The count has been marred by fraud allegations – mostly from opponents of Harmid Karzai, who is seeking re-election as president.

With almost three-quarters of the results tallied, Mr Karzai has nearly 49% of the vote and his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah, has 31%.
Mr Karzai must get more than 50% in order to avoid a run-off.

But the Independent Election Commission (IEC) has thrown out results from 447 voting sites because of irregularities.
The winner was not expected to be announced until later this month, after the IEC has investigated more than 650 claims of serious violations during, and after, the August 20 vote.
They include allegations by Mr Abdullah that Mr Karzai’s supporters stuffed ballot boxes with tens of thousands of votes.
The commission has the power to nullify the results from districts or provinces, or even call for a new election, if it finds large-scale fraud.

Mr Abdullah, the country’s former foreign minister, urged the commission to stop announcing preliminary results because of “highly suspicious numbers” in tallies released so far.
“It is state-engineered fraud. It is not violations here and there,” Mr Abdullah said, claiming polling officials were loyal to Mr Karzai, who appointed them.
Commission chairman Daoud Ali Najafi insisted the commission was unbiased.
“The Independent Election Commission has been completely impartial in fulfilling its duties throughout the process,” he said.
International and Afghan observers were critical of the August 20 vote but have withheld judgment until counting and fraud investigations are complete.

see more:http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Afghanistan-Electoral-Commission-Annuls-Some-Votes-After-Polling-Station-Irregularities/Article/200909115375904?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15375904_Afghanistan_Electoral_Commission_Annuls_Some_Votes_After_Polling_Station_Irregularities

The man, who is in his 30s, was being held by police over the blaze that killed Jamie Kyne, 18, and Jan Wilson, 19.

Police have yet to confirm the identities of the two victims – but the pair have been missing since the fire at a block of flats in Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire
The family of Jamie, from Ireland, said they were “devastated and shocked”.
Trainers described him as one of England’s top apprentice jockeys. He had been booked to ride at Haydock on Saturday afternoon.
Jan had been set to ride Imperial Sword, owned by her mother Margaret, at Thirsk.
The horse was declared a non-runner yesterday morning.
Mrs Wilson, of Greenhead Farm, Rescobie, said she was still waiting for confirmation her daughter was the other victim.
North Yorkshire Police said the blaze, which happened during a party in the three-storey block early on Saturday, was being treated as suspicious.
The bodies of the victims have been removed from the burned-out building.

Racecourses at Kempton and Thirsk staged a period of silence in remembrance on Saturday, while jockeys at Stratford wore black armbands.
Jamie’s friend and fellow apprentice jockey Ian Brennan was also in the third-floor flat and jumped to safety when the fire ripped through the building.
The 20-year-old was released from hospital early on Saturday and went on to ride at Thirsk.
Jamie, whose family runs Kiltrogue stud farm in Claregalway, Co Galway, was one of the rising stars on the northern circuit.
Attached to trainer John Quinn, he partnered only eight winners last season – but really came into his own this term and had 29 victories in 2009.

He landed the biggest victory of his career when Allan Dickman’s Ishetoo won the £40,000 sportingbet.com Sprint at York in May.
The teenager began his career with trainer Declan Carroll, who provided the talented young rider with his first winner in December 2007.
News of Jan’s death was met with disbelief and sadness by people who had known her.
Christine Barron, who housed the teenager during her tenure at her husband’s North Yorkshire stables, spoke of a “lovely” girl who had a bright future ahead of her.
“She was just a very nice, very lovely girl,” she said.
“She had been with us for just over a year … It is a terrible thing.”
Many tributes were also left on her Bebo social networking site.

see more:http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Teenage-Jockey-Fire-Deaths-Man-Released-On-Bail-By-Police-Near-Malton-North-Yorkshire/Article/200909115375914?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15375914_Teenage_Jockey_Fire_Deaths:_Man_Released_On_Bail_By_Police_Near_Malton,_North_Yorkshire

Aircraft from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force attacked two fuel tankers which had been hijacked by the Taliban in northern Kunduz province.

NATO has claimed only militants were killed but said it is investigating reports of civilian deaths.

Lieutenant-Commander Christine Sidenstricker, press officer for the US and NATO-led ISAF, said Afghan authorities had reported two fuel trucks hijacked, and NATO aircraft spotted them on a river bank, 7km from Kunduz.

