Van Gaal appointment blocked

Ajax's bid to appoint Louis van Gaal as their new chief executive was today blocked by an appeal court in Amsterdam.

The lawsuit was brought by Johan Cruyff against four fellow members of the club's supervisory board in a bid to prevent Van Gaal from taking up such an influential position.

Former Ajax and Holland playmaker Cruyff argued the appointments of Van Gaal and director Martin Sturkenboom were made without his knowledge, were also opposed by 10 youth coaches at the club and went against plans to reshape Ajax's youth policy.

The court ruled the other members of the supervisory

Inside Story: What Happens When Brain Hits Skull

Image: Ryan Reid

Concussion, the most common among traumatic brain injuries, which occurs 1.7 million times a year in the U.S., represents a major public-health problem. It occurs when there is a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head, a process depicted here in this animation.

A blow can produce a brief loss of consciousness, headaches and impaired cognition, among other symptoms. Symptoms can last for days or sometimes longer. And a person who experience one risks another and may find recovery takes longer.

Scientists continue to learn more about the nefarious consequences of repeated concussions. In the February

Cold War 2.0: East and West divide on digital rights

With worries growing over computer hacking, data theft and the risk of digital attacks destroying essential systems, western states and their allies are co-operating closer than ever on cyber security.

But as they do so, the gulf between them and China and Russia – blamed for many recent hacks and with a very different and much more authoritarian view over the future of the Internet – grows ever wider.

Last week, Chinese officials turned down invitations to a privately-run conference of military and civilian experts on cyber security in London, telling organizers Defence IQ they would not attend due to a “low tide” in relations with the U.S., particularly its military. A senior Russian official also pulled out at the last moment, citing a failure to obtain a U.K. visa in time – although other attendees

Greece's tax evaders: a crushing culture

Police try to crackdown on a crime that is "ingrained" in Greek culture.

By Andy Dabilis for Southeast European Times in Athens -- 04/02/12

The EU is one of the lenders that wants the country to crack down on tax evaders.[Reuters]

As part of a crackdown on tax evaders, Greek police arrested a 42-year-old man identified only as a chief executive officer of an unnamed company, on Wednesday (February 1st) and charged him with failing to pay 62.3m euros in back payments.

The scenario is not an uncommon sight in recent weeks, after repeated demands from international lenders putting up bailout money to save Greece from default a list of more than 4,100 names

‘Out of hand’ Mandela grandson fuels speculation

Nelson Mandela’s growing clan of grandchildren and great-grandchildren looked happy and relaxed as they gathered in a suburb of Johannesburg this week to celebrate his longtime personal chef, who was launching a cookbook of his favourite recipes.

But while many family members joined the gathering, one grandson was conspicuous by his absence: Mr. Mandela’s chosen heir, Mandla Mandela, who is embroiled in scandal and controversy over his multiple marriages and his alleged land grabs in the village where Nelson Mandela was born.

The political furor over his grandson has contributed to a difficult few months for the Mandela family. His last surviving sibling, Nokuthamba, died last week at the age of 81.

Mr. Mandela himself, 93, is in frail

Serbia: 11,000 In Remote Villages Trapped By Snow

At least 11,000 villagers have been trapped by heavy snow and blizzards in Serbia's mountains, authorities announced Thursday, as the death toll from Eastern Europe's weeklong deep freeze rose to 114.

Those stranded live in some 6,500 homes in remote areas that cannot be reach due to icy, snow-clogged roads, emergency police official Predrag Maric said. Emergency crews were pressing hard to try to clear the snow and deliver badly needed supplies.

"We are trying everything to unblock the roads, since more snow and blizzards are expected in the coming days," Maric said.

Twenty more deaths from the cold were reported in Ukraine on Thursday, with nine more in Poland and one more each in Serbia and the Czech Republic. Officials said most of victims were homeless.

Temperatures across the region sank to minus 26.5 F in some areas. Parts of the Black Sea froze near the Romanian coastline and the rare snow fell on Croatian islands in the Adriatic Sea. In Bulgaria, 16 towns recorded their lowest temperatures since records started 100 years ago.

Polish government spokeswoman Malgorzata

Reports: Pakistan Supports Taliban In Afghanistan

Media reports say Afghans are braced for a return of the Taliban once NATO forces leave the country. A classified NATO report was leaked to the BBC and The Times of London which further documents what has been said for a long time: Pakistan is actively supporting the Taliban insurgency.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio