Zakat items are too pricey

Many prefer donating in cash to giving sari, lungi etc this year

An outlet of zakat saris waits for customers at New Market Photo:

Affluent Muslims provide zakat to the poor before Eid, but along with essentials zakat items --usually saris and lungis -- have also become dearer this year, putting extra pressure on the zakat donors especially the upper middle class.

Zakat is an Islamic tradition of providing welfare contribution to the poor and deprived people. Rich and upper middle class people practise this Islamic tradition giving out certain amount of cash or clothes to the poor. Shahidul Islam, a businessman from Mirpur section-11, said, “I used to buy at least 300 pieces of saris and lungis every year to distribute among the poor relatives and neighbours but these days I have to cut back on zakat budget.”He also said, “The usual zakat items are too expensive this year. The prices of saris and lungis are beyond my budget. I cannot afford that much any more.”

Islam mentioned that his family now distributes cash among needy people because the prices of clothes have increased. The number of people getting the donation is also reducing every year as they are compelled to shorten the list. “These days we give out Tk 100 each. This is much more convenient for us as we do not have to go through all the hassle in the market to buy saris and lungis,” said Islam.“Moreover, most people now want money instead of clothes. During Eid destitute people get a number of saris and lungis but what they actually want is food. With money they can buy food. Sometimes people even sell the zakat clothes for money,” he said. Best places to buy zakat items in the city are Dhanmondi Hawkers' Market, New Market, New Super Market, Gausia, Mouchak, Bangabazar, Pir Yameni Market, Islampur and Mirpur Muktijoddha Market, apart from showrooms of various textile mills. With Eid only a few days ahead, the city dwellers have started shopping for zakat but sellers said the sale of zakat items is gradually declining.

They attributed the decline of sales to the increased price local textile mill products. Amjad Hossain, a salesman at Bhai Bhai Sari Bitan in New Super Market, said printed cotton saris of local textile mills have always been a popular zakat item for young women while single-coloured thin bordered handloom saris are for older women. For men, handloom lungis from Pabna, Narsingdi, Comilla and Kushtia have always been the most popular zakat item.Printed saris now sell at Tk 210 to Tk 280 while a lungi costs Tk 120 to Tk 170 -- prices of both used to be at least 50 taka less last year. Single coloured handloom sari was Tk 250 just a year ago, which now costs around Tk 350. “We had regulars who used to come every year at the end of Ramadan. But we are losing some of these customers,” said Amjad. Owner of Rajshahi Sari Store in New Market said, “Manufacturing cost of saris has increased in recent times. Prices of yarn and colours doubled so the textile mills have increased prices of their products. Same goes for the weavers.”

One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability.

Ferdous Wahid and Habib with their memories

Eid nostalgia

Habib and Ferdous Wahid in an informal ambience. Photo: Mumit M. To music fans, Habib and Ferdous Wahid need no introduction, for father and son have both been successful in their fields. Recently The Daily Star caught up with Habib and Ferdous Wahid at their home for an informal adda.The prime topic of that adda was Eid.

At the adda father and son shared their Eid experiences, how they pass their Eid, memories and more. Recalling his childhood Eid, Ferdous Wahid said, “Back then Eid was observed with a lot more enthusiasm than it is these days. To a child it was like a dream coming true.

On that day the most exciting part was the new clothes. We are nine brothers and sisters -- six brothers, three sisters. Our parents gave us two sets of dresses, payjama-- panjabi and Eid dress. The dresses were same in colour so it was really a great sight.” “As for any other child, the Chand Raat (the night before the Eid day) was very exciting to me. I was busy planning how to spend the big day ahead. On Eid day one of the top priorities was the salami collection,” said Wahid.“From class six to class ten one of the major attractions on Eid day was smoking. Among my friends the closest ones were-- Syed Siddiqui, the proprietor of Cats Eye, Golam Sarwar and Masud Khan.

On Eid day, no matter where we were at three o'clock all four of us met at Dhanmondi lake. That was our adda spot. Back then Dhanmondi lake was much different from now, an Eden within the city. There was no noise, there were no crowd just calm.”

“One of my best childhood Eid memories was an Eid in the rainy season. That year it rained heavily. Most of the fields in the village went under water. My father, who was in the launch business, took four launches to the village and the Eid jamaat was held on top of the launches.” “One of the main attractions during Eid in childhood was building miniature mosques. From class six to class ten, I built five miniature mosques with paper and small sticks and glue. It took me twenty days to build one.

On Eid day I decorated them with small lights and colour. It was really amazing, and it was a must finishing reciting the Quran. I did it regularly.” For Habib Eid in childhood was a time of great joy. “On every Eid my mother always bought me new clothes. During Ramadan I was always excited. New clothes were bought and after they were bought I was anxious to wear them. I could hardly wait for Eid day.” In my childhood, the main attraction of Eid was to go to the house of my Dora phupu in the afternoon. It was a family get together. I could find all my cousins of my age there. It was really fun, we played many kinds of games and during the evening we went to my mamas house.”Recently, the joint music album Obocheshey … featuring Ferdous Wahid and Habib for the first time was released for Eid. The album futures eight solo tracks four by Habib --Keno Emon Hoy, Choltey Clotey Dekha Holo, Phirey Ashona, Katena Mayabi Raat and four by Ferdous Wahid -- Neel Jochhona, Dhukho Chhuye Dekho, Bhalo Lagey and Chokhey Chokhey. Why so late? Why could this venture not come earlier? Answering the question Habib said, “Because it was the right time.

After I came to the music industry I wanted to know how much my work is accepted by people and it seems I am very lucky to have such well wishers and fans. So when everything seemed right the album came out.” “And again, I always have gone about working in a planned way. I had plans to release the album this Eid.”

Nuclear deal to bring new status: Indian PM

India is close to securing a new position in the world nuclear order, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said as the US House of Representatives passed a major atomic energy pact with New Delhi.The House passed the agreement by a 298-117 vote on Saturday, taking the pact a step closer to being sealed.The agreement, signed by Singh and US President George Bush in 2005, offers India access to Western technology and cheap atomic energy provided New Delhi allows UN inspections of some of its nuclear facilities."

We are on the verge of securing a new status in the global nuclear order," Singh told a gathering on Saturday evening in New York, where he attended the UN General Assembly."India will be liberated from the constraints of technology denial of 34 years," Singh's office quoted him as saying in a statement.The pact, which reverses a ban on civilian nuclear trade with India, will now head to the US Senate for approval.But the deal has faced opposition from critics who argue that India, which first tested an atomic weapon in 1974, is not a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).Singh said the accord would benefit not just India and the US."The civilian nuclear cooperation is in the interest of India, in the interest of the US and in the interest of the world at large," the premier said.

Washington spearheaded efforts that resulted this month in the Vienna-based Nuclear Suppliers Group lifting a global ban on trade with India.Before returning home, Singh was due to visit France where a separate nuclear cooperation accord was likely to be completed.Earlier President George W Bush on Saturday welcomed a vote in the House of Representatives passing a civilian nuclear pact with India that lifts a three decade-old ban on nuclear trade with New Delhi."The passage of this legislation by the House is another major step forward in achieving the transformation of the US-India relationship," Bush said in a statement, urging the Senate now to adopt the bill."I urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass this important piece of legislation before their October adjournment.

Signing this bipartisan bill will help strengthen our partnership with India," he added.Signed by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005, the agreement offers India access to Western technology and cheap atomic energy provided it allows UN nuclear inspections of some of its nuclear facilities.

World is a safer place because of Bush

President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the world is a 'safer place' because of President George W Bush's leadership, adding, "It could have been much worse."In an interview published by the Washington Post on Saturday, Zardari warned that “the axis of evil is growing”, but did not specify who constituted that 'axis'.

He denied that Pakistan had fired at two United States helicopters that had strayed into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan, saying that only warning flares had been fired, contradicting what Admiral Michael Mullen has alleged.Zardari said Pakistan has the opportunity to 'do the job' and has the 'right credentials' and so has he, having been through a 'tough life' that has prepared him 'to become even tougher.

'In another interview published by the Washington Post, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said there are Taliban sanctuaries 'in the region', while agreeing with the interviewer that the international community and the West should have paid more attention to the Tribal Areas. "They should have done all that was needed to be done political, diplomatic, the right concentration. All those areas where the training (was taking place)," he added. Asked if former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf had tried "quite a few options and if they had all failed", the Afghan president replied, "Maybe he did try, but we did not see the results."

Karzai went on to say, "I have faith in Zardari, and I am sure he will deliver. I am hearing good things about Gen Kayani as well. Afghanistan will do everything to give them a sense of confidence."

Key nations ask Myanmar to set free Suu Kyi

Ap, United Nations
Nations concerned about Myanmar called on its military government Saturday to release all political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and to start talking with the opposition. The so-called Group of Friends, which includes the United States, Britain, China, Southeast Asian countries and the European Union, also called on the junta to cooperate with the United Nations, which has tried with little success to nudge the regime toward engagement with its opponents.

The nations met at the United Nations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's ministerial session.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called the meeting, said in a statement afterward that it "is a clear signal of the importance that the international community attaches to the situation in Myanmar."The Security Council and Ban had hoped Myanmar's ruling generals would respond to international pressure to embrace national reconciliation following its violent suppression of massive, anti-government protests in Yangon last year, but so far they have not.

The Security Council has demanded that the military regime release all political prisoners, talk with the opposition, open the political process and end human rights abuses.Ban and his special UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, have actively pursued talks with leaders of Myanmar's government."The people have not been forgotten by the international community," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said. He said, "The truth is the regime holds onto their power jealously and guards the power that they have."Friday marked the first anniversary of the military junta's brutal crackdown on protests led by Buddhist monks. The UN estimated at least 31 people were killed when the army fired on peaceful protesters Sept. 26-27, sparking global outrage.Suu Kyi has spent more than 12 of the past 19 years in detention, mostly under house arrest.

In 1990, her party won a landslide victory that the junta refused to acknowledge. Instead, the regime stepped up arrests and repression of dissidents.Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is also the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said the UN's critical role in helping the Myanmar people after Cyclone Nargis was a positive sign."In that cooperation there is hope," he said. "And some progress is better than no progress."Little progress was made in releasing prisoners and promoting dialogue between the government and Suu Kyi when the UN's Gambari visited Myanmar from Aug. 18-23."The key is to continue to strengthen Gambari's role and to push the UN agenda," Yeo said.

He said that Ban will be going back to Myanmar at the end of the year.On Tuesday, Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner, Win-Tin, was among more than 9,000 inmates freed, days before the first anniversary of the junta's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.But analysts suspect the junta timed the release as an attempt to fend off international criticism on the anniversary.

UAE bans Chinese dairy products

The United Arab Emirates has banned the import of dairy products from China following reports of thousands of kids and baby animals taken ill after their consumption. The ban against the cheap Chinese milk and its products came after contents of melamine, used for making plastics and fertiliser, as also used as whitener, was found in infant milk and other dairy products of several Chinese companies.

The General Secretariat of UAE Municipalities (GSM) has banned entry of all kinds of Chinese dairy products into the country on September 25 and all municipalities and foodstuff outlets have been asked to comply with the ban. Big supermarkets and foodstuff outlets in Abu Dhabi have removed all Chinese dairy products from their shelves.

Some of them took these products off the shelves just after receiving the news of contaminated Chinese milk powder which led to thousands of children across China falling ill and some of them dying.

In UK, 9-yr-olds married off

LONDON: British children as young as nine "are being compelled into wedlock by their families" against their will, reportes said. This revelation came as official figures disclosed that nearly 60 children were rescued by UK's Forced Marriage Unit in the past four years.

The cases fuel concerns that a number of children are disappearing from UK schools to be forced into marriage overseas.

Karma Nirvana, a charity which runs a national helpline on forced marriage said in one incident a nine-year-old girl from a Pakistani family was rescued after her parents told her to wed. On average four children a month contact its helpline

China showing 'flexibility' on border talks with India

MARSEILLES: Buffeted by the strong Indian reaction to its failed bid to stop the NSG waiver for India, China has been showing flexibility on boundary talks. Sources said the Chinese leadership appears to have instructed its negotiators not to get bogged down on the boundary dispute while promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The new approach was evident during NSA's recent visit to Beijing for the new round of boundary talks with his counterpart Dai Bingguo. China, sources said, was showing signs of shedding the rigid approach it has used for one informed by larger strategic considerations of a relationship between the two Asian giants. The interaction saw the Chinese taking pains to deny that they played the spoiler at Vienna. During the NSG meeting on September 4-5, the Chinese side actually walked out of the meeting (which they later denied). It took strongly worded demarches by India in Delhi and Beijing as well as a well-timed phone call by Bush to get the Chinese to move.

What had particularly bothered the Indian side was the refusal by the Chinese leadership — Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao — to take a phone call from PM Singh. Sources said Chinese officials told visiting Indian delegation that the perception was based on distortion of facts. Though the Indian side felt bitter about the Chinese, they have sought to de-emphasise the issue in bilateral interactions. India's representatives have told their Chinese interlocutors that they have no reason to doubt Chinese claims. China has been taking an increasingly hardline position on the boundary dispute resolution with India, virtually going back on the political parameters and guiding principles that were agreed during Wen Jiabao's visit in 2005.

It has increased incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and has dismissed the notion that settled populations would be taken into account on the boundary settlement. However, China works in more sophisticated ways and despite the loss of face on the NSG front, its approach to the border question will always be dictated by its perception of national security interests. India is slowly beginning to realise that.

In a recent speech, finance minister P Chidambaram said something the government will not express officially but is nevertheless a strong sentiment. Delivering the Cariappa lecture, Chidambaram said, "Across the subcontinent, we face the unarticulated challenge from an equal — and perhaps stronger — rival, namely China. China's professed goal is the peaceful rising of that country.

China has resolved all its boundary disputes with its neighbours, save with India. From time to time, China takes unpredictable positions that raise a number of questions about its attitude towards the rise of India. The most recent example is the negative stance adopted by China in the meeting of the NSG. However, the nagging doubt is whether China will regard India as an equal or as an upstart and what will China's attitude to India be if India's economic strength begins to equal that of China." Importantly, China figured prominently in the discussion Singh had with Bush on Thursday, with the latter saying he was quite impressed by the progress made by China that he happened to see when he went for the Beijing Games.

Tackling terror: India takes lessons from US

MARSEILLES: Unable to stop terrorists, the Manmohan Singh government has been constrained to look at the anti-terror mechanism in the US which is believed to have ensured that there was no terrorist attack on that country post-9/11. Official sources said national security advisor M K Narayanan, who was briefed on the working of the Department of Homeland Security, found some of its aspects interesting.

"While many of the things they do are too draconian for us to implement, there are other things that are interesting that we may have to look at, considering that there has been no attack on the US after 2001," said an official familiar with the interaction between India's NSA and Charles Allen, undersecretary, office of national intelligence and analysis under the Department of Homeland Security. Allen travelled to New York for the briefing that Narayanan had requested for. Department of Homeland Security, a single integrated agency which is tasked with overseeing most of US internal security, was set up in 2003 following the recognition that better coordination between various American agencies could have helped thwart terrorists who rammed planes into the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001.

Multiplicity of agencies with little coordination among them has been diagnosed as a major impediment in the fight against terrorism back home. Recent breakthroughs against jihadis banded under SIMI/Indian Mujahideen banner have been attributed to better coordination between Intelligence Bureau and cops in different states, reinforcing the need for institutionalised collaboration — from data sharing to surveillance and joint operations. Talking to reporters travelling with him, the PM said, "This outrage once again demonstrates that we have to tighten our intelligence gathering and strengthen our investigations, we have to strengthen our prosecution process." NSA's interaction with the Department of Homeland Security came against the backdrop of a strong and unprecedented convergence of views on the source of India's terror — the jihadi gangs based in Pakistan and supported by ISI.

The PM and President Bush discussed in detail the dire prospect of Pakistan imploding, the ISI becoming the "state within state", and the role of the notorious agency in the ever-worsening situation in Afghanistan, with sources stressing that the "two leaders were on the same wavelength". Both also agreed on the need to pursue a calibrated approach towards Zardari. Sources indicated that Zardari appreciated the concerns of India and the US in the separate meetings he had with Singh and Bush. But both Singh and Bush doubted whether he had the capacity to deliver on his promises.

In his meeting with Singh, Zardari did not take issue with the Indian PM upon being told that Pakistan's non-fulfilment of its 2004 commitment not to let anti-India terrorists use its soil was a matter of major concern for New Delhi. Nor did he dispute the role of ISI in bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul. But while his promise to work with India to rein in the terrorist outfits and "agencies promoting them" was "music to Indian ears", there were no illusions that Zardari did not have the wherewithal to make good his promises.

The Pakistan president himself kept citing that he needed time to settle down.

Pak hunts for 2 more truck bombs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan police and intelligence agencies have launched a manhunt to trace two explosive-laden trucks which were part of three vehicles believed to have sneaked into the federal capital to carry out suicide bombings.

Intelligence agencies have informed police that three trucks loaded with explosives had entered the federal capital, while one of them targeted the Marriot on Saturday leaving a trail of death and destruction with over 50 fatalities.

The whereabouts of the other two are not known, sources were quoted as saying by the Daily Times newspaper. The hunt for the explosive laden vehicles comes as the interior ministry issued warnings that banned militants groups could carry out strikes in Pakistan's other major cities like Karachi.

The sources said the trucks are still present in the city and the risk of attacks from them had forced police to put security on high alert.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's cabinet lashed out at the country's intelligence agencies for "failing miserably" to find those responsible for a wave of violence including the Marriott Hotel attack. "The cabinet desired that stern action by the law-enforcing agencies must be taken as their intelligence agencies are failing miserably to lay hands on the perpetrators of abnormality in the country," the cabinet said in a statement.

Nokia touchscreen phone on Oct 2?

NEW DELHI: It seems Nokia’s much-awaited touchscreen phone, Tube, is finally set for a launch. According to reports, the touchscreen device from the world’s biggest manufacturer of mobile phones is ready for a launch on October 2.

The company had shown a teaser video of its touchscreen interface almost same time last year. The interface shares many of iPhone features, including the screen that can be change to portrait or landscape depending on how user holds it. The Tube specs were initially revealed in April during a developers conference by Tom Libretto, VP of Nokia's developer programme.