‘After observing that only insurgents were in the area, the local ISAF commander ordered air strikes which destroyed the fuel trucks and killed a large number of insurgents,’ she said.

Asked how pilots could know whether a crowd gathered around the truck included civilians or fighters, she said: ‘Based on information available at the scene, the commanders believed they were insurgents.’

Kunduz province Governor Mohammad Omar said as many as 90 people are feared dead, burned alive when the fuel trucks exploded.

Officials and witnesses had previously told news agencies that there were dozens of casualties including civilians in the strike.

‘A small number of the casualties are local civilians, including a few children who had come to take free fuel,’ said Mahbubullah Sayedi, a spokesman for the Kunduz provincial government.

He said Taliban fighters had hijacked the tankers and were offering fuel to a crowd of villagers when the tankers were bombed.

While Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that militants had captured the two fuel tankers.

One became stuck in mud by a village, and the fighters were trying to tow it when residents gathered to take the fuel and the crowd was struck.

The incident in the northern province of Kunduz could reignite outrage against foreign troops, two months after the new commander of US and Afghan forces in the country announced measures to reduce civilian casualties, which he said were undermining the war effort.

The north of the country has experienced mounting violence in recent weeks, having previously been seen as relatively safe.

see more: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0904/afghanistan.html

Israel is not a common destination for stars on tour, so the entertainer’s fans have been looking forward to her visit.

But her Middle East stop-off has not pleased Jewish mystics who accuse her of abusing their ancient branch of Judaism.

The Material Girl is in the country for spiritual reasons, as well as performing two concerts in Tel Aviv.

Her first stop on Sunday was the Western Wall – the most holy place for Jews to pray – where her arrival attracted a media frenzy.

Madonna was born Roman Catholic, but she claims to have found enlightenment in Kabbalah, an age-old mystical form of Judaism.

The singer even assumed the Jewish name of Esther and began writing a column for Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot as a religious correspondent.

We deal with spiritual issues of the soul, whereas Madonna is dealing with issues of the body as well. Her teaching of Kabbalah is erroneous.
Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri

In it she recently described how Kabbalah had transformed her life.

“All the questions I had about life began to be answered and I realised I had finally found a ‘belief system’ or philosophy that incorporated science and spirituality,” she wrote.

“I also began to see that being rich and famous wasn’t going to bring me lasting fulfilment and that it was not the end of the journey; that it was the beginning of the journey.”

Israeli TV recently showed pictures taken back stage where the Kabbalah book – the Zohar – was displayed prominently in Madonna’s changing room.

Her brand of Kabbalah is taught by a teacher in Los Angeles and Kabbalah purists in Israel are dismissive.

For most Jews, Kabbalah is a powerful form of mysticism that should only be attempted by those over 40 – and only by men.

But those who practise abstention from material desires can become involved in Kabbalah, according to its devotees.

This is why Madonna is doubly unqualified, the mystics believe.
“Madonna is not dealing with the real practical Kabbalah,” leading Kabbalah Rabbi Yitzhak Batzri told Sky News recently.

“We deal with spiritual issues of the soul, whereas Madonna is dealing with issues of the body as well.

“Her teaching of Kabbalah is erroneous.”

see more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Madonna-Israel-Visit-Pop-Stars-Holy-Land-Visit-Upsets-Kabbalah-Worship/Article/200908415371926?lpos=Showbiz_News_Second_Media_Article_Teaser_Region_7&lid=ARTICLE_15371926_Madonna_Israel_Visit:_Pop_Stars_Holy_Land_Visit_Upsets_Kabbalah_Worship

This follows a study of drug addiction treatment trends from 2002 to 2007.

The Health Research Board report also suggests evidence of a growing heroin problem outside Dublin.

The research of heroin and cocaine treatment pinpoints the midlands, southeast and northeast as the areas facing the greatest problems.

In Dublin, the heroin problem has reached saturation point, according to experts.

The Health Research Board report claims there has been a 177% increase in cocaine addiction treatment in the five years leading up to 2007, albeit starting from a very low base.

Heroin addiction treatment cases increased by 31%.

Tony Geoghegan of Merchants Quay Ireland, a voluntary organisation providing services drug users, said the new national drugs strategy needs to reflect the changes.

Despite the huge increase in cocaine use in recent years, experts predict heroin addiction will further increase in the future as a result of economic difficulties.

see more: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0903/drugs.html

The bodies were found in a house raid in St Helens, Merseyside, last Sunday following a tip-off.

