I’m cursed, says disappointed Rio Ferdinand

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, June 6 (IANS) England football capitan Rio Ferdinand, who was ruled out of the World Cup by a last moment injury, feels he has been ‘cursed’.

Ferdinand damaged his left-knee ligaments during training after tackling Emile Heskey and catching his studs in the turf, reports thesun.co.uk.

Ferdinand’s agent and long-time friend Pini Zahavi, told Sunsport: ‘Rio said, ‘I think somebody cursed me’. That is honestly how he feels. Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him.’

Shocked players heard Ferdinand scream in agony as he collapsed to the ground on Friday.

Ferdinand has been replaced by Tottenham strike Michael Dawson.

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Khan gives hard-to-please wife a memorable birthday gift

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Britain’s Simon Khan gave his wife Lesley the perfect 42nd birthday present on Sunday when he took home the prized PGA Championship trophy.

“She is the hardest woman to buy for,” the 37-year-old European Tour journeyman told reporters at Wentworth. “I just managed to get a card for her from me and my daughter this morning.

“She just said, ‘Look, I’m not worried about it, you just concentrate on what you’re doing. Go and do it.

“Now we’re going to stay up in London for a night and go to Harvey Nichols or something like that and just let her loose,” said the Englishman after receiving a first prize of 750,000 euros ($937,800) for his win at the tour’s flagship event.

Khan lost his tour card last year and had to go to Qualifying School to win it back, which he did in grand style by winning the six-round event in Spain.

However, he still needed a sponsor’s invite to get into this week’s tournament.

“This is an event I’ve had in my mind all the way through the year,” he said after a closing 66 gave him a six-under tally of 278 and a one-shot victory over fellow Englishman Luke Donald and Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed.

“To get the call on Monday and to get in, that was elation. It would have been hard not to play this week.

“I just love the place, love coming here and enjoy being here.”

Khan ended his round in dramatic style, a snaking 18-foot putt turning at the last moment before dropping in at the back of the hole at the 18th.

“I haven’t seen one like that all week,” he said after becoming the first invited player to win the PGA Championship. “Maybe it was meant to happen.”

It was Khan’s second tour victory and came almost six years after his first, at the 2004 Wales Open.

(Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Afridi says aggression, ending ‘mental hang up’ critical for Pak success against Oz

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 20 (ANI): Flamboyant Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi believes that his team suffers from a ‘mental hang up’ when it comes to competing with the World Champions Australia, and he wants to help players break that ‘jinx’ concerning the Kangaroos.

In the recent years, Pakistan have had a nightmarish record against Australia, with the latest being the January-February tour where Pakistan failed to register even a single win against the hosts.

It came close to defeating Australia in the semifinal of the just concluded ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies, but faltered at the last moment.

Afridi said the loss almost shattered his heart, but he pointed towards the positive aspect of the loss that at least Pakistan played some tough and competitive cricket.

“I would have been left completely shattered but what gave me hope was the fact that we played aggressive cricket and a victory against Australia was within our reach,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“It would have been great had we go on to win that match but once again the Australians proved that they are still the best in the world,” he added.

The hard hitting all-rounder pointed out that defeating Australia has never been easy, but the teams competing against the world champions would have to match the aggression of the Kangaroos to stand any chance.

“I must make it clear that beating Australia will never be easy. But I’m also confident that we can do it. What we need is to overcome our mental hang up and just play brave cricket. The thing is that the Aussies are mentally very tough and the only way to beat them is by going out there and giving it our best shot. You have to be really aggressive against that team because there is no other way to tackle them,” Afridi said.

Afridi said he is eagerly waiting for the two T20 encounters against Australia during the upcoming series in England, as the best chance of ending the team’s poor run against Australia is to defeat them in the game in which they are considered to be the best.

“It would take a gigantic effort to beat Australia in the Test series but Twenty20 cricket is a different story. We have a very good team for the shortest format and can beat any opposition on our day,” he said. (ANI)

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Afridi says aggression, ending ‘mental hang up’ critical for Pak success against Oz

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 20 (ANI): Flamboyant Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi believes that his team suffers from a ‘mental hang up’ when it comes to competing with the World Champions Australia, and he wants to help players break that ‘jinx’ concerning the Kangaroos.

In the recent years, Pakistan have had a nightmarish record against Australia, with the latest being the January-February tour where Pakistan failed to register even a single win against the hosts.

It came close to defeating Australia in the semifinal of the just concluded ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies, but faltered at the last moment.

Afridi said the loss almost shattered his heart, but he pointed towards the positive aspect of the loss that at least Pakistan played some tough and competitive cricket.

“I would have been left completely shattered but what gave me hope was the fact that we played aggressive cricket and a victory against Australia was within our reach,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“It would have been great had we go on to win that match but once again the Australians proved that they are still the best in the world,” he added.

The hard hitting all-rounder pointed out that defeating Australia has never been easy, but the teams competing against the world champions would have to match the aggression of the Kangaroos to stand any chance.

“I must make it clear that beating Australia will never be easy. But I’m also confident that we can do it. What we need is to overcome our mental hang up and just play brave cricket. The thing is that the Aussies are mentally very tough and the only way to beat them is by going out there and giving it our best shot. You have to be really aggressive against that team because there is no other way to tackle them,” Afridi said.

Afridi said he is eagerly waiting for the two T20 encounters against Australia during the upcoming series in England, as the best chance of ending the team’s poor run against Australia is to defeat them in the game in which they are considered to be the best.

“It would take a gigantic effort to beat Australia in the Test series but Twenty20 cricket is a different story. We have a very good team for the shortest format and can beat any opposition on our day,” he said. (ANI)

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Nuclear Liability Bill to be introduced in Parliament today

May 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 7 (ANI): The UPA Government is likely to introduce the controversial Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the last day of the current Budget session.

The Bill is listed in the schedule of business for the Lower House for today.

It is expected that the government would refer it to a Parliamentary Standing Committee after winning a trial of strength in Lok Sabha during opposition-sponsored cut motions.

The Left is likely to ask for a division when the government introduces the proposed legislation.

Earlier, the government had listed the bill for introduction on March 15, but had to defer it at the last moment after it realised that it did not have the requisite numbers to see its introduction in the Lok Sabha.

In the present form, the Bill limits liability to the operator for each nuclear incident at Rs 500 crore, which is the main issue of contention. (ANI)

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Umar Gul blames ‘dropped catches bane’ for loss against Australia in World T20

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Injured Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has held the team’s poor fielding display responsible for the massive 34-run defeat against Australia in the ICC World T20 Championship.

Gul, who failed to recover on time from his shoulder injury and was omitted from the T20 squad for the coveted tournament at the very last moment, said Pakistani fielders dropped too many catches, which changed the result of the match.

“Catches win matches, and you simply cannot drop players of the calibre of Shane Watson and David Hussey. The catches that Misbah-ul-Haq and Salman Butt dropped hit Pakistan very hard,” Gul said.

Hussey was dropped by Salman Butt near the long-off boundary on five. The drop cost Pakistan dearly as he went on to smash 53 off 29 deliveries, which included four sixes in a Mohammed Sami over.

Misbah-ul-Haq then dropped Watson at mid-wicket adding to Sami’s woes. The Australian all-rounder went on to score 81 runs off 49.

“Both catches should have been taken and could have entirely changed the course of the match. On flat decks like the one in St Lucia, bowlers need the support of their fielders, but yesterday the support wasn”t there. With Watson gone and Hussey back in the pavilion early, Pakistan could have applied some pressure on the Australians,” PakPassion.net quoted Gul, as saying.

Gul, who is Pakistan’s most successful T20 bowler, hailed captain Shahid Afridi’s decision to open the bowling with spinner Mohammed Hafeez, but said the skipper lacked a “Plan B” when the move backfired.

“It was a plan that was clearly designed to stifle dangerous Aussie opening batsman David Warner, who is recognised as being more comfortable against pace, rather than spin. However when Hafeez started to get hit around, then the plan should have been altered straight away. But it seemed to me that there was no alternative plan,” Gul said.

He also pointed out that Pakistani bowlers lacked variations, and were pretty predictable in the match.

“The pitch was slow and very good for batting. In those circumstances you have to vary your length, line and pace. I would have expected more bouncers, slow bouncers, quick bouncers, especially after Sami got rid of Warner to a short ball. I was surprised that we didnt see more shorter deliveries,” Gul said. (ANI)

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Gul’s absence could dent Pak’s chances in ICC T20 World Championship: Younis

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.27 (ANI): The absence of experienced fast bowler Umar Gul could dent Pakistan’s chances of retaining the ICC World T20 Championship in the West Indies, former captain Younis Khan has said.

