President Obama welcomes Miami to the White House
President Barack Obama welcomed the Heat to the White House to celebrate their 2012 NBA championship on Monday.
LeBron James, the regular-season and Finals MVP last season, delivered a basketball autographed by the team to Obama, who encouraged him to give a brief speech by saying, “It’s your world, man.”
James started by thanking the president before veering a little off-the-cuff to express his excitement.
“I mean, on behalf of myself and my teammates we want to thank you for the hospitality, for allowing us to be in the White House,” James said. “I mean, we’re in the White House! I mean, Prez said that it’s real casual, so: We’re kids from Chicago, Dallas, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, Miami, and we’re in the White House right now! Mama, I made it!”
The comments followed a short speech from Obama, who singled out most of the Heat’s roster one-by-one. He called James’ play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics “one of the greatest performances in basketball playoff history,” noting that James “had a scary look in his eye” as he scored 45 points.
Obama then turned his attention to the other two members of the Big Three.
“We saw Dwyane Wade, the heart and soul of this team, doing whatever it takes to win, including leading the team in blocks,” Obama said. “In the postgame press conferences, he dressed well enough to land himself in GQ Magazine. … We saw Chris Bosh get injured and get healthy right at the perfect time, do outstanding work throughout the rest of the playoffs.”
The president had quips prepared for a number of the Heat’s role players. He joked that Mike Miller “could barely walk” and that he “looked broke down” and “like an old man” before he hit seven three-pointers in Game 5 of the Finals against the Thunder. He noted that the Mario Chalmers “earned himself a nickname from Dwyane Wade that I’m not allowed to repeat” and referred to Juwan Howard as “grandpa.”
Obama, a noted basketball junkie, concluded his remarks with a word of congratulations and a sly reference to his own rooting interests.
“That team mentality is what finally put the Heat over the top,” he said. “It’s especially impressive when you think about everything they’ve had to deal with over the last few years. This team inspired a lot of passion on both sides. … Even though I’m a little disappointed that the Bulls didn’t make it, I do want to congratulate the Heat on a championship.”
Wade presented Obama with a Heat jersey bearing his name and the No. 44.
Tiger Woods wraps up California win for 75th PGA Tour title
Tiger Woods survived a sloppy back nine to win California's fog-delayed Farmers Insurance Open by four shots - his 75th victory on the PGA Tour.
Resuming six clear of the field with 11 holes of his final round remaining, the American was never in any real danger.
The 37-year-old's eighth triumph at Torrey Pines equals the PGA record for the number of wins at a single courseWoods's compatriots Brandt Snedeker and Josh Teater tied for second place, four shots behind Woods at 10 under par.
Woods had got his final round off to an excellent start on Sunday, carding birdies at the third, fourth and sixth holes, and resumed on Monday in solid fashion, reaching the turn in 33.
A birdie followed at the 13th as he calmly two-putted from 52 feet, but having earlier dug himself out of trouble a couple of times after some wayward play from the tee, he bogeyed 14 and double-bogeyed 15 to reduce his lead from eight shots to five.
Another bogey on 17 will have irked Woods, and taken the gloss off an otherwise highly satisfactory week's work for the 14-time Major winner at the scene of his 2008 US Open triumph.
He finished his level-par round of 72 with a routine par.
"It got a little ugly towards the end," he admitted. "I just lost my patience and concentration a little bit."
Woods has now won three PGA Tour events seven times - the Farmers Insurance Open follows the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Defending champion Snedeker dropped one shot in the five holes he had to complete on Monday, signing off with a 69 - the same three-under par final-round score as Teater.
Cango & Mali 1-1
Mali came from behind against DR Congo to earn a point and progress to the Africa Cup of Nations last eight.
Leopards playmaker Dieumerci Mbokani opened the scoring from the penalty spot after just three minutes.
Mali levelled 11 minutes later as Mahamadou Samassa tapped home from Adama Tamboura's neat pull-back.
Claude LeRoy's side chased a winner but were unable to find a way through the solid Malian defence, as the Eagles joined Ghana in the quarter-finals .
It marks the Malians' second successive progression to the knockout stage, as they seek to better last year's third-place finish in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
It was DR Congo, however, who burst out of the blocks in Durban, chasing a win to progressStriker Lomana LuaLua broke into the box and drove against the post from his team's first attack. Congolese forward Yves Diba followed up by darting into the area, before being tripped by Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko and winning an early penalty.
Mbokani coolly stepped up and fired the spot-kick high into the top right-hand corner past the diving Mamadou Samassa.
Sissoko responded with a snatched shot from the edge of the area, which was gathered by Robert Kidiaba in the Congolese goal.
The Malians managed to find their rhythm after the early shock and they were level on 14 minutes, after good work from Adama Tamboura, who forced his way through the Congolese defence on the left and squared for striker Samassa to finish from six yards.
The Eagles began to increase their hold on possession, with Seydou Keita delivering several threatening balls in the box, but his team-mates were unable to get on the end of them.
Youssouf Mulumbu attempted to restrict Keita's influence by grabbing hold of the Mali captain, earning the West Bromwich Albion midfielder a booking.
Keita then returned the favour, as he rugby tackled the DR Congo midfielder and was handed a yellow cardThe former Barcelona man delivered an inch-perfect ball for Modibo Maiga, who should have done much better from close range, but headed wide.
LeRoy made an attacking change at the break, as he chased another goal to put his side back into contention, bringing on Tresor Mputu Mabi for LuaLua.
The TP Mazembe man managed to increase his team's threat, as they played the ball around the Malian half well, attempting to create an opening.
Mali comfortably soaked up the pressure, knowing a draw would take them through, with midfielders Samba Diakite, Keita and Sissoko all providing good cover for their deep-lying defence.
Diakite and Sow ventured forward in an attempt to breach the Congolese defence, but were well cut out.
Kidiaba was almost caught napping, as he managed to spill Mahamadou Samassa's speculative effort, only to gratefully see it creep around his post.
Mulumbu forced a fingertip save from Kidiaba's opposite number at the other end, whipping in a curling shot, which Mamadou Samassa just tipped around his upright.
The Eagles then almost grabbed a winner, with substitute Kalilou Traore heading against the outside of the post from a Keita cross and his fellow replacement Cheick Diabate also hitting the woodwork, after rounding Kidiaba.
The Congolese had yet another penalty appeal turned down by the referee with five minutes left, as Mbokani went down after what looked a good challenge from Coulibaly.
Keita almost got a well-deserved winner at the death, but Kidiaba saved well, as the Malians got the draw necessary to earn them a last eight meeting with hosts South Africa.
Mali coach Patrice Carteron:
"It was emotionally difficult knowing what was happening in the [Ghana] game and knowing we needed just a point.
"We need to keep up our intensity."
DR Congo coach Claude LeRoy:
"We mastered the game but we didn't create enough chances. I want to congratulate Mali. I know that this win means a lot for the people of Mali.
Mario Balotelli: AC Milan and Juventus in Manchester City talks
Manchester City have held talks with AC Milan and Juventus about the sale of striker Mario Balotelli, but will only let him go if the Serie A clubs meet their valuation.
City value the Italian, 22, at around 24m euros (£21m) including add-ons.
Balotelli is not actively up for sale and City will not subsidise any of his salary should he leave the club.
Contrary to reports, Balotelli is with the squad that travelled to London for Tuesday's meeting with QPR.
Milan initiated talks with City over the Italy striker, and Juve subsequently made contact with the Premier League club to discuss buying Balotelli, who arrived in Manchester from Inter Milan in August 2010 for a fee in the region of £24mEarlier on Monday, City assistant manager David Platt had said Balotelli would not be moving to AC Milan this month.
"I don't think anything is going to happen," said Platt of a proposed January move.
"It's a shame the manager's not here. He might know more than me but as far as we are concerned I think he is still a Manchester City player.
And City manager Roberto Mancini had also insisted on Friday that the Italian, regularly linked with a return to Italy since he arrived in England in 2010, would not leave the club.
"It is not true. Mario stays. We didn't have any requests about Mario or other players," said Mancini.
The Italian also said it would be "difficult" to buy new players with so little time left in the transfer window.