It is believed the babies, found in Harlow Close, could have been born as long ago as the mid-1980s.

Two women, aged 38 and 54, and a man aged 26 were questioned by police following the find and were bailed pending further enquiries.
Merseyside Police said forensic tests were being carried out to determine the age and sex of the children.

Detective Superintendent Steve Naylor, leading the investigation, said: “Following a call to us, we attended at an address in St Helens where human remains were discovered.

“The remains are believed to be that of newborn babies and at this stage of the inquiry it is believed they are the remains of three babies.
“The investigation has only recently commenced and a number of lines of inquiry are being explored.

“We cannot speculate as to the cause or circumstances of the deaths and any inappropriate supposition is likely to have a severe impact on the investigation and the family concerned.

“This looks like being a complex investigation, and a lot of hard work needs to be done before we can ascertain what the full circumstances are surrounding this situation.”

Neighbours said the house was occupied by a woman and her son, believed to be in his 20s, according to reports in the Liverpool Echo.

see more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Three-Arrested-Over-Probe-Into-Baby-Remains-Found-At-House-In-St-Helens-Merseyside/Article/200909115373947?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15373947_Three_Arrested_Over_Probe_Into_Baby_Remains_Found_At_House_In_St_Helens,_Merseyside

“All of a sudden, people are doing jobs that they hate and they’re not making as much money as they thought they would or they’ve lost their jobs entirely. I’ve started to see people looking more toward their own passions and what really excites them.”
Last year Portman filmed a sketch about the financial crisis for comedy website Funny or Die.

see more:http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0901/portmann.html

The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle and another injury to the arm when four masked men forced their way into the house at Glasvey Drive last night.

No-one else was injured in the incident.

“Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port [Massachusetts],” the Kennedy family said in a statement.

One of the most influential and longest-serving senators in US history – a liberal standard-bearer who was also known as a consummate congressional dealmaker – Mr Kennedy had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,” the family statement said.

“He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him,” the family added.

In May 2008, Mr Kennedy collapsed at his Cape Cod home and was flown to hospital in Boston, where he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. His illness kept him from attending the funeral of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a leading advocate of the mentally disabled, who died on August 11th at the age of 88.

His death marked the twilight of a political dynasty and dealt a blow to Democrats as they seek to answer President Barack Obama’s call for an overhaul of the health care system. Mr Kennedy had made health care reform his signature cause.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said in a statement the Kennedy family and Senate “have together lost our patriarch.”

“As we mourn his loss, we rededicate ourselves to the causes for which he so dutifully dedicated his life.”

Known as “Teddy,” he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963; Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination; and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in the second World War.

When he first took the Senate seat previously held by John Kennedy in 1962, he was seen as something of a political lightweight who owed his ascent to his famous name. Yet during his nearly half century in the chamber, Mr Kennedy became known as one of Washington’s most effective senators, crafting legislation by working with lawmakers and presidents of both parties, and finding unlikely allies.

At the same time, he held fast to liberal causes deemed anachronistic by the centrist “New Democrats,” and was a lightning rod for conservative ire. He helped enact measures to protect civil and labour rights, expand health care, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.

“There’s a lot to do,” Mr Kennedy told Reuters in 2006. “I think most of all it’s the injustice that I continue to see and the opportunity to have some impact on it.”

After Robert Kennedy’s death, his brother was expected to waste little time in vying for the presidency. But in 1969, a young woman drowned after a car Kennedy was driving plunged off a bridge on the Massachusetts resort island of Chappaquiddick after a night of partying.

The senator’s image took a major battering after it emerged he had failed to report the accident to authorities. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene and received a suspended sentence.

Mr Kennedy eventually ran for his party’s presidential nomination in 1980 but lost to then-President Jimmy Carter. His presidential ambitions thwarted, Kennedy devoted himself to his Senate career.

A 2009 survey by The Hill, a Capitol Hill publication, found that Senate Republicans believed Kennedy was the chamber’s easiest Democrat to work with and most bipartisan.

Republican Senator John McCain called him “the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results.”

In January 2008, Kennedy endorsed Mr Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Many saw the endorsement – Mr Obama went on to win the nomination and the White House – as the passing of the political torch to a new generation.

Mr Kennedy had been largely sidelined in Congress since becoming ill. The “Lion of the Senate” began to use a cane and often looked tired and drained as he mixed work with treatment. Yet colleagues and staff said he remained determined to fulfill what he called “the cause of my life,” providing health insurance to all Americans. He helped draft legislation to overhaul the $2.5 trillion US health care system.