Khan said Gul would have played a vital role in Pakistan’s campaign, as he has been one of the key players in the squad during the last two T20 World Championships.

“It’s a huge setback for us that Gul has been ruled out as he has proved to be very successful for us in T20. He was one of the key players in helping Pakistan reach the last two T20 World Cup finals,” The Dawn quoted Gul, as saying.

He, however said, that the Pakistan team still has got players who could help in lifting the coveted title for the second consecutive time.

“I still feel we can work our way through. We have good bowlers like Aamir, Asif, Ajmal and Afridi. We are still capable of reaching the semis and after that you just need a bit of luck,” Younis said.

Speaking about pacer Mohammed Sami and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman, who were roped in at the last moment as replacements for injured Gul and all rounder Yair Aarafat, the former skipper said they have been performing well in the domestic tournaments, and hoped that both will come good during the upcoming tournament.

“Sami and Rehman are good choices as both of them have done well in domestic matches. Although Sami has received many opportunities in the past without being successful, he did well in Australia and has also been giving a good showing in domestic cricket,” Younis said. (ANI)

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Hamburg sack Labbadia days before Europa semi

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Europa League semi-finalists Hamburg SV have sacked coach Bruno Labbadia just three days before the return leg against Fulham, the club said on Monday.

Hamburg, who visit the London club for the second leg of their Europa tie on Thursday following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, said there was no choice.

He will be replaced by Dutch assistant coach Ricardo Moniz until the end of the season, the club said.

“We analysed the situation and we saw that as things were we would not be able to succeed against Fulham,” club president Bernd Hoffmann told reporters after meeting Labbadia earlier in the day.

“It was the last moment for us to react to keep our Europa League target in sight,” he said.

Hamburg were crushed 5-1 by Hoffenheim on Sunday, dropping to seventh in the Bundesliga after a poor second half of the season in which they have won only four of their 15 league games since the winter break.

Labbadia, who took over last summer, had suffered a similar second-round collapse last season with Bayer Leverkusen.

(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Sharif faces flak as political parties seek answers for his ‘U-turn’

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Mar.27 (ANI): Pakistani political leaders are still grappling with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s last minute ‘U-turn’ over the constitutional reforms package and are trying to find out as to what exactly had prompted Sharif for his sudden move.

Sharif had demanded that a “consensus” be reached before tabling the package in Parliament, despite his party’s proposals on the appointment of judges to superior courts being already incorporated in the document.

Leaders cutting across party lines are now demanding an explanation from Sharif with some even bringing into question his sincerity to the reforms process.

According to sources, a large number of PML-N parliamentarians have expressed dismay over the unexpected change in the stance of their party leader, and “they have registered their discontent with the party leadership”.

Talking to reporters here, Interior Minister Rehman Malik suggested that Sharif might have been under ‘some pressure’ to take the move, but added that the ‘PML-N chief would able to give a better explanation.’

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s senior leader, Marvi Memon, blasted Sharif describing him as a ‘spoiler’.

“The PML-N chief has a habit of messing up things at the very last moment… and that was exactly what he has intended to do with the constitutional reforms package… he has always been a spoiler,” The Daily Times quoted Memon, as saying.

Awami National Party (ANP) Senior Vice President Senator Haji Adil described Sharif’s U-turn as a “drone attack.”

Insiders said that while both Senator Ishaq Dar and Sharif had assured Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that they would not create any hurdles in the way of the reforms package, however, a phone call by “certain quarters” prompted the former premiere to change the script of his speech during the press conference in which he back tracked.

“Nawaz was warned by those quarters that his own future, his brother’s future and the entire PML-N’s future would be in jeopardy,” sources said. (ANI)

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Solo rower celebrates trans-Tasman feat

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Quincey family are celebrating the latest chapter in their special, if somewhat quirky, relationship with the Tasman Sea.

New Zealander Shaun Quincey, 25, yesterday landed on a remote beach in the far north of the country to become only the second person to complete a solo journey of the Tasman – a feat equalled only by his father.

Dozens of supporters drove hundreds of kilometres to welcome Quincey home. After 54 days at sea, it was little wonder he was so relieved to feel sand under his feet.

