: North Korea referred to the government in Seoul as "the puppet group of traitors" North Korea has issued another warning, a day after announcing plans for a third nuclear test.

In a statement, Pyongyang pledged "physical countermeasures" against South Korea if it participated in the UN sanctions regime.

The threat came 24 hours after North Korea said it would proceed with a "high-level" nuclear test in a move aimed at "archenemy" the US.

The White House condemned the move, labelling it "needlessly provocative" from this new world.

North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests in the past, in 2006 and 2009. It gave no time-frame for its third test.

Its announcement followed the adoption by the UN Security Council of a resolution condemning North Korea's recent rocket launch and extending sanctions.

North Korea says its rocket launch was for the sole purpose of putting a satellite into orbit; the US and North Korea's neighbors say it was a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions.

'Declaration of War'

The second warning in two days came in a statement from the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, carried by KCNA news agency.

"If the puppet group of traitors takes a direct part in the UN 'sanctions', the DPRK (North Korea) will take strong physical counter-measures against it," it said, referring to the South Korean leadership.

Continue reading the main story Two underground nuclear tests have been carried out by North Korea, in 2006 and 2009They was believed to have used plutonium, but experts believe the planned test could use highly-enriched uranium as the fissile material. Analysts say a new test tunnel has been prepared in Punggye-RI, the site of the previous tests. North Korea is thought to have enough nuclear material for a small number of bombs, but not the technology to make a nuclear warhead. Multiple rounds of multi-national talks have failed to categorically convince Pyongyang to commit to giving up its nuclear ambitions"'Sanctions' mean a war and a declaration of war against us."

The UN resolution, passed on Tuesday, expanded existing sanctions against Pyongyang that were imposed after its previous nuclear tests and rocket launches.

Washington has also expanded its own sanctions against North Korea, with targets including a Hong Kong-based trading company and two North Korean bank officials based in Beijing.

On Thursday, it spoke out against a third nuclear test.

"Further provocations would only increase Pyongyang's isolation, and its continued focus on its nuclear and missile programs is doing nothing to help the North Korean people," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

Beijing has called for dialogue, urging all parties to act with restraint and "look at the long-term interest".

But an editorial in China's state-run Global Times appeared to hint at exasperation.

"If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance," the editorial said.

Both North Korea's previous nuclear tests followed long-range rocket launches.

-----News World