Super Bowl: Baltimore Ravens beat San Francisco 49ers in thriller
Jacoby Jones scored two of the most spectacular touchdowns in Super Bowl history as Baltimore Ravens edged San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in a thriller.
First Jones, playing in his native New Orleans, caught a long Joe Flacco pass before running into the endzone.
Then, after Beyonce's stunning half-time show, Jones returned the kick-off 108 yards in barely 11 seconds for the longest ever Super Bowl play.
After a long delay due to a power cut, the 49ers hit back but fell just short.
The Ravens led 28-6 early in the third quarter, riding the momentum of a 108-yard Jacoby Jones kickoff return for a score before the Superdome lost power, casting the field in darkness, shutting off the air conditioning and delaying the game for more than half an hour before order was restored.
While the impact wasn’t immediately felt, the 49ers soon found their rhythm on both sides of the ball.San Francisco quickly rallied with three scores in 4:10 – a 31-yard Michael Crabtree reception, a 6-yard Frank Gore run and a 34-yard David Akers field goal. After Baltimore answered with a field goal, San Francisco scored again on Kaepernick's 15-yard sprint. After a failed two-point conversion, Baltimore clung to a 31-29 lead.
Flacco, who finished 22-of-33 for 287 yards and three touchdowns, led the Ravens on a time consuming field-goal drive, allowing a gassed defense a bit of rest and a five-point cushion. Along with the Lombardi Trophy, he will take home MVP honors.
Kaepernick responded only to stall out on downs inside the Ravens' 5-yard line, the vaunted Baltimore defense making red zone yards so difficult to attain.
In the end, it may not have been pretty, but it was enough. And since when has Baltimore football been about beauty?
The victory gave Harbaugh a victory over his younger brother Jim in the first Super Bowl featuring brothers as opposing coaches. In the postgame handshake, John Harbaugh told his sibling that he loved him. Jim's reply was "congratulations."
Sympathy for the younger Harbaugh was evident. "It's very tough," John Harbaugh said. "It's a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. It's very painful."
Lewis walks off into retirement a winner, earning his second Super Bowl championship. He stayed true to his faithful form when the Lombardi Trophy was presented to the team.
"When God is for you, who can be against you?" Lewis asked.
French jets bomb northern Mali
French warplanes have carried out air strikes in Mali's far north as they try to secure the final rebel stronghold of Kidal after a three-week offensive.
Thirty jets targeted Islamist militants' training and communication centres around Tessalit - a mountainous area near the Algerian border.
French President Francois Hollande has pledged to help rebuild Mali after the rebels who seized its north are beaten.
But there are fears the fighters could re-group in the mountains near Kidal.
It is believed that several French civilian hostages are being held by militants in the area, making the situation even more delicate.
Although French troops captured Kidal's airport on Wednesday, rebels from a Tuareg group who want their own homeland in northern Mali - the MNLA - still have control of the town itself.
Malian Interim President Dioncounda Traore has offered to hold talks with the MNLA in order to help secure Kidal.At the same time, French-led forces will begin chasing down Islamist militants who have retreated to desert or to mountainous hide-outs, adds our correspondent.
Reports have also emerged that a senior figure in the main militant Islamist movement - Ansar Dine - has been captured near the Algerian border by a rival separatist group.
Malian security sources quoted by AFP news agency named the man as Mohamed Moussa Ag Mouhamed, third in command of the group. The report cannot be verified.
Speaking in Bamako on Saturday, Mr Hollande pledged more French aid to its former colony and vowed to restore cultural sites damaged by the rebels.
Mr Hollande received a warm welcome on Saturday as he visited the northern desert city of Timbuktu, which was recaptured by French and Malian troops a week ago.
A total of 3,500 French troops are currently in Mali.
Nearly 2,000 army personnel from Chad and Niger are already helping consolidate the recent gains. A further 6,000 troops will be deployed as part of the UN-backed African-led International Support Mission to Mali (Afisma).
Despite the rapid progress of French forces in recapturing parts of the north, it may be premature to talk of mission accomplished, analysts say.
It is thought the mountainous areas around Kidal provide perfect hiding places for the militants.
On Saturday Mr Hollande said it would be wrong to assume the operation was over while Mr Traore said it would be difficult to completely rid the country of Islamists.
Obama Calls for Balanced Approach on the Economy
U.S. President Barack Obama has called on lawmakers to work together on a balanced approach to reduce the deficit and promote economic growth.
The president said in his weekly address Saturday it is "critical to cut spending." He said, however, "we can't just cut our way to prosperity."
Obama urged Congress to make investments in education, infrastructure, and in research and development - things he said that would help America "compete for the best jobs and new industries."President Obama said everyone in Washington needs to "focus not on politics, but on what's right for the country."
In the Republican address, Representative Susan Brooks of Indiana said Democrats must get serious about the nation's spending problems. She called on Senate Democrats to pass a budget.
Plane crash off Venezuela; 1 killed
A small plane crashed into the sea off Venezuela's coast on Saturday, leaving one person dead and five survivors who were rescued and brought to shore.
The twin-engine Beechcraft BE-58 went down east of the coastal city of Cumana in the Gulf of Cariaco, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said. He said the pilot had declared an emergency due to the failure of both engines and put the plane down in the water.
After the crash, rescue workers and fishermen helped the survivors to shore, Reverol said on state television.
A 62-year-old woman died in the accident, the country's civil aviation agency said in a statement.
The five survivors, including a boy and the pilot, were brought ashore in boats and treated at a hospital, said Gen. Francisco Paz Fleitas, president of the National Civil Aviation Institute.
The plane had been flying from Puerto Ordaz to Venezuela's Margarita Island when it went down.
Beyonce delivers at Super Bowl show
Beyonce sang like she had something to prove at the Super Bowl, balancing out the testosterone levels on the football field with a dance-heavy performance that featured her Destiny's Child band mates and an all-female band.
She emerged onstage singing some of "Love on Top," transitioning to her hit "Crazy In Love" in an all-black ensemble, which matched the dark stage. She ripped off part of her shirt and skirt as she danced hard with background dancers doing the same.
She sang live - and sounded good. Days after admitting to singing to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration, she proved herself to any doubters and added a few off-script remarks as if to show her microphone was on.
Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of the 13-minute performance. She was especially top-notch during "End of Time" and "Baby Boy."
She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of herself dancing. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny's Child band mates.
Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing "Bootylicious." They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang "Independent Woman," as their voices faded into the background.
They also joined in for some of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," where Beyonce's voice grew stronger.
She asked the crowd to put their hands toward her she belted the slow groove "Halo" on bended knee - and that's when she the performance hit its high note.
Before the game, Alicia Keys performed a lounge-y, piano-tinged version of the national anthem that her publicist assured was live. The Grammy-winning singer played the piano as she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in a long red dress with her eyes shut.
She followed Jennifer Hudson, who performed "America the Beautiful" with the 26-member Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus, a performance that had some players on the sideline on the verge of tears.
The students wore green ribbons on their shirts in honor of the 20 first-graders and six adults who were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage at the school in Newton, Conn.
The students began the song softly before Hudson, whose mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were shot to death five years ago, jumped in with her gospel-flavored vocals. She stood still in black and white as the students moved to the left and right, singing background.
Google boss Schmidt labels China an 'IT menace'
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt uses a new book to call China an Internet menace that backs cyber-crime for economic and political gain, reports say.
The New Digital Age - due for release in April - reportedly brands China "the world's most active and enthusiastic filterer of information".
China is "the most sophisticated and prolific" hacker of foreign companies, according to a review obtained by the Wall Street Journal(WSJ).
China denies allegations of hacking.
Revolution coming?
Beijing has been accused by several governments, foreign companies and organisations of carrying out extensive cyber espionage for many years, seeking to gather information and to control China's imageThe New Digital Age analyses how China is dangerously exploiting an Internet that now permeates politics, business, culture and other aspects of life, the WSJ says.
It quotes the book as saying: "The disparity between American and Chinese firms and their tactics will put both the government and the companies of the United States at a distinct disadvantage."
This, it says, is because Washington "will not take the same path of digital corporate espionage, as its laws are much stricter (and better enforced) and because illicit competition violates the American sense of fair play".
The book argues that Western governments could do more to follow China's lead and develop stronger relationships between the state and technology companies.
States will benefit if they use software and technology made by trusted companies, it suggests.
"Where Huawei gains market share, the influence and reach of China grow as well," the WSJ quoted the authors as writing.
The WSJ this week said its computer systems had been hacked by specialists in China who were trying to monitor its China coverage.
It was the second reported attack on a major US news outlet in days, as the New York Times reported earlier that Chinese hackers had "persistently" penetrated its systems for the last four months.
China's foreign ministry dismissed the New York Times' accusations as "groundless" and "totally irresponsible".
Pound sees biggest one-day fall against euro since 2010
The pound has continued to weaken against the euro, seeing its biggest one-day fall in almost three years, on continuing signs that the worst may be over for the eurozone economy.
At one point on Friday, sterling fell 1.8% against the single currency from a day earlier, the largest percentage fall recorded since May 2010.
This meant one pound was worth 1.1473 euros, the lowest since October 2011.
The pound has also been weakened by fears about the UK's AAA credit rating.
This follows after credit rating agency Fitch warned last month that the UK could lose the top rating if the government does not reduce its sovereign debt.
Continuing concerns about the UK economy, which contracted by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2012, have also hit sterling.
Eurozone improvements
At the same time, the eurozone economy is showing more signs of slow recovery, helping to boost confidence in the euro.
Data on Friday showed that while contraction in the eurozone's manufacturing sector had continued in January, the rate of decline had slowed.
In later Friday exchanges, the pound recovered some ground against the euro to stand at 1.15000 euros, 1.5% lower than a day earlier.
The euro also rose strongly against the dollar, hitting a 14-month high, and a 33-month peak against Japan's yen.
Iraq violence: Suicide attack on Kirkuk police HQ
A suicide bomber and gunmen have attacked a police headquarters in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.
Unconfirmed reports say 30 people have been killed and 70 injured.
A city official told AFP news agency that militants had tried to seize the compound but were unsuccessful.
No group has said it carried out the attack. Kirkuk is ethnically mixed, and at the centre of a dispute between the Iraqi government and Kurds over oil and land rights.
--BBC
Barclays bank chief Antony Jenkins to waive bonus
The chief executive of Barclays bank, Antony Jenkins, is to waive his bonus for last year.
He said it would be wrong for him to receive a bonus, given what had been a "difficult" year for Barclays.
It is thought Mr Jenkins was in line to receive about £1m of a potential maximum entitlement of £2.75m.
Mr Jenkins took over as chief executive last August, just as Barclays was being rocked over mis-selling scandals and other issues.
He said in a statement: "To avoid further unnecessary public debate on this matter, I wish to make clear that I concluded early this week that I do not wish to be considered for a bonus award for 2012 and I have communicated that decision to the board.
"The year just past was clearly a very difficult one for Barclays and its stakeholders, with multiple issues of our own making besetting the bankI think it only right that I bear an appropriate degree of accountability for those matters and I have concluded that it would be wrong for me to receive a bonus for 2012 given those circumstances."
Mr Jenkins' total potential pay package, including pension, basic salary, and incentives, was £8.6m.
Banks are currently reviewing the size of bonuses for senior staff, and there were reports this week that Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 82% owned by the government, will set aside £250m for payments. Last year, RBS's chief executive, Stephen Hester, waived his bonus for 2011 and in June said he would not take a bonus for 2012.
Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC chief economics correspondent, Hugh Pym, that he welcomed Mr Jenkins' announcement.
Mr Osborne said: "All the banks need to understand it is a very difficult economic environment out there, that they have to be very sensible about their pay this year given that."
Commenting on the bonus situation for senior employees at RBS, the chancellor added: "Stephen Hester, the chief executive of RBS, has already decided not to take his bonus.
"I think RBS need to pay attention to the times we live in, and I'm confident they will."
Sign up, or resign
Barclays hit trouble last June, when it was fined £290m by British and US regulators for attempted manipulation of Libor and Euribor interbank rates between 2005 and 2009.
The scandal sparked the resignations of three Barclays senior board members, including ex-chief executive Bob Diamond. He was replaced by Mr Jenkins, who was formerly head of retail and business banking.
Barclays has also set aside £2bn to compensate customers for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance.
On Friday, Barclays faced new claims that UK financial regulators were investigating the bank over money received from Qatar.
The Financial Times alleged that Barclays lent Qatar money to invest in the bank in 2008. Barclays was not immediately available for comment.
Last month, Mr Jenkins ordered all Barclays staff to sign up to a new ethical code of conduct or quit.
Eurozone manufacturing 'on course' for return to growth
The contraction of manufacturing across the eurozone slowed in January amid signs that the worst may be over, according to a survey.
The Markit Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 47.9, from 46.1 in December.
The index has been below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction since August 2011.
But Markit's chief economist Chris Williamson said the January data pointed to the eurozone returning to growth in mid-2013.
In Germany, the PMI figure rose to 49.8 in January from 46.0 the previous month, coming in just below the 50 threshold. Although it was the 11th straight month of decline, it was easily the slowest rate of contraction in that time.
"The improvement was led by Germany, which saw the strongest gain in output of all eurozone states, but rising exports are also helping to revive the manufacturing sectors of other countries, most notably Spain and Italy," Mr Williamson said.
While the industrial sector looks likely to have acted as a drag on the eurozone economy in the final quarter of last year, deepening the double-dip downturn, the PMI provides hope that the first quarter could mark the start of a turnaround.
"Providing there are no further setbacks to the region's debt crisis, these data add to the expectation that the euro zone is on course to return to growth by mid-2013," he said.
In Spain, the index rose from 44.6 in December to 46.1 last month. In Italy the index rose for the second month to 47.8 in January from 46.7 last month.
Eurozone unemployment
However, in France the downturn deepened, with the manufacturing PMI for the bloc's second-largest economy sinking to a four-month low of 42.9.
"Confidence [in France] seems to have evaporated in the face of an increasingly uncertain economic environment, leading manufacturers to make sharper cuts to employment, purchasing and input stocks," said Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Markit.
Despite the better manufacturing news for the eurozone as a whole, the bloc's continuing problems were underlined in the latest unemployment figures for December.
Unemployment in the region remained at a euro-era high of 11.7%, according to figures from the European Commission's statistics agency, Eurostat.
Although the figure was slightly lower than the 11.9% forecast by many economists, it was still higher than the Commission's year-end 11.3% prediction.
Slow growth
Separate PMI data from China indicated that the country's manufacturing sector was continuing to grow, albeit slowly.
China's PMI, which surveys big firms, fell to 50.4 in January from 50.6 in December.
In the UK, activity in the manufacturing sector edged higher in January despite falling export orders.
The PMI measure fell slightly to 50.8 from 51.2 in December.