Serbia hopes Kosovo border deal will help EU bid (AP)

BRUSSELS ? A key new agreement on disputed border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo will help quiet objections to Serbia's candidacy for European Union membership, the country's chief negotiator said Saturday.

The accord struck on Friday creates joint border crossing controls in northern Kosovo to be shared by Serb and Kosovo authorities. For months, Kosovo's minority Serbs have blocked roads and battled with authorities in the tense region to reject attempts by the Kosovo government to impose its authority.

The EU is divided on on whether to grant Serbia the status of candidate for membership, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that recent clashes at the border between Serb nationalists and NATO peacekeepers in which 50 troops were injured showed that Serbia had not yet fulfilled the proper conditions.

The latest deal could significantly ease tensions by establishing joint border control posts comprising Serb, Kosovar and EU police and customs officials.

Serb negotiator Borko Stefanovic said the agreement was the thorniest issue in talks between Kosovo and Serbia, which has refused to accept its former province's 2008 declaration of independence.

"Serbia's position has been strengthened because it demonstrated its readiness to engage in dialogue and resolve the most difficult questions before us," he said.

Government leaders are scheduled to discuss the expansion of the 27-member EU at their forthcoming summit on Thursday and Friday.

EU officials say it is not necessary for Serbia to recognize Kosovo in order to advance its application for membership in the bloc, but the EU insists that technical talks on practical issues will ease tensions between the two rival states.

While symbolically important, formal candidacy is just a step toward tough negotiations on accession, which normally last five or more years.

"After this latest accord (on border crossings) it will be much more difficult for anyone to argue that Serbia has been uncooperative on the road to the European Union," Stefanovic said.

EU mediator Robert Cooper also struck a positive note, but said the agreement must be put into practice "in a sensitive way."

"Our objective is to make peoples lives easier and not more difficult," he said.

Talks began in March and agreement has been reached on a number of practical issues such as free travel, and recognizing each others' school diplomas and land registers. They are set to continue later this month.

Outstanding issues include arranging for Kosovo to be represented in regional forums, as well as linking telecommunications networks and power grids.

___

Slobodan Lekic can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/slekich

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111203/ap_on_re_eu/eu_serbia_kosovo_eu

new york jets johnny jolly johnny jolly demi moore and ashton kutcher demi moore and ashton kutcher mark sanchez tebow

Parker Tatro: Learning So Much (But Not At College)

Ever since I moved to New York City to pursue my hopes and dreams, a lot of them have actually been coming true. In fact, the things that I thought I wouldn't be able to experience until after I had gone through years of school are happening within my first months of moving to the city. I think the most important thing to keep in mind when chasing after a dream is to work hard and never give up. Optimism is also beyond rewarding. One of the first things that I do when I meet someone is ask them what their dream job is, because I want them to think about it and then I want to know what they are doing to head in that direction. I don't think that any dream is too big or far-fetched to reach.

Also, the direction that I saw myself going in life is changing. The one thing that I am learning more and more about every day is myself. Photography is something that I have been passionate about for years now, but the more that I witness and see in the world makes me find new loves and passions. I do not think that is such a bad thing either. The reason that moving away from home was so important to me, was so that I could get away and figure out what I am supposed to spend the rest of my life doing. Of course I will always be making art and making photographs, but maybe there is something else out there that I could be even better at, or have more fun doing.

I have classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and I decided to not waste those four days that I am free every weekend. I started emailing people from every end of the spectrum, from photographers to magazine editors. I actually got tons of emails back from people looking for interns, but there was one of them that stood out from the rest. I took an internship at Cond? Nast International, and loving every second of it.

Cond? Nast is the publishing company that owns the most influential magazines in the media industry. They own Vogue, W, Vanity Fair, Details, Glamour, GQ, The New Yorker, and so many more of the top magazines in the world. Currently I am an International Fashion Intern in their international offices on Third Avenue. Since I started working there about a month ago, I have helped on shoots for GQ Russia, Vogue Japan, and Vogue Italia. I have met some of the coolest photographers in the world, and helped dress some of the top male and female models from around the globe. My boss is also one of the coolest, most laidback people I know. Among the millions of other things that I have learned from him since getting the internship is how fun life can be. His energy is so laidback and he makes everyone feel comfortable. That is probably how he got so far in the industry at such a young age. Working for someone that you respect but also feel relaxed around is such a blessing. I cannot say that you would be able to be picky about who your boss is, but it makes so much of a difference when they are as cool as my boss is.

Success in this industry is all about the people you and the contacts that you make. That is why every person that you meet is so consequential. There are so many talented, fun, and interesting people in this city. The fact that I get to meet them and learn more about where they came from and where they are going is so extraordinary.

New York City has been casually called the "city of dreams," but maybe that title is more accurate than people imagine. For me, this is the place to come and make the things happen that you are passionate about doing. This is the place that I have been able to take the things that I have always wanted to do, and make them a reality. Maybe I could have done it anywhere, but the opportunities here made it accessible immediately. The things that you are passionate about are most likely different than the things that I am. Go where you need to go for your specific aspirations. No matter what people say, or how far out of your comfort zone it may be, you are the one that has to pave your path to your life. Another thing that you have be willing to accept is that it's not your school's fault if you aren't learning everything that you thought you would be learning. It is up to you to give yourself an education, even if it doesn't come from "school."