He said, "It's our first touch device." The phone is expected to come with features like GPS, HSDPA, WiFi and TV out. This year saw several major cell phone manufacturers like Samsung and LG launching their touchscreen mobile phones in the market following the success of the Apple iPhone. RIM too is reportedly planning it’s first-ever touchscreen BlackBerry. Today, Internet search giant Google launched its first touchscreen phone powered by Android software.

Inside Google phone

Indiatimes Infotech

Google finally pulled curtains off its iPhone rival, a slick HTC device that combines a touchscreen and a keyboard. Termed G1, the phone will be first launched in the United States on October 22 on TMobile network. G1 is the first phone boasting Android software created by a Google-led consortium.

Here's a glimpse into G1 which is said to be in the works for the last three years and was previously code-named HTC Dream.

Manmohan, Zardari vow to be 'severe' on terror

NEW YORK: Acknowledging that the peace process has been "under strain" in recent months, India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced that cross-LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir will commence on October 21 and vowed to take "severe action" against any elements directing or involved in terrorist acts, giving fresh momentum for an "an early and full" normalisation of bilateral relations.

Unveiling a slew of measures for a "peaceful resolution and saisfactory settlement" of all bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his first meeting with the new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari agreed that the forces that have tried to derail the peace process must be "defeated." Meeting on the sidelines of the 63rd United Nations General Assembly session at the Millenium hotel where the Pakistan President is staying, the two leaders came out with a joint statement agreeing that violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share of the bilateral relationship and must be "visibly and verifiably" prevented.

In an apparent attempt to tell India that let bygones be bygones in the backdrop of rise in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations, Zardari reassured Singh that the Pakistan government stood by its commitments of January 6, 2004 to stamp out terrorism. With the needle of suspicion pointing to Pakistans ISI for the bombing of he Indian Embassy in Kabul, the two leaders agreed to convene a special meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror mechanism to address mutual concerns including the Kabul attack.

The two countries agreed to commence cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads on October 21,2008, open the Wagah-Attari road link to all permissible items on trade and the Khokrapar-Munabao rail route to all allowed items of trade. The two leaders addressed the apparent lack of progress at the Foreign Secretary level talks to resolve outstanding issues saying they will schedule meetings of the Fifth round of the Composite dialogue in the next three months which will focus on "deliverables and concrete achievements." Briefing newsmen after the nearly hour-long meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said Prime Minister Singh was "very satisfied" at the meeting.

The joint statement is a strong one in regard to the approach to be followed to deal with terrorism, he said, adding "we hope progress will be made on all (bilateral) issues.

Entire US economy in danger: George Bush

WASHINGTON: Pressing urgently for a massive financial bailout, US President George W Bush said on Wednesday in a rare television address to the US public that "our entire economy is in danger.

We are in the midst of a serious financial crisis," he said from the White House's ornate East Room a day before hosting unprecedented crisis talks. "Our entire economy is in danger." Speaking in dire terms, Bush pushed for a $700 billion government rescue plan during a televised address to the nation.

His move Wednesday was aimed at explaining the package to the American public, but also to keep pressure on frustrated and angry lawmakers to work out a bipartisan deal fast. Bush said the goal is to help the government buy up troubled assets so that credit can start flowing again and the economy will rebound. He said the rescue is aimed at helping the country, not individual companies.

BNP unfazed by AL election alliance

Delwar says 4-party to expand, win JS polls
Staff Correspondent

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and leaders Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky and MK Anwar at an iftar party at a community centre in city's Lalmatia yesterday. Photo:

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said the four-party alliance will contest and win the upcoming polls and the BNP-led alliance would be expanded, if necessary."Our four-party alliance prevails and would take part in the upcoming election; inshallah, we'll win the polls," he told reporters after an Iftar party held at Lalmatia New Colony field.Delwar said they are not concerned about the fresh initiative of reconstituting the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party grand alliance and the efforts to expand it further.

"The Awami League-led grand alliance is nothing new; it existed in the past but did not take part in the elections," Delwar said.Asked whether the four-party alliance would be expanded further to counter the grand alliance's latest move, he said, "We'll expand the alliance, if need be.

"The Iftar party was organised by the Mohammadpur unit BNP and attended by standing committee members Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky and Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmad, Vice-president MK Anwar, Office Secretary Rizvy Ahmed, among others.Pointing at MK Anwar's Tuesday's comment on getting registered with the Election Commission, Delwar said everyone in the party should not talk (on party decisions).

"It's the party secretary general who will convey party's position on different matters; besides, there is the party chairperson to that end," Delwar added. Asked whether BNP would get registered with EC under the new electoral laws, he said they (four-party alliance) will take the decision after discussing it in the party forum and with other components of the alliance. Ahead of the stalled ninth parliamentary election scheduled for January 22 last year, the AL-led 14-party formed a grand alliance bringing in Jatiya Party (Ershad), LDP and BDB.

But the grand alliance became ineffective with the declaration of the state of emergency on January 11 last year.Emerging from a meeting with Khaleda Zia on September 18 at Shafik Rehman's Eskaton residence, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury told reporters efforts are on to expand the alliance. "Our party leaders discussed the issue today," he said.

Govt keenly fights Hasina's bail bid

Noor Ali Case
HC orders Sept 29; 'confused' counsel sees end to Hasina-Khaleda meet; AAG tells of instruction from authorities concerned
Staff Correspondent

In a move contrary to an apparent understanding with the Awami League (AL), the government yesterday strongly opposed a bail prayer of Sheikh Hasina at the High Court (HC) in an extortion case filed by businessman Noor Ali.The opposition surprised AL President Hasina's counsel barrister Rafique-ul-Huq who was asked by the caretaker government's law adviser earlier yesterday to obtain Hasina's bail from the HC so that she can sit in a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.But within hours, the government attorneys opposed the bail petition which, according to barrister Rafique, jeopardised the possible dialogue between the two former premiers to "remove political crisis ahead of the next parliamentary elections".Rafique, who also represents Khaleda, had taken an initiative to bring the two leaders to a dialogue.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mansur Habib, who represented the government in the HC, told newsmen that he opposed Hasina's bail prayer at the instructions of the "authorities concerned".Talking to journalists, barrister Rafique said Hasina--now abroad on parole for treatment--should come back home as a free person having secured bail in all cases she is standing trial.In a situation where Khaleda got released on bail and Hasina is on parole, no dialogue can be held between them, he said."Now Sheikh Hasina can say--and she has every right to say it--that she will not have any meeting with Khaleda Zia.

I will not have anything to do if Sheikh Hasina said she would not sit in any meeting with Khaleda Zia without getting released on bail," said barrister Rafique.Based on an apparent understanding with the government earlier this month, Khaleda got bail in four cases and the government attorneys did not oppose filing of the bail petitions in favour of Khaleda at that time.Earlier on September 23, a vacation bench of the HC sent back two bail petitions filed on behalf of Hasina in the Niko and barge-mounted power plant corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission since the HC bench did not have the jurisdiction to hear the petitions.Following submissions from both sides, an HC vacation bench comprised of Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Md Rais Uddin fixed September 29 for passing order on Hasina's bail petition in the Tk 5 crore extortion case filed by Noor Ali.The HC bench also asked the AAG to submit within this period a Supreme Court order that granted bail to Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman on health grounds for considering Hasina's bail petition on similar grounds.AAG Mansur opposed the bail prayer, saying Hasina, who is now on parole, sought bail for taking part in the next general elections."Sheikh Hasina has been travelling to different European countries and even recently attended a marriage ceremony in the Netherlands. She was released on parole on health grounds on the basis of a medical report prepared in June this year.

The medical reports of her recent health condition needed to be scrutinised for considering her bail prayers," he said.The AL chief's lawyers said they would submit the petitions to another HC bench on September 29 for hearing.Rafique-ul-Huq said both he and the government had been trying to seat the two leaders together, but now the government's policy about Hasina's release seemed unclear to them."I am confused if the attorney general's office is complying with the instructions of the law ministry and if it has any communication with the ministry. How will the meeting between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina be held if Hasina does not get released on bail?" he said.He, however, expressed hope about holding of the meeting between the two former premiers.

Earlier yesterday, he prayed to the HC to grant Hasina bail on health grounds saying both the Appellate and HC divisions had granted bail to several accused including Tarique Rahman, Sigma Huda, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in similar cases.Replying to a question, AAG Mansur told reporters that he had not opposed Hasina's bail petition in the Tk 3 crore extortion case filed by Azam J Chowdhury since his client, the government, did not supply him with sufficient materials for contesting the prayer.Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group of Companies, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on June 13 last year, accusing Hasina and her two relatives of extorting Tk 5 crore for mediating between the Power Development Board and his firm for a power plant deal back in 1997.

The government on July 16 last year brought the case under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) and a magistrate's court ordered on July 29 that Hasina be shown arrested in the case.

Tougher times ahead for Britain's Brown

Afp, London
British Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly (L) is applauded by Prime Minister Gordon Brown (C) and Environment Secretary Hillary Benn (R) at the main stage in the main hall of the Manchester Central venue on the last day of the 2008 Labour Party Conference in Manchester yesterday. Photo: AFP

Embattled British premier Gordon Brown won praise yesterday for a key speech to his Labour Party, but the positive headlines were quickly clouded by the surprise resignation of a top minister.Brown's make-or-break address to Labour's annual conference in Manchester, northwest England, Tuesday bought him time as he battles a rebellion among lawmakers worried they face defeat at the next general election, experts said.But just hours after the speech, it emerged that Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly will leave the government at the next Cabinet reshuffle, which reports suggest could come as early as next week.

The news swiftly reignited questions about Brown's leadership which have been festering for months and came to a head earlier this month when four lawmakers left their junior government jobs in protest.In total, a dozen Labour members of parliament have called for a leadership contest. Kelly and Brown insisted she was quitting to spend more time with her young family -- the 40-year-old has four children aged between five and 11.She faced the tricky task of addressing the conference a few hours after her looming resignation was confirmed.Her speech was applauded warmly by Brown, who listened to her from the stage, and she got a standing ovation from delegates.Earlier, she had denied the move was linked to the rebellion and hailed Brown as "a towering figure in the Labour Party".

The premier, who has two sons aged four and two, said he understood her decision "as a father myself".Some reports suggested that Kelly had quit her job before being dropped from the Cabinet by Brown in the reshuffle, although Brown said they had discussed the move as early as May.The news switched attention from Brown's unusually personal keynote conference speech Tuesday in which he argued that he was a serious politician for serious times, a reference to the global economic turmoil."Mr Brown has won important breathing space. How long it will last no one knows," the Times newspaper said in an editorial, while the Daily Mail tabloid said the "defiant" speech would silence his critics.

Others, though, criticised the lack of a policy vision -- the Financial Times said: "He appears to be offering himself as the best available manager in the circumstances. These circumstances will win him some time -- for now."Brown faces a series of fresh challenges in weeks and months to come, starting when lawmakers return to parliament after their summer break on October 6.

McCain drives into trouble over fleet of foreign cars

Guardian Online
John McCain's attempts to win over workers by presenting himself as a man of the people with an abiding love for American-made cars ran off the road Tuesday after it emerged that the Republican owns a Volkswagen, a Lexus, a Honda and a Toyota.McCain's ownership of the four foreign cars - in a family fleet of 13 - was pounced on by the Barack Obama camp as yet another sign that the Republican presidential hopeful is out-of-touch with the lives of ordinary Americans.McCain had boasted to reporters in Michigan, home of the ailing US car industry, that he was a fan of American cars. "I've bought American literally all my life, and I'm proud," he told a Detroit television station this month.Those words came back to haunt him as the Democrats released an ad in Michigan Tiesday accusing the Republican of betraying local workers.

The Obama camp also wheeled out officials from the United Auto Workers, who said McCain could not be trusted on the economy.McCain, who visited the state yesterday, was also criticised by conservative commentators for "wild changes" in his position on economic regulation.The Republican has adopted a populist stance in the wake of the Wall Street crisis. That appears calculated to deflect from his personal circumstances. Only weeks ago, McCain was embarrassed when he had difficulty remembering how many houses he owns with his beer heiress wife, Cindy.

The final figure was seven. Now Newsweek has reported that the McCain garages hold 13 cars - all but two registered to Cindy McCain.The candidate drives a gas-guzzling 2004 Cadillac, made locally by General Motors. In addition to the Lexus, the Honda and the Volkswagen convertible, Cindy McCain owns a Ford pickup truck, two Jeeps and a four-wheel drive. McCain's daughter, Meghan, drives the Prius.

The Obama family owns just one car: an Escape hybrid made by Ford. It was not apparent yesterday whether the resurfacing of a Brazilian ballerina and former model, with whom McCain had a fling as a young sailor during a visit to Rio de Janeiro 51 years ago, would add to his woes.

New premier Aso takes charge of Japan

Ap, Afp, Tokyo
New Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo yesterday as he formed his cabinet. Photo: AFPJapan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged yesterday to fight to renew a domestically unpopular naval mission providing support in the Indian Ocean to the US-led "war on terror."

Aso took charge as Japan's new prime minister lining up his cabinet with like-minded conservatives to help his mission to revive the economy and win upcoming elections.The divided parliament voted along party lines to install the flamboyant former foreign minister, who was expected to fly a day later to New York for the UN General Assembly.Aso bowed four times and shook hands with fellow lawmakers after the more powerful lower house approved him."I truly feel the heavy responsibility of being prime minister," Aso told a news conference as he announced his cabinet."To make Japan a bright and strong nation -- that is my mission," he saidAso told his first news conference as premier that helping the war on terror was not for the sake of Afghanistan or the United States or Pakistan.

"This is the responsibility of Japan as a member of the international community which is battling terror," he saidThe mission provides fuel and other logistical support to US-led forces operating in Afghanistan.Japan's opposition, which controls the upper house of parliament, forced a temporary halt last year to the operation, arguing the officially pacifist country should not take part in "American wars."The naval mission is set to expire in January. It could become even more controversial as Aso is widely expected to call early elections in the next two months.Outgoing prime minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed to end a separate military mission flying goods and personnel into Iraq as another showdown loomed with the opposition.Japan was forced to renounce the right to wage war after its defeat in World War II.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) picked Aso on Monday as its new leader by an overwhelming majority, placing its trust in a crowd-pleasing -- though gaffe-prone -- campaigner.Analysts expect him to call a general election as early as late October in a bid to hold off gains by the rising opposition, which has pounded away at the LDP's traditional strongholds in the countryside."The final battle has begun. The autumn of elections -- the autumn to change the government -- is coming," said opposition chief Ichiro Ozawa, whose bloc controls one house of parliament.The LDP has been in power for all but 10 months since 1955, but Aso will be its fourth prime minister in the past two years as the party struggles over a raft of scandals and, more recently, a faltering economy.Aso said his first priority would be to pump simulative spending into the economy, the world's second largest but teetering on the brink of recession, clashing with LDP free-market reformists who in recent years have pushed to tame a ballooning public debt.Aso tapped as his finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa who, echoing the incoming premier, said he would make "full use of all sorts of policies" to invigorate the economy."This is the lineup aimed at avoiding any political scandals ahead of the imminent general elections," said Shujiro Kato, professor of politics at Toyo University.

"Nobody reported to be appointed as minister is a fresh face."The foreign ministry went to Hirofumi Nakasone, the son of one of Japan's best-known premiers, Yasuhiro Nakasone, who led Japan in the 1980s and was a close ally in US president Ronald Reagan's anti-communist campaign.Also, in a bid to ensure party unity, Aso kept in place Fiscal and Economic Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, who had challenged him for the top job arguing that Aso's economic policies were irresponsible.Another rival, Shigeru Ishiba, was made farm minister, a position that has frequently been hit by scandal.

Ishiba survived resignation calls as he managed crises as Fukuda's defence minister.Aso promises a return both at home and abroad to some of the more flamboyant ways of Koizumi, who would regale summits by singing Elvis Presley songs, after a two-year gap of drier leaders.Known for his love of comic books, as foreign minister Aso entertained summits by doing a Humphrey Bogart impersonation and dancing in the costume of a samurai.

Avoidable violence in RMG sector

High time worker-management relationship is streamlined
THE garment sector, afflicted by labour unrest in recent times, got into trouble once more on Saturday when garment workers went on rampage in the city's Malibagh area demanding festival bonus. The owners reportedly declined to pay more than 25 percent of the basic pay as bonus.

The latest flare-up, in which at least 40 vehicles were damaged, is a clear indication of too many things going wrong between the owners and the workers. But why must the public suffer through the vandalism of workers that is reprehensible and the insensitivity of the management towards the workers legitimate demands which is untenable? The workers of the factory in Malibagh have claimed that the owners had promised to pay full bonus this year, after having paid 25 percent of the basic pay last year.

If the claim is true, then there has been a clear breach of commitment on the part of the owner. The BGMEA's response to the violent incident appeared to be rather perfunctory and elusive, as its general secretary stated that payment of bonus was an internal matter of a factory and that such payment was not mandatory. If we consider the developments in the sector as a whole over the last couple of years, we have seen the workers agitating for arrear salaries and overtime bills which doesn't indicate that the owners are sensitive enough to the genuine grievances of the workers.

We believe the owners have to fulfill the legitimate demands of the workers, while the latter must refrain from turning violent on hearing news of atrocity or rumour of fatality without verifying truth. But we believe, there must be some legitimate representatives from amongst the workers to interact and negotiate with the owners on a continuing basis. That is a void which needs to be filled.Our concern is multiplied by the global financial crisis which may hit our RMG sector in the days ahead.

Unfortunately, the local industry is finding it hard to run smoothly when enhancing productivity and diversifying products are needed to save the industry from any negative impact. We must put it back on the right track.

No more cheap SIM cards

Customers wait their turns at an outlet of mobile phone operator Garmeenphone yesterday. The country's top three operators Garmeenphone, Banglalink and AKTEL have increased their prepaid SIM card prices to Tk 400 and post-paid SIM card prices to Tk 1,000 from an average sales price of Tk 150. Photo:

Mobile phone operators have reduced subsidy on SIM cards, putting their plan to connect people in rural areas at risk. The top three operators -- Garmeenphone, Banglalink and AKTEL -- have hiked pre-paid SIM card prices to Tk 400 and post-paid SIM card prices to Tk 1,000 from the average sales price of Tk 150 two months ago.


The increased connection price reflects operators' intention of not willing anymore to bear the burden of Tk 800 in tax on each SIM card, which they said customers should pay."The subsidy we have provided until now is primarily on the current Tk 800 SIM tax. We have reduced the subsidy on the SIM tax to ensure our affordability to continue to invest more in the market," said Syed Yamin Bakht, director (public relations) of Grameenphone. Since the imposition of Tk 900 tax on SIM connection in the 2005-06 budget, the mobile operators have been taking all the burden of this taxation as they anticipated that the government would eventually withdraw the tax. But the government never withdrew the tax.



All it did was reduce the tax to Tk 800.The SIM tax coupled with an aggressive customer acquisition placed the operators much short of the breakeven they expected. According to market insiders, the mobile telephony industry's monthly average revenue per user is only Tk 145. On the other hand, operators spend Tk 1,100 on each new connection, when they sell a SIM card for as low as Tk 100. On average, the operators have to wait more than seven moths to recover the money they pay in tax on behalf of their customers.



Of the six operators, the top three enjoy around 90 percent market share with countrywide network coverage. However, the small operators are now concentrating on rural customer segment. Mobile industry insiders consider the people of 15 and 65-plus years age groups as prospective customers, with most living in rural areas. "Much of the future growth will come from the financially constrained segments and the SIM tax is a major barrier to this growth," Yamin Bakht said. "We are still providing a considerable amount of subsidy, but we hope the government will either reduce or withdraw the existing SIM tax," he said.



The GP official said any government move for tax cuts would enable a much larger number of people to benefit from the modern communication and information technology and contribute to an increase in government revenue earnings.Operators fear their plan to connect people living in the rural areas would be hit hard by the increase in the SIM prices. The top officials of the six mobile operators who met several times after the final budget announcement expressed concern over a huge number of inactive connections.



The officials also said availability of low-cost connections was also a reason for making losses even after having a good number customer base."We increased the connection price so that customers can feel they own a phone and they must bear the cost," said Bidyut Kumar Basu, chief commercial officer of AKTEL. Due to a stiff price war in the highly competitive Bangladesh's mobile telecom market, the mobile phone operators used to bear customers' whole tax burden. This was done because of industry-wide anticipation that the government would significantly decrease the SIM taxes soon as the tax hurts operators in the industry financially, said Solaiman Alam, head of PR and communications of Banglalink.



Operators now feel that huge subsidy is a reason for incurring losses."The burden of high SIM taxes coupled with continuous negative earnings has led us to revise the acquisition costs," Alam said."With the increased prices we will provide products that offer the best value, which will ensure the connections being used by the more serious users as opposed to multiple SIM users," he said.At present, except Grameenphone, all other operators fall short of profitability.

Kabul, Islamabad agree to fight terror together

6 civilians killed in Afghan blast
Afp, Ap, Kabul
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to "honest cooperation" against terrorism after a massive suicide attack in Islamabad killed at least 60 people, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said yesterday.

Karzai, whose country has been hit by similar attacks, called Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani late Sunday to offer condolences for Saturday's truck bombing of the Marriott Hotel, it said in a statement.

Karzai told Gilani the attack, which has been blamed on al-Qaeda, "shows that the only way to get rid of terrorism is widespread and honest cooperation in war against it," the statement cited the Afghan leader as saying.The statement quoted Gilani as saying that "now the need for a joint strategy in the 'war against terror' is felt more than ever.""People of both countries are affected by terrorist attacks and a joint cooperation between both countries is needed," he was cited as saying.The neighbours, US allies in its "war on terror" launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, have been at odds over the extremism that dogs both Islamic countries.But their relations appear to have softened with the election this month of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who replaced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, with whom Karzai had a difficult relationship.Karzai has long been advocating a regional approach to the terrorist threat, saying the extremists have support and sanctuary in Pakistan. Islamabad says the root of the problem is in Afghanistan.

The Afghan leader is due to meet Zardari on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly in New York on Wednesday, his office said.Meanwhile, Nato says a roadside bomb has killed six civilians and wounded four others in southern Afghanistan.The military alliance says the Monday blast hit a civilian vehicle traveling in Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province.Women and a 12-year-old boy were killed when the pick-up they were travelling in hit a bomb, provincial police chief Juma Gul Hemat told AFP.They were going to the provincial capital Tirin Kot to shop for the upcoming Eid holidays, he said, blaming the blast on the "enemies of Afghanistan" -- a term that most often refers to Taliban.Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it had provided medical assistance and evacuated the four wounded to its clinics.

The Taliban regularly plant bombs into roads, most often aiming to kill Afghan security forces or the international soldiers working with them.The government of Wardak, near Kabul, said there had been a similar bomb blast against Isaf soldiers in the province and they had had suffered casualties.Juma Gul Himat, the provincial police chief, blamed the Taliban for the attack.

IAEA urges Iran to come clean on nuke studies

Afp, Vienna
The UN atomic watchdog called on Iran yesterday to clear up allegations that it had been involved in nuclear warhead studies, while Tehran protested it has not seen any evidence backing up the charges.

Instead of simply dismissing the allegations as "forged" and "fabricated", Iran "should clarify the extent to which the documentation is factually correct and where, as it asserts, such information may have been fabricated or relates to non-nuclear purposes," IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said.Iran should provide "substantive information to support its statements and access to relevant documentations and individuals," ElBaradei told the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member board.In a report last week, ElBaradei had accused Iran of stalling an UN investigation into its disputed nuclear programme.

After six years of intensive investigation, the IAEA still has not been able to determine whether the activities are entirely peaceful, as Iran claims.The current main sticking point is the "alleged studies", referring to documentation found on a laptop in Iran which suggests Tehran may have been trying to develop a nuclear warhead, convert uranium and test high explosives and a missile re-entry vehicle.Iran has consistently dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and the documentation used to back them up as "fabricated".But the IAEA insists the onus is on Tehran to disprove the allegations.Speaking to reporters on Monday, Iran's envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, complained that Iran had not been allowed to see any of the documentation supposedly backing up the allegations.

"How come we can question a country without giving authentic documents? A member state is accused by another member state, but that member state has not been given any documents or evidence," he said.

It was Washington, not Tehran, that had created the current impasse, Soltanieh said.ElBaradei also urged "member states which provided the agency with documentation related to the alleged studies to authorise the agency to share it with Iran."

Pak govt pressured to craft coherent anti-terror policy

Ap, Islamabad

Pakistani security guards and employees walk among the wreckage of the devastated Marriott Hotel in Islamabad yesterday two days after a suicide truck bombing destroyed the hotel. Diplomatic sources confirmed that two Americans were killed in the attack on the Marriott, which killed at least 53 people and injured more than 260. Photo: AFP

Pakistani newspapers urged the fledgling civilian government and the military yesterday to craft a coherent policy against terrorism after a massive truck bomb killed 53 people at a luxury hotel in the capital. Meanwhile, local intelligence officials said troops and tribesmen opened fire when two US helicopters crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan.Investigators kept searching Islamabad's wrecked Marriott Hotel as suspicion hardened that al-Qaeda or the Taliban were behind the blast Saturday at the prime expatriate hangout.

Some 270 people were wounded, while the dead included the Czech ambassador and two US Department of Defence employees.The attack, whose primary victims were Pakistanis, increases pressure on the government to reduce the rising violence in the Muslim nation that many blame on the country's partnership with the US in the war on terror.

Pakistan's civilian leadership including new President Asif Ali Zardari has said it is committed to battling militancy, but has also insisted that the strategy should include attempts to negotiate peace with insurgents, with force as a last resort.US officials have warned that peace pacts simply give Taliban and al-Qaeda militants time to regroup in their bases in Pakistan's northwest tribal regions, where they can plan more attacks in Afghanistan and on the West.The military, still the country's most powerful institution, has launched stop-start offensives against insurgents in its regions bordering Afghanistan.

The operations are said to have killed hundreds of suspected militants, but have also been followed by suicide attacks throughout the country that the extremists claim are revenge.Leading papers said Monday that the nation must take ownership of the fight, no matter the reservations about America's actions in Afghanistan or elsewhere, and despite the notion that the Marriott was targeted because it was a social magnet for foreigners."It is time we accepted this war is our own," said a lengthy editorial in The News, one of the largest English language dailies in the country.

"There must be no ambiguity about this."Another leading daily, Dawn, said the country displayed a "distressing" lack of "visible direction," and that "the civilians leaders and their uniformed counterparts must draw up a clear policy to fight terrorism."

How to avoid mobile banking fraud

The mobile phone culture is growing and has penetrated the urban and semi-urban population in India. The number of mobile users is estimated to have far surpassed the number of Internet users.

In the same order, mobile banking is getting wider acceptance, but the convenience it offers has its own share of risk. It is therefore even more important to be aware of the safeguards for the secure usage of this medium for financial transactions. Use the phone-lock function on your mobile device when it is not in use. Choose passwords which are difficult to crack and keep them safe. Strong passwords have eight characters or more and use a combination of letters, numerals and symbols.

Never disclose via text message any personal information (account numbers, passwords or any combination of sensitive information like your PAN card, birth date, etc that could be used for identity theft). Make sure your phone is configured securely, especially when it comes to configuring the Web browser and email software. Security and privacy settings can be configured without any special expertise, simply by using the ‘Help’ feature of the software, or visiting the vendor’s website.

Protect the phone with security software, including a software firewall and antivirus protection. Download files only from a trusted source. Also, make sure the Bluetooth is switched off while not in use to avoid viruses. Before letting someone else have access to your device (lending it to another person, discarding, or selling your mobile device) ensure that you have deleted all personal account information. Keep the device always up-to-date with the latest patches and updates including antivirus updates.

Hong Kong girl falls sick from tainted milk

HONG KONG: A 3-year-old Hong Kong girl has been diagnosed with a small kidney stone after drinking milk laced with the industrial chemical melamine but is in good condition and doesn't require surgery, a hospital official said on Sunday.

It's the first sickness reported outside of mainland China in a food safety scandal that has killed four children and sickened more than 6,200 others. The girl didn't show any symptoms of kidney illness, so she didn't require surgery or medication and has been discharged from the hospital, a spokeswoman for Princess Margaret Hospital said.

The spokeswoman only gave her surname Ma in line with hospital policy. Doctors will keep monitoring the girl's condition, Ma said, adding that some kidney stones pass naturally. Preliminary blood tests on the girl were normal, a government statement said. The girl's parents had taken her for a health check-up because she had been drinking two or three cups of low-fat milk made by the Chinese dairy Yili every day for the past 15 months, the government said.

Hong Kong's Cable TV reported that several parents took their children to hospitals for kidney checkups on Sunday after news of the sick girl broke. Used in making plastics, melamine is high in nitrogen, which registers as protein in tests of milk. Though health experts believe ingesting minute amounts poses no danger, melamine can cause kidney stones, which can lead to kidney failure. Infants are particularly vulnerable. Milk and dairy products from 22 Chinese companies, including leading dairies Yili Industrial Group Co. and Mengniu Dairy Group Co, were recalled in the mainland after batches were found to contain melamine. The Hong Kong government and individual retailers and dairy companies have also tested local inventories and issued recalls in this separately ruled Chinese territory.

Dutch dairy company Friesland Foods said Saturday it was recalling all of its Dutch Lady-brand plastic-bottled milk in Hong Kong and Macau after its Chinese-made strawberry milk was found to contain melamine.

On Friday, Hong Kong's two major supermarket chains removed all milk made by Mengniu, and Japanese instant food producer Nissin Foods Co Ltd. recalled a boxed dessert in Hong Kong that was made from possibly contaminated milk. Hong Kong authorities recalled all Yili products on Thursday, including milk, yogurt and ice cream.

500,000 women die in pregnancy, childbirth: UNICEF

GENEVA: More than half a million women still die each year in pregnancy and childbirth, often bleeding to death because no emergency obstetrical care is available, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said. Despite modest progress, particularly in Asia, the global maternal mortality toll remains stubbornly stable due to a lack of financial resources and political will, it said. More than 99 percent of the estimated 536,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2005 occurred in developing countries, half of them in sub-Saharan Africa, it said in a report entitled "Progress for Children: A Report Card on Maternal Maternity".

"One of the critical bottlenecks has always been access to highly skilled health workers required to deliver emergency obstetrical care, particularly caesarian sections," Peter Salama UNICEF's chief of health, told a news briefing. Around 50 million births in the developing world, or about 4 in 10 of all births worldwide, are not attended by trained personnel, according to the report. Haemorrhaging is the leading cause of maternal death in Africa and Asia, causing one in three deaths, it said. Infections, hypertensive disorders, complications of abortion, obstructed labour or HIV/AIDS are other causes.

Such complications can be easily treated in a health system whose facilities are staffed with skilled personnel to handle emergencies around the clock, but disparities persist, it said. "The lifetime risk of maternal death in the developing world as a whole is 1 in 76, compared with 1 in 8,000 in the industrialised world," UNICEF said. The riskiest place to give birth is Niger, where the risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth over the course of a woman's lifetime is one in seven, it said. In Sierra Leone it is 1 in 8. But developing countries including Sri Lanka and Mozambique have succeeded in reducing maternal mortality rates, it said.

A combination of family planning, training skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetrical care and post-natal care is the key to reducing maternal mortality, according to the agency. At the current average reduction rate of less than one per cent a year, the world will miss the goal of reducing maternal mortality rates by 75 percent between 1990 and 2015, to less than 150,000, one of the Millennium Development Goals, it said. "The time is right. We now know exactly what to do for maternal mortality reduction to make this one of the next big issues in global health," Salama said. Programmes to combat three major epidemics -- HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria -- now receive the required international attention and billions in funding, he said. "But maternal mortaility and child mortality do not yet receive the attention that the scale of the problem deserves," he said. An additional $10 billion would be needed each year to combat both child and maternal mortality, according to Salama.

UNICEF said last week that more than 9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2007, down slightly from a year before, but a huge gap remains between rich and poor countries.

Bush offers $700b in 2-yr rescue plan

Financial Market Crisis
Afp, Washington

President George W. Bush's administration has proposed a 700-billion-dollar bailout of the troubled financial sector over a two-year period, according to a draft proposal sent to Congress and released Saturday.The unprecedented plan would give Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson sweeping authority to buy up to 700 billion dollars of tainted mortgage-related assets to stem a grave financial crisis, said the draft text, posted on The New York Times website.

"The Secretary's authority to purchase mortgage-related assets under this Act shall be limited to 700,000,000,000 dollars outstanding at any one time," the draft proposal states.The plan also allows for an increase in the public debt limit, to 11.3 trillion dollars, and grants the treasury secretary powers to buy, sell and hold residential and commercial mortgages as well as securities based on those mortgages.

The extraordinary authority would expire in two years but would permit the government to hold the assets purchased for as long as the Treasury Department believes is necessary, it said.The rescue calls for the purchase of assets only from US-based firms and grants the Treasury Department legal immunity from any lawsuits as part of the bailout proposal.It remained unclear how the government would manage the assets it buys. But under the plan Paulson would have authority to turn to private financial institutions to carry out the operation or create other bodies to purchase mortgage assets and issue debt.

According to the text, in carrying out his new authority, the Treasury secretary is to take into account ways for "providing stability or preventing disruption to the financial markets or banking system" and for "protecting the taxpayer."News of the proposed rescue plan fueled a powerful market rebound on Friday.President George W. Bush defended the plan on Saturday, telling reporters:

"This is a big package because it was a big problem."Speaking after after a week of crisis in financial markets, Bush said outside the White House decisive action was needed and that the government would eventually make back the money used for the rescue.“I will tell our citizens and continue to remind them that the risk of doing nothing far outweighs the risk of the package.”And that over time, we're going to get a lot of the money back.

"He added that "the government needed to send a clear signal that we understood the instability can ripple throughout and affect the working people and the average family and we weren't going to let that happen."

40 killed in Pakistan car blast at hotel

New Pak president asks parliament to cut his powers
Agencies, Islamabad
At least 40 people were killed in a massive car bombing at the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistan capital Islamabad on Saturday in what appears to have been a suicide attack.
Many people were still trapped inside the burning building last night as rescue efforts continued, police said.Flames were seen shooting out of the hotel, a key meeting place for foreigners and one of the most carefully guarded sites in the city, after the powerful blast, which was heard from quite far away.Police officials said it appeared to be a car bombing but could not confirm it had been a suicide attack.

Ambulances were racing to the scene, and it was not immediately known how many people were wounded.Pakistani police warned Saturday the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad could collapse following the attack."So far 40 bodies have been taken out from the blast site," city police chief Asghar Raza told AFP.Another police official said more than 100 people were wounded, many were in critical condition. Police the deadly bombing outside the five star hotel appeared to be a suicide attack."It looks like a suicide attack," senior police officer Saqib Sultan told AFP.

The attack came just hours after new President Asif Ali Zardari, who faces a tough challenge in reining in a wave of Islamist militant violence, delivered his first address to parliament.In his first speech to MPs since he replaced Pervez Musharraf in August, he vowed instead to "root out terrorism and extremism wherever and whenever they may rear their ugly heads".Zardari called for an end to the president's powers to dissolve the assembly and dismiss the government.

He was speaking in Islamabad, just several hundred metres to the east of the Marriott.The United States was looking into whether any US nationals were hurt, a State Department spokeswoman said Saturday.Pakistan has been a key ally of the US in its "war on terror", but relations have become strained over tactics."The attacker came in a big vehicle and rammed it into the outer gate of the Marriott Hotel," an eyewitness said.The bomb was so powerful that it blew out windows in buildings about one kilometre (a half-mile) away.

An AFP photographer saw at least 20 mutilated bodies amid the carnage at the scene.Witnesses spoke of a smaller blast followed by a much larger one.A US State Department official using a section of white pipe as a walking stick led three colleagues through the rubble from the charred building, one of them bleeding heavily from a wound on the side of his head.One of the four, who identified himself only as Tony, said they had begun moving toward the rear of the Chinese restaurant after the first blast when the second one threw them against the back wall."Then we saw a big truck coming through the gates," he said.

"After that it was just smoke and darkness."Ambulances rushed to the area, picking their way through the charred carcasses of vehicles that had been in the street outside. Windows in buildings hundreds of yards away were shattered.In recent months, Pakistan has voiced growing disquiet over US raids targeting militants in its territory, launched from neighbouring Afghanistan.A BBC report said that the centre of the blast was at the front of the building close to the area where security checks are carried out.

About two-thirds of the 290-room hotel went on fire following the blast, and the wounded and dead are still being brought out, on stretchers or wrapped in sheets hours after the attack.Emergency services had been unable to reach the upper floors of the hotel, where more people were feared to be trapped, the BBC report added.A hotel employee, Mohammad Sultan, said he was in the reception when something exploded, forcing him to the ground."I don't understand what it was, but it was like the world is finished," he told the Associated Press news agency.

There are reports that the explosion brought down the ceiling of the banquet hall, where some 300 people were sharing a meal to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.The Marriott is the most prestigious hotel in the capital, and is located near government buildings and diplomatic missions.Security there is tight, with guests and vehicles subject to checks.It is popular with foreigners visiting Pakistan or members of the expat community, and has previously been the target of militants.Pakistan has faced a wave of bombings and other attacks for more than a year. Tribal areas along the Afghan border are believed to be a new stronghold for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.Zardari was to meet US President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the annual debate of world leaders at the United Nations in New York next week.

It was not immediately known if that trip would go ahead.The Bush administration has accused Taliban Islamic militants and Al-Qaeda followers of using the unruly border areas as bases from which to direct a growing deadly insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan.Strains have emerged between Islamabad and Washington over strikes by US forces on the Pakistani tribal areas.Strikes against Pakistani territory, the tally of civilian casualties as well as reports that the US forces even conducted a ground raid into Pakistan on September 3 have fueled anti-American feeling in the country.

Islamabad has already protested the strikes and Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has pledged to safeguard the country's "territorial integrity."
Source : AFP, AP, BBC Online

Ahmadinejad warns of response if Iran attacked

AFP, TehranIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday the country's military force will "break the hands" of invaders if attacked, amid its continuing nuclear standoff with the West.

"If anyone allows themselves to invade Iranian territory and its legal interests... our armed forces will break their hands before they pull the trigger," Ahmadinejad said at a military parade speech broadcast live on state television.

"Our nation is seeking friendship and peace... but today it is not in a position to show the least flexibility towards its bullying enemies," he said in the speech at the 28th anniversary of its eight-year war (1980-1988) with Iraq.
Iran is at odds with the West over its disputed nuclear programme, which the United States and its allies fear could be used to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists it only wants to produce nuclear energy.

The United States has never ruled out a military strike against the Islamic republic although Washington insists it prefers diplomacy. The same is true of US ally Israel, which Iran does not recognise.

Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear armed state, considers Iran its main strategic threat because of its nuclear programme.

Waste disposal & public health

Photo: AFP

Our huge population is responsible for production of a large amount of wastes daily. These wastes range from household garbage, sewage, old papers, packaging materials, wood, plastic products, glass, metals to various industrial effluents such as: toxic inorganic heavy metals, organic solvents, reagents, dyes, thermal discharges, tannery disposal etc.These harmful wastes are produced in large amount in urban areas.

Sewage contains many varieties of extremely pathogenic micro-organisms which can cause serious health problem in the form of diarrhoea, hepatitis etc. The recent high frequency of hepatitis infections may have a direct correlation with our poor waste disposal system.Tannery waste is one of the major cause of air, water & soil pollution in the urban areas.

Here, in Bangladesh, there is no environmentally safe solid & liquid waste disposal system. The only solid waste disposal system is dumping up the garbage in areas near slums while no well planned disposal systems are employed.

These are a constant threat to the environment & carry a high risk of outbreak of pathogenic micro-organism which can cause serious diseases.The issue must be handled a lot more efficiently.

Six Afghan civilians, one coalition soldier killed

Afp, Kabul
Six Afghan civilians and an international soldier were killed in extremist-linked unrest in Afghanistan as President Hamid Karzai called Friday for all sides to respect "Peace Day" this weekend.

Four of the civilians died when rockets fired by insurgents at a base for international troops landed in a field where women and children were working, the Nato-led military force said."The attack killed four, including a child," it said in a statement.Other civilians were wounded in the attack on the base in a remote district in Paktika province on the border with Pakistan, it said without identifying the civilians.

Another Afghan civilian was killed late Thursday when Nato soldiers fired at a truck that came too close to a military convoy in the southern city of Kandahar, the alliance's International Security Assistance Force said separately.It also announced it was investigating claims that soldiers had mistakenly killed an Afghan district governor and two of his men in the southern province of Uruzgan on Wednesday.

The Australian defence ministry said its soldiers may have been involved in the apparent incident of friendly fire.In other violence, two policemen and a civilian were killed in a Taliban ambush in the eastern province of Khost late Thursday, provincial security authorities said.And a soldier with the US-led coalition was killed in a bomb blast Friday, the force said, without giving the nationality of the soldier.

The coalition said separately it had killed two Taliban and arrested six in the Sarobi district near Kabul where 10 French soldiers were killed in a rebel ambush last month.And six Taliban were killed in an Afghan operation in the central province of Ghazni, provincial spokesman Ismail Jahangir said.

The steady pace of attacks are part of an insurgency that was launched by the Taliban after their ouster from government in late 2001 and has gained strength in recent years, to the despair of Afghans whose country has been at war for 30 years.

Suicide bomber hits Pak convoy: 6 killed

Military kills 16 al-Qaeda linked militants
Afp

A suicide bomber attacked a Pakistani military convoy near the Afghan border yesterday, killing two soldiers and four civilians, the military said.

A security official put the toll from the attack, which took place as the troops passed through the volatile North Waziristan tribal district, at eight soldiers and said it could rise further."As many as six persons including four civilians embraced shahadat (martyrdom) due to a blast in Miranshah this morning," a military statement said."Reportedly, a suspected suicide bomber hit a military convoy which was moving from Mir Ali to Miranshah this morning.

Five security forces persons were also injured."Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants regularly attack military and government targets in the area close to the Afghan border.Hours later, eight remote-controlled bombs planted on a roadside exploded when a military convoy was passing in Wana, the main town of neighbouring South Waziristan tribal district, officials said.

Details about casualties were not known immediately. However, witnesses said that shoppers in main Wana market ran in panic and shops were closed down following the blasts.Separately, Pakistani soldiers killed 16 al-Qaeda-linked militants in fierce gunbattles in Bajaur, another lawless tribal district bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

More than 800 people, mostly militants, have been killed and 260,000 displaced since Pakistani troops launched a major offensive against Islamic militants in the area last month.

US and Afghan officials say Pakistan's tribal areas are a safe haven for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who sneaked across the border after the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan late 2001.al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, are widely believed to be hiding in the mountainous region.

US-Pak accord on border strikes soon: Brown

American military advisers to head for Pakistan soon
Afp, Pti, London/ New York

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown voiced opposition Friday to US strikes against Islamic militants in Pakistan but said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on the issue

.Brown, who met new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in London this week, was asked about drones apparently operated by the United States striking targets in tribal border areas of northwest Pakistan.The Bush administration says militants linked to insurgency in Afghanistan are based there.Brown told Sky news television: "We've made it absolutely clear that that is not what we would do, what I'm saying to you is that I believe America and Pakistan will reach an agreement about the best way forward on this.

"He added: "We of course respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan. I think they're coming close to an agreement about what the right thing to do is".US President George W. Bush is to meet Zardari for the first time Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly being held in New York.In private, US officials claim Pakistan is doing too little to flush out the militants linked to deadly attacks on Nato troops in Afghanistan.Meanwhile, US military advisors in dozens may soon be heading for Pakistan to train its army in counter insurgency and the specialised warfare course could begin in matter of weeks, according to a top US military commander.

"The US and Pakistan have cleared remaining obstacles, so the long delayed team may arrive in Islamabad within weeks", Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was quoted by Los Angeles Times on his return from a key visit to Pakistan.Washington for months has urged the Pakistani to accept a training team. Pakistan resisted, asking for additional weaponary and equipment some US officials believe is best suited for its standoff with regional rival India, the Paper said.But now, Mullen told the paper the primary stumbling block had been the fact that Pakistan could not build the proposed training site, near the western town of Peshawar, quickly enough.

He said the two sides had now agreed to use an alternative site, north of Pakistani capital Islamabad." We're still going through administrative delays, but I do see it happening", Mullen said adding " I think It's in the next few weeks".

Mayhem at Malibagh

RMG workers ransack 40 vehicles over bonus hike


Police charge truncheons on garment workers at Malibagh Chowdhurypara in the capital yesterday, inset. The workers barricade Rampura Road, demanding cent percent of their basic pay as festival.Photo...


At least 30 people, including seven policemen, were injured and about 40 vehicles vandalised in clashes between garment workers and the law enforcers in the city's Malibagh area yesterday.The two-hour long violence caused total chaos in the area.The employees of Islam Dresses Ltd, at Malibagh Chowdhuripara, were demanding 100 percent festival bonus on their basic pay.

Clashes erupted as police charged baton on the workers shortly after they put up roadblocks on the Malibagh DIT road at about 3:15pm creating huge traffic jam as the employer ruled out paying bonuses above 25 percent of the basic pay. Chase and counter-chase continued for about two hours. The workers damaged at least 40 vehicles during the time, witnesses said.

Police said they lobbed eight tear-gas canisters to quell the violence.A revolver of Sub-Inspector Habibur Rahman of Ramna Police Station went missing during the melee, said police.The workers later forced into the factory, ransacking the interior.Deploring the violence, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez said it is not mandatory for the employers to pay any bonus."It is their internal affairs if any factory owners give bonus to their employees," he told The Daily Star.

The agitating workers said the management, which gave them 25 percent festival bonus last year, agreed to pay them 100 percent this time after they declined yet another 25 percent offer.They said they staged peaceful sit-in yesterday noon to realise their demand as the Eid drew nearer, and took to the street only after coming to know that the management went back on their promise.Their street protests did not create any traffic jam as they made enough way for traffic movement, they claimed.

Things went wrong when the police swooped on the workers in consultation with the factory authorities, they alleged adding that they damaged the vehicles in protest.Meantime, workers of Root Apparels Ltd, shut down in past August, blockaded the road in front of the factory at Uttarkhan in Uttara yesterday, demanding salary and overtime arrears.They removed the roadblocks an hour later when the factory management agreed to pay them off.

Gearing up for Eid

Cultural Correspondent

From left: Aupi, Ferdaus, Neerab. Photo

Courtesy: Banglar Mela After the rigours of Ramadan, the joyous festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr will approach us soon. Eid is a time for all to take a break from the hectic schedules and just chill with family and friends.

Celebrities are no exception. Here's what three of them shared:

Aupi Karim: "I am waiting for my elder sister to arrive from Egypt soon. For us, the festivities begin when she comes home. My sister bosses around when it comes to shopping and I just follow her lead." "My sister and I buy saris and dresses for our aunts, elder cousins and for the kids in the family. On Eid, all our cousins will get together and have fun at home." Reminiscing old times, she says, "When we were young our parents taught us to recognise our limits but also live up to our potentials."

Ferdaus: Everyone is in a mood to shop and hang out with friends. Ferdaus is no exception. Going from boutique to boutique, his favourites are Banglar Mela, Rong and some select designers. On a different note, during the holidays along with his family, Ferdaus goes overseas.

Neerab: "Apparently I'm not free until the 18th/ 20th of this month," says the busy model-turned-actor. When it comes to shopping he tries a lot of varieties. Often it is a short punjabi or a kurta. Mostly he sticks to his family and hangs out with his friends. The best part of Eid is "chaand raat" (the eve of Eid). "It is a time when all of us friends get together and catch up."

Pak troops kill 19 al-Qaeda militants

Afp, Khar

At least 19 al-Qaeda linked militants were killed yesterday when Pakistani fighter aircraft bombarded their hideouts in a tribal region near the Afghan border, a security official said.

The casualties were in the rugged Bajaur region, where Pakistani troops launched a major offensive against Islamic militants last month.Meanwhile at least five people were killed when four missiles fired by suspected US drones yesterday struck a compound in a northwestern Pakistani tribal area near the Afghan border, officials said."Five people including foreigners were killed and three others injured when the missiles hit a compound in Baghar Cheena area in the restive South Waziristan region," a security official told AFP.

The operation near the Afghan border has left more than 800 people dead, mostly militants, and also displaced 260,000, officials said."Fighter jets bombarded militant hideouts Wednesday, killing 19 rebels and wounding 16 others," a security official told AFP."Helicopter gunships also shelled bunkers dug up by militants in Rashakai, Zarmandi, Kossar and Banda areas," the official added.The casualty figure could not be independently verified.Pakistan's tribal regions have been wracked by violence since thousands of Taliban and Al-Qaeda rebels sneaked into the country after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

US and Afghan officials have claimed that militants use the mountainous region to launch cross-border attacks on international troops based in Afghanistan.Violence linked to Pakistan's role in the "war on terror" has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people in suicide and bomb attacks across the country in the past year.

Meanwhile at least five people were killed when four missiles fired by suspected US drones Wednesday struck a compound in a northwestern Pakistani tribal area near the Afghan border, officials said."Five people including foreigners were killed and three others injured when the missiles hit a compound in Baghar Cheena area in the restive South Waziristan region," a security official told AFP.

3 babies dead, 6,200 others ill from tainted milk in China

Ap, Beijing
More than 6,200 babies have been sickened by tainted milk formula and dozens of infants are suffering from acute kidney failure, China's health minister said yesterday as the death toll rose to three children.

Health Minister Chen Zhu said he expected the numbers of affected babies to increase as "more and more parents take kids to the hospital."Meanwhile, the head of China's quality control watchdog agency, Li Changjiang, said that 5,000 inspectors will be dispatched nationwide to monitor companies after government testing showed that 20 percent of the companies producing milk powder had dairy products with melamine.

Also yesterday, the country's two largest dairy companies, Mengniu Dairy Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co., were among the companies forced to recall baby formula. In addition, Guangdong-based Yashili and Qingdao-based Suncare recalled their tainted milk powder, which is exported to five countries in Africa and Asia: Bangladesh, Yemen, Gabon, Burundi and Myanmar.

So far, all the sick infants in China were found to have consumed milk powder produced by the company at the heart of the crisis, Sanlu Group Co., Chen said. Most babies developed urinary problems, including kidney stones, after consuming Sanlu milk powder for three to six months, he said.Sanlu's general manager Tian Wenhua, who was fired a day earlier, was detained by police Wednesday, the Xinhua news agency said. Four milk suppliers have been arrested.Suppliers to the dairy companies are believed to have added the banned chemical, normally used in plastics, to watered-down milk to make it appear higher in protein.

Inspectors will now start testing for melamine in all dairy products, Li said.The chemical additive was at the center of a major pet food scandal in the United States in 2007. An estimated 1,500 dogs and cats died after ingesting a pet food ingredient manufactured in China that was laced with melamine.The emerging crisis has raised questions about the effectiveness of tighter controls China promised after a series of food scares in recent years over contaminated seafood, toothpaste and pet food exports.

It is the second major case in recent years involving baby formula. In 2004, more than 200 Chinese infants suffered malnutrition and at least 12 died after being fed phony formula that contained no nutrients.In a sign of the government's concern, Premier Wen Jiabao presided over a meeting Wednesday of China's Cabinet to back plans for a national inspection of milk products, according to a notice on the government's Web site.China's health minister said that 6,244 babies fell ill after being fed tainted milk formula, and that 158 were suffering from acute kidney failure. Chen reported the death of a third baby in eastern Zhejiang province but gave no details. The two earlier deaths had been reported in Gansu province.

Currently, 1,327 children, mostly newborns, remain hospitalized.The political fallout continued Wednesday, with the mayor of Hebei province's capital, Shijiazhuang, being fired, Xinhua reported. Four other city officials from Shijiazhuang, where Sanlu is based, were fired earlier.Sanlu company officials as well as government officials share the blame for delays in reporting the contamination, said Hebei Deputy Governor Yang Chongyong, who spoke on the sidelines of the press conference.

Gates expresses regret for Afghan civilian deaths

Ap, Kabul
Defence Secretary Robert Gates yesterday expressed "personal regret" for recent US airstrikes that killed Afghan civilians, and pledged more accurate targeting in future.After meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other senior government officials, Gates said at a news conference, "As I told them, I offer all Afghans my sincere condolences and personal regret for the recent loss of innocent life as a result of coalition airstrikes."Gates said the US military takes extraordinary precautions to avoid civilian casualties, but added, "It is clear that we have to work even harder." He told Afghan officials that he would be discussing the issue with American commanders and pilots on Wednesday.

Later, Gates flew to Bagram, the main US base in Afghanistan, and received a briefing on procedures for using air power. "As I told President Karzai this morning, we are very concerned about this," Gates told reporters after the briefing. "It's a very high priority for us."Gates agreed to an Afghan government proposal to create a permanent joint investigative group to probe any incident involving civilian casualties, rather than assigning investigators to individual cases as they arrive, according to Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.Gen.

David McKiernan, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, said earlier that a shortage of US troops in Afghanistan is forcing commanders to rely more on air combat, which can cause more civilian deaths. The attacks that have angered and embarrassed the U.S.-backed Afghan government.McKiernan said he needs at least three more combat brigades, in addition to the one arriving in January. Without the additional troops, the war will be longer and deadlier, he said."The danger is that we'll be here longer and we'll expend more resources and experience more human suffering than if we had more resources placed against this campaign sooner," McKiernan told reporters traveling with Gates.He also said he knows he can only get more combat forces if troops are diverted from Iraq.

The Army brigade arriving in Afghanistan in January was initially scheduled to go to Iraq, and it includes about 3,700 soldiers.McKiernan said his Washington bosses had "validated" his request for the three additional brigades or at least 10,000 more troops and said he believes it is a question of when, not if, he will get those reinforcements.

There currently are about 33,000 UStroops in Afghanistan.The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are headed in opposite directions: Violence is down substantially in Iraq and US troop levels are declining, while the fighting is heating up in Afghanistan and more US troops are needed.McKiernan said that while he does not believe the US is losing the war there, "we are winning slower in some places than others."

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock

Ap, Galveston
David Jet kayaks around destroyed boats Saturday in Nassau Bay, Texas. Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas on Saturday as a category 2 hurricane, causing massive flooding and wind damage. Photo: AFP

Rescue crews canvassed neighbourhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early yesterday, racing against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines. One team of paramedics, rescue dogs and structural engineers fanned out under a full moon on a finger of land in Galveston Bay.

Authorities hoped to spare thousands of Texans 140,000 by some estimates who ignored mandates to flee Hurricane Ike from another night among the destruction. Some had been rescued, but unknown thousands remained stranded. Only four deaths had been blamed on Ike so far two in Texas and two in Louisiana and rescuers hoped to keep that tally from rising.But roads blocked by waist-deep water and downed trees kept many rescuers at bay as they struggled through the largest search-and-rescue effort in state history, just a day after the Category 2 storm crashed into Texas with 110 mph winds.

Five-year-old Jack King escaped serious injury when storm surge sent a rush of water that washed out the first floor of his family's Galveston home just two blocks from the bay."I falled in the attic," Jack told paramedic Stanley Hempstead of his 10-foot tumble onto the garage floor. Jack and his family had taken refuge in the room, loaded with blankets and other supplies. As rescuers arrived, Jack gazed at a TV aglow with "The Simpsons." The only evidence of his fall was a Band-Aid plastered to his closely-cropped hair, covering a gash."We just didn't think it was going to come up like this," said the boy's father, Lee King. "I'm from New Orleans, I know better. I just didn't think it was going to happen.

"Fortunately, Jack only suffered scrapes and bruises in the fall. The Kings had hoped that a family member would pick them up, but a paramedic told him the road inland wouldn't be open for days. Lee King thought they could survive another night, but then their generator died. He ultimately decided the family was ready to leave.Hempstead and other team members sailed through flooded streets Saturday, evoking thoughts of another disastrous storm that kept him working for 31 days

."This brings back memories of Katrina a lot of torn up homes and flooded stuff," he said of the infamous hurricane that struck New Orleans just more than three years ago. On one side of the Galveston peninsula, a couple of barges had broken loose and smashed into homes.Everything from red vinyl barstools to clay roof tiles littered the landscape. Some homes were "pancaked," the second floor sitting where the first had been before Ike's surge washed it out. Only the stud frames remained below the roofs of many houses, opening a clear view from front yard to back.Gov. Rick Perry's office said 940 people had been saved by nightfall Saturday, but that thousands had made distress calls the night before. Another 600 were rescued from Louisiana floods."What's really frustrating is that we can't get to them," Galveston police officer Tommie Mafrei said. "It's jeopardizing our safety when we try to tell them eight hours before to leave.

They are naive about it, thinking it's not going to be that bad."Some coastal residents waded through chest-deep water with their belongings and children in their arms to get to safety Saturday. Military helicopters loaded others carrying plastic bags and pets in their arms and brought them to dry ground.Big-wheeled dump trucks, boats and helicopters were at the ready to continue searching hard-hit Galveston and Orange County at daybreak Sunday.

Clashes kill 16 militants in Pak tribal belt

Ap, Islamabad

Pakistani policemen stand guards outside a government building near Peshawar yesterday a day after militants seized the area. Dozens of gun-toting militants briefly seized a government building in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Saturday, but no one was hurt, officials said. Photo: AFP

Pakistani security forces killed 16 suspected militants and wounded 25 others yesterday in a besieged tribal region - the latest round of a military offensive with no end in sight, officials said.

More than 100 people, most of them militants, have been reportedkilled in the fighting in the Bajur tribal area in the past fivedays. The region, which borders Afghanistan, is a suspected hide-outof al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.The latest clashes also come amid tension between the US andPakistan over American incursions aimed at eradicating militants in the Muslim nation's territory.

Security forces used helicopter gunships, fighter jets and heavy artillery to attack suspected militant positions Sunday in the Loi Sam, Rashakai, Tang Khata and Gollokass areas of Bajur, said Iqbal Khattak, a government official who provided the death and wounded tolls.The government said late last month that it would cease military operations in Bajur for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but reserved the right to retaliate against insurgent activities.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said factors including persistent militant mortar attacks and threats to pro-government tribes prompted the military to restart its operation."It may take long, but this issue has to be resolved once for all," Abbas said. "It may take a long time. We cannot just hand over this area to the Taliban."

India faces threat from home-grown militants

Afp, New Delhi
Indian woman Laxmi (C) shows a picture of her husband Chandra Bhan killed in a series of coordinated bomb attacks as her six and a half year old son Chandra Prakash (L) stands by her, as they wait for Bhan's body at the RML hospital's mortuary in New Delhi yesterday. Photo: AFP

Traditionally focused on the threat from rival Pakistan, India must now deal with an apparently home-grown Islamist group, experts said yesterday after deadly bombs hit New Delhi.The Indian Mujahideen, which claimed responsibility for bomb blasts on Saturday in which at least 20 people died, has also said it was behind bombings in Ahmedabad and Jaipur cities earlier this year.Security experts say the formation of the outfit may be an effort to create a fresh identity for groups banned by the Indian government over the past few years such as the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

SIMI, founded over 30 years ago, was outlawed in 2001 over its alleged terror links and is currently challenging the ban in the Supreme Court."Since SIMI is making efforts before the courts to have the ban lifted, it is trying to create a separate armed wing," Ajai Sahni of the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management told AFP.The Indian Mujahideen, which also calls itself "the militia of Islam," first came to public attention last November following serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh in which at least 13 people died."We were presuming before the Uttar Pradesh blasts that all terrorist strikes must be the work of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba or the Bangladesh -based Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami," security expert B. Raman said."Since November last, we have been focusing on SIMI. It is possible that elements from all these organisations are involved," Raman wrote in the Hindustan Times on Sunday.The Indian Mujahideen also sent an email to media outlets after the Jaipur blasts in May when 63 people died, announcing it had launched an "open war" against India for supporting the United States.The outfit warned of more attacks against tourist sites.

Just minutes before blasts in Gujarat's main city of Ahmedabad killed 45 in July, the group sent emails to TV news stations warning that people would "feel the terror of death."It said the Ahmedabad blasts were revenge for riots which swept Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were hacked, shot and burnt to death.SIMI activists were suspected to be involved in the Ahmedabad attacks and have been linked with almost every bomb attack in Hindu-majority India in recent years.Officials say they have strong evidence against the group's involvement in terrorism, but no suspects have yet been charged."It is certain that since the blasts in Uttar Pradesh, Indian radical Islamic groups are now directly involved in terror attacks targeting India," said a Western intelligence official in New Delhi.

"We used to take comfort in the fact that there was a 'foreign hand', but now a domestic terrorist group is a very serious threat," security expert Uday Bhaskar told AFP.

Experts called for stringent security measures and said India was poorly equipped to deal with such well-coordinated large-scale attacks.

James’ latest album “Kaljamuna” to be released before Eid

Faruk Mahfuz Anam James After two years popular rock n roller of the country Faruk Mahfuz Anam, popularly known as James, is going to release his latest album titled Kaljamuna just before the upcoming Eid Ul Fitr.

In 2006 James released his last solo project Tufan.Of the 10 songs in the album James has composed five. The rest of the songs are by other composers such as Prince Mahmud. Talking to The Daily Star, James said he expected huge success for the album. He said, "I've been working hard to release the album for the last couple of months. Members of Nagarbaul are playing instruments. Most of the songs of the album are highly experimental in terms of presentation and composition. In most of the sound tracks, folk tune music has fused with psychedelic rock. I believe the songs will be hits at the Eid market."Commenting on music composed by other composers James said, " I enjoyed rendering songs composed by young talented composers.

Earlier I rendered songs composed by Prince Mahmud in mixed albums, which achieved huge popularity. The other two young composers are also equally talented. In case of solo projects I'll sing songs composed by the young music composers."Commenting on not releasing any albums for two years James said, "During the last two years I was really busy with music tours abroad.

My band Nagorbaul performed shows in Japan, Australia and Cyprus, invited by Bangladeshi expatriates."According to James, all of these tours were successful. He said, "The concerts gave relief to the Bengalis who living abroad always long for Bengali culture. Most of the audiences were the young generation who love my music. Which is why they were moved by popular tracks."James mentioned that after Eid his troupe Nagarbaul would go on music tours in North America.

Moreover, negotiations are going on to release a Hindi album in India.He is hopeful of releasing solo and band albums in Bangladesh in the coming days.

Stoppage time penalty rescues Mohammedan

Sports
Football
Citycell B League
Stoppage time penalty rescues Mohammedan
Sports Reporter
Chittagong Abahani's Nepalese defender Lokobondhu (L) drags down Mohammedan striker Robin to concede an injury time penalty during their Citycell B. League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Photo

Federation Cup champions Mohammedan came close to tone with their city rivals Abahani's sufferings but a stoppage time penalty salvaged the Dhaka giants with a 1-1 draw against Chittagong Abahani in yesterday's Citycell B. League match.After defending champions Abahani's shocking 2-1 loss to Rahmatganj in Saturday's opener, Mohammedan were staring at defeat when the visitors went ahead through Mithun Chowdhury's spectacular strike in the 81st minute.

With the clock reaching 90 minutes, the Black and Whites looked all set to join Abahani in the casualty list in the opening round but referee Azad Rahman gave them a lifeline in the first minute of injury time.The referee was right to award a penalty to last year's runners-up Mohammedan when Chittagong Abahani's Nepalese defender Lokobondhu pulled down rival striker Robin inside the box.It was Alamu Bukola, Mohammedan's top scorer in the recently concluded Federation Cup, who stepped in to fire a low shot from the spot past Nepalese goalkeeper Kiran and relieve the tent.In absence of injured Arman Aziz, coach Maruf Ahmed appointed Nigerian Dami Emmanuelle in the central midfield but the home side hardly translated their overall domination into attacks.

They had to wait midway through the first half to get behind the port city side's backline when Sharif's cross picked up Robin. However, the striker's weak header gave no trouble to Kiran.Bukola should have done better than firing a first-time volley onto a defensive wall five minutes from halftime when the Nigerian forward met a right-side centre by wingback Nasir.

He got another chance after the break but this time, after hard work at the left flank, Bukola was denied by inspired defending from Nazir inside the box.The visitors, who were busy defending in the first 45 minutes, came out of their defensive shell in the second half and Nepalese striker Santosh created an exciting chance when he chased a freekick and back-heeled the ball to Mithun. The exuberant Mithun, however, ran over the ball to lose possession. The young striker finally got the reward for his incessant rushes to put Chittagong Abahani ahead. It was Santosh again who played a through-ball into the Mohammedan area and rival skipper Jewel Rana took it to be a harmless one, not deciding to chase it.

Mithun dashed from the left side and did not delay a moment to play an overhead shot into the far post, giving onrushing custodian Aminul no chance to make a saving effort.Jewel was immediately dropped but Mohammedan needed the extra-time penalty to snatch a valuable point from last year's second-from bottom side."Our target was getting one point from this tough away match," said Chittagong Abahani coach Abul Kashem.

"That way we are happy but having taken the lead just nine minutes from time, we should have held on to it," he added.His Mohammedan counterpart Maruf said his side played well but the players lacked concentration."I can't tell why. The whole system is responsible for this result," Maruf told without explaining.

There had been rumours before the match that Mohammedan's three foreign players -- Bukola, Emmanuelle and Egyptian Hajem Khaled did not receive payments in time and to go with it, the trio had also boycotted training a few days before Mohammedan's opening match.TEAMSMOHAMMEDAN: Aminul, Hassan Al Mamun, Jewel (Saikat), Rajani, Nasir, Kamal, Sharif (Maruf), Emmanuelle, Robin and Bukola.CHITTAGONG ABAHANI: Kiran, Monir (Jahangir), Nazir, Mamun, Lokobondhu, Mintu, Ismail (Rashedul), Sakhawat, Santosh and Mithun.

ICL hits Bangladesh hard

Cricket
ICL hits Bangladesh hard
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh cricket was rocked by seismic jolts yesterday with the news that six contracted player's had announced their retirement from the game. This latest shocking episode only served to deepen the fissures within the country's game after the national team's continued failures at the international stage.

Former national skipper Habibul Bashar along with opener Shahriar Nafees, middle-order batsman Aftab Ahmed, wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh, left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain and all-rounder Forhad Reza came to the board's office at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday to submit their respective letters of their resignation.

The six now seem all set to join the highly lucrative Indian Cricket League (ICL) alongside other prominent players like Alok Kapali, Nazimuddin and Mohammad Rafique.The players confirmed that they had all got offers from the ICL authorities but had yet to put pen to paper on the deal. "Yes, we have got an offer from ICL but we are yet to sign the contract," detailed Bashar, the most successful Tigers skipper who has been in the wilderness after being axed from the national side.

Monetary benefit is believed to be the main motivation behind the decision to join the Indian rebel league as the competition is not recognized by the ICC. Players appearing in tournaments under the ICL banner are liable to be banned from all top-class cricket."We know that many would consider money as the only reason behind taking such a difficult decision but for me there were some other strong reasons to take this hard decision," explained Bashar. High ranking officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) met immediately to discuss the issue. They later gave off the impression of not wanting to lose so many front-line players at one time - - something that would create a vacuum in a pipeline where quality players are already slim pickings. However, the BCB confirmed that there will be no shirking of punishment that is set to be imposed on the players for following such a personal agenda and setting aside national goals.

"It was stated by the players that they intend to retire from all forms of international and domestic cricket for a certain period of time but the reasons for their intention to retire were not stated in their respective letters," said Gazi Ashraf Hossain, chairman of the cricket operations committee, after the meeting. "The board attaches great importance to the matter and expresses its concern at the abrupt decision by so many players to retire from the game and that's why we tried to talk to them over telephone but nobody responded.

We then messaged them to attend a meeting on Tuesday," he added."We are hopeful that the interaction will give us a good solution. Still officially we don't know whether they have taken the decision for ICL but one thing is clear that there is a common guideline and we will implement it without any hesitation if any player takes part in this competition," Ashraf warned. The former national captain said that they were shocked and the event was unexpected especially at a time when they were trying to arrange something for the players to make sure that they will earn more money as well as gain international exposure.

"It was shocking and unexpected. Interestingly we had a meeting with Indian board official Lalit Modi during the ICC award ceremony where he promised to confirm minimum three Bangladeshi player's participation in the IPL during April-May next year.""On the other hand we have a chance to participate in the T20 Champions League in 2010. And all this effort has been taken to make sure our players get more money and international exposure," he informed.

There had been a whispering about such planning taking place during the recently concluded tour of Australia and it was a surprise that there had been no pre-emptive measures by the board to stop such a mass exodus."We heard that some players were getting offers and that they also refused to take it. And it was not unlikely when other countries have been facing the same problem. There is no doubt that this has come up all of a sudden," said Ashraf. It was learnt that the BCB will meet with the other contracted players today to let them know about the consequences of someone deciding to play in this rebel league. There was also whisperings about Mohammad Ashraful's involvement in the event.

Reportedly the offer had come to the captain first and many have even pointed the finger towards his visit to England which may be a way to keep away from the episode. "We don't know about anything like that rather he informed me that he has got the offer but rejected it," informed Ashraf. Many BCB officials were surprised because of the money the players have been offered by the ICL authority. "It's not like that they are going to get three-four times better money than what the board are currently paying them. It's hard to believe that they are going to lose their national pride for such an amount of money," said an official on condition of anonymity.

However in a day of sparkling revelations, the biggest question of who exactly had masterminded such an exodus, remains to be answered.

Rebellion in Tiger camp

11 national cricketers set to join Indian rebel league
Sports Reporter
Shahriar Nafees and Aftab Ahmed Bangladesh cricket's struggle is all set to mount after 11 national players including former captain Habibul Bashar have retired from all forms of cricket to, what is believed, participate in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).Aftab Ahmed, Shahriar Nafees, Forhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh and Mosharraf Hossain are the five others who called time on their burgeoning careers after reported to have been offered a major deal by the breakaway event organisers.

The exodus of these players, some of whom have international experience, will have far-reaching impact the country's game. With the team already shorn of experience and facing tough times since last year's World Cup, it is difficult to see how this gap would be filled.

They are expected to pocket around 200,000 dollars each after signing the three-year contracts, several times more what they can ever expect to earn while playing for Bangladesh.ICL is not recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and players appearing in its tournaments are liable to be banned from all ICC-affiliated cricket. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) received the resignation letters yesterday from all six players, who are currently under the board's contract.

They expressed concern at the abrupt decision and as the letters did not state reasons for their intention to retire, the BCB has instructed the players to appear in person on Tuesday afternoon at the board's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium office for explanation.All-rounder Forhad and wicketkeeper Dhiman played in the disappointing Australia tour this month and although Dhiman was average, Forhad would have reasons to doubt his future among the Tigers.Bashar, who was dropped after the first Test against South Africa earlier this year, has played 50 Test matches and 111 one-day internationals and captained Bangladesh between 2003 and 2007.

Aftab, the dashing Chittagong batsman, got injured before the Kitply Cup in June and has not played for the Tigers since. Mosharraf, the left-arm spinner, has only a couple of one-dayers under his belt and expressed anxiety over his future.Left-handed opener Nafees, who shot to fame after making a Test century against Australia in 2006, opted out of the recent tour of Australia citing educational commitments and maintains that he would be concentrating on his studies for another year.According to reports, as many as 14 players, most of them former and current national players, have been approached by ICL officials, who plan to form a new team called "Dhaka Warriors".

Alok Kapali Nazimuddin, retired left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya and Manjurul Islam, and Golam Mabud and Mahbubul Karim, currently touring Sri Lanka with the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team, are the names linked with the proposed ICL team.When contacted by a leading cricket website, ICL executive member Kiran More said that no formal agreement had been reached."We are currently in the state of discussion with a few Bangladeshi players but nothing has been finalised yet," said the former Indian wicketkeeper.

He however refused to name the players with whom the ICL was in touch."I can say only about myself that I have got the proposal from the ICL and am talking with them," he added.Some of these players are believed to have been offered as low as 30,000 dollars each.The new ICL season will begin on October 10, featuring 34 matches across four venues in India.

Explosions at 5 Sites in India’s Capital Kill 18

NEW DELHI — The Indian capital was rocked by terrorist attacks on Saturday as a series of synchronized explosions hit five crowded markets and thoroughfares, including Connaught Place, a tourist destination in the heart of the city.

Shivraj Patil, India’s home minister, said 18 people had been killed. Scores were wounded — in one hospital alone, more than 50 casualties were wheeled in within two hours of the blasts. The police and government officials called for calm, and the streets of the capital turned quiet Saturday night.

The bombings were the latest in a series of terrorist attacks in cities across the country apparently intended to sow panic, inflict civilian casualties and, according to Indian officials, inflame tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

In the past three years, mosques and temples have been attacked. The attacks on Saturday took place during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

“I can just say that these blasts have been planned by the enemies of the country, and they will be taught a lesson,” Sriprakash Jaiswal, the junior home minister, told reporters at one of the blast sites.

