North Korea's Kim Jong-un in first major public speech

North Korean new leader Kim Jong-un has made his first televised public speech, as Pyongyang marks the centenary of the birth of the country's founder.

He offered respects to grandfather Kim Il-sung and late father Kim Jong-il.

Mr Kim praised the "military first" doctrine and said the time his nation could be threatened was "forever over".

There was also a huge military parade in the main square which unveiled what appeared to be a large new missile - two days after a failed rocket launch.

The launch was condemned by the international community, amid concern that it was a covert test of long-range missile technology.

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“Start Quote

Let us move forward to final victory”

Kim Jong-un North Korean leader

• In pictures: North Korea parade

During Sunday's military parade, North Korea showed what appeared to be a large new missile.

The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul says the missile was camouflaged and carried on a 16-wheel truck, far bigger than the other trucks in the parade. Such a missile would be larger than the nation's current weaponry, she says.

Our correspondent says the US has been making vague references to North Korea pushing ahead with an inter-continental ballistic missile programme (ICBM), although there is no confirmation that this apparent missile is related.

One South Korean rocket scientist, Sohn Young-hwan, told Associated Press it was more likely an intermediate-range ballistic missile, not an ICBM.

'Military first'

North Korean television footage showed thousands of soldiers carrying red flags marching into the square to the sound of drumbeats during the parade.

This was the first time Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, has spoken publicly since taking power following the death of his father in December.

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Analysis

Lucy Williamson BBC News, Seoul

From behind a bank of microphones, North Korea's young leader fidgeted restlessly as he addressed the crowds. He praised the achievements of his father and grandfather in making North Korea a "strong country" and a "strong military power".
He also alluded to the country's massive economic problems - saying that the people would no longer have to tighten their belts. But the biggest surprise was the speech itself - his father is said to have spoken publicly just once in his 17-year rule.
But Kim Jong-un has already adopted a very different style - on the balcony above Pyongyang's main square today, he laughed and joked freely with senior officials, as a parade of the country's massive missiles rolled past.

"I express my greetings to our compatriots in South Korea and across the world who dedicate themselves to reunification and the prosperity of the nations," he said reading from a script, in an address that lasted more than 20 minutes, as the crowds applauded throughout.

Mr Kim said peace was important but national pride more so.

"Let us move forward to final victory," he said.

Mr Kim praised the country's "military first" policy.

"Superiority in military technology is no longer monopolised by imperialists," he said, adding: "We have to make every effort to reinforce the people's armed forces."

Mr Kim said the time when nuclear weapons could threaten and blackmail his country was "forever over".

The speech marks a significant change in profile for North Korean leaders.

Kim Jong-il is thought to have made one recorded public utterance in his 18-year rule - and that was a single sentence.

After the speech, soldiers marched past and saluted the leader.

They were followed by tanks and artillery, and a final fly-over by five fighter jets.

Activists in South Korea marked the anniversary by floating 10 helium balloons filled with 200,000 leaflets over the border.

The leaflets denounced the launch of a rocket at the time the people are suffering famine.

Why The Bo Xilai Affair Isn't Just About China

Analysis: the ouster of Bo Xilai, one of China's most powerful political leaders, threatens to shake Beijing's domestic affairs. But the spectacular --and notably public-- fall from grace will reverberate around a world ever more influenced by the emerging Chinese superpower.

The Great Wall of China (Sarah Collings)

LE MONDE/Worldcrunch

Bo Xilai’s star seems to have disappeared from the galaxy of Chinese power for good. The heavyweight of Chongqing – one of China’s top five mega-cities – was one of the best-known public figures in the country. He was a member of the Politburo, as well as a “princeling,” an offspring of one of the heroes of the Chinese Revolution.

Bo never hid his ambition to achieve a place on the Standing Committee, the highest political institution in China that brings together the nine “emperors” who govern the country.

After two month of suspense during which no information escaped the thick walls of the Forbidden City, Bo’s fall from grace has finally been made public. On April 10, he was suspended from all his Party duties and is now undergoing an investigation for “serious violations of discipline,” otherwise known as corruption. Even worse, his wife, suspected of murdering a British national, has been handed over to the police.

Just six months before the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party – where seven of the nine positions on the Standing Committee will be elected, ushering in the next generation of leaders – this shadowy affair has revealed the true extent of the internal divisions within the Chinese leadership, and how much they could affect the future of the country.

"A serious political event..."

Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao who have been at the head of the party for 10 years certainly didn’t expect to be handing over the reins at such an awkward moment. Their reign was expected to be one of “stability and harmony.” And they have in fact helped China to become the second most powerful economy in the world, to recover its pride and power on the international stage and to realize, in 2008, its dream of organizing the Olympic Games.

As the regime hoped, many people believed that after Mao’s dictatorship, the bloodshed of the Great Leap Forward and that of the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, the Party had finally managed to establish a peaceful institutionalized process based on consensus for the handover of power within the country’s leadership.

Brushing off the nagging question of political reform – how far the Party can go in relaxing its current stranglehold on power in order to promote economic and social development – those in power threw their weight behind these perceived steps forward. In doing so, they succeeded in convincing many Western observers, whose judgement is clouded by the impressive economic growth in China, of the progress being made.

But now, the fall of Bo is shaking everything. The People’s Daily – a Chinese newspaper with close links to the government – has just admitted that it is “a serious political event, with negative consequences both inside and outside the country.” In March, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao himself warned that “a historic tragedy like the Cultural Revolution could reoccur” if political and economic reforms are not implemented.

But there is one big difference between the Cultural Revolution and the current situation: Mao plunged his country into chaos with very little impact on the outside world. What is happening today inside the halls of power of the second biggest global economic power, on the other hand, threatens to have serious consequences for the rest of the planet as well.

Read more from Le Monde in French.

Chile Becomes A Prime Destination For Spain’s Underemployed “Mileuristas”

Op-Ed: The economic crisis in Spain is prompting many young professionals to seek better opportunities overseas. A popular destination for these so-called mileuristas – educated Spaniards who can’t earn more than 1,000 euros a month – is up-and-coming Chile.

Santiago's bustling Plaza Italia (Ben Witte)

By Lucy Krell*
AMÉRICAECONOMÍA/Worldcrunch

SANTIAGO -- No doubt a sizable portion of the 586 work visas Chile issued last year to Spanish citizens went to people who qualify as mileuristas. The term is now used to describe young Spanish professionals who, despite having language skills and post-graduate degrees, can’t find jobs in Spain paying more than 1,000 euros (mil euros) per month. As such, mileuristas can’t afford things like cars or homes, let alone support a family.

The term was coined in 2005 by a then 27-year-old well-educated Catalonian woman who couldn't find gainful employment. Seven years later it is describes an entire generation of professionals who are struggling not only with a serious economic crisis, but also with a labor market over-saturated with qualified candidates. The situation is pushing some mileuristas to seek better conditions overseas, especially in Latin America. Naturally, some of these new immigrants are landing in Chile, home to one of the world's emerging economies.

Between 2007 and 2011, the flow of Spanish professionals to Chile rose 92%. Currently there are 40,492 Spanish citizens in Chile, up 20% last year alone. The trend is mutually beneficial, since Chilean firms – particularly in the technology, energy and mining sectors – that face a shortage of qualified local professionals are keen to recruit Spanish engineers and technicians. As Chile continues to develop, those kinds of opportunities are likely to expand even more.

Andrés Poch, president of Chile’s Association of Civil Engineers made just that point during a visit last month to Toronto, Canada, where he explained that the explosive growth of the sector during the coming years will create thousands of professional posts. Chile, he said, will be interested in attracting Spanish engineers to satisfy the demand and make up for the shortage of qualified locals.

Over the past year, unemployment fell nearly a full percentage point in Chile. In Spain, meanwhile, unemployment is rising – up 9.63% in March compared to the same month last year. Overall, there are 4.7 million people out of work, equivalent to approximately 25% of the population, according to official government figures. Expect the mileuristas to keep marching this way.

Read the original article in Spanish

Indonesia Aceh quake triggers Indian Ocean tsunami alert

An earthquake with an magnitude of 8.7 has struck under the sea off Indonesia's northern Aceh province.

The quake triggered a tsunami watch alert across the Indian Ocean region.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said it was not yet known whether a tsunami had been generated, but advised authorities to "take appropriate action".

The region is regularly hit by earthquakes. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 killed 170,000 people in Aceh.

The US Geological Survey (USGS), which documents quakes worldwide, said the Aceh quake was centred 33km (20 miles) under the sea about 495km from Banda Aceh, the provincial capital.

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“Start Quote

Sirens and Koran recitals from mosques are everywhere”

Sutopo Indonesian emergency official

It was initially reported as 8.9 magnitude but was later revised down to 8.7 by the USGS. Strong aftershocks were also reported.

The PTWC alert said quakes of such a magnitude "have the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin".

But Bruce Presgrave of the USGS later told the BBC that the nature of this quake made it less likely a tsunami would be generated, as the earth had moved horizontally, rather than vertically, therefore had not displaced large volumes of water.

"We can't rule out the possibility, but horizontal motion is less likely to produce a destructive tsunami," he said.

Sutopo, a spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, said the quake had been felt "very strongly".

"Electricity is down, there's traffic jams to access higher ground. Sirens and Koran recitals from mosques are everywhere," he told Reuters.

'Minute of chaos'

The earthquake monitoring agency in Indonesia said the tsunami warning would remain in place for another few hours, but that there had been no reports so far of a low tide, which would indicate the water was receding before building into a tsunami.

The tremor was felt as far away as Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

"There was a tremor felt by all of us working in the building," a man called Vincent in Calcutta, India, told the BBC.

"All just ran out of the building and people were asked not to use the elevator. There was a minute of chaos where all started ringing up to their family and asking about their well-being."

The Thai office of disaster management said people along the coasts of Phuket, Phang Na and Andaman province should heed warnings and evacuate.

Tsunami warning sirens, set up in many vulnerable areas after the 2004 disaster, were heard in Phuket, where correspondents said people were calmly following evacuation routes to safe zones.

Indonesia straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of major seismic activity.

The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, says there were reports of the ground shaking for up to five minutes. Contact with people in the immediate area around the quake has not been possible so far, says our correspondent.

China's 'Jackie Kennedy' under scrutiny

The woman accused of involvement in the murder of a British businessman has been described as the "Jackie Kennedy of China".

A US lawyer who worked with Gu Kailai several years ago told the BBC that she was attractive, charismatic and funny.

Ed Byrne, from Denver in Colorado, said he was "shocked" to hear that she was embroiled in a murder investigation.

But that is exactly what has happened.

Ms Gu has been "transferred to judicial authorities" because she is a prime suspect in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

It is a case that has also led to the downfall of her husband, Bo Xilai, who until recently was one of China's most senior politicians.

Groundbreaking lawyer

Ms Gu, who is Mr Bo's second wife, studied law at the prestigious Peking University before opening her own law firm.

Mr Byrne first met her when he visited the Chinese coastal city of Dalian - where Bo Xilai was the mayor.

He went with a client and met Ms Gu to talk about a business venture.

"I was very impressed with her. She is very attractive, very charismatic and very funny."

Later, she got in touch with him and asked him to represent several companies from Dalian that were involved in a case in Mobile, Alabama. It was 1997.

Fluent in English, Ms Gu played a major role in the lawsuit, which went in favour of the Chinese firms.

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“Start Quote

People likened her and her husband to the Jack and Jackie Kennedy of China - they were the modern liberal element there”

Ed Byrne Gu Kailai's former colleague

She even wrote a book about her legal battles in the United States called "Winning a Lawsuit in the United States".

Mr Byrne then worked with Ms Gu - whom he knew by the name of Horus Kai - on a number of other cases, meeting her in both the US and Dalian.

He also met her husband and was an "honoured" guest at lunches and dinners.

"People likened her and her husband to the Jack and Jackie Kennedy of China. They were the modern liberal element there."

A source close to Mr Bo's family also described Ms Gu, who is about 52 years old, in glowing terms.

He said she closed down her law firm when her husband became the Communist Party chief in Chongqing to avoid the impression that she was benefiting from his position.

"She shut down the law firm just when it was getting very big and very exciting for her," said the family contact.

But he also painted a picture of a woman whose health has not been good in recent years and who hardly stepped outside the family home in Chongqing.

"She stayed at home reading books," he said of Ms Gu who, like her husband, is the child of a senior official.

Her father was General Gu Jingsheng, a prominent revolutionary in the years before the Chinese Communist Party took power.

Bo Xilai met Gu Kailai almost 30 years ago in Liaoning province

He held government positions when the party took over China but, like many others, was put in prison during the Cultural Revolution, a chaotic period of political turmoil.

Ms Gu, who plays the lute, was just a young girl when it began, but she too suffered. She was forced to work in a butcher's and a textile factory.

This did not ruin her education though. She gained her degree in law and then got a masters in international politics from Peking University.

She qualified as a lawyer in 1988 and then opened the Kailai law firm in Beijing.

'Conflict of interest'

She met Mr Bo in 1984 while on a field trip looking into environmental art in Jin county in Liaoning province. Bo Xilai was the county's communist party secretary at the time.

The couple have one son, Bo Guagua, who went to Britain's exclusive private school Harrow, before studying at Oxford University. He is now at Harvard University in the US.

The family contact suggested that the accomplished and intelligent Ms Gu withdrew from society and business after her husband took charge in Chongqing in 2007.

But the idea that she had completely detached herself from any business seems to be false.

China's state-run news agency Xinhua said she had "economic interests" with Mr Heywood. It said there had been conflict over those interests that had "intensified".

Gu Kailai is now a suspect in a murder investigation.

China calls for support amid Bo Xilai fall-out

China has urged support for its probe into disgraced leader Bo Xilai, a day after news of his dismissal and the detention of his wife over the death of a UK businessman shocked the country.

A widely-published piece in party newspaper People's Daily praised the "correct decision", saying it showed respect for the rule of law.

Mr Bo's removal from key party posts was announced late on Tuesday.

It followed weeks of speculation over the former Chongqing party chief.

Mr Bo, 62, was once tipped as a future leader. But he has now been removed from his posts on the Communist Party's hugely powerful 25-member Politburo, and the 300-member Central Committee.

His wife, Gu Kailai, is being investigated in connection with the death of British businessman Neil Heywood, Chinese authorities have also announced.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the news.

"The Chinese are doing as we asked them to do and we now look forward to seeing those investigations take place and in due course hearing the outcome of those investigations," he said.

Wang Feng of the Brookings-Tsinghua Centre for Public Policy described the scandal as "almost unprecedented in China's political history".

"For the last 30 years this is the biggest scandal we can think of," he told the BBC.

'Intentional homicide'

William Hague welcomed the probe

The news of the action against Bo Xilai and his wife emerged late on Tuesday.

''The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has decided to suspend his membership of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the CPC Central Committee,'' said an announcement by state news agency Xinhua.

Mr Bo's wife, Gu Kailai has been "transferred to the judicial authorities on suspected crime of intentional homicide'' together with Zhang Xiaojun, an orderly who worked for the Bo family, another Xinhua report said.

The subsequent front-page People's Daily commentary, entitled "Firm support for correct decision" and republished in the main Chinese newspapers, said that the right action had been taken.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing

It is difficult to know which piece of news is more startling - Bo Xilai's fall from grace or his wife's suspected involvement in murder.
Mr Bo was until recently tipped for promotion when China begins its once-in-a-decade leadership change later this year.
But he has now been suspended from the politburo, the 25-member body at the top of the Chinese Communist Party.
It suggests a real fight to gain control of the party at a time when China's top leaders would have wanted to put on a united front, to show power can be handed over smoothly in China.

• China's 'Jackie Kennedy'

''Bo has seriously violated the party discipline, causing damage to the cause and the image of the party and state,'' the commentary said.

''Whoever has broken the law will be handled in accordance with law and will not be tolerated, no matter who is involved.''

China's internet censorship now appears to have kicked into action. Microblogging site Sina Weibo and online forum Baidu Tieba were both filtering posts containing the words ''Bo Xilai'' on Wednesday.

'Economic conflict'

Mr Bo's fall from grace began after his police chief Wang Lijun spent a day holed up in the US consulate in Chengdu in early February. It was rumoured that Mr Wang had been attempting to defect.

The suggestion was that he had been demoted by an angry Mr Bo after the officer had alerted him to the fact that his family was the subject of a police investigation linked to Mr Heywood's death.

While in the consulate Mr Wang alleged that Gu Kailai had been involved in murdering Mr Heywood, Xinhua reported.

The 41-year-old was found dead in Chongqing in November 2011. Police initially said that he died from excessive drinking.

The allegations led to a second investigation. Xinhua said Gu Kailai and her son were in "conflict" with Mr Heywood over "economic issues".

"According to reinvestigation results, the existing evidence indicated that Heywood died of homicide, of which [Gu Kailai] and Zhang Xiaojun, an orderly at Bo's home, are highly suspected," the news agency reported.

The exact nature of Mr Heywood's role and his relations with the family are unclear and have been the subject of much speculation inside and outside China.

Exclusive: Madonna "MDNA" Will Have Biggest Second Week Drop in Chart History

Madonna's “MDNA” album had the biggest second week drop in chart history last week, I am told. When all the numbers are in on Tuesday night, “MDNA” will have fallen from number 1 by 88%–from 359,000 copies in its first week to roughly 46,000 the second week. Wow. The first week’s sales, as I revealed exclusively (and then the New York Post lifted it from us), most of Madonna’s first week sales were CDs that were included in the sale of concert tickets. That promotion artificially inflated Madonna’s numbers, putting her first before Lionel Richie and his “Tuskegee” album. In the second week, Richie fell only 47% and sold about 110,000 albums–which is normal. “Tuskegee” will now finish much higher than “MDNA.” I do think that all the people involved in the Madonna ticket-CD deal should apologize to Richie for denying him his rightful place at number 1, starting with Billboard and SoundScan. But Richie’s consolation is that he has a major hit, while “MDNA” is a total dud. So far, “MDNA” has not produced anything like a hit single either, no radio play or anything to provide organic promotion. But Madonna’s concert tour with Live Nation will be a big hit, so it’s not like we have to worry about her financial situation.

Bo Xilai's wife suspected over 'murder' of Briton

The wife of a disgraced Chinese politician once tipped as a future leader has been detained over the suspected murder of a British national.

Gu Kailai has been "transferred to the judicial authorities" as part of an investigation into the death of Neil Heywood, state news agency Xinhua said.

Her husband Bo Xilai, former mayor of Chongqing, has now been stripped of key posts in the ruling Communist Party.

He had been one of China's most popular politicians.

The news that his wife is now a suspect in a murder investigation only intensifies the rumours swirling around him.

Mr Bo, 62, suffered a spectacular fall from grace last month when he was sacked as party chief in Chongqing.

This came after his police chief Wang Lijun spent a day holed up in the US consulate in Chengdu.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing

It is difficult to know which piece of news is more startling - Bo Xilai's fall from grace or his wife's suspected involvement in murder.
Mr Bo was until recently tipped for promotion when China begins its once-in-a-decade leadership change later this year.
But he has now been suspended from the politburo, the 25-member body at the top of the Chinese Communist Party.
It suggests a real fight to gain control of the party at a time when China's top leaders would have wanted to put on a united front, to show power can be handed over smoothly in China.
Mr Bo's suspension has been rumoured ever since he was sacked as chief of the city of Chongqing.
But the confirmation is still big news.
That story, though, was possibly overshadowed by the downfall of Mr Bo's wife.
Once feted as a great lawyer, she is now on the wrong side of the law.
Her suspected involvement in the alleged murder of British businessman Neil Heywood adds another layer to this already murky tale.
And with only scant details about this affair in the public domain, there will probably be more revelations to come.

• China's 'Jackie Kennedy' under scrutiny

It was rumoured that Mr Wang had been attempting to defect.

The suggestion was that he had been demoted by an angry Mr Bo after the officer had alerted him to the fact that the mayor's family was the subject of a police investigation linked to Mr Heywood's death in November.

While in the consulate Mr Wang alleged that Gu Kailai had been involved in murdering 41-year-old Mr Heywood in Chongqing, Xinhua reported.

Police said after Mr Heywood's death that he had died from excessive drinking and his body was cremated. However, his friends said he did not drink that much.

The new allegations led to a second investigation. Xinhua says this showed that Gu Kailai and her son were in "conflict" with Mr Heywood over "economic issues", and these had intensified despite them being friends.

'Good friend'

Mr Bo has been dismissed from the Communist Party's hugely powerful 25-member Politburo, and the 300-member Central Committee due to suspected "serious discipline violations", Xinhua reported on Tuesday.

The exact nature of Mr Heywood's role and his relations with the family are unclear and have been the subject of much speculation inside and outside China.

"According to reinvestigation results, the existing evidence indicated that Heywood died of homicide, of which [Gu Kailai] and Zhang Xiaojun, an orderly at Bo's home, are highly suspected," the news agency reported.

News of the reinvestigation was welcomed by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, who had recently called on the Chinese authorities to look again at Mr Heywood's death.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the death of British businessman Neil Heywood should be investigated without political considerations

"The Chinese are doing as we asked them to do and we now look forward to seeing those investigations take place and in due course hearing the outcome of those investigations," he said.

The BBC's China correspondent Martin Patience describes the developments as the biggest scandal to hit China in many years.

Mr Bo, who made his name taking on corruption in Chongqing, had been expected to be elected to the Politburo's standing committee later this year - as the party prepares for a once-in-a-decade change of leadership.

Newcastle 2 0 Bolton

Hatem Ben Arfa's second-half wonder goal lit up a dreary contest with Bolton and set Champions League chasers Newcastle on the way to a fifth successive victory.

Ben Arfa turned brilliantly inside his own half and ran 70 yards before coolly beating keeper Adam Bogdan.

Papiss Cisse made it 2-0 when he tapped home substitute Shola Ameobi's cross.

Newcastle are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham while Bolton stay one point above the drop zone.

The game will rightly be remembered for Ben Arfa's stunning 73rd-minute solo effort but it was not in keeping with the rest of a turgid affair which saw the hosts struggle to find their rhythm

Magpies manager Alan Pardew has regularly played down his side's chances of European qualification this season, but that stance has changed slightly in recent weeks.

Four consecutive wins had taken them to the verge of a Champions League spot, and with Tottenham stuttering and Chelsea facing an FA Cup semi-final and two demanding games against Barcelona, the expectation levels have suddenly risen.

But a tired first-half display suggested Pardew's men found the pressure of chasing a top-four spot too much.

Newcastle, who switched to a 4-4-2 formation with James Perch moving into midfield to replace the injured Cheick Tiote and Fabricio Coloccini returning at centre-back, looked solid but lacked urgency and any potency in attack.

January signing Cisse, who had scored nine goals in eight games before kick-off, barely had a sniff of the ball and Bogdan cannot have had an easier 45 minutes of football.

Bolton's win or bust

Bolton have only drawn two Premier League games this season and none on the road

The Hungary international keeper's only minor scare in an otherwise chanceless first period came when his punched clearance from Ben Arfa's inswinging free-kick saw the ball bounce back off Sam Ricketts and out for a corner.

Bolton, who turned in an abject display in Saturday's 3-0 home humbling at the hands of Fulham , were resolute, organised and grew in confidence the longer the game remained scoreless.

They barely threatened before the break but Mark Davies twice went close in the second half, forcing Tim Krul into a fine low stop and then failing to connect with a Kevin Davies cross when well placed.

But Ben Arfa's superb run and cool sidefoot finish broke their resistance and the prolific Cisse grabbed his 10th goal in nine games from close range from substitute Ameobi's inviting cross.

Use accessible player and disable flyout menus

Our fate is in our hands - Coyle

The visitors felt the Senegal striker was offside but to no avail and Newcastle were able to close out the victory.

Bolton's only minor reward for a gutsy performance is the fact that they stay out of the relegation zone as none of the sides above them were in action.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle:

"We accept Ben Arfa's finish was quality. But for our part, there was a lot to be pleased about.

"The disappointment is we are left with no points,

"But what I do know is if we offer that level of performance for the total duration of a match, then we will pick up enough points to stay in the Premier League, and that's what we have to do."

Electronic Giant Vowing Reforms in China Plants

Responding to a critical investigation of its factories, the manufacturing giant Foxconn has pledged to sharply curtail working hours and significantly increase wages inside Chinese plants making electronic products for Apple and others. The move could improve working conditions across China. 

The shift comes after a far-ranging inspection by the Fair Labor Association, a monitoring group, found widespread problems — including at least 43 violations of Chinese laws and regulations, and numerous instances where Foxconn defied industry codes of conduct by having employees work more than 60 hours a week, and sometimes more than 11 days in a row. The group released a report Thursday with its findings.

The monitoring group, which surveyed more than 35,000 Foxconn employees and inspected three large facilities where Apple products are manufactured, also found that 43 percent of workers had experienced or witnessed accidents, and almost two-thirds said their compensation “does not meet their basic needs.” Many said that the unions available to them do “not provide true worker representation.”

“There’s this lingering sense among workers that they’re in a dangerous place,” Auret van Heerden, president and chief executive of the Fair Labor Association, said in an interview. But Foxconn has “reached a tipping point,” he added. “They have publicly promised to make changes in a manner that they will have to deliver on it.”

Apple, which recently joined the Fair Labor Association, had asked the group to investigate plants manufacturing iPhones, iPads and other devices. In past months, a growing outcry over conditions at such factories has drawn protests and petitions, and several labor rights organizations started independently scrutinizing Apple’s suppliers. Earlier this week a collection of advocacy groups sent Apple an open letter calling on the company to “ensure decent working conditions at all its suppliers.”

Since January, Apple has released the names of 156 of its suppliers — which it had previously declined to identify — and has started posting regular monitoring reports on the number of hours worked by factory employees. Apple, which has audited its suppliers since 2006, said in a statement Thursday that it shares “the F.L.A.’s goal of improving lives and raising the bar for manufacturing companies everywhere.”

Foxconn did not reveal how much it would raise wages or details on how its promises would be put into place. But the impact of Foxconn’s hour and wage reforms could signal a new, wide-reaching change in working conditions throughout China. Foxconn makes over 40 percent of the world’s electronics products — including for such brands as Amazon, Dell and Hewlett-Packard — and is China’s largest and most prominent private employer, with 1.2 million workers.

In response to the report, Foxconn said it was “committed to work with Apple to carry out the remediation program, developed by both our companies.”

Apple, in a statement, said the company fully supported the monitoring group’s recommendations. “Our team has been working for years to educate workers, improve conditions and make Apple’s supply chain a model for the industry, which is why we asked the F.L.A. to conduct these audits.”

Foxconn’s promises include a commitment that by July of next year, no worker will labor for more than 49 hours per week — the limit set by Chinese law. Foxconn, which is based in Taiwan, has also pledged that despite cutting hours, employees’ pay will not decline. Experts say such promises will most likely require Foxconn to hire tens of thousands of additional employees, which along with the wage increases could cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Those moves, in turn, are likely to influence the prices paid by Foxconn’s customers, and could increase the retail cost of consumer electronics products like smartphones and tablets unless Apple and others accept lower profit margins.

“At the end of the day it’s a matter of image, a matter of recognition, a matter of reputation,” said Ricardo Ernst, a professor of global logistics at Georgetown University. But regardless of motivation, when a company as large as Foxconn changes, it reshapes other companies’ decisions, he added. 

This is not the first time that independent monitors have criticized conditions at Foxconn — or that change has been promised. In 2006, Apple said that Foxconn “has enacted a policy change to enforce the weekly overtime limits set by our Code of Conduct.” That change, however, did not bring Foxconn into line with the law or Apple’s regulations.

Last year, Apple wrote in its yearly audit summary that “reducing excessive overtime is a top priority” in 2012. This year, the company began weekly tracking of 110 facilities — including Foxconn — where excessive work-hour violations were commonplace. Last month, according to that tracking, the average employee worked 48 hours, and 89 percent of monitored employees worked 60 hours or less per week, which is the limit mandated in most circumstances by Apple’s supplier code of conduct.

“It is not news that Apple and Foxconn are promising to end labor rights abuses at these factories,” said Scott Nova, executive director of the Workers Rights Consortium, a university-backed monitoring group based in Washington. “They have been promising to do that since 2006. And they have not delivered. I hope this time will be different.”

Mr. van Heerden of the Fair Labor Association said he believed this time the promised changes would occur because his organization would continue monitoring Foxconn and because worldwide attention was focused on the issue more sharply than ever. “I think they have crossed the Rubicon,” he said, of Foxconn and its chief executive, Terry Gou. “He’d be crazy to make these commitments without fulfilling them,” he added.

In the extensive report documenting its findings, the Fair Labor Association said a majority or near majority of workers surveyed said they felt pain after working a full day, that wages were not sufficient to pay for health care or education and that dorms were crowded. But the group’s surveys found that not all employees had complaints or objected to long hours. Some wanted to work more to earn more money. Foxconn workers at one plant start at about $285 a month, and average wages are about $426 to $455 per month, according to the group’s report.

Many of the group’s findings align with what Apple has found in the audits the company performs, said Mr. van Heerden. But the group’s findings that unions and other worker representation groups are dominated by nominees chosen by management contradict Apple’s reports that most factories allow free association among workers.

The association’s findings also strongly contradict Foxconn’s statement, sent earlier this year to The New York Times, that workers generally “are limited to no more than 60 hours per week.”

Among other things, the group found that Foxconn in the past prepped workers with answers to give to monitors to avoid detection of violations.

“We found a cheat sheet,” said Mr. van Heerden. “If you’re asked how many hours you work, say this, for instance. Since we’re not asking the questions that conventional auditors ask, we were able to see what’s really going on.”

The association will soon begin inspecting other companies in Apple’s supply chain, said Mr. van Heerden.

Why getting into Harvard is no longer an honor

You may have seen that Harvard just set a record for low undergraduate admission rate. Only 5.9 percent of applicants for the class of 2016 were accepted. I was going to do one of my many rants on why we should wake up and see that being admitted to the Ivies and certain other schools is no more a sign of depth and brilliance than winning the Mega Millions lottery. I was going to point out that Harvard could admit a full class of its rejects that would be just as good as the students it accepted. But I already wrote a book about that, "Harvard Schmarvard." And yesterday I got an e-mail that says it better than I ever did.

So I offer this as a theme for this week's discussion. The writer declined to be identified other than as "Concerned Student." I usually don't print anonymous contributions, but I am making an exception in this case since he speaks well for his college age group. Tell us what you think.

By “Concerned Student”

It's a deeply rooted idea in today's academic culture that more qualifications equate with better chances. After all, who doesn't perceive the selection process as a judgment panel that deems one applicant, for want of a better word, superior to another? Call it a myth, a misconception, or whatever you like, but this belief is positively unshakable.

Perhaps a different approach is in order. It’s high time the public understands and embraces the notion that college admissions decisions aren’t based on better academic or extracurricular specifications any longer, if ever in the first place. Just as neither perfect SAT scores nor Nobel prizes guarantee a spot in the branches of the Ivies, it’s apparent that what we identify as top colleges seek attributes that are intangible, elusive, and quite plainly put, mysterious.

Take a friend of mine, for example. Despite the 14 Advanced Placement tests (11 top scores) and two consecutive placings in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair under his belt, he found no welcome at any of the eight Ivy League schools, and neither did his co-founded company aid him in clinching even a position on the wait-lists of several of their peers. His great weakness? He’s an Asian applying for financial aid. It’s easy to argue that one case alone does not justify a loss in faith in the college admissions process, but open the question up for discussion and there’s no doubt the resounding response will taste of misgivings flavored with skepticism. Taking a glance at the qualifications of despondent rejects is enough to convince anyone that surely not all who were accepted into eminent institutes performed better either in terms of academics or extracurriculars, or, for that matter, had more passion.

So, instead of rationalizing that the admissions decision is an objective verdict that evaluates one’s educational caliber and is not an assessment of character, and hence should not be taken personally, it would be more accurate to recognize that the admissions decision does no such thing. They’re not looking for the finest scholars or greatest leaders, and being the best won’t get you into the “best” universities. What they’re looking for is, well, whatever they’re looking for, and with over 4,000 colleges in the U.S. alone, it’s good to remember that we have almost as much bargaining power as they do.

James Milner blames away form for Manchester City's title slump

James Milner believes Manchester City's lack of "ruthlessness" away from home has cost them the Premier League title.

While City have only dropped two points at home, Sunday's 1-0 loss at Arsenal was their fifth defeat of the campaign.

"We have played well for most of the season, but have come unstuck over the past few weeks - most of the time away from home," the midfielder said.

"It is about having that ruthlessness on the road. We have given everything we can, and it was not good enough."

Mikel Arteta's 87th-minute strike saw City fall eight points behind pacesetters Manchester United on Sunday with six games to play.

City's away day blues

• City have lost to Chelsea, Sunderland, Everton, Swansea City and Arsenal away from home.
• They have dropped 23 points away from home compared to United's nine.
• Roberto Mancini's men have a goal difference of +37 at home and +12 away.

The result capped a rapid turnaround in fortunes for the challengers, as Roberto Mancini's men had led the title race by five points as recently as 3 March when they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 the day before United travelled to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur.

City's only blemish on their record at the Etihad Stadium is the 3-3 draw with Sunderland on 31 March, a scoreline that stopped them equalling Liverpool's all-time top-flight record  of 21 consecutive home wins set in 1972.

"As a team, we have set standards throughout the season, but we have not met them," Milner said.

"But we have another game in a couple of days [on Wednesday at home to West Bromwich Albion] and we have to pick ourselves up and go again.

"From now, we will try to win the remaining six, which is all we can do, and see where that takes us.

"We just have to concentrate on doing what we have to do, on our own game and, whatever happens this season, whether we win it or don't, we have to make sure we learn from the good and the poor things which have gone on."

Arsenal 1 0 Man City

Manchester City's faltering title challenge lies in tatters as Mikel Arteta's late goal left them eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Arteta's 25-yard shot three minutes from time gave Arsenal a deserved victory and struck a devastating blow to City's hopes of preventing United claiming a 20th crown with only six games left.

And to complete the abject misery for City and manager Roberto Mancini, the volatile Mario Balotelli - fortunate to escape dismissal in the first half for a dreadful challenge on Alex Song - was then sent off for picking up a second yellow card for another needless foul on Bacary Saga. 

The sight of Mancini gesturing furiously at the ill-disciplined Italian as he appeared in no hurry to leave the action was symbolic of a miserable day when City's hopes of winning the title for the first time since 1967-68 surely disappeared.

Arsenal move back into third place with a win that threatened to elude them after Robin van Persie struck the woodwork twice and Theo Walcott saw a shot touched on to the post by City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The focus, however, will centre on City's demise and the circumstances involving another demonstration of Balotelli's flawed temperament that will see him suspended for three games with the possibility of further punishment for his challenge on Song, which referee Martin Atkinson did not punish as his view appeared to be obscured.

The body language of City's players at the final whistle hinted at a sense of resignation to their fate - while members of the club's hierarchy watched on from the directors' box.

City knew the extent of their task before kick-off after United's win against QPR - and their job was made harder by the early departure of Yaya Toure, who never recovered from a heavy challenge from Song and was replaced by David Pizarro.

Title run-in

Man Utd		Man City
Wigan (a)	11 Apr	West Brom (h)
Aston Villa (h)	15/14 Apr	Norwich (a)
Everton (h)	22 Apr	Wolves (a)
Man City (a)	30 Apr	Man Utd (h)
Swansea (h)	6 May	Newcastle (a)
Sun'land (a)	13 May	QPR (h)

• This week's football fixtures - day by day

And they had a fortunate escape after 17 minutes when Van Persie's goalbound header from Arteta's corner struck Thomas Vermaelen and rebounded on to the bar.

As ever, Balotelli was the centre of attention and angered Arsenal with a studs-up challenge on Song that would surely have brought a red card from referee Atkinson had he been able to get a clear view of the incident.

Balotelli then survived another brush with Sagna before eventually receiving a yellow card as the interval approached for another reckless challenge on the Arsenal defender.

He ended the first half lying prostrate and alone on the turf after taking a knock in the back, but was eventually helped off accompanied by members of City's medical staff and was fit to resume after the break.

City opened with a greater sense of purpose after the restart but it was the woodwork that once again came to their rescue after 62 minutes, Van Persie heading against the post after a moment of clever creation from Song.

And City rode their luck again with 14 minutes left when Hart touched Walcott's shot on to the post, with Vermaelen and Yossi Benayoun somehow unable to complete the job from virtually on the goalline.

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Wenger buoyed by tenacious Arsenal

The breakthrough came with three minutes left as Arteta won a battle for possession with Pizarro before beating Hart low and powerfully to his left from 25 yards, leaving Mancini berating his side for the space and time the Spaniard was allowed.

And with grim inevitability, the final significant act of the day was left to Balotelli, who senselessly lunged at Sagna to receive his second card. Even his slow trudge to the tunnel did not pass without incident as he was berated by Mancini for the speed - or lack of it - of his departure.

The credits now appear to be rolling on City's attempts to win the battle for Premier League supremacy in Manchester.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We have been consistent in the last two months and the performance reflects what we have produced in the last 10 games: quality, spirit and determination.

"In the end we got the better of them. The goal came late but we deserved to win. Against a good team like City if you don't score early it is always a test, we gave them very little.

"Every time we are in trouble someone finds something special and the confidence is very high. The job isn't done yet.

"City have a chance still but it will be difficult. If you are eight points behind with six games to go they have to win every game. The closer you get the less likely it is that United will make mistakes.

"[Balotelli] It looked a red card to me, it was a bad tackle."

Graham Taylor says Manchester City should sell Mario Balotelli

I think it will be to Manchester City's advantage if Mario Balotelli is not at the Etihad Stadium next season.

There is no doubt that his record of 17 goals in 31 club appearances is fantastic.

But, as City's title challenge lies in tatters after falling eight points behind Manchester United with six games remaining, what has it brought Roberto Mancini?

I will tell you. Nothing, absolutely nothing.

There's no doubt that Balotelli's a highly talented player but, let's face it, he does not always deliver and he once again let his side down badly during the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

You can't afford to do what he did and expect to get away with it.

I was prepared to give Balotelli the benefit of the doubt for his challenge on Alex Song, but seeing it again, it should have been a red card.

His studs were up, he went right over the top of the ball into his knee, a very dangerous tackle. 

Did he learn from that fortunate escape? Of course he didn't. There he was lunging on Bacary Sagna to ensure he did not finish the game.

We all recognise what a talent the boy is.

But in my eyes he only puts the effort in when he wants to.

Mancini is experienced enough to realise that if you cannot rely on your players, they are going to cost you.

Balotelli wouldn't be at Manchester United now. Sir Alex Ferguson would have moved him on.

Championships are not just won on the pitch, the moulding of teams takes place in the dressing room.

You have to trust each other and deliver the goods and that has not been happening with Manchester City and particularly Balotelli.

Sir Alex was the first to say 'you can buy players, but you have to build a team'. That has been proven in the last six weeks by the two Manchester clubs.

So, what now for Mancini?

I've always said that a manager needs three seasons before he can say 'this is my team and my players.'

You're not going to get that any more though at the top clubs.

Mancini has bought in some very good players, but there is not a team ethos.

They've thrown the title away. The management of certain players has been lacking.

The [Carlos] Tevez thing has upset the season, I don't care what other people say. But if you want to be champions, you have got to rise above these things.

They have had too many players in away games who have not delivered.

And as the dust settles on a day which, in my opinion, determined the destination of the title, I can picture a certain Scottish manager taking a sip of red wine with a big smile across his face.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli set to leave after red card

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini cast doubt over Mario Balotelli's future after his red card in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

The Italy striker was dismissed for two bookable offences as City fell eight points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United.

His challenge on Alex Song, missed by the referee, may be investigated by the Football Association.

Asked whether he would try to sell Balotelli, Mancini said: "Probably." 

He admitted Balotelli, who has scored 17 goals in 31 club appearances this season, is now unlikely to play again this campaign.

"I like him as a guy and a player," added Mancini, who signed Balotelli from Inter Milan for £24m in August 2010.

"He is not a bad guy and a fantastic player but I'm very sorry for him as he continues to lose his talent and his quality.

"I don't have any words for his behaviour.

"I hope for him he can understand he is in a bad way for his future and I really hope that he can change his behaviour in the future. He will probably not play in the next six games.

"I need to be sure I always have 11 players on the pitch and with Mario this is a big risk."

Balotelli, dismissed for two fouls on Bacary Sagna moments after Mikel Arteta's 87th-minute goal gave Arsenal victory, has now been sent off twice this season, and Mancini added: "He's young and could be my son and when you are young you can make mistakes.

Why always me?

Name: Mario Balotelli
Age : 21
League apps 2011-12: 22
League goals 2011-12: 13
Red cards: 2

"Mario made a mistake and I hope for him - not me - that he can change.

"He clearly created a big problem but he has also scored important goals for us this season. He needs to change his behaviour if he wants to continue to play. I have seen players like him, who have all this talent, and they are finished in two or three years.

"Mario should change, he must change, and I hope for him that he does."

Mancini refused to concede defeat in the title race even though he now faces the prospect of losing out to rivals United.

And the Italian insists he is still the manager to lead City forward.

" Sure - 100%," he said.

"No, it's not mathematically (over), but it's clear now that it's very difficult," he added. "We have a game in three days and we will try to win. Never say never in football.

"In life until it's over you should do your best. In the end if we don't win it's probably because they (United) did better than us.

"It's clearly difficult (to lift the players) but we play in three days and this is good. We are a professional team, with professional players. It's important we start to win and finish the championship well."

QPR manager Mark Hughes says managers 'losing faith in referees'

QPR boss Mark Hughes believes managers are "losing faith in referees" after the 2-0 defeat by Manchester United.

Captain Shaun Derry was harshly sent off in the loss at Old Trafford for fouling Ashley Young.

QPR will appeal against referee Lee Mason's decision as Young was clearly offside before Derry brushed him.

Hughes said: "You should have confidence that referees will get key decisions right. Just lately a lot of managers have lost faith in them."

Derry's dismissal, when the game was goalless, reduced struggling QPR to 10 men for more than 75 minutes. 

Wayne Rooney scored from the resulting penalty before Paul Scholes added the second goal to leave QPR battling for survival.

Even United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Young was offside when he was fouled.

On Saturday, QPR's relegation rivals Wigan were furious after losing to two offside goals against Chelsea.

"You worry more about decisions going against you and it shouldn't be like that," added Hughes.

"You have to be 100% right to give the decisions. It is a difficult job. You have to be strong and really clear.

"At the moment people are guessing and hoping that they get it correct. That was the case today."

QPR chief executive Phil Beard was unimpressed with Young's reaction to the minimal contact from Derry, tweeting: "Difficult to take after watching numerous replays but Ashley Young could partner Tom Daley [the diver] at the Olympics."

Despite defeat, QPR ended the weekend in a slightly better position that they started it as fellow strugglers Bolton and Blackburn both suffered heavier defeats.

QPR remain in 17th spot - one point behind Bolton but level on points with Blackburn and Wigan, who are both in the relegation zone because of inferior goal differences.

Ferguson had some sympathy for former United player Hughes.

"Ashley was a yard offside and I understand why Mark is angry," said the United manager.

"There have been a lot of decisions like that in the last few weeks.

"It didn't help us at all. I was more confident before the man was sent off because the speed of our play and the movement was very good.

"After that we were just in a comfort zone."

Sir Alex Ferguson praises Manchester United team spirit

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United's spirit and unity are propelling the club towards the title.

United moved to within six games of a fifth championship in six seasons after a 2-0 win over QPR at Old Trafford.

And Ferguson is convinced his side's run of eight straight league wins is down to the fact his players have been at the club for some time.

The United manager said: "The unity and spirit you get when players stay together is now coming through."

Barring a dip in form, Ferguson is poised to secure the 13th top-flight tile of his glittering Old Trafford reign.

United have won 11 of their last 12 league games, securing 34 points from a possible 36 in the process.

Ferguson took his players off on a golfing weekend to St Andrews recently in an attempt to ease the pressure on his players as the title race intensified. 

United took part in some light training before playing some golf, a move Ferguson believes is now reaping rewards.

While Manchester City have conceded ground in the title race recently, United have gone strength to strength.

City manager Roberto Mancini recently revealed he could not trust striker Mario Balotelli , and jokingly remarked that he would have punched the Italian had he played in the same team as him.

Yet Ferguson believes the harmony inside Old Trafford's home dressing room is pushing United towards their target.

"That trip to St Andrews was fantastic," added the Scot after a controversial penalty by Wayne Rooney and a 25-yard finish by Paul Scholes secured victory over 10-man QPR on Sunday.

"The players have done really well."

However, Ferguson was not completely impressed by United's latest victory, achieved after QPR had captain Shaun Derry harshly sent off for a foul on Ashley Young, who was in an offside position, early in the game.

"I was a little bit disappointed after their man was sent off because it put us in the comfort zone," he said.

"We were too casual after that up to half-time."

Midfielder Scholes produced a man-of-the-match performance at the age of 37 and Ferguson added: "He's been terrific since he came back.

"He's showed that he has still got it and he's been an integral part of what we have done over the last few weeks."

David de Gea makes a strong case for Manchester United's title defence

The likely glory of another Premier League title is founded on austerity. Manchester United count at least as much on those who prevent goals as those who deliver them. Sir Alex Ferguson's side, with a five- point lead over Manchester City, are set to retain this trophy after a patient victory on the field where the championship was clinched last year.
United have had much better line-ups than this but on the domestic front there is know-how and self-belief. This is a side that is highly capable in the context of the Premier League. A point sufficed to clinch the title last season and United understand how to calibrate exactly the balance between risk and reward.
The sometimes gripping impulsiveness of days gone by is no longer a feature of United. They are still chastened by the losses they deserved when ousted from the Champions League by Basel, disappointment echoed by the manner in which Athletic Bilbao beat them with style and ease in the Europa League.
Those occasions raise questions that have yet to be addressed but answers are demanded of a Premier League that has Chelsea as its only force still active on the European scene. None of that will have entered United minds as a win was savoured. This was, above all, a demonstration of professionalism that slowly put Blackburn under strain.
It is no coincidence that United should have notched their goals inside the last 10 minutes. There was no frantic onslaught, just a gradual increase of pressure on Blackburn as they were pinned down. Misgivings arise over a goalkeeper when he is beaten from an acute angle but Antonio Valencia's drive for the opener after 81 minutes had accuracy and force.
The winger then suggested the strike had been as much cross as shot. It did not seem like that at the time but it is indisputable that he had caused the necessary havoc. A second goal, handsomely struck by the substitute Ashley Young, was an adornment to United's display but not one that seemed essential when the visitors, by then, had the occasion in its grip. With the five-point lead over City, a larger mastery seems imminent. Even so there can be no pretence that the world is agog at the football being produced in England. United, however, can postpone consideration of that fact as they anticipate another title.
It is a long time since United accepted that carefree, attacking football should be the priority. There was a period when that exuberance could be taken as a flaw when powerful opponents had a more cunning approach. These days United seldom forget to take care. The effectiveness testifies to the prowess of the group more than individual excellence.
Many a side would have felt doomed at the loss of Nemanja Vidic so early in the campaign. His season was ended through injury in the Champions League on the same night in December when Basel beat them 2-1. There has been little United could do to compensate properly for the removal of Vidic and Ferguson's line-up has had other moments when the test was too much for them.
Athletic Bilbao acted as if they could score at will when knocking United out of the Europa League on a 5-3 aggregate that understated the domination of the La Liga side. There was nothing that United could do on that occasion or in the Champions League, yet there was still resilience of a sort to sustain Ferguson's squad.
Jonny Evans, for instance, is making his mark at the core of the defence, even if he is not regarded as a true counterpart to Vidic. When not taking care in and around their penalty area, United certainly make time for sustaining the club's traditional commitment to attack. The tally of 76 goals in the League is notable, particularly since it is one ahead of City.
Wayne Rooney, finding the net regularly this season, has defined himself according to the needs of the side. In other periods, he has been more of a No10, a creative forward rather than a goal snatcher. He and his club repeatedly do what is specifically demanded by circumstances.
Defending of a specialised sort was also essential. The reservations about David de Gea, who looked a goalkeeper of intrinsic talent even during some turbulent occasions in his debut season with United, have disappeared with his acclimatisation to a new club and another version of football from what he was used to with Atlético Madrid.
He had given a terrible display against Blackburn on New Year's Eve, when the visitors won 3-2 at Old Trafford. De Gea was then dropped but he recovered soon enough. "He didn't let it get to him and is playing with confidence," Ferguson has said of the tribulations on the English scene.
At Ewood Park De Gea made the classic response of a goalkeeper who, in a potent side, typically has to settle for a sporadic role, denying Blackburn twice at the close of the first half. A man once in need of reassurance is now a comfort to United followers.