Greek finance minister eyes 2014 recovery for economy
Greece's finance minister believes that the worst is over for his country.
"There is definitely a glimmer of hope; light at the end of the tunnel," Yannis Stournaras said.
As reforms were rushed through and a massive austerity package passed late last year, Greece secured a huge slice of bailout money from its international creditors.
"The probability of Greece leaving the euro - Grexit - is now very small", he told the BBC.
"We have managed to turn the economy around. From the markets, there's much more optimism. Deposits are coming back to banks, the government is paying its arrears to the private sector and there is a change in how Europe sees us. So all the leading indicators are positive. We are two-thirds of the way towards our target. So people can have hope."
But few here do. Unemployment is now Europe's highest at 26.8%. Homelessness and poverty have soared. And the recession, the worst of any country in modern history, is in its sixth straight year.
However, the finance minister said that he thinks the bad times are coming to an end.
"Towards the last quarter of 2013, we are going to have recovery," he said.
He is adamant that growth will come next year, even if the economy contracts in 2013 by an estimated 4.5%.
"I feel sure, 100% certain that this will be the last year of Greece's recession."
Debt write-off
Greece has the unenviable task of reducing its debt down to a sustainable level.
It currently stands at around 180% of GDP this year, the target is 124% of GDP by 2020, but the IMF has recently said Athens won't achieve it without another helping hand. So is Mr Stournaras, I asked, pushing for debt forgiveness from EU countries?
"I would welcome a reduction of the level of debt - but there are many ways to achieve that", he said, diplomatically, "but it should happen in a way that minimises the loss to other parties."
But while Greece is tired of austerity, northern Europe is tired of bailing out Greece.
German taxpayers feel they have shouldered the burden and so any further debt restructuring may be delayed by domestic European politics, at least until the Bundestag elections in September. But Mr Stournaras was confident that it will come.
And what of more crippling spending cuts?
"If we implement this year's reform programme, there will be no more austerity packages", the Finance Minister told me, "No more cuts to wages, benefits and pensions."
It's a promise Greeks have heard before, and many here don't believe it'll be kept.
As a stark reminder of how angry the Greek people have felt about austerity measures they have had forced upon them, there is a bullet hole in one of the minister's windows.
The gun was shot from the ground during one of the most violent anti-austerity protests in recent months. A clear target up to the hated Ministry of Finance.
Yannis Stournaras has decided to keep the glass in its half-shattered state, as a monument to what he hopes was the lowest point in Greece's financial crisis.
But the minister had critical words about the austerity-driven approach forced on his country.
"Greece was forced to cut too far, too fast", he explained. "In hindsight, we should have placed more emphasis on structural reform and privatisations at the start. But we can't go back. There's no point crying over spilt milk. The eurozone was not prepared for the crisis."
A criticism often levelled at the much-despised political class here is that it is utterly divorced from the pain caused by austerity but the minister said that he understands very well.
"From my friends, my mother, my family, people I talk to. But I'm convinced there was no other way. Without this bailout money, Greece would be outside the eurozone. And that would spell disaster."
Grexit to Brexit
Many began 2012 predicting "Grexit" and yet we are starting 2013 with talk of "Brexit" - Britain's potential departure from the European Union, following Prime Minister David Cameron's speech last week.
"It would be a grave mistake for Britain to leave the EU", said the minister.
"Britain belongs to Europe politically, financially and from a cultural point of view."
So would Greece accept Britain renegotiating the terms of its EU membership?
"No", he said, "that would open a Pandora's Box. Everybody would like to do the same. So that would spell the end of the European Union."
Six months after taking the job, Yannis Stournaras seemed relaxed and positive. Vast challenges remain, social unrest is flaring once again and there will be enormous resistance once the spending cuts start to bite.
But he's convinced this exhausted country will make it.
"Now that Greece has turned a corner, I'm actually enjoying the job" he smiled, looking out towards parliament through a bullet-scarred window.
--BBC
Google expands North Korea map coverage
Google has published mapping information on North Korea, a country that has so far been mostly blank on the popular website Google Maps.
The data was compiled on Google's Map Maker tool which allows ordinary people to contribute information mainly using satellite images or local knowledge.