“There were plenty of times I thought I wouldn’t make it. There were, you know in between the capsize and hitting the whale and everything, there were plenty of times when I thought, ‘Oh, I am not going to get here’,” he said.

The New Zealander swam the last 300 metres into shore. He was worried the three-metre swell might damage his boat. It was eventually towed in – intact – by his support crew.

“Absolutely amazing to be able to share this, be the first person to arrive here and my dad was the first person to row the Tasman in the other direction. It is just unbelievable,” he said.

Family and friends and even those who did not know him were there to greet New Zealand’s newest record holder.

“I think we ended up rowing about 4,000 kilometres in the end so, yeah… it is very good to be here,” he said.

Among the supporters was his mother, Nanette Quincey, who said it was wonderful to welcome him home.

“It is just the nicest experience. You never know what the answer is going to be until right at the last moment and it was a great ending,” Ms Quincey said.

Local Lorraine Steel was equally impressed.

“I can’t get over how well and fit he looks. He just looks amazing like he has walked out of the gym. Looks great … Good on him,” she said.

Most of the group had been up before sunrise and many had tracked his movements over the internet.

Like father, like son

One person keeping a close eye from afar was his father, Colin Quincey, who spoke to reporters from his home in Darwin.

“My motivation for doing my trip was a bit to do with encouraging young people to challenge and to dare, to get out there,” he said.

“I never thought that my son would be one of those young people.”

But the end of Shaun Quincey’s trip did not quite go to plan. Several times his supporters had to move camp, shifting north up the beach as they tried to meet him when he came to shore.

One of the first things the New Zealander did when he came ashore was find a freshly made sandwich; he had been eating packet food for more than seven weeks.

“It’s going to take me a few days to come to terms with the fact that I’ve been at sea for 54 days,” he said.

“I’ve just got to need to come to terms with that and relax and I think then I’ll be OK.”

Shaun Quincey is now taking that well-earned break.

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Passport refused to footballer due tohis father’s link with militants

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 16 (ANI): The regional passport authorities of Jammu and Kashmir have denied passport to a Kashmiri youth, sighting the reason of his father’s involvement with militants in the valley.

A Nineteen-year -old youth, Basharat Bashir, was all set to fly to Spain for the soccer training, but the news of denial of passport has crushed his dreams.

“They were (passport authorities) only telling me that your case has not been recommended by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and FRO from police. I know they have denied me to give the passport because my father was a militant,” said Ahmad.

Bashir was among the 11 players selected by International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT) for training in Spain, but was dropped at the last moment because of non availablitiy of passport.

When contacted, the passport office authorities refused to talk about it.

Former Indian football captain Abdul Majeed Kakroo said it was injustice to Bashir and demanded the intervention of state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the matter.

“His father was into wrong things but now he has improved. Now, why should his son suffer for that? Why should he be denied the passport, and hurdles put in his way? On behalf of all the football players I would request the chief minister to help him,” Kakroo said.

Bashir also said that he was a year-and-a-half old when his father was arrested and was later released.

“He had become militant even before my birth,” Bashir said. By Parvez Butt (ANI)

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Cash for Vote scam: Kulkarni defends Advani against Jaswant attack

August 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug.29 (ANI): A former aide of Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, Sudheendra Kulkarni, on Saturday, defended the former on the issue of the cash for vote scam that rocked proceedings in Parliament in July 2008.

Kulkarni’s defence of Advani came a day after expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh fired a fresh salvo at Advani accusing him of being “at the centre” of the cash-for-votes scam drama enacted in the Lok Sabha last year.

“I am saddened to see that the name of Shri L.K. Advani has been unnecessarily and negatively mentioned in this episode. I remain firm in my belief that the party did the right thing by attempting to expose this shameful scandal, which remains a blot on India’s democracy. I do not regret my own participation in the attempt to expose this scandal, through a sting operation carried out by a reputed television channel,” Kulkarni told a private television channel

“The TV channel had agreed to telecast the sting operation after catching the culprits red-handed on tape. Shockingly, the channel backed out of its commitment at the last moment. As a result, the people of India could not get to know the truth of this scandal. My role was that of a facilitator in the whistle-blowing operation. I am willing to face any fair inquiry,” added Kulkarni.

Jaswant Singh had said of Advani’s role in the cash for vote scam: “It’s a great sense of pity. Here was a man who was consumed by an ambition to be Prime Minister, and that desire made him commit so many mistakes.”

“Do you know this whole wretched thing of money for votes is a classic example of wrong decision making and it’s extremely troubling that he did not stand up and say no. Advaniji was at the centre of this whole drama,” he told Outlook magazine. (ANI)

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UML says PM’s India visit a success

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Aug 24 (ANI): The CPN (UML) has stated that the five-day official visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to India was “successful and fruitful.”

The Standing Committee meeting of UML held at the party’s central office on Sunday said that the visit was successful and thanked the Prime Minister after he briefed the committee over the highlights of his visit.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister and Chairman of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav, has said that Madhav Kumar Nepal’s recently concluded India visit was just a continuation and that it failed to attain any achievements.

Kantipur quoted him as, saying that Madhav Kumar Nepal’s India visit failed to accomplish tasks of national interest.

“We could not see any solid proposal that would have abated the yearly deficit of billion rupees. No talks regarding the maximum exploitation of Nepal’s water resources have been made,” he said.

He also said that Prime Minister has not raised the issue of border encroachment during discussions with his Indian counterpart.

He also said that Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala’s decision to back out of the trip at the last moment was against the spirit of diplomatic norms.

“It’s an extreme mistake in part of Foreign Minister to back out of India tour after sending in the name list of Prime Minister’s entourage” he added.

However, during the visit both India and Nepal included a new trade treaty and agreement to control unauthorized trade, particularly from a third country.

The treaty is aimed at widening the bilateral economic engagements.

The new agreement will replace the existing arrangements since 1991, which was extended from time to time.

The trade treaty, which has been under negotiation for the last two years, aims at enlarging the scope of the existing institutional framework. As per the treaty India gives duty-free access to its market to goods manufactured in Nepal. (ANI)

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Nepal PM’s visit to India a milestone, says Minister

August 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Aug.21 (ANI): Nepal’s Communication and Information Minister and spokesman Shankar Pokharel on Friday described the five-day visit to India of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal as a milestone in Indo-Nepal relations.

“The visit is a milestone in Nepal-India relations,” Pokharel told reporters.

He said that during the visit, the leaderships of both India and Nepal had decided that Home Secretaries would meet periodically to tackle the issue of trans-border crime and other bilateral security concerns including the use of the Himalayan nation as transit to push fake currency into the country.

He revealed that Nepal would never tolerate any anti-Indian activities from its soil.

Pokharel also said that Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala’s decision to back out of the trip at the last moment would have no negative impact on Nepal-India relations.

It was the Prime Minister’s official visit, not the Foreign Minister’s visit, he clarified.

Koirala, he said, had decided to cancel the visit on health grounds, and therefore, it shouldn’t be taken as otherwise, he said.

Dismissing the Maoist claim of toppling the coalition government, Pokharel claimed that the present UML led government itself is the national government.

The present government is capable of resolving all the problems, he claimed. (ANI)

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Sabina Khatun tries to kiss and hug Irfan Pathan | Irfan Pathan – Shabina Khatun Kiss Video | Infan Pathan News Video

August 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sabina Khatun tries to kiss and hug Irfan Pathan | Irfan Pathan – Shabina Khatun Kiss Video | Infan Pathan News Video

A 24 year old Kolkata girl Sabina Khatu, a young is all in news today, as she stunned everyone at a Tata Indicom Promotional Contest function held on Monday as she tried to publicly hug and kiss Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, but the pacer used his reflexes to block her advances at the last moment.

She had literally lunged at him on the stage, where the pacer’s elder brother Yusuf Pathan was also present.

To view Irfan Pathan – Shabina Khatun Kiss Video Click Here

Khatun, who works for an insurance company, was one of the recipients of prizes for a promotional contest held by Tata Indicom and tried her desperate act while waiting for a photo op with the Pathan brothers after receiving the prize.

“I am a big fan of Irfan. I wanted to touch him. And I have touched him. I am very happy,” a smiling Sabina later told mediapersons, who scrambled for a byte from the girl.

Asked what she was mumbling to Pathan on the stage, she replied: “I was telling him that I wanted to hug and kiss him”.

“But he was saying ‘No no, please don’t do it. Shivangi gala kat legi (Shivangi will kill me)”.