A group called Indian Mujahedeen sent an e-mail message to television stations earlier in the evening, warning of the attacks. The group has claimed responsibility for several other deadly bombings across India in recent years.

Terrorist attacks have loomed large over politics here as national elections approach. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has criticized the Congress Party-led coalition government for its inability to prevent bombings like those that hit the capital on Saturday.

Along with inflation, which has risen sharply in recent months, the attacks are a major point of vulnerability for the incumbent administration. There have been few arrests related to the attacks.

On Saturday, the first blast went off shortly after 6 p.m. in a market in the Karol Bagh neighborhood, where explosives were apparently stuffed in a three-wheeled rickshaw, the police said.

Next was an explosion in a public trash can outside a busy subway station near Connaught Place, followed by one in Central Park, a popular, recently renovated patch of green in the heart of Connaught Place.

Manoj Kumar, who works for a telephone company, was walking across Central Park on his way home from work when he heard a loud explosion and saw nearly a dozen wounded stumble and fall. A woman’s hand was blown off, he said.

Several of the wounded then made their way to a street on the edge of the circular park.
Chanchal Kumar was driving along that road when he saw the wounded sitting on a sidewalk. He ferried them to the nearest hospital, seven in all, over two trips. By the end of the ordeal, he said, his clothes were bloodstained.

The police said at least two unexploded bombs were found in and around the same area.
Two other blasts followed in a market in a South Delhi neighborhood.

The Indian Mujahedeen also claimed credit for serial bombings in the western city of Ahmedabad in July that killed 49 and wounded more than 200. In that attack, 17 back-to-back explosions struck shoppers on a Saturday evening, then two blasts hit the very hospitals where the wounded and their relatives rushed for help.

Ahmedabad is the commercial center of Gujarat State, where nearly 1,000 Muslims were killed by Hindus in 2002, in one of the worst outbreaks of religious violence in India’s history. In its warning, the Indian Mujahedeen said the attacks were “in revenge of Gujarat.”

The group also said it was responsible for blasts in July in Bangalore, the southern technology hub, killing one, and for bombs that killed 56 people in the historic western city of Jaipur in May.
Almost three years ago, a series of blasts hit open-air bazaars here, killing more than 60. At the time, local police officials said a Pakistan-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, was responsible for the attacks.

24 more militants killed in Pakistan's northwest

Afp, Ap, Khar

Activists of Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party shout slogans against the US missile strikes in the country's tribal areas during a protest in Karachi yesterday. A missile from a suspected US drone killed 12 people on Friday in a Pakistani tribal area where US forces have been aggressively targeting al-Qaeda militants -- fuelling anger from Washington's key "war on terror" ally. Photo: AFP

At least 24 Islamic militants were killed Saturday in fierce fighting with Pakistani government troops hunting Taliban fighters near the Afghan border, a security official said.More than 150 militants have been killed since Thursday in different parts of Bajaur district, in an ongoing clampdown on al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists hiding in the rugged region.

"Twenty-four militants have been killed across Bajaur in the latest clashes," the security official said, adding that helicopter gunships had destroyed several Taliban hideouts in the area.The army has intensified ground and air attacks in an effort to flush out Taliban and local militants from the Bajur tribal region.Khan Mohammed, an area resident, said the military was facing "unusual resistance" from militants."The exchange of fire between the army and Taliban is still continuing," he said.Pakistan is a key ally in the US war on terror and Bajur is believed to serve as a safe haven for Taliban, al-Qaeda and Pakistani militants.

The region has been the site of several suspected US missile attacks that have killed several al-Qaeda operatives, including close associates of al-Qaeda No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri.Although Pakistan has carried out several military operations in its tribal regions in recent years, the latest offensive in Bajur comes amid an increase in suspected US missile attacks in Pakista's tribal areas.

Pakistan has vowed to defend its territory since a US-led ground assault killed at least 15 people earlier this month, prompting Islamabad to lodge a strong protest with the United States.Pakistan's military and civil leadership and opposition parties are perturbed over reports that President Bush secretly approved more aggressive cross-border operations in July.

The party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Friday the change in policy could make it hard for Pakistan to maintain the close alliance with Washington forged by former President Pervez Musharraf.Pakistani forces have for weeks been targeting rebel positions in Bajaur, in a major operation that has seen nearly 700 people killed, mostly militants, and 260,000 displaced.Pakistan's tribal regions have been wracked by violence since hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebels fled there after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

US lawmakers caution against rushing vote on Indian nuclear deal

Afp, Washington
Three lawmakers cautioned the US Congress on Friday against rushing through with a vote on a landmark nuclear pact with India that President George W Bush wants approved before he leaves office in January."We strongly oppose rushing consideration of the proposal to adhere to an imaginary clock, since the process of full congressional oversight and deliberation necessarily and properly requires a significant investment of time," the trio from the House of Representatives said.Bush submitted the nuclear agreement Wednesday to Congress for endorsement to lift a three decade-old ban on atomic commerce with India.
The nuclear deal, approved by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005, offers India access to Western technology and cheap atomic energy as long as it allows UN nuclear inspections of some of its nuclear facilities.Democratic lawmakers Edward Markey, Ellen Tauscher and John Spratt, in a joint letter to House foreign affairs committee chairman Howard Berman, said the deal contained many lingering questions and required further examination.US law passed in 2006 requires that Congress have at least 30 days of "continuous session" for consideration of the deal before holding a vote.
Based on the current congressional schedule, the House only has 10 legislative days left in session before adjourning on September 26, ahead of the US presidential election on November 4.The lawmakers cautioned against any move "waiving US law through unorthodox procedure" to meet Bush's request for congressional approval of the deal this year.The Nuclear Suppliers' Group, a regulator of sale of nuclear fuel and technology, approved the deal last week after some countries, including China and New Zealand, expressed reservation about opening up nuclear commerce with India, which is not a member of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).The White House said Thursday that Bush would welcome Singh on September 25 for talks on bilateral relations, including the nuclear deal.

Russian troops pack up, leave western Georgia

Ap, Tbilisi

Hundreds of Russian forces packed up and withdrew from positions Saturday in western Georgia, and a Georgian official said Russia met a deadline for a partial pullout a month after the war between the two former Soviet republics. Russian soldiers and armoured vehicles rolled out of six checkpoints and temporary bases in the Black Sea port of Poti and other areas nearby, Georgian Security Council chief Alexander Lomaia said."They have fulfilled the commitment" to withdraw from the area by Sept. 15 under an agreement European Union leaders reached with Russia last week, Lomaia told The Associated Press.
But he stressed that Georgia like the West demands a full withdrawal to pre-conflict positions.Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko confirmed the withdrawal."Right now the withdrawal of our peacekeeping forces is happening from these posts," Nesterenko said in televised comments.However, Lomaia said some 1,200 Russian servicemen still remain at 19 checkpoints and other positions, 12 outside South Ossetia and seven outside Abkhazia.Russia said it would pull them out by Oct. 11 as long as a 200-strong delegation of European Union observers was in place by Oct. 1.
However, OSCE documents seen by The Associated Press have raised questions over Russia's true willingness to accept the monitors.The presence of Russian troops dug in deep in undisputed Georgian territory more than a month after the fighting ended has deeply angered Georgians and been an enormous sore point between Russia and the West.Russia's military campaign in Georgia and its subsequent recognition of Georgia's separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent nations has plunged its relations with the United States and Europe into their worst crisis since the Cold War.
An Associated Press television crew saw Russian soldiers pack military trucks before dawn Saturday with blankets and other supplies at a post by a road leading to Abkhazia province. Among the items taken down the Russian tricolour flag.Four trucks stood packed and ready to leave the post in the village of Pirveli Maisi, along with an armoured personnel carrier. A Russian column about the same size rolled past on a road leading to Abkhazia.Russian forces left the two posts they had maintained for weeks on the outskirts of Poti, one by a bridge on a main road leading into the city and one a few miles from Georgia's main port and devastated naval base, Interior Ministry official Shota Utiashvili said."Russian forces have withdrawn completely from Poti," he said.A third Russian post established more recently by the port of Poti had also been vacated, Lomaia said. He said some 250 soldiers and 20 armoured vehicles pulled out of their positions and headed toward Abkhazia.

Babel blows MU away

Football
Barclays English Premier League
Babel blows MU away
Liverpool's four-year wait over
Afp, Liverpool

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel (below) is congratulated by striker Robbie Keane after the Dutchman scored a late goal to see off bitter rivals Manchester United during their Premiership match at Anfield on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Ryan Babel ended Liverpool's four-year wait for a league victory against Manchester United as Rafa Benitez's team fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday.Carlos Tevez's third minute opener looked set to extend United's unbeaten run against their bitter rivals, but two defensive errors by the champions gifted Liverpool the victory before Nemanja Vidic was sent off for two bookings in the ninetieth minute, which will now rule him out next Sunday's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.It had all started so well for United, with Dimitar Berbatov, making his United debut following his deadline day arrival from Tottenham, needing just three minutes to emphasise the qualities he will bring to Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

The Bulgarian had already given an example of centre-forward abilities inside the opening minute when his shot from 12 yards was blocked by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel. Skrtel appeared to block the shot with his trailing arm, but referee Howard Webb ruled out United's claims for a penalty.Berbatov's presence did tee-up a United goal moments later, however, when he showed his awareness to pull the ball back to Tevez, who side-footed past goalkeeper Pepe Reina from 18 yards to score his second goal at Anfield in successive seasons.With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both nursing slight injury problems on the substitutes' bench, Liverpool were without their two leading players as they attempted to overturn United's lead.And the early signs were not good for Benitez's team as European champions United strutted around, looking likely to add to their lead before Liverpool could even get out of first gear.But the home side managed to gain a foothold in the game with Javier Mascherano inspiring Liverpool with his energy and refusal to be overrun by United's powerful midfield.The Argentinian was first to virtually every ball and he broke up United's momentum and allowed Liverpool to mount attacks of their own.

United rode their luck with Edwin van der Sar saving brilliantly from Dirk Kuyt, but the Dutch goalkeeper was at fault when Liverpool equalised on 26 minutes through Wes Brown's own goal.Xabi Alonso's shot from 35 yards appeared harmless until it deflected off United defender Patrice Evra, but the ball should not have caused Van der Sar any serious problems.But the veteran keeper over-stretched as he raced out to collect the ball and he could only palm the ball onto Brown's knees before seeing it bobble into the empty net.

To make matters worse for United, England midfielder Michael Carrick was then forced out of the game with an ankle injury following a challenge with Mascherano that resulted in him re-appearing in the dug-out after the break with the aid of crutches and a protective boot on his right foot.Despite the absence of Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool grew in confidence in the second-half and they continued to push United back deep into their own territory.But Irish forward Robbie Keane, still searching for his first Liverpool goal since his close season arrival from Spurs, failed to get behind the United defenders and it was United substitute Giggs that went closest to adding to the scoring with a 70th minute lob that was well saved by Reina.

Instead of winning the game for United, though, Giggs ultimately lost it for Ferguson's men when he allowed Mascherano to steal possession in the touchline in front of The Kop.Giggs should have cleared, but Mascherano claimed the ball and squared to Babel, who netted from 12 yards to cap a dramatic Liverpool fightback.

Chanderpaul named Player of the Year

ICC Awards 2008
Chanderpaul named Player of the Year
Cricinfo staff

Yuvraj Singh and Simon Taufel pose with their trophies at the ICC Awards in Dubai © Getty Images

West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul has become the fifth player to be named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai. Chanderpaul, who also made the shortlist last year, fought off competition from other nominees Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka, as well as South Africa's Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn to take the top award.

Steyn had the consolation of taking the

Test Player of the Year award, while India's one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the ODI Player of the Year award.

Yuvraj Singh became the inaugural winner of the

Twenty20 International Performance of the Year Award in recognition of his amazing six sixes in one over off Stuart Broad during the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa last September.

Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka's 23-year-old spin star, won the

Emerging Player of the Year award. With his mesmerising brand of spin bowling, Mendis has exploded on to the international scene in recent months. In just three Tests against India in July and August, he claimed an amazing 26 wickets at an average of 18.38.
Six countries were represented in the 12-man ICC Test Team of the Year and three players - England captain, Kevin Pietersen and the Sri Lanka pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan - also appeared in the World Test Team of the Year in 2007. Sangakkara and Muralitharan also appeared in the 2006 side as well. Smith was named as captain of the team.

There were also six countries represented in the ICC

ODI Team of the Year of which only two - Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar - also appeared in the 2007 side and only one - Brett Lee - made both XIs. Ponting was included in 2006 as well while Andrew Symonds was previously been named in the 2005 team. Ponting is named as captain of the team for the second year running.

Australian umpire, Simon Taufel, was named as

Umpire of the Year for the fifth successive time. Taufel, 37, received his votes from the captains of the ten Full Member nations, as well as the eight-man elite panel of ICC match referees. "I'm delighted to win this award but I don't set this as a goal at the start of a season," he said.
England captain Charlotte Edwards, who last night steered her side to a 4-0 one-day win over India, won the Women's Cricketer of the Year award.

Netherlands allrounder, Ryan ten Doeschate, was named as the

Associate Player of the Year.
The Sri Lanka team were the recipients of the Spirit of Cricket Award for the second year running. The prize is presented to the team which, in the opinion of the elite panel of ICC umpires and match referees, has best conducted itself on the field within the spirit of the game.

"The past year has been another exciting one for cricket fans around the world in a time that included the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 and plenty of competitive Test and ODI cricket," David Morgan, the ICC president, said. "These players have contributed hugely to our enjoyment. This is the fifth annual ICC Awards night and each year it is gaining in prestige."

ICC Test Team of the Year Graeme Smith (SA, capt), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI), Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Jacques Kallis (SA), Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wk), Brett Lee (Aus), Ryan Sidebottom (Eng), Dale Steyn (SA), Muttiah Muralitharan (SL). 12th man: Stuart Clark (Aus).

ICC ODI Team of the Year Hershelle Gibbs (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), Ricky Ponting (Aus, capt), Younis Khan (Pak), Andrew Symonds (Aus), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind, wk), Farveez Maharoof (SL), Daniel Vettori (NZ), Brett Lee (Aus), Mitchell Johnson (Aus), Nathan Bracken (Aus). 12th man: Salman Butt (Pak)

Siddle sidles into Test reckoning

Australia in India 2008-09
Siddle sidles into Test reckoning
Cricinfo staff
September 12, 2008
Peter Siddle made his mark on Australia's first-class scene last season and he will soon be touring with the Test squad © Getty Images

Two months after Peter Siddle's Victoria fast-bowling colleague Darren Pattinson made a surprise Test debut for England, Siddle is hoping for a similar bolt-from-the-blue moment for Australia. Pattinson had 11 first-class games under his belt when his shock call-up arrived; Siddle has also played 11.

He knows a Test debut is unlikely as Doug Bollinger will probably be the first reserve in India but simply being named in the squad is a win for Siddle. The selectors view him as a long-term prospect and at 23 he was preferred to Ashley Noffke, 31, who accompanied Bollinger in the back-up duties in the West Indies this year.
Siddle is already in India, where he is preparing for Australia A's upcoming one-day games. The rain in their three-day matches against India A meant he had little chance to bowl, although his 15 overs in Bangalore brought him 1 for 27 and he is confident the experience has helped him adjust from Australian conditions.
"We haven't played a lot of cricket over here but the wickets are totally different from back home," Siddle told Cricinfo. "The important thing is to adjust your line and length. I did that quickly in Bangalore, in the first Test against India A, and did well.

"I normally run in and hit the wicket hard and get good bounce but over here that doesn't work. Here I need to be bit more fuller and make use of swing and be spot on with the line and length."

Siddle is deceptively quick and persistently attacking, which has helped him collect 41 first-class wickets at 21.65. He has also won praise from his Victoria coach Greg Shipperd for being a capable "stump-to-stump" bowler who makes the batsmen play and can also use reverse swing.

Siddle does not mind if a baggy green fails to eventuate on this trip but for Bollinger the journey will bring him within touching distance of international cricket. He has been a relentless accumulator of wickets on the domestic scene in the past couple of seasons and 4 for 59 against India A last week proved he is adaptable.
"The conditions are different to back home, which are bit harder," Bollinger said. "It's a good challenge. I just bowled a lot straighter and attacked the batsmen a bit more. It's a learning process still."

A tall left-armer who usually gains impressive bounce, he was the

leading wicket taker in the Pura Cup last season with 45 at 15.44. Bollinger, 27, also has time on his side and having sat in the dressing rooms in the Caribbean, he is simply looking forward to more experience with the Test squad.

"I wouldn't say I smell an opening now," Bollinger said. "But being around I should remain positive and try and do everything right so that if the opportunity does happen I can just slip in easily."

Tarique quits party post, flies to UK

Khaleda says he would be out of politics until recovery
Staff Correspondent

Khaleda Zia visits her ailing son Tarique Rahman at the BSMMU Hospital yesterday after being released on bail.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman last night flew to the United Kingdom for treatment hours after his just-freed mother's announcement that he will stay off politics until he recovers fully.

Earlier, he tendered resignation as the senior joint secretary general of BNP, party sources said.

Meanwhile, a statement made available after midnight says he has “retired from active politics with effect from September 11” [yesterday]. Authenticity of Tarique's signature in the statement however could not be verified as of filing this report at 1:00am.

Tarique left Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital at around 7:00pm for the Zia International Airport. As he was wheeled out of the hospital, cheers went up from hundreds of party leaders and workers gathered outside.

The Emirates flight carrying him took off at around 9:55pm.

Travelling with him were his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, sister-in-law Shahina Khan Zaman and her husband Air Commodore (retd) Syed Shafiuzzaman, and physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon.

Tarique will receive treatment at Hammersmith Hospital in London and the King's Oak Hospital in Middlesex, his lawyer Nasiruddin Ashim told The Daily Star.

Earlier in the day, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said, “Doctors say it will take at least two to three years for him to pull through.”

Talking to reporters at the party headquarters at Naya Paltan, she said, “He will stay abroad and out of politics until he recovers completely.”

She also said that for the time being he will not carry out any responsibilities with regard to the party.

The BNP chief who was released on bail the same day spent over two hours by her son's bedside at the BSMMU Hospital.

In the last few days, speculations ran rife over Tarique's going abroad and his mother's release.

He was supposed to leave the country on Wednesday night, but did not get the government's nod, his lawyer Ahmed Aazam Khan told the press.

The heir apparent to Zia family, Tarique became the senior joint general secretary of BNP in 2002. During the rule of BNP-led four-party alliance, he would carry enormous clout. Hawa Bhaban, her mother's political office in Banani, was literally the alternate powerhouse run by him between 2001 and 2006.

But things took a turn for the worse for him with the army-backed caretaker government taking office on January 11 last year.

In an anti-graft purge, the joint forces arrested him on March 7, 2007 at their Shaheed Moinul Road residence in Dhaka cantonment.

Soon he was made accused in a slew of cases. After 18 months in detention on graft and extortion charges, he was released on bail on September 3.

Instead of taking him home, his family opted to keep him at the BSMMU Hospital where he had already spent months in prison cell.

Tarique obtained a UK visa for five years on September 8 and a 90-day German visa on September 10. He might be taken to Germany from the UK, family sources said.

His wife and daughter too were given five-year UK visas and his physician was granted a visa for six months.

White House sends Indian nuclear deal to Congress

Afp, Washington
The White House said late Wednesday it sent the text of a landmark US-India civilian nuclear agreement to Congress for final approval but it remains unclear if lawmakers will give the accord the green light.The proposed deal, signed by President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005, offers India access to Western technology and cheap atomic energy as long as it allows UN nuclear inspections of some of its nuclear facilities.If Congress endorses the agreement it would lift a three decade-old ban on nuclear trade with India.The White House said in a statement that it was transmitting the text of the agreement and other relevant documents to lawmakers, who returned to work Monday after their August recess and are expected to leave Washington again in late September to campaign ahead of the November 4 elections -- leaving little time for action on the accord.

"The proposed Agreement provides a comprehensive framework for US peaceful nuclear cooperation with India," the statement read. "It permits the transfer of information, non-nuclear material, nuclear material, equipment (including reactors) and components for nuclear research and nuclear power production. It does not permit transfers of any restricted data.

"Sensitive nuclear technology, heavy-water production technology and production facilities, sensitive nuclear facilities, and major critical components of such facilities may not be transferred under the Agreement unless the Agreement is amended," the statement said.

The agreement "will remain in force for a period of 40 years and will continue in force thereafter for additional periods of 10 years each unless either party gives notice to terminate it 6 months before the end of a period," it said, adding that either party can end the agreement before that "on one year's written notice to the other party."

Pakistan warns US against border incursions

Pak army commanders meet
Indo-asian News Service, Afp, Islamabad

Pakistan has rejected US claims that the rules of engagement gave the coalition forces in Afghanistan the right to enter its territory, saying the nation's sovereignty will be defended at all costs.

"The rules of engagement with the coalition forces are well defined and within that the right to conduct operations against the militants inside own territory is solely the responsibility of the respective armed forces," Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said in a statement in Islamabad on Wednesday."There is no question of any agreement or understanding with the coalition forces whereby they are allowed to conduct operations on our side of the border," he added.

The statement "dispelled a perception that some of the airstrikes carried out inside Pakistan by drones and warplanes of the US-led coalition had been authorised by Islamabad", Dawn said on Thursday.Pakistan army commanders met yesterday, a day after their leader, General Ashfaq Kayani, strongly criticised cross-border raids by US-led coalition forces, officials said.Kayani said in an earlier statement that the country would defend its sovereignty "at all cost" and no external force would be allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan.The army chief gathers his corps commanders every month and September's two-day meeting began on Thursday in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, an army spokesman said.No official details were immediately available, but sources said the corps commanders conference would discuss the internal and external security situation and review professional matters.

Kayani's statement comes on the heels of US President George Bush's description of the Afghan-Pakistan border area as a frontline in the war on terror and against the backdrop of a series of incursions by Nato forces in which missiles were fired from unmanned drones in the tribal areas and at least one incident in which ground troops attacked the Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan.A large number of civilians have been killed in these raids.Quoting observers here, Dawn said Kayani's statement was "a strong rebuttal of the oft-repeated assertions by the western media and political and military figures that US and Nato forces in Afghanistan had a 'right' to take their war on terror into Pakistan".

Pakistan has been asserting that any credible information about terrorists in Pakistan should be provided to it and that its forces were fully capable of acting on this.Although this is not the first time Nato forces have attacked inside Pakistan, the increase in the frequency of attacks in days before last week's presidential election here was seen by many as a major shift in the US policy towards Pakistan.

Kabul endorses new US focus on Pak border

Afp, Kabul

President Hamid Karzai endorsed yesterday a new US focus on the Afghan and Pakistan border in its "war on terror," saying it was something his government had been pushing for years.US Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen said Wednesday he had commissioned "a new, more comprehensive military strategy for the region that covers both sides of that border" between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The United States says the area is a safe haven for insurgents, including those attacking international troops fighting a Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan."The change in strategy or a new strategy is something I and my colleagues in the Afghan government had suggested three, three-and-a-half years ago," Karzai told reporters."Our words have been clear in this regard: a change in strategy is needed, meaning that we must go to places where there is training and hide-out facilities (for terrorists) and jointly we must go there and destroy that."Karzai and his government have long said that war-weary Afghanistan should not be the sole battleground for the "war on terror" launched in response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States.

They have called for more focus on what they say are the "roots" of the insurgency -- extremist sanctuaries and training grounds in Pakistan which are sending fighters across the border to Afghanistan.

The New York Times reported meanwhile that US President George W. Bush in July secretly approved orders enabling US Special Operations forces to conduct ground operations in Pakistan without Islamabad's prior approval.Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani Wednesday strongly criticised the raids and said the country would defend its sovereignty "at all cost."

It goes to Chanderpaul

Cricket
It goes to Chanderpaul
Dhoni best ODI player
Agencies, Dubai
(From left) India's Yuvraj Singh, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, Australian umpire Simon Taufel, England women's captain Charlotte Edwards, South African paceman Dale Steyn, Sri Lankan spin sensation Ajantha Mendis and Australia captain Ricky Ponting pose with their individual awards at the end of the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai on Wednesday.Shivnarine Chanderpaul(inset) Photo: AFP

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was named as the 2008 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year at an awards ceremony here on Wednesday.The 34-year-old left-hander, a mainstay of his side's batting for over a decade, was chosen ahead of his three fellow nominees -- Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith and Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn.During the voting period, the gritty Guyanese played eight Test matches, scoring 819 runs at an average of 91, including three centuries and six fifties, all of which were against the top seven teams in the world.

"I am honoured to be given this prestigious award tonight and I am very thankful to God for blessing me with the talent that I have," Chanderpaul said upon receiving his award."A special thank you goes out to my manager, my agent and all my supporters in the Caribbean and throughout the world. It's also important that I thank my teammates without whom this wouldn't have been possible."My congratulations go out to all the other winners tonight -- these awards are great for the players and it is an honour even to be nominated.

I am thrilled to have won," said the former West Indies captain.Chanderpaul, who follows India's Rahul Dravid, all-rounders Andrew Flintoff (England) and Jacques Kallis (South Africa), the joint winners in 2005, and two-time ICC Cricketer of the Year Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, in taking the award, also played 13 ODIs during the voting period.

He finished top of the averages with 74.75 having scored 598 runs, a haul that included a century and five fifties. He is currently ranked number one in the ICC Test batting rankings and sixth in the list for ODI batsmen.There was a consolation for Steyn when the paceman was named Test player of the year.During the 12-month voting period, Steyn took 86 wickets at an average of just 18.10 in the 14 Test matches he played.No other bowler took more than 58 wickets in the same period and he was the only bowler to earn an average less than 21.50 (of those who played more than three matches).

"I have had a pretty decent year I suppose but I didn't think about winning this award until the past few days," said Steyn."I don't really know how I feel. Perhaps tomorrow morning it will have sunk in for me because obviously this is a huge award and it's massive for me," added the bowler, who recently helped South Africa win their first Test series in England since 1965.India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named as the one-day player of the year, while his team-mate Yuvraj Singh won the inaugural international Twenty20 performance of the year award after striking six sixes off an over from England quick Stuart Broad during last year's World Twenty20 in South Africa.Sri Lanka's 'mystery' spinner Ajantha Mendis was chosen as the emerging player of the year while England captain Charlotte Edwards was named as the women's player of the year.Australia's Simon Taufel, the only man ever to win his award, was named as umpire of the year for the fifth time in a row.

Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate won the Associate player of the year award for those outside the Test elite.Sri Lanka, for the second year in a row, won the spirit of cricket award presented to the team which, in the opinion of the ICC elite panels of umpires and match referees, has best conducted itself on the field.

Chanderpaul and Steyn also featured in the ICC Test team of the year chosen by the ICC selection panel chaired by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd and including Australia batting great Greg Chappell, recently retired South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock, Sidath Wettimuny, the former Sri Lanka opener and former Bangladesh batsman Athar Ali Khan.Australia fast bowler Brett Lee was the only player included in both the ICC's Test and one-day teams of the year.THE WINNERSCricketer of the Year: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)Test Player of the Year: Dale Steyn (South Africa)ODI Player of the Year: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India)Emerging Player of the Year: Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)T20I Performance of the Year: Yuvraj Singh (India)Associate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate (The Netherlands)Women's Cricketer of the Year: Charlotte Edwards (England)Umpire of the Year: Simon Taufel (Australia)Spirit of Cricket Award: Sri LankaODI TEAM OF THE YEARHerschelle Gibbs, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting (captain), Younis Khan, Andrew Symonds, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Farveez Maharoof, Daniel Vettori, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken. 12th man: Salman Butt.TEST TEAM OF THE YEARGraeme Smith (captain), Virender Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara (wicketkeeper), Brett Lee, Ryan Sidebottom, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralidaran.12th man: Stuart Clark.

Khaleda granted bail in last two cases

Her counsels see no legal bar left for release; ACC goes to SC for stay on bail in two other cases

The High Court (HC) yesterday granted three months' ad interim bail to detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Gatco and Niko graft cases.With yesterday's, the former prime minister has obtained bail in all four cases against her, filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to Khaleda's counsels, now there is no legal bar to her release.Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mansur Habib however said the ACC would appeal against the bail orders. The anti-graft body yesterday already filed two petitions with the Supreme Court (SC) for stay on the bail she was granted last month in Zia Orphanage Trust and Barapukuria coalmine cases.

The BNP chief's lawyer Rafiqul Islam Mia said they hope she will be freed within 24 hours. “The court orders today prove she is innocent. As she wanted all along, she is going to be released through a legal process, not through the backdoor." Allowing Khaleda interim bail, the HC vacation bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman directed the ACC and the government to explain why the petitioner should not be granted regular bail.Referring to securing bail in all cases, Khaleda's counsel Khandker Mahbubuddin Ahmed said it is a “victory in their long legal battle”.

Rafique-ul Huq, another counsel for the petitioner, said the government has in fact violated human rights and the rule of law by arresting former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina."Hasina is the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Khaleda the widow of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. “I've been fighting the legal battles for them to establish the rule of law. Awami League or BNP should not be brought here to confuse the issue," he observed.

Asked about Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman's comment earlier that the “government would not oppose if Khaleda files bail petitions”, Huq said the BNP chairperson was given bail on legal points amid strong opposition from the ACC counsels."An adviser should not have made this sort of remarks about court proceedings," he added. Earlier in the day, during hearing on the bail petitions, Huq told the court that the cases were filed to have his client disqualified from the next general election.He said, "The first information report (FIR) of the Gatco case says the accused are responsible for a Tk 1,000 crore loss to the state coffers, but the charge sheet says the amount is Tk 14 crore." The ACC filed the case on September 2 last year on charges of graft in awarding Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (Gatco) a contract for container management at Dhaka and Chittagong inland depots.

The following day she was arrested at her cantonment residence.The defendant's lawyer also contended that Gatco won the contract as the lowest bidder, and there was no graft or irregularity involved. Huq said Saadat Hussain, the then cabinet secretary and now chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), headed the technical committee regarding the contract, and so he should have been made the principal accused. "No charge has been brought against Saadat Hussain. But former ministers have been made accused so they could be harassed politically. Most of the accused including M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, M Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar have been granted bail in this case," he said. Khandker Mahbubuddin Ahmed and Rafiqul Islam Mia petitioned the court to grant Khaleda bail in Niko graft case on the same grounds that Huq sought bail for her in the Gatco case.

The Niko case was filed on December 9 last year. The charge is abuse of power in awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko. "The government awarded the deal to Niko in full compliance with the rules of business," Mia said in his submissions to the court yesterday. In opposition to the bail prayers, ACC counsel Abdul Aziz Khan argued that the HC cannot give an accused bail in a case filed under the Emergency Power Rules.He also lamented that the HC has been granting bails to the accused at will. Incensed at the remark, the court asked the bench officers to write down an order against Aziz. However, no contempt rule was issued against the ACC counsel as he was quick to apologise to the bench, said court sources. CASES The Gatco graft case is the first in a series of cases that the ACC filed against Khaleda. Then came the Niko case.

On May 5, the anti-graft body pressed charges in this case against 11 people. Besides Khaleda, former law minister Moudud Ahmed and former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain are among the charge-sheeted accused. The HC in July this year stayed the proceedings of Gatco and Niko cases. It also ordered the government and the ACC to explain why the case proceedings should not be quashed. The ACC filed the Barapukuria coalmine case against Khaleda and 15 others on February 26. The other accused include 10 former ministers from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. In the case, the 16 are charged with causing a loss of over Tk 158.71 crore to the public exchequer by awarding a Chinese company a production, management and maintenance contract through abuse of power.

The accused former ministers from BNP are M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar, Aminul Haque, Altaf Hossain Choudhury and AKM Mosharraf Hossain, and from Jamaat are Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid and Motiur Rahman Nizami.On July 3, the ACC filed another case against Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and five others on charges of embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore meant for “Zia Orphanage Trust”.

All cases were later brought under the emergency rules. They remain pending with the special courts set up to try high-profile corruption cases.

Sourav to quit soon?

Afp, New Delhi

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly may quit international cricket "sooner rather than later" with him facing the axe for the upcoming home series against Australia, a report said Tuesday.

The 36-year-old was left out of the Rest of India squad for the five-day Irani Cup match against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi in Vadodara from September 24, seen as a trial match for next month's Test series.

Ganguly's omission from a virtual Test line-up that includes fellow seniors Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Venkatsai Laxman means he is unlikely to figure in the highly anticipated series starting in Bangalore on October 9.

The Telegraph newspaper, published from Ganguly's home city of Kolkata, said the stylish left-hander may not attempt to make a comeback into the Indian team.

"The fight may just have gone out of Sourav Ganguly," the paper said in a front-page story.

"The former captain could decide to call it a day -- sooner rather than later -- instead of striving for a return to the Team India dressing room."

The paper quoted an unnamed person close to Ganguly saying: "I don't think he is hungry the way he was, say, two years ago."

Ganguly, India's most successful Test captain with 21 wins, was sacked in 2005 and later dropped from both the Test and one-day team after a public spat with the then coach, Australian batting great Greg Chappell.

But he returned to the Test squad in late 2006, emerging as the highest scorer in the away series in South Africa and making useful contributions against England and the home series against the South Africans.

The selectors, however, ignored Ganguly for the Irani Cup after he averaged just 16 in three Tests on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, which the hosts won 2-1.

Tendulkar, who averaged 15 on that tour, and Dravid, who averaged 24, were given another chance by the five-man selection committee headed by former Test captain Dilip Vengsarkar.

"I have no reaction, no comments," Ganguly told The Telegraph.

US-India nuclear deal faces final hurdle

Bush 'hopeful' US Congress would endorse accord
Afp, Washington

The United States faces a final hurdle in the implementation of a landmark civilian nuclear pact with India -- convincing lawmakers that the deal has adequate safeguards as prescribed by US law.President George W Bush's administration said Monday it was "hopeful" the US Congress would endorse the agreement, which would lift a ban on nuclear trade with India after three decades, before his term ends in January.But lawmakers who began a short final session Monday ahead of a presidential vote on November 4 have sought greater transparency on the deal, especially details of its approval by the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) last week.

The greenlight from the NSG, a regulator of sale of nuclear fuel and technology, came after countries such as China, New Zealand, Austria and Ireland expressed reservation about opening up nuclear commerce with India, which is not a member of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."Before we vote, Congress needs to study the NSG decision, along with any agreements that were made behind the scenes to bring it about," said Howard Berman, chairman of the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee.

Berman, who plays an influential role in rallying House support for the deal, has demanded that any final agreement must be consistent with a special law -- the Hyde Act -- passed overwhelmingly in 2006 laying the foundation for the nuclear deal.A key condition under the law is immediate termination of all nuclear commerce by NSG member states if India detonates a nuclear explosive device.

Pak constitution to be restored to its original form: PM

The Dawn, Islamabad

(Pakistan's president-elect Asif Ali Zardari (R), widower of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, shakes hands with former premier Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad yesterday. Zardari will be sworn in as president of Pakistan today, succeeding Pervez Musharraf who resigned under threat of impeachment.Marines turn town over to British, Afghans Photo: AFP)

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated his government's resolve to restore the 1973 Constitution in its original form, which would help guarantee independence of judiciary and freedom of the press.

He was talking to a US Congressional delegation, which had called on him on Sunday.According to an official handout, the prime minister said that the democratic process had been completed with the election of Asif Ali Zardari as president with an overwhelming majority.

The delegation included Congressman Jim Cooper, Democrat, Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, Democrat, Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Congressman Thomas Petri, Republican, Member of the House Committee on Education and Labour; Congressman Jon Porter, Republican, Member of the House Ways and Means Committee; and Congressman Dave Reichert, Republican, Member of House Homeland Security Committee.US Ambassador Anne W Patterson attended the meeting. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani attended a reception given by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed in connection with the Defence of Pakistan Day.

India to seek nuclear trade after US Congress go-ahead: FM

India yesterday said it will seek international nuclear commerce but only after a landmark civilian atomic energy deal with Washington is cleared by the US Congress.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's announcement came after nuclear supplier nations on the weekend lifted a decades-old ban on trading with India, saying it would fuel the country's economic growth."India will actually enter into trade with supplying countries through bilateral agreements (only) after the ratification (of the deal) by the US Congress," Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi."As far as the procedure is concerned, now we shall have to wait for the ratification of the agreement," he added.Ratification by Congress is the final hurdle before the deal, signed by US President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005.Mukherjee's comments came as US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice urged India not to ignore US firms should the deal hit a roadblock at the current Congress session, which concludes by the end of the month.