Map data is not widely available for the reclusive nation.
Launched in 2008, Map Maker data has been migrated to Google Maps for many countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This effort has been active in Map Maker for a few years and today the new map of North Korea is ready and now available on Google Maps," said Jayanth Mysore, senior product manager at Google Map Maker.
"As a result, the world can access maps of North Korea that offer much more information and detail than before."
The move comes after a private humanitarian visit to North Korea by Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt.
Scant information
In the case of North Korea, satellite images, not local knowledge, were the main source of data. North Koreans cannot access Google.
Goole said a large number of South Koreans contributed information to create usable maps for the North.
"While many people around the globe are fascinated with North Korea, these maps are especially important for the citizens of South Korea who have ancestral connections or still have family living there," said Mr Mysore.
However, at least one contributor is from Australia, and doesn't speak Korean.
"I wanted to go to North Korea and because it was not yet mapped I decided to start mapping so I could at least see how easy it would be to travel within the country," Sebastiaan van Oyen who works as a risk manager for a financial trading firm in Sydney told the BBC.
Mr van Oyen explained that he used satellite images to get his data saying they "are good enough to cover the whole country, although the quality and date of the data varies".
"For a basic map you will be fine, but it will take time to get reliable street level navigation."
However, he said that the the biggest obstacle towards creating a more detailed map was to get enough local knowledge to name all the features.
"Keep in the back of your mind that there are restricted areas and not much (readily available) local knowledge outside of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)."
--BBC
Yahoo sees rise in quarterly revenues under new boss
Yahoo has reported fourth quarter revenues of $1.35bn (£860m) in the fourth quarter, up nearly 2% on the same time a year before.
A one-off accounting charge meant fourth-quarter net income was $272.3m, down by 8% compared to $295.6m in the same period 12 months earlier.
In after-the-bell trading in New York shares in the company gained 4.5%.
About 700 million web surfers visit its website every month, ranking it among the top in the global industry.
However, it shed more than 1,000 jobs during 2012, and has long been divided over whether it should focus on media content or on tools and technologies.
Chief executive Marissa Mayer was brought in last July from Google to turn the company round, and the latest financial figures are the first full quarter's under her leadership.
Ms Mayer has been focusing on building better mobile and social networking services.
She said that during the quarter Yahoo made progress "by growing our executive team, signing key partnerships including those with NBC Sports and CBS Television and launching terrific mobile experiences for Yahoo Mail and Flickr".
Japan eases restrictions on US beef imports
Japan has opened the door for increased imports of beef from the US, as it eased restrictions that have been in place for almost a decade.
It will now allow the import of beef from cattle up to 30 months old.
Japan banned US beef imports in 2003 after the outbreak of mad cow disease. It restarted imports in 2006, but only from cattle less than 20 months of age.
US officials said the move was likely to boost US beef exports to Japan by "hundreds of millions" of dollars.
Ron Kirk, the US trade representative said the decision by Japan was "great news for American ranchers and beef companies".
Japan has also eased restrictions on beef imports from Canada, France and the Netherlands.
The new rules will take effect from 1 FebruaryBefore the ban in 2003, Japan was one of the biggest markets for US beef exports.
However, the ban resulted in other beef exporting countries such as Australia increasing their presence in Japan.
Since the lifting of the ban in 2006, US firms have been trying to regain their share of the Japanese market.
They have achieved some success and US exports to Japan have been rising. However, shipments are yet to reach the levels seen before 2003.
"This move is an important step forward in paving the way toward greater export opportunities to one of our largest export markets," said J D Alexander, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
However, some analysts were sceptical about whether the easing of restrictions would have an immediate impact on US beef exports.
"Australia is not just going to give up the market share they've gained," said Lee Schulz, a livestock economist at Iowa State University.
Burma gets Asian Development Bank and World Bank loans
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have approved fresh loans for Burma to aid the social and economic development of the country.
The ADB granted $512m (£325m), while the World Bank approved a $440m credit.
The loans were made possible after Burma cleared overdue arrears to the two banks with the aid of Japan.