Shivangi Dev is Irfan’s fiancee.

To view Irfan Pathan – Shabina Khatun Kiss Video Click Here

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Action to continue till last Taliban militant is finished from Swat: Hoti

July 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Peshawar, July 14 (ANI): NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has said that the Taliban will not be allowed to disrupt peace in the scenic Swat valley again.

The Chief Minister said the war against those involved in “destruction and blood shed” would continue until the last of the terrorists had been eliminated.

He said that administrative changes in Malakand division had been introduced for the implementation of sharia and the security of the population.

Addressing a gathering at Government College Palosa (Charsadda), Hoti said the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation was approved “purely on the demand and aspirations of the people of Malakand … not under any sort of pressure.”

“We wanted to resolve the problems of Swat through dialogue right from day one … we tried it till the last moment, but unfortunately, the Taliban chose the path of destruction instead of negotiations,” the Daily Times quoted Hoti, as saying.

He assured those who went home to Swat on Monday that their return “doesn’t mean that government support and assistance will stop … the government will help you start life anew.”

Hoti praised the role of the president, the prime minister, the federal government, international agencies, NGOs, provincial governments, political parties and particularly the people of Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar for facilitating relief activities.

“The provincial government was only able to fulfil its responsibility because of their spirit. Their role is an exact example of Pukhtunwali,” said Hoti.

“The terrorists are the enemy of Islam, humanity, Pukhtuns, peace and stability and our future. We will fight them along the army and triumph.”

Hoti said that Swat was “an injured part of our body, and no stone will be left unturned to put it right”.

He assured the armed forces that they had the backing of the political leadership, the federal and provincial governments, the civil society and the public. (ANI)

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FOTA, Mosley rift could lead to F1 breakaway again

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, July 9 (ANI): The prospect of a breakaway Formula One world championship was dramatically revived on Wednesday when the technical directors of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) walked out of a meeting with FIA representatives saying the sport’s future was “in jeopardy”.

Wednesday’s meeting with FIA president Max Mosley was convened to agree to the final points of detail, but ended in acrimony after FOTA concluded that the FIA was again attempting to move goalposts at the last moment.

A FOTA statement said its members had no choice but to walk out when the FIA representative, Charlie Whiting, said that as things stand the eight teams do not have official entries in the 2010 world championship and could not have any input into the rules.

This was despite the fact that the FIA has published an entry list, including the eight FOTA teams and that the rules appeared to have been agreed between both parties last month, reports The Guardian.

The FIA’s unpredictable behaviour at the Nürburgring, where Sunday’s German grand prix will be staged, has left the Formula One community guessing over Mosley’s long-term intentions.

It may be an attempt to reassert the governing body’s authority and keep FOTA talking with the FIA for as long as possible. The longer talks continue, the less likely it will be that FOTA will have time to organize a breakaway series for 2010.

In addition to the eight Fota-aligned teams, the meeting included representatives of Williams and Force India, plus those from the three new teams accepted for the 2010 championship, Manor F1, Campos Meta and Team US F1.

The meeting came at the end of a turbulent week for the sport in which Mosleymade it clear that the new teams must have as much of a say in the new regulations as the established ones. (ANI)

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Cuba’s status is focus of first OAS debate in 47 years

May 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington – Cuba will be front and centre Wednesday in a historic discussion at the Organization of American States (OAS), whose members will hold the first official discussion of Cuba’s status since the island’s ouster in 1962.

The debate, which precedes the OAS General Assembly meeting next week in Honduras, is to take place among representatives in Washington who have several pending proposals that could lead to revocation of 1962 OAS sanctions, which excluded Cuba from the organization.

The debate follows months of nearly unanimous demands out of South America to put an end to Cuba’s isolation and re-admit the communist country to regular diplomatic status in the hemisphere.

At a Latin American summit last month, US President Barack Obama called for a change in tone – but stopped short of suggesting that the US might lift its decades-old economic embargo.

Cuba’s perceived status has changed over the last five years as more left-leaning governments came to power in Latin America and as former Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down from power. Many see the US election of centre-left Democrat Obama as providing the final piece for a change in policy toward Cuba.

At least three versions of a proposal will be discussed Wednesday in Washington at OAS headquarters – from Honduras, Nicaragua and, at the last moment, one from the US.