"We have talked to the Indian government about not disadvantaging American companies and I think they recognise and appreciate American leadership on this issue," the Press Trust of India quoted Rice as saying during a trip to Algeria.Mukherjee also hailed the waiver both by the Nuclear Suppliers' Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency as "passports for India to enter into international nuclear trade.

"For global nuclear energy companies, the decision opens the door to an atomic reactor market worth tens of billions of dollars, with India aiming to boost its share of nuclear power to five to seven percent by 2030.A host of nuclear companies from French state-controlled Areva, Russia's Rosatom Corp to General Electric of the US have been jockeying for a slice of India's atomic market.Meanwhile, after working "tirelessly" for securing a waiver for India from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group for trade in the atomic energy, the US on Monday said its next aim is to make New Delhi a "full partner" in the nuclear cartel."President Bush, Secretary of State and the entire administration had worked tirelessly to ensure that India reached the stage where it has today in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)," Assistant Secretary (Market Access and Compliance) in the US Department of Commerce David Bohigian said in New Delhi.Bohigian said Bush and the Congress administration would continue to work to "make India a full partner in this group (NSG) which we think is crucial... From a strategic, political, economic and energy standpoint".He said the US administration would be working through the Congress and the Hyde Act to ensure $100 billion r market for American companies.

"The next step for the US (administration) will be working through the Congress and the Hyde Act and make sure that business opportunities will enable the US firms to stay in what is estimated to be $100 billion market," the official said at a CII seminar.He said atomic energy would play an important role for economic development of India. "When you look at the energy map of 2020 and beyond, certainly nuclear has a key role to play in India's growth which we welcome," Bohigian said.According to industry body Assocham, about 40 companies, including Videocon, have already started talks with foreign firms to set up nuclear power plants envisaging a total investment of about Rs 2,00,000 crore in India.

"We have asked the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for amendments in the legislations to facilitate the entry of private sector in generation of nuclear power," Videocon group head Venugopal Dhoot said.

Serena blows to top

Tennis
US Open
Serena blows to top

USA's Serena Williams is over the moon after winning the championship point against Serbian Jelena Jankovic during the US Open women's singles final at the Flushing Meadows on Sunday. The win was Serena's ninth career Grand Slam title and saw her catapulted back into the top of the world rankings for the first time in five years. Photo: AFP

On the very first point of the match, Serena Williams hit a backhand so hard that her earring flew off.Turns out she was just getting warmed up.Williams kept pounding away, her shots and shouts getting louder with every stroke. And when she finished off Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 Sunday night for the U.S. Open championship and a ninth Grand Slam title, Williams really went wild.She flung her racket high into the sky, hollering and hopping in a celebration that even she thought might've been over the top.

“I'm sorry I got so excited,” she told Jankovic when they met at the net.Williams' father, Richard, jumped to his feet after the final point. He didn't seem to expect his daughter to do the same.“I never knew Serena to be very, very excited. I knew Serena to be very, very mean,” he said after it was over. “I describe her as being a combination of a pit bull dog, a young Mike Tyson and an alligator.”The fourth-seeded Williams beat sister Venus in the quarterfinals and barreled through this tournament without losing a set. This win did more than earn Serena her third silver trophy at Flushing Meadowsit assured she will return to No. 1 in the rankings for the time since August 2003, the longest gap at the top for a woman.Pretty good for someone whose ranking once plummeted to No. 139.

“It's been so long,” she said.The American recovered from a poor day on break point conversions, missing on nine of her first 10 in the up-and-down second set with the Serb second seed, who will stand second behind Williams in next week's rankings.But Williams found her big game when she needed it, breaking twice in the concluding six games and going through on her second match point as she tossed her racket into the air after producing a winner.Williams calmed down in time for the on-court trophy presentation, and smiled when she received the winner's check for $1.5 million. Still full of personality, Jankovic wondered aloud, “How much did I get?”Jankovic earned $750,000 for her first showing in a Grand Slam final.This was the 13th straight time that the women's championship at the U.S. Open was decided in straight sets. The second-seeded Jankovic certainly had her chancesup 5-3 in the second set, she led 40-0 with Williams serving.“I felt I had her.

I had her, because she was really tired at the end of the second set,” Jankovic said. “Who knows what would have happened if I had got into a third set? I probably would have had the upper hand. But who knows?”Jankovic won over fans with more than her determined play and her penchant for doing the splits to reach shots. She's a crowd favourite, often talking to people in the stands and frequently watching herself on the giant video boards high above Arthur Ashe Stadium.At one point, she saw herself on the screen and promptly fixed her hair.“They should turn it off, because I keep looking,” she said. “You see your big face up there and you can't help but look up.”Venus Williams got ample air time, too. Sitting in the guest box, she cheered on the sister she teamed up with to win the Olympics doubles title.Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam championship since the 2007 Australian Open, and took over the No. 1 ranking Jankovic held last month for exactly one week.

“I feel so young and I feel so energized,” Williams said. “Sometimes, I'd wake up at 6 in the morning to go practice and it was too dark.”Williams and Jankovic originally were scheduled to play Saturday night, but rain from Tropical Storm Hanna delayed their match.

Superb Federer ends Murray dream

Roger Federer was at his brilliant best as he won a fifth straight US Open title and ended Andy Murray's hopes of a first Grand Slam crown in New York.

Murray, 21, had been trying to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win one of the four major singles titles, but he was outclassed.

Federer stormed to a 6-2 7-5 6-2 victory in one hour 51 minutes at Flushing Meadows.

The Swiss now has 13 Grand Slam titles, one behind record holder Pete Sampras.

Federer joins Sampras and Jimmy Connors as a five-time winner of the US title in the Open era, but neither won in five successive years, although fellow American Bill Tilden managed the feat in 1924.

I had a great tournament but I came up against, in my opinion, the best player ever to play the game today

Andy Murray
He is also the first man ever to win five consecutive titles at two Grand Slam tournaments - having also won Wimbledon between 2003 and 2007.

"It definitely feels great," said Federer afterwards. "This is a very special moment in my career.

"I had a couple of tough Grand Slams this year, finishing in semi-finals and two finals, one epic at Wimbledon.

"So to take this one home is incredible. It means the world to me."

He added: "I'm not going to stop at 13 - that would be terrible! I congratulate Andy - he's done great these last two weeks. I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of him in the future."

Murray was playing in his first Grand Slam final and came into the match on the back of a first-ever win over world number one Rafael Nadal.

But the confidence the Scot carried from that landmark victory soon took a battering as Federer opened in spectacular fashion.


Federer's victory was all the more special after a disappointing year
Having failed to win a major title so far this year, and having lost his number one ranking to Nadal, the second seed had been desperate to arrest his slide.

And after approaching his best in beating Novak Djokovic in the semis, Federer was at the top of his game from the start of the final.

Murray had to stave off a break point in game three but could not repeat the trick two games later, a double fault and two errors handing Federer the advantage.

The champion's confidence was obvious as he moved 4-2 clear with an outrageous forehand drive-volley on the run, before more brutal forehands forced another break in game seven, and he wrapped up the set in 26 minutes.

There was no change of momentum early in the second set, Federer firing a vicious cross-court forehand in game one and repeating the trick to break again for 2-0.

A humiliatingly swift defeat looked on the cards for the Briton, who appeared to be struggling with a knee problem, but he got a foothold in the match when Federer's level finally dropped in game three.


Murray pounced with a big cross-court forehand and a powerful backhand drive that Federer could not control at the net, and the Scot finally had a break of serve.

The match appeared well and truly on when a couple of loose errors saw Federer slip 0-40 down again at 2-2 but he continued with his attacking policy and, thanks in part to one dubious line call, he managed to escape.

And the relentless pressure applied by Federer eventually paid off when he broke to love to take the second set in game 12, making a lunging backhand volley, a successful chip and charge, a thumping smash and a running pass.

It was irresistible stuff from the champion and he swept into a 5-0 lead in the third set before Murray staged a late rally to cut the deficit with his second break of the day.

But it only delayed the inevitable and Federer put the British number one out of his misery on his second championship point, winning an epic rally with a smash that Murray could not return.

"I had a great tournament but I came up against, in my opinion, the best player ever to play the game today," said Murray.

"I got the better of him the last two times we played. He definitely set the record straight today.

"I've got a lot of improving to do if I want to win one of these tournaments.

"I love playing in front of this crowd - it's been the best time of my life."

Serena seals third US Open title

Serena Williams saw off a valiant display from Serbia's Jelena Jankovic to win her third US Open title and regain the world number one ranking.
The American, 26, came through 6-4 7-5 in a fantastic match to secure her ninth Grand Slam title.
Jankovic, 23, was playing in her first Grand Slam final, but made the better start before Williams fought back with three breaks to win the opening set.
And Williams sealed victory after saving four set points in the second.
"I'm so excited," she said. "I wasn't even going for number one and it's just like an added bonus.
"It is that special because I've been working so hard."
She has now won one French Open, two Wimbledon, three Australian Open and three US Open titles, adding to her victories of 1999 and 2002 in New York.
For me to be in the finals was a great achievement
Jelena JankovicThe final had been rescheduled after the remnants of tropical storm Hanna forced a postponement from Saturday for the first time since 1974.
It was worth the wait, with both players lurching between world-class winners and desperately nervous errors in a matter of moments.
Grand Slam final debutante Jankovic made the more confident start, breaking as early as game three, but Williams recovered from 0-40 in the following game to level.
An ill-timed Jankovic double-fault contributed to another break of serve two games later but Williams failed to serve out at 5-3, netting a backhand on the third break point of the game.
All Jankovic's good work was undone almost immediately, however, when she fell 0-40 down in the following game and sent a forehand long on the second set point.
If the first set had been unpredictable, the second set was something else entirely.
Williams looked in charge with two break points in game two but failed to convert, and it was exactly the same story in game six as the American seemed to be struggling physically.

And after the first of several Jankovic complaints to the umpire over how long her opponent was taking between points, the Serb moved 4-3 ahead with a break when Williams played a terrible drop shot at break point down.
Williams appeared to be tiring dramatically but then launched an astonishing comeback, recovering from 0-40 to save three set points when serving at 5-3 down.
The game of the match, and arguably the tournament, followed as Williams stormed 0-40 clear in game 10 before making three unforced errors.
Another Jankovic set point and a total of five break points would go begging before Williams finally levelled with a forehand winner.

A lunging backhand volley saw the former champion hold serve in the next game before Jankovic saved a first championship point with a forehand winner.

With the chance to force a tie-break in front of her, however, Jankovic double-faulted.
And when a second championship point came around moments later, her backhand error handed Williams back the title she last won six years ago, as well as the number one ranking.

"I was proud to be in the finals but I'm always disappointed when I lose," said Jankovic.
"Serena was a better player tonight. Congratulations to her for winning the whole tournament. She was just too good tonight.
"I really had a lot of injuries and struggled throughout the year with my health. For me to be in the finals was a great achievement."

Australia not settled for India - Hussey

Australia in India 2008-09
Australia not settled for India - Hussey

(Michael Hussey has been making runs in Darwin but several of his senior colleagues have been out of action © AFP)

Michael Hussey has not given up hope of Andrew Symonds joining Australia's tour of India, although he concedes the team is still "up in the air" just two weeks before the squad departs. Australia consider a Test trip to India the toughest challenge in world cricket and several senior players have had less-than-ideal preparation for the four-Test tour.
While Hussey was grinding out half-centuries against Bangladesh in Darwin, where he was the Player of the Series, Symonds was pondering his future and Brett Lee was in Sydney dealing with the break-up of his marriage. Ricky Ponting was also absent as he continued his recovery from wrist surgery and Matthew Hayden was nursing an ongoing Achilles tendon problem.

"We're pretty much up in the air at the moment," Hussey said. "We're certainly not settled on anything. Luckily for us, the experienced players that can come back in to the team, such as Ponting, Hayden, Symonds, Lee, they know their games very well.

"They've got a lot of experience, they've played well in India before, whether it be one-day cricket or Test cricket and so I don't think it'll take them too long. We're going to have two practice games plus I'm sure they'll be able to get copious amounts of nets and I'm sure they'll be fine and ready to go."

Hussey was not part of the team that triumphed in India in 2004-05 and he is looking forward to his first experience of what the Australians describe as their "Everest". The core group has changed significantly since then and while Hussey believes Australia are still favourites to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it will be a gruelling contest.

"It's probably the toughest challenge," Hussey said. "I've never played a Test in India but I think the Australian team that won in '04, they said that was probably the Everest and I don't think that's changing. India are arguably up there with the top two or three teams in the world and I think it's going to be a wonderful series. Probably the hardest place to win in international cricket."

The difficult nature of the trip means the players must remain focused at all times. Hussey said that meant it was particularly important that Symonds be properly mentally prepared if he was to put his hand up for selection.
"I just hope from Andrew's point of view he can get his head right," Hussey said. "India is a place that you do have to be 100% committed to the game of cricket and also the team.

"He's a very important member of our side and I think he'd be very effective in a place like India. I haven't spoken to him, I haven't heard anything, but I'm hoping he's going to be part of that trip."
Should Symonds fail to make the cut it will leave Australia with an extra batting position available in the squad, with Simon Katich almost certain to move into the starting top six. Hussey's brother David could well be in line for that back-up position after earning a Cricket Australia contract this year and playing all three ODIs against Bangladesh.

"He's got to come into it for sure," Hussey said. "He's playing well for Victoria for the last few years. He's a very good player of spin. But I don't know, there's some other quality players as well."

The Australians depart for India on September 21 and until then the players will be at home, each individual working on their own game ahead of the trip. Despite picking up two half-centuries against Bangladesh, Hussey believes his own form is still scratchy and he will be spending time in the nets over the next fortnight.

"I'm tinkering with a couple of little things which I still don't think are perfect by any stretch of the imagination," he said. "I've still got a fair bit of work to do to get that right before I get to India and it's probably going to be an ongoing process."

South Africa reject tri-series proposal

Tri-series in South Africa
South Africa reject tri-series proposal
Cricinfo staff

With South Africa pulling out of the possible tri-series, Pakistan are now looking to organise a one-day series with Sri Lanka © Getty Images

The proposal for a tri-series in South Africa, also involving Pakistan and probably Sri Lanka has been rejected by Cricket South Africa, who said their top players need to rest after the recent tour of England.

"Cricket South Africa [CSA] have today informed us they can't arrange the series as their players have had a long and hectic tour of England which ended on a disappointing note for them," Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board's chief operating officer, told Reuters. Naghmi was also told by a CSA official that "South Africa's leading players were not interested in playing in a series immediately after their tour of England".

South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur had expressed concerns that fatigue was hampering his team's progress after their 4-0 loss to England in the recent one-day series and warned the administrators against "flogging a dead horse".

The PCB was trying to arrange the tournament to fill the gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan in September. However, five of the participating nations said they would not travel to Pakistan because of security concerns, forcing the tournament to be put off.
"We have the option of inviting one or two teams for one-day matches but will only go ahead with them after getting a clearance from the Interior Ministry," Naghmi told the News.

Pakistan are now trying to set up a one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Killer Ike hits Cuba after lashing Bahamas, Haiti

AP, Camaguey,

CubaHurricane Ike roared onto Cuba Sunday after destroying houses and crops on low-lying islands and worsening floods in Haiti that have already killed more than 300 people.

With Ike forecast to sweep the length of Cuba and possibly hit Havana head-on, hundreds of thousands evacuated to shelters or higher ground. To the north, residents of the Florida Keys fled up a narrow highway, fearful that the "extremely dangerous" hurricane could hit them Tuesday.

At least 58 people died as Ike's winds and rain swept Haiti Sunday — and officials found three more bodies from a previous storm — raising the nation's death toll from four tropical storms in less than a month to 319. A Dominican man was crushed by a falling tree.

Ike first slammed into the Turks and Caicos and the southernmost Bahamas islands as a Category 4 hurricane, but thousands rode out the storm in shelters and there was no immediate word of deaths on the low-lying islands.
Ike made landfall in eastern Cuba late Sunday night, said meteorologist Todd Kimberlain at the US National Hurricane Center, and was forecast to hit Havana, the capital of 2 million people with many vulnerable old buildings, before it moves into the Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday morning.

At 11:00pm EDT (0300 GMT), Ike was a Category 3 hurricane with top sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph). It was centered near Cabo Lucretia, about 135 miles (220 kms) east of Camaguey, moving westward at 13 mph (20 kph).
State television broadcast images of the storm surge washing over coastal homes in the easternmost city of Baracoa, and reported that dozens of dwellings were damaged beyond repair.

An informal AP tally of figures being released sporadically by eastern Cuban provinces indicated that more than 770,000 people had been evacuated by Sunday evening. Former President Fidel Castro released a written statement calling on Cubans to heed security measures to ensure no one dies.

Foreign tourists were pulled out from vulnerable beach resorts, workers rushed to protect coffee plants and other crops, and plans were under way to distribute food and cooking oil to disaster areas.

"There's no fear here, but one has to be prepared. It could hit us pretty hard," said Ramon Olivera, gassing up his motorcycle in Camaguey, where municipal workers boarded up banks and restaurants before heavy rain started falling.
More than 100 people waited in chaotic bread lines at each of the numerous government bakeries around town as families hoarded supplies before the storm. And on the provincial capital's outskirts, trucks and dented school buses brought about 1,000 evacuees to the sprawling campus of an art school.

Classrooms at the three-story school built on stilts were filled with metal bunk beds. The approaching hurricane brought a stiff breeze through the open windows.

Dhaka-Kolkata train shuttles almost empty

Inconvenient timing and lengthy customs check blamed
Durdana Ghias

(Majority of seats remain vacant as Dhaka-Kolkata train fail to attract passengers these days. Photo: AFP)

The Dhaka-Kolkata train service is witnessing great disappointment as the number of passengers is going down steadily due to unwise timing and delay in checking papers at the customs and immigration on both sides of the border.Sources at the Bangladesh Railway said that the number of people travelling by the Maitree Express is very low for the last few months. In the last three months, on average only 133 passengers went to Kolkata from Dhaka in a trip while