Mr Kennedy’s interest in health care dated from his son’s bout with cancer in the 1970s. More recently, he cited his own illness as he made a case for reform.

His charisma as “the last of the Kennedy brothers” was such that draft-Teddy drives were a feature of US presidential election years from 1968 through the 1980s.

But he never fully escaped the cloud of the Chappaquiddick accident. A decades-long argument arose about whether he tried to cover up his involvement by leaving the scene while Mary Jo Kopechne’s body remained submerged and whether police helped sweep such questions under the rug. All involved denied any cover-up.

Later crises involving younger Kennedys, notably the 1991 Palm Beach rape trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, caught a bloated and weary-looking Uncle Ted in a media glare. Reports of heavy drinking and womanising led to a public apology “for the faults in the conduct of my private life.”

Mr Kennedy was remarried soon after that to Victoria Reggie, a 38-year-old lawyer with two young children from her first marriage. He poured renewed energy into the Senate, where he would become the third-longest serving senator in history.

Even his Republican foes recognised his dedication, however, as he worked to protect civil rights, give federal help to the poor, contain the spread of nuclear weapons, raise the minimum wage, expand health coverage and improve America’s schools.

Born on February 22nd, 1932, Edward Moore Kennedy was the last of four sons and five daughters born to millionaire businessman Joseph Kennedy, who would later be ambassador to Britain, and his wife Rose.

The Boston Irish family combined the competitive spirit of nouveau riche immigrants with acquired polish and natural charm. The sons were expected to mature into presidential timber and were groomed for that starting with the oldest, Joseph Jr, a bomber pilot who died in World War Two.

“I think about my brothers every day,” Mr Kennedy once told Reuters. “They set high standards. Sometimes you measure up, sometimes you don’t.” Like his brothers, Mr Kennedy was known for his oratory, delivered in a booming voice at rallies, congressional hearings and in the Senate.

He drew praise from liberals, labour and civil rights groups and scorn from conservatives, big business and anti-abortion and pro-gun activists. His image was often used by Republicans in ads as a money-raising tool.

Tragedies dogged Mr Kennedy throughout his life. They included a 1964 plane crash that damaged his spine and left him with persistent pain; bone cancer that cost son Teddy a leg; first wife Joan’s battles with alcoholism that contributed to their divorce, and drug problems involving nephews, one of whom died of an overdose. His nephew, John Kennedy Jr., died in July 1999 when his small plane crashed into the ocean near Cape Cod.
see more: http://www.irishtimes.com/

In a composed, powerful and passionate eulogy at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, Bray, Co Wicklow, with her surviving son, Dylan, standing supportively behind her, Ms Creane explained how she had tried to rationalise “this incomprehensible act which took place in our home . . . this tragic incident which caused mayhem in all our lives and robbed D [Dylan] of a younger brother he was so proud of”.

Dylan, Sebastian and their friends Jennifer Hannigan and Laura Mackey had “faced a presence of demonic proportions that manifested through Shane Clancy”. Two boys died that morning when Clancy stabbed Sebastian to death and left Dylan and Jennifer – Clancy’s former girlfriend – severely wounded before taking his own life.

She noted the similarities between them. They were both 22; both had the same initials; both were entering their final year in college and looked set, even in these recessionary times, to have fruitful careers. “So many similarities. Yet on the morning of August 16th, my God of Small Things said to me, one boy represented the light, the other the darkness, as they both played their parts in the unfolding of God’s divine plan. And as a result, we – my beloved J [her husband James] and I – and all of you are faced with a choice. Do we continue in darkness, seeing only fear, anger, bitterness, resentment, blaming, bemoaning our loss, always looking backwards, blaming, blaming, blaming,” she asked passionately, “or are we ready to transmute this negativity? We can rise to the challenge with unconditional love, knowing that we were born on to this earth to grow.”

She also called on those present to support Jennifer Hannigan, asking them first to fill their hearts with memories of a happy moment in their lives and then to “bring your attention to Jen”. “She blames herself. Bathe her heart in that happiness and then forgive yourselves. The light that shone in Seb shines in you also, in its own special way. Let it shine and be at peace.”

Sebastian Creane was later taken to Leigue Cemetery in Ballina, Co Mayo, for burial after a service in St Muredach’s Cathedral on the banks of the River Moy.