The representatives are to try to reach a consensus on a proposal to put before the OAS General Assembly in Honduras.

Since Cuba was excluded from OAS in 1962 for failure to have a democratically elected government, there has never been official discussion at this level about changing Cuba’s status. (dpa)

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It is impossible for Prabhakaran to flee now: Military

May 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Puthumathalan (Mullaitivu), April 24 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s military strongly believes that Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is still holed up in a small coastal strip in the north and has said it is impossible for him to flee the country now.

‘I feel Prabhakaran is inside the 10-square-kilometre no-fire-zone holding civilians as human shield. This area is fast shrinking with our troops advancing steadily towards it from various directions and it is almost impossible for him to flee the area now,’ the army’s elite 58 Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva said in Kilinochchi Friday.

‘Prabhakaran is not the type of man who lives on the surface when there is a military operation. I am sure he will be living underground,’ Brig Silva told reporters in a building that was earlier the political headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and is now the operational hub of the 58 Division.

Quoting the confession of a Tiger leader who surrendered two days ago, Brig Silva said that some of the key leaders of the Tamil Tigers were also with the elusive Prabhakaran in Mullaitivu district.

He said Daya Master, a former media LTTE spokesman, had told military officers that Prabhakaran, 54, had personally told his fighters that he will be with them ’till the last moment’.

According to Daya Master, key LTTE leaders who were giving the rebel chief company included Soosai, who heads the now battered Sea Tigers, the intelligence unit leader Pottu Amman and military strategist Bhanu.

Brig Silva said an estimated 106,000 Tamil civilians – men, women and children – had so far fled the LTTE zone and taken shelter in military-held areas.

He said he did not know how many more civilians were still with the Tigers.

Some of the fleeing civilians told reporters flown here from Colombo that the LTTE on many occasions have shot at civilians aiming to prevent them from leaving the areas controlled by them.

‘The situation in the LTTE-held areas is getting worse. They warn us, beat us and shoot at us for not to come to the army-controlled areas. My small family of three has gone through hell there for the past two month,’ said a middle-aged father who had just crossed to the government-held areas with his wife and four-year-old son.

‘Prices of commodities are skyrocketing in the LTTE-held areas. Now that we have come to the government-held areas, we can be sure of our lives and future,’ a 60-year-old woman said while receiving a biscuit packet from the army.

Brig Silva said those who enter the government-held areas were fully screened, obviously for security reasons, before being sent to the welfare centres and refugee camps in the north.

He said his troops had already captured six kilometres of the no-fire-zone, and added that high concentration of civilians in the remaining NFZ was bound to slow down the future military advance.

The military advancement until now had been rapid throughout Sri Lanka’s north, dealing solid blows to the insurgent group that many had thought could never be vanquished.

‘Our main aim of this operation is to free civilians from the clutches of the LTTE. We want to rescue them unharmed as we have been doing thus far,’ he said.

According to the military, the LTTE was still putting up resistance, firing away 122 mm artillery.

‘The LTTE is firing but we are not retaliating because of fears that we will hit the civilians. We are using only small arms and carrying out targeted attacks. We don’t mind spending more time to recapture the entire area,’ said Brig Silva.

‘At least 15 soldiers were killed and about 75 injured during the past four or five days due to LTTE artillery fire.

‘The military operation will end when we fully rescue the remaining civilians from the LTTE. And that will be the end of the LTTE,’ Brig. Silva said.

Prabhakaran, who has led the violent Tamil separatist campaign since founding the LTTE in 1976, has in the past vowed never to be taken alive.

Like all LTTE fighters, he is known to wear a cyanide vial around his neck, to be bitten to avoid capture.

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Sonia’s cancels Bihar election rallies at last moment

April 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Patna, Apr. 21 (ANI): UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s rallies in Bihar were cancelled at the eleventh hour on Tuesday, without citing any reason for the same.

“The information we have received from the AICC headquarters is that Soniaji’s rallies stand cancelled. No reason has been assigned,” said Samir Kumar Singh, Bihar Congress Working President.

The Congress President was scheduled to address rallies at Supaul and Samastipur to gather support for controversial MP Pappu Yadav’s wife Ranjeet Ranjan and state Congress Legislature Party leader Ashok Kumar respectively.

On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit addressed an election rally at Supaul and in Samastipur along with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. (ANI)

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