One of my favorite quotes is from Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. He once said, "Seize this very minute; What you can do or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." The sheer fact of you believing in yourself, and actually making the moves necessary to achieve your aspirations, can take you a long way. Actually, it can take you all the way.

?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parker-tatro/learning-so-much-not-at-c_b_1119411.html

pumpkin cheesecake deviled eggs pie crust pie crust turkey recipes turkey recipes sweet potato pie

Video: Is it time for Cain to end his campaign?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/45515810#45515810

kevin durant miranda lambert kim kardashian divorce generators generators lesean mccoy while you were sleeping

It's mutual: Vikings, McNabb agree to part ways

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb reacts on the sideline after being sacked for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. McNabb was not at practice for the Vikings during the portion that is open to the media on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, amid reports that the veteran quarterback has been waived. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb reacts on the sideline after being sacked for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. McNabb was not at practice for the Vikings during the portion that is open to the media on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, amid reports that the veteran quarterback has been waived. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. McNabb was not at practice for the Vikings during the portion that is open to the media on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, amid reports that the veteran quarterback has been waived. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011, file photo, Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, right, stands on the sidelines with quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. McNabb was not at practice for the Vikings during the portion that is open to the media on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, amid reports that the veteran quarterback has been waived. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) ? Donovan McNabb is available again. The Minnesota Vikings waived the 13-year veteran quarterback on Thursday, giving him the opportunity to sign with another team for the stretch run in a parting coach Leslie Frazier described as mutual.

Frazier pushed for the Vikings to trade a sixth-round draft pick this summer to the Washington Redskins in exchange for McNabb. He wanted stability he believed McNabb would bring to the offense after the NFL lockout kept rookie Christian Ponder from practicing with the team or working with his coaches until training camp.

Frazier and McNabb met in 1999, when the defensive backs coach and the first-round draft pick spent their first year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Friendly to the end, Frazier wished McNabb well and said part of the reason for the move was for the player's sake.

"This was the best decision for both parties," Frazier said. "He was a great player and has been a great player for our league for a long, long time. Have a lot of affection and love for Donovan."

McNabb went 1-5 as a starter, threw for only four touchdowns and completed just five passes of 25-plus yards. Frazier said he didn't regret the trade given the situation the Vikings were in this summer, and said he believes McNabb can still play in the NFL but stopped short of saying he can be an effective starter.

"I'm not certain about that. ... A lot depends on the team he goes to, if he goes to another team," Frazier said.

McNabb was benched in favor of Ponder in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's game at Chicago on Oct. 16 and hasn't played since. Frazier said he was a help to Ponder and Joe Webb in their learning process and described as "awesome" his attitude over the last few weeks.

"He's been a true pro in every sense of the word," Frazier said. "He's a class guy. Always has been, and he's done a good job in spite of the fact he wasn't our starting quarterback."

Improving the teacher-student ratio at the game's most complex position is what Frazier pointed to when asked how the move benefited the Vikings. It essentially means offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and quarterbacks Craig Johnson will have more opportunity to work with Ponder and Webb, who is in his second year. Frazier said he wasn't sure how the open roster spot would be filled, whether with another quarterback or a player at another position.

McNabb was in the locker room, seen rather innocuously asking running back Adrian Peterson to autograph a jersey. But he was gone by the time practice began and unavailable for comment.

The question now is whether he'll catch on elsewhere or call it quits with six Pro Bowl selections and currently the third-best interception percentage of all time. Injuries have felled several quarterbacks around the league over the last month, and the Bears ? McNabb's hometown team ? are one team with an opening as Jay Cutler recovers from a broken thumb.

"When you have a guy who has been this successful in this league, he has an idea how he wants his career to continue or not to continue. That played a role in making that decision," Frazier said.

The two spoke Wednesday about the situation, but Frazier declined to characterize the discussion as McNabb requesting his release. He said McNabb didn't mention retirement or signing with another team when they talked.

"We both agreed that this was probably going to be the best thing to do," Frazier said.

McNabb enjoyed an 11-year run as the starter in Philadelphia, going to the Super Bowl with the Eagles after the 2004 season and becoming a regular fixture in the playoffs. Only Aaron Rodgers and Neil O'Donnell have a better career ratio of interceptions to pass attempts. But after he was traded by his long-time team, McNabb had a rough year with the Redskins. He got benched there, too.

The ability to avoid turnovers turned out to be part of the problem with the Vikings. He was reluctant to throw deep, and the offense lacked life and rhythm while he was in there. Playing it safe didn't wind up helping them.

"You guys watched our games that he started," Frazier said. "There were a lot of factors contributing to our not winning ballgames. As I mentioned when I made the change, it wasn't all about Donovan. That's been proven along the way. There are a lot of other areas on our team that need to be going in the right direction in order for us to have success."

___

AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-01-FBN-Vikings-McNabb/id-5cb68198a4344243a64535967a11372f

volcker rule matthew stafford rosie o donnell brady quinn brady quinn nick fairley barry sanders

FDA examines level of arsenic in apple juice (San Jose Mercury News)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/168375412?client_source=feed&format=rss

thanksgiving brining a turkey brining a turkey who won dancing with the stars 2011 five iron frenzy wild horses lyrics megyn kelly

Senate pushes to hurry up Afghanistan pullout (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? The Senate voted on Wednesday to require President Barack Obama to devise a plan for expediting the pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, signaling growing impatience in Congress.

Obama in June called for about a third of U.S. forces, or 33,000 troops, to leave Afghanistan by the end of next summer. The remaining 66,000 U.S. troops are to be slowly withdrawn until a final transition to Afghan security control in 2014.

The Democratic-controlled Senate's vote for accelerating that drawdown came on an amendment to an annual defense bill, but the chances of the requirement becoming law are slim.

A similar demand for an accelerated transition of military operations from U.S. to Afghan authorities was narrowly defeated in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in May.

The sponsor of the version that passed the Senate on Wednesday, Democrat Jeff Merkley, said the chamber's vote was above all a message to the Democratic president that it was time to end the U.S. combat role.

"Our American forces have successfully pursued the two main goals set when we went to Afghanistan: stamping out the al Qaeda training camps and hunting down and bringing to justice those responsible for 9/11," Merkley said in a statement, referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

"It is time to bring our men and women home. The Senate sent that message to the President today in unequivocal terms," Merkley said.

The amendment passed on a voice vote. Republican John McCain, who opposed it, declared that senior U.S. military commanders were already uncomfortable with the drawdown Obama announced in June, and said stepping it up would be "reckless and wrong."

The Senate vote came as U.S. lawmakers continued to look for ways to cut government spending and rein in massive budget deficits. Unease in Washington over the decade-long war in Afghanistan has escalated amid rising worries about tight budgets and high unemployment.

During debate on the amendment, Merkley said the conflict in Afghanistan had cost the United States nearly a half-trillion dollars, and that it was time to "bring our troops and our tax dollars home".

His amendment had 20 co-sponsors in the 100-member Senate, including two Republicans - Mike Lee and Rand Paul, both members of the chamber's conservative Tea Party caucus.

(Editing by Paul Simao)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111201/pl_nm/us_afghanistan_usa_senate

ufc on fox juan manuel marquez juan manuel marquez penn state stanford oregon joe paterno velasquez vs dos santos

New To Investing?

This is a guest post by Erika from Newlyweds on a Budget.? She writes about managing finances, living frugally, and life as a newlywed.

?

About a week ago, I knew nothing about investing.? The stock market seemed like a scary game of Chutes and Ladders?except it?s real people and real money.

At the same time, I?ve heard of people making tons of cash by playing the game.? A high school acquaintance of mine bought his first car with money he made from the stock market.? A friend of a friend took out a second mortgage on their house to buy Apple stock several years ago.? Sounds pretty sweet to me.

I also know that my savings account yields only 0.9% interest right now.? Playing the stock market, you can definitely average better than that.

This past weekend, ING Direct offered a $100 Black Friday bonus after making two trades ($9.95 a piece) through their Sharebuilder account.? For someone who knows nothing about investing, this seemed like a good way to start testing the waters.? However, I decided to create some guidelines for a new investor like myself.

?

Start Small

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, but slow and steady wins the race.? Start off with a small investment?we only spared $100? until you get the hang of it.? If you lose money, which you probably will, no harm done.? It was only chump change.? But if you gain money, you?ll be ahead of the game.

?

Invest in Stocks You Know

Sure, everyone wants to know who the next Apple is.? But for a beginner, investing in stocks you know can make you more ?invested? in your actual earnings and more inclined to read up on articles and information that can lead to better investment decisions.

?

Don?t Try and Time The Ups and Downs

There have been so many ups and downs in the stock market this year?don?t try and time it.? If you can buy on one of the down days, with reports of doom and gloom, by all means do it. But don?t try and time it to the second, by buying and selling on the ups and the downs.? If you?re young enough, ride the waves.? But also don?t be passive and just watch your stocks sink. It?s a fine line.

?

Don?t Get Emotional

So your stocks sunk?? How many times have the stocks gone up and down this year?? It can be a scary place but remember that you only invested a small amount of money to begin with.? You?re still a beginner.? Try and read up as much as possible before you decide that you?re the next Warren Buffet.

?

What other tips would you recommend for a first time investor?

Related posts:

1. Simplicity and Investing Success
2. The College Student?s Guide to Investing
3. 5 Best Ways To Get Started Investing
4. Investing Tips from Personal Experience
5. The College Investor Weekly Round-Up: Its Been a While

Source: http://thecollegeinvestor.com/1831/new-to-investing/

happy halloween happy halloween history of halloween eagles cowboys eagles cowboys trick or treat times trick or treat times