Burma, also known as Myanmar, has been implementing economic and political reforms, resulting in various sanctions against it being lifted.
"Myanmar has come a long way in its economic transformation, undertaking unprecedented reforms to improve people's lives, especially the poor and vulnerable," said Annette Dixon, country director for Myanmar at the World Bank.
"Much work remains to be done. We are committed to helping the government accelerate poverty reduction and build shared prosperity.
"The Bank's engagement, together with the ADB, the Government of Japan and other partners, will help attract investment, spur growth and create jobs," Ms Dixon added.
'Tipping point'
Burma, one of the poorest countries in Asia, has been hurt by decades of international isolation in wake of the sanctions imposed against itHowever, it has huge growth potential, not least because its rich in resources such as natural gas reserves.
At the same time, it has a big agricultural potential as well as the availability of low-cost labour.
The World Bank expects Burma's economy to expand by 6.3% in the financial year 2012-13, up from 5.5% in the previous 12 months.
However, many analysts have said that for the country to be able to translate that potential into actual growth it needs increased investment in key sectors.
Stephen Groff, vice president of ADB said the bank's loan will help Burma lay the foundation for sustainable growth "which will ultimately lead to major investments in road, energy, irrigation and education projects, as well as investments in other sectors".
"This is a historic tipping point for Myanmar," he said.
The bank added that its aid will also help the country "develop a strategy to make banking services more widely available".
The ADB's loan to Burma is the first such credit it has approved in almost 30 years.
Last year, the World Bank started lending to Burma after a gap of 25 years.
Further aid
In a further boost to Burma, the Paris Club of creditor nations has agreed cancel almost half of its debts to member countriesIt has also agreed to reschedule the payment of the remaining loan over a period of 15 years.
According to a press release on the state-run New Light of Myanmar, Norway, which is a member of the club, has cancelled all of its claims amounting to $534m.
Meanwhile, another member Japan has committed to a cancellation of its arrears worth over $3bn.
The release said that the overall agreement with the club "results in a very favourable debt relief of nearly $6bn or over 60% of total debt immediately in effect."
"Meanwhile, other bilateral donors are expected to follow suit and more debt cancellation is coming on the way in the next six months," it added.
The Paris Club is an informal group of creditors that helps countries, especially poor nations, restructure or reduce their debt.
According to its website, it has 19 permanent members including the US, UK and Australia.
Australia battles floods in two states
Australia is battling flooding in two states, as rescue teams worked to evacuate people from inundated areas.
In Queensland, more than 1,000 people were plucked to safety in the city of Bundaberg as the Burnett River burst its banks, flooding 2,000 homes.
In New South Wales, there are concerns that the Clarence River, at a record high, could flood the city of Grafton.
Tropical Cyclone Oswald, which triggered the flooding, is now heading out to sea south of Sydney.
Four people are now known to have died in the severe weather, after a toddler who was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane died on Monday.
It comes two years after severe flooding in southern Queensland, including in state capital Brisbane, that left 35 people dead and tens of thousands of homes floodedIn Bundaberg, the Burnett River was at 9.475m and rising slowly, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement, with a peak up to 9.6m expected later in the day - more than 1.5m above the December 2010 flood level.
"Those flood levels will be one of the highest levels recorded for the whole of the Bundaberg and Burnett region," said Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey.
"We are asking people, the main priorities at the moment on the ground is life and we really do implore people to go to the highest points, listen to the emergency service workers and their directions."
Some 7,500 people are reported to have been displaced across the city, with more than 1,500 in evacuation centres.
Helicopter teams have picked up more than 1,000 people stranded by flood waters amid fears houses could be washed away.
Two air force transport planes are evacuating patients from the local hospital and Prime Minister Julia Gillard said 100 military personnel were being sent to help out.
In Brisbane, low-lying parts of the central business district were flooded but the impact on residential areas was less than expected, ABC News said.
In New South Wales, parts of which saw torrential rain on Monday as the cyclone moved south, 2,500 people were told to evacuate in the city of Grafton, where levees were threatened by rising water.
"We are in a dangerous situation that requires a timely response and I think the best thing to do is to evacuate," said local Mayor Richie Williamson.