Palestinians to push U.N. bid despite Obama (Reuters)

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama told the United Nations on Wednesday there was no short cut to Middle East peace but Palestinians said they would press on with a request for U.N. recognition of their nascent state.

Amid frantic efforts to avert a diplomatic disaster, French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged the United Nations to grant the Palestinians the status of observer state, like the Vatican, while outlining a one-year roadmap to peace.

A year after telling the General Assembly he hoped to see a Palestinian state born by now, the U.S. president said creating such a state alongside Israel remained his goal.

"But the question isn't the goal we seek -- the question is how to reach it. And I am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades," he told the assembly.

With U.S. sway in the Middle East at stake, Obama had hoped to dissuade the Palestinians from asking the Security Council for statehood despite Israeli wrath and a U.S. veto threat.

But Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seems determined to pursue his plan to hand an application for statehood to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday.

Obama told Abbas in a meeting that U.N. action would not lead to a Palestinian state and that the United States would veto such a move in the Security Council, the White House said.

Asked if Abbas had given any sign he might change course, Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said: "He has been very clear what his intent is ... which is to go to the Council and to begin the process of securing membership there."

Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said the two leaders had reiterated their positions, without any apparent result.

Obama, echoing Israel's position, told the United Nations that only negotiations can lead to a Palestinian state.

"Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the U.N.," he said. "Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians -- not us -- who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem."

However, it is the failure of 20 years of U.S.-brokered negotiations that has driven Abbas to take his quest for a state to the United Nations -- a ploy that could embarrass the United States by forcing it to protect its Israeli ally against the tide of world opinion.

Obama earlier met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and assured him of unwavering U.S. support.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to hold separate talks with Abbas and Netanyahu in the evening.

BLEAK PROSPECTS

Although Obama said he had set out a new basis for negotiations in May, chances of reviving peace talks look bleak.

The two sides are far apart. The Palestinians are divided internally and Obama will not want to risk alienating Israel's powerful U.S. support base by pressing for Israeli concessions as he enters a tough battle for re-election next year.

In more evidence of Obama's domestic constraints, a U.S. Senate committee voted to prohibit aid to the Palestinians if they joined the United Nations.

France has grown frustrated at the lack of progress, saying negotiations should be widened to include a more hands-on role for Europe given the impasse in U.S.-led efforts.

"Let us cease our endless debates on the parameters and begin negotiations," Sarkozy said. "The moment has come to build peace for Palestinian and Israeli children."

Sarkozy said negotiations should begin within one month, an agreement on borders and security should be clinched within six months and a definitive agreement be reached within a year.

Rhodes said there was some "overlap" between Obama and Sarkozy on their Middle East peace ideas, but they differed on Palestinian membership of the United Nations.

The Palestinians see statehood as opening the way for negotiations between equals. Israel says the Palestinian move aims at delegitimizing the Jewish state.

Flag-waving Palestinians rallied in West Bank city squares to back the recourse to the United Nations.

The drama at the United Nations is playing out as Arab uprisings are transforming the Middle Eastern landscape.

Obama pledged support for Arab democratic change, called for more U.N. sanctions against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and urged Iran and North Korea to meet their nuclear obligations -- twin standoffs that have eluded his efforts at resolution.

Iran freed two Americans held for spying, in what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called a compassionate gesture before he addresses the United Nations on Thursday.

DELAYING ACTION

The Security Council could delay action on Abbas' request, giving the mediating "Quartet" -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- more time to craft a declaration that could coax both sides back to the table.

A French presidential source said the Quartet was unlikely to issue such a declaration within the next three days.

A senior Palestinian official, Nabil Shaath, said the Palestinians would give the Security Council "some time" to consider the statehood claim before they took it to the General Assembly, where Washington has no veto.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, said Obama's speech was a disappointment, accusing him of being selective when upholding principles of freedom and self-determination.

"When it comes to Palestinians suffering from an oppressive foreign military occupation, somehow ... these principles do not apply. They only apply when Arabs rebel against their own oppressive regime."

Whatever happens at the United Nations, Palestinians will remain under Israeli occupation and any nominal state would lack recognized borders or real independence and sovereignty.

It is a measure of their desperation that they are persisting with an initiative that could incur financial retribution from Israel and the United States.

In his speech to the General Assembly, Ban asked governments to show solidarity in meeting "extraordinary challenges" for the world body, ranging from climate change to peacekeeping.

"Without resources, we cannot deliver," he declared, pledging to streamline U.N. budgets to "do more with less."

(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta, Andrew Quinn, Lou Charbonneau, Matt Spetalnick, Laura MacInnis, John Irish, Emmanuel Jarry, Daniel Bases and Patrick Worsnip. Editing by Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/un/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110922/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_un

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Insurance News and Tips ? Blog Archive ? Cars That Make Auto ...

So you?ve decided now is the time to invest in a new set of wheels. You?ve finally saved enough money for the down payment and are ready to take a loan to cover the rest. Since for most people, their car will be one of the most expensive assets they?re ever going to own, it?s important to look at the expenses of your car from a long term perspective. It?s probably easier to know about the maintenance costs of a car but knowing about its auto insurance rate is not so easy, you say. Agreed! Different companies will give different estimates of the auto insurance rate for the same model because so many other factors unique to you are also in play.

After extensive actuarial analysis, insurance companies compile a list of the car models with highest and lowest auto insurance rates. This study is based on safety features in a car, how often it gets damaged in an accident, gets stolen, and costs to repair or replace.

It?s a smart idea to check the average auto insurance rate of the car you plan to buy before you actually put down the money for it, so that you are financially prepared to bear its long term on road costs as well.

The function of the IIHS- Highway Loss Data Institute is to study the cost to insurance companies arising from claims related to collision, injury and theft. This study in turn influences the average auto insurance rate for the car models analyzed.Apparently 4 door cars have a much lower chance of being involved in a theft than their 2 door counterparts. Now you know why 2 doors cost more to insure!

The IIHS-HDLI also studies the safety ratings of cars by analyzing the losses in actual accidents that these cars were involved in. Among the large cars the Buick Lacrosse and BMW 5 series have come out as the safest cars for their passengers, while the Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic are the safety toppers among the smaller cars. The Audi A3 and A4 sedan top the safety ratings among the mid-sized cars. Their auto insurance rates are naturally bound to be lower.

While working out the average auto insurance rate for each of the cars, super-luxurious ones like Bentleys or Lamborghinis are usually not taken into account as their price tag alone ensures they?ll have high auto insurance rates. Who said luxury comes cheap?

Here?s a complete list of cars with the highest and lowest auto insurance rates:

http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/19/car-auto-insurance-lifestyle-vehicles-most-l...

If you are looking for affordable auto insurance rates, the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG ($3,086.49), or the Aston Martin DB9 Volante ($3,088.96) or the Porsche 911 Carrera S ($3,092.31) are high end cars that are bound to disappoint you. On the other hand, Mazda Tribute ($1070.25) and Honda Odyssey ($1095.26) are among the least expensive cars to insure. Others include the Toyota Highlander ($1,154.02), Ford Escape ($1,150.26) or the Toyota Sienna ($1,142.94)

While it?s easy to get carried away with all the glitz and glamour of different car models on offer in the market, it?s important to get an estimate of their on- road costs as this is something you will have to live with for a long time. Most auto insurance companies have free quote calculators on their websites which can quickly churn out an auto insurance quote for you. If you cannot make up your mind between models, taking a quote for each of them might help you decide which one would be more affordable in the long term.

Christoper Smith is a finance consultant with over 30 years (and still counting) of experience in this field. He has a flair for writing when it comes to topics like finance & auto insurance, especially getting auto insurance online.

This entry was posted by Munirardi on September 22, 2011 at 10:00 am under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://bayouhuntress.com/cars-that-make-auto-insurance-rates-affordable/

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Writing Beneficial Top Quality Articles Or Blog Posts Is A Will ...

Allow them know what to count on. Smile truly at the audience, it will help to break the ice with the audience and also assists you experience improved. http://www.nucleotech.com/health/theyll-also-see-hear-and-understand-about-who-or-what-is-sharing-forex-trading-made-easy/

1)Clich?s and common phrases are quickly recognized and ? the finest ones ? provide a good deal meaning in rather few words, which is a single of the ideas of great writing and speaking. Too several errors can make your dissertation composing seem as well weak. A stage by stage procedure to speech writing will assist in relieving some of the anxiety of public talking.

The wonderful thing about employing authority to persuade people is that this doesnt have to be your authority! Borrow authority from other people by quoting specialists by identify and their experience will be transferred above to you.

Come across facts data and statistics that come from properly respected organizations these as governmental, trade groups, and marketplace associations. 2)We are rewarded with a perception of kinship when sharing the very same vernacular. http://www.jctimagehosting.com/home/getting-a-father-or-mother-you-have-to-be-additional-alert-forex-trading-enterprise/ On the other hand, you need to often recall that these copies should not be made use of in pitching your products and solutions and services.

Make convinced you and the organizer are on the similar page and shifting in the exact same course. Because the French language has a purely natural melodious tone, one can easily learn the languages outlined with ease. Podcasts and Website Streaming: Just Vocabulary is an individual illustration of a web page that functions on vocabulary by way of podcasts (and web streaming, where you can just listen at your computer).

http://www.solsf.com/travel/whenever-traveling-abroad-on-organization-or-enjoyment-you-may-the-disciplined-trader-mark-douglas/ Connecting with the text invites the pupils to give their very own interpretation of what they go through. Fortunately, you can use competencies from one particular area to develop in yet another, bypassing the ache of pounding one thing new into your head. Your composing really should not give an impression that you wrote the total dissertation just due to the fact you had to.

Now, of course when youre writing to persuade, youll not be in a position to use this approach, but its excellent when talking with a person. Punctuation Editing Computer software is an modern technology that guarantees to develop and edit your English writing with a single goal: transforming your writing proper, qualified and loaded.

Packing created-in model checkers that you can configure based mostly on what youre writing about, you can use them to level you towards prose that relay the same ideas in a extra succinct and fitting way. Writing to Persuade ? 10 Strategies to Boost Your Persuasive Writing and Speaking Competencies!.

Public speaking is the art of getting in a position to maintain an audience enthralled, whichever the challenge, wherever the venue.

This indicates that you can provide your lessons anyplace you go.

Source: http://writingandspeaking.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2011/09/writing-beneficial-top-quality-articles-or-blog-posts-is-a-will/

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Inspirational Tips On Precisely Why Tattoo Laser ... - Self Improvement

[unable to retrieve full-text content]How interesting that some trends come and go and we are really witnessing a trail off in the number of people who would like to use one of the conventional...

Source: http://myselfimprovementtoday.com/inspirational-tips-on-precisely-why-tattoo-laser-removal-is-trending-higher

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Finally! A Solar Tree That Can Charge Your iPhone [Now Available]

It only took few years and a few fascinating if controversial breakthroughs in solar power. Now, thanks to designer Vivien Muller, you can finally have a decorative-houseplant-cum-solar charger for your iPhone right on your desk. Just give it plenty of light. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/UiTcCdVDNeM/finally-a-solar-tree-that-can-charge-your-iphone

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INTERVIEW - Rate rise cycle near peak - RBI deputy gov (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? India faces inflation of close to 10 percent in the September-November period but price pressure should moderate from December, meaning the peak of an 18-month rate rise cycle is near, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor Subir Gokarn said on Monday.

The RBI raised interest rates last week for the 12th time in 18 months and signalled more was to come. Rates now stand at 8.25 percent and a Reuters poll of analysts shows one more hike is expected this year.

"The main motivation for the hike was that we are expecting headline inflation to remain above 9 percent and close to 10 pct for the next three months -- September-October-November," Gokarn told Reuters in an interview.

"It would be fair to say we are near the peak. Whether we are at the peak or not is not a judgement I can make."

He added: "We anticipate the inflation trajectory will turn down in December for two reasons -- the base effect and the cumulative effect of rate hikes on demand....That's an indication the peak is in sight."

"To say this is a sort of aggressive anti-inflationary stance in perpetuity is clearly not right, there are clearly indications that we do expect to see a turnaround."

Indian inflation rose to 9.78 percent in August, the highest in a year and among the highest in the developing world. The RBI has stressed its commitment to curbing inflation.

India's growth is cooling rapidly, meanwhile, with growth in the three months to June, at 7.7 percent, the lowest in six quarters and well below the 8.5 percent of the previous fiscal year that ended in March. Industrial output growth slumped to 3.3 percent in July, its weakest annual pace in nearly two years.

"We do see signs of growth moderating but they are not dramatic," Gokarn said. "The IP number of course was a strong negative signal but looking at tax, credit growth and the analysis of corporate performance, none of these suggest a very dramatic slowdown."

He said a soft landing was already under way and the RBI was trying to manage monetary policy in a way that would not allow economic growth to dip too far below 8 percent.

(Reporting by Sujata Rao; Editing by John Stonestreet)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/india/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110919/india_nm/india594302

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What Is All This Talk About ?Employee Engagement? All About ...

From time to time it?s good to get away from your regular work environment.

I found my recent travels that kept me out of the office for most of the last four weeks on personal and business matters quite refreshing, creative and renewing.

The first week (back in mid-August, which already seems like a lifetime ago) was in San Diego at a business retreat where I worked with my mastermind colleagues and came away with an entirely new Leadership Communication Model (see The 3 Levels of High-Performance Leadership Communication).

Then, it was on to a 2 1/2 week, Griswold Family Like European Vacation, which may have been my most personally transformational vacation I?ve ever taken, about which I will write more in near-future blog posts.

And, then, it was on to Toronto for a week of continuing education at a training for ?Breaking the Mould? a new, 21st Century approach to ?Employee Engagement.?

What is ?Employee Engagement,? you may be asking?

The definition we created in the workshop is ?Employee Engagement is what happens when employees stop working?and start caring.?

?Employee Engagement? is the answer to the many blog subscribers who have written to me in the last year asking how to get employees to:

  • Be more motivated
  • Take more self-initiative
  • Stop whining and caring only about a salary increase
  • Make decisions and take action for the job they are being paid to do
  • Stop throwing their co-workers/teammates ?under the bus?

The Breaking the Mould process is the answer.

The ?employee engagement? results the Breaking the Mould process has achieved is nothing short of phenomenal and transformational!

Especially, in a variety of unique work environments with historically ?challenging? personnel, such as:

  • Long-term, cynical and jaded workers on an oil rig off the coast of South America as well as in the North Sea,
  • Chimney Sweep technicians,
  • Beauty salon workers,
  • International importing and exporting manufacturers

How can you create an engaged workforce?

The amazing thing is that this process is not brain surgery or rocket science.

It is simply communicating with your workforce in a very specific manner so they feel valued and feel they have a say in their work environment. Once human beings get a feeling they have control over their circumstances, they begin to take ownership of their situation.

In 1998 and 1999 I was fortunate to hear U.S. General Norman Schwartzkopf give a keynote address, and he said, ?It has been my experience that if you set high standards people will seek to meet or exceed those standards.

?If you tell people what needs to be done, give them the authority, autonomy and resources to get it done, they will exceed your expectations.?

?Breaking the Mould? offers a precise, systematic process for allowing that to happen I your organization.

I?m proud to be one of just two consultants in the United States certified to facilitate the Breaking the Mould process.

To investigate if Breaking the Mould is a fit for your company, I?m offering a limited number of exclusive, complimentary (a $297 value) ?Breaking the Mould? Strategy Sessions. (use coupon code:? btm2011 ? in the shopping cart order form after completing your Strategy Session Application)

To grab one of them click here.

?til next time, make it a great week!

skip weisman, transforming leadership and workplace communication to deliver champion level results

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Source: http://www.workplacecommunicationexpert.com/what-is-all-this-talk-about-employee-engagement-all-about/

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Two Marines die in California helicopter crash (Reuters)

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) ? Two Marines aboard a helicopter were killed on Monday when the aircraft crashed during a training mission at a Southern California military base, officials said.

The two-person AH-1W "Cobra" helicopter went down in the southeast corner of Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar said in a statement.

Camp Pendleton is 40 miles north of San Diego.

A brush fire caused by the crash has spread to about 50 acres, and in an effort to quell the blaze officials have deployed several air tankers, the Marine Corps said.

The two Marines were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, the Marine Corps said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and the two Marines will not be identified until their families have been notified, said Marine Corps spokesman Corporal Steven Posy.

(Reporting by Marty Graham; Writing by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110920/us_nm/us_helicopter_crash_california

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Winter Olympics | Oval Egg Articles

This is a concise write-up on "Winter Olympics" Even though most of the time this subject matter has not been awarded it's proper share in the media nevertheless at this time common people are chatting about Recreation and Sports and sharing knowledge concerning Recreation and Sports. It is exceedingly recommended that you take your time reading through this piece of writing instead of speed reading it, which might lead to various missed points.

This write-up is effort of Abraham David. Please link to this page if you take this write-up for whichever reason. Article on "Winter Olympics" starts after this.

Article Starts from Here:

There are plenty of different sports to keep your attention if you are watching the Winter Olympics. They take place every four years at different locations found around the world. Some of the most exciting events of the entire Olympics take place during the winter games. The most popular winter sports events that get watched are the skiing competitions and the skating events.

There are ten different events that take place for both men and women to compete in for the Alpine skiing competition. Cross country skiing is offered as an individual and as a team event with competitions spanning over several different distances ranging from 15 km to 40 km.

Freestyle skiing allows those in competition to be judged on their style, their stunts, and the level of difficulty that they are able to offer during their routine. Ski jumping allows contestants to race down hills and then see how far they can jump in the air across an area. The way in which they land is also judged. The Nordic combined is a skiing event that offers a combination of cross country skiing combined with jumping.

Snowboarding was added to the Winter Olympic Games in 1998 and continues to be one that many people love to watch. These events require the individual to use a board strapped to their feet without any poles as you would use in regular skiing. The individual controls the direction of the snowboard with their feet and body.

In the skating categories of the Winter Olympics, figure skating is watched by millions of viewers. There are individual and team events which have both been plagued with controversy over the years. In 1992 Nancy Kerrigan was attacked and injured while practicing for the Olympics. It was later determined that a rival, Tonya Harding, had launched the plan with her boyfriend to get Kerrigan out of the way for the competition.

In 2002 there was controversy surrounding the judges as the Canadian team had a flawless routine but the Russian team walked away with the gold. Rumors that some judges had been paid off quickly circulated and eventually the Canadian team was offered a gold medal. However, the accusations could not be substantiated enough to justify the removal of the gold medal from the Russian team.

Before we go on with the article allow me disclose that anything in this piece of writing on "Winter Olympics"is my view, please carry out your investigation ahead of taking any action. Proper consultant on "Winter Olympics" should be consulted before taking any action. OvalEgg.com is not responsible for any damages of any kind that may arise from applying information contained in this article.

The event of speed skating in the winter Olympics is one that has gained the attention of the audience in recent years. This involves individuals and teams racing around the ice at neck breaking speeds. There is plenty of action though to keep you on the edge of your seat as they skate around the track.

Ice hockey is always a fun sport to watch, and there are events in the Winter Olympics for both men?s teams and women?s teams. Canada holds the record for the most gold medals in this event with 13. There is plenty of stiff competition in the ice hockey games though so make sure you tune in to cheer on your favorite teams.

The fastest sport in the Winter Olympics is the Luge. This event involves one or two people on a small sled that quickly descends down the course. The riders control the speed and the movement of the sled with their bodies so they have to exhibit strength in their calves and their shoulders in order to be very fast.

The bobsleigh events are very similar but there are events for a full five person team as well as a two person team. They sit upright for this particular event in the Winter Olympics while they lay down for the Luge events.

The next Winter Olympic Games will be taking place in 2010 and will be hosted by Canada. You will be able to watch all your favorite sports as the teams from around the world compete to take home the gold metals in the various individual and team sports.

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Thanks for reading this article. Please link to this webpage if you want to use this article anywhere. I hope you appreciated what I wrote on "Winter Olympics". I would be pleased to know what you think regarding it, negative or optimistic. Please leave a comment below and show me you're alive.

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Some Basic Soccer Terms Beginners ... - Sports Recreation Hobbies

Do you want to know how to play soccer? It is not surprising to know that more and more people are being drawn to the game, with it being one of the most popular sports in the world. And if your enthusiasm for the game prods you into learning how to play it, then be delighted because you will profit a lot from this pursuit. But before getting ready with your gear, it would greatly help if you can learn the basic theories behind the sport. As a good head start, you should learn the common soccer terms.

This is to assist you in easily grasping the techniques your trainer will teach you during coaching sessions. One common term in the game of soccer is position. This identifies where on the field you will play and what your role would be. There are four basic positions: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker.

Another term beginners should understand is formation. This refers to the way the players are positioned in the field and is decided by the coach based on what he considers effective for a specific game. If you are watching the game played by the football team of Barcelona sporting club and you hear somebody say the players are in the 4-4-2 position, then this just means there are 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 strikers. For the commonly used soccer action terms, you might find: center, charging, foot trap, header and save.

Center or cross means the ball is passed from either side of the field onto the middle position. Charging is defined as the method used by a player to cause the one in possession of the ball to lose his balance. Foot trap means the use of the foot to control a rolling or low bouncing ball. Header is the word used to describe that a player passes or shoots the ball with his head. Save is the act of stopping a shot; an action done by a goalkeeper.

Other terms that form part of soccer vocabulary and which are worth noting by budding soccer players are: substitute, match officials, set-pieces and cards. If you are watching Ricardo Kaka as he plays and you hear the word substitute, this means a reserve player who replaces a tired or injured player or is used as a tactical option.

Match officials are the men responsible for implementing the rules of the game and are making sure that soccer is played fairly. Yellow or a red card is received by a player when he does a violation in a game; the yellow card is for a relatively minor infraction while the red one is given to a player who has gotten two yellow cards or to a player who demonstrated a bad foul or poor behavior.

The writer is a group member of the Barcelona sporting club. He really likes soccer and he is an avid fan of Ricardo Kaka. If you want to know more about soccer terms then visit http://www.sportspundit.com for more details.

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Source: http://www.sportsrecreationhobbies.com/blog/basic-soccer-terms-beginners-learn?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=basic-soccer-terms-beginners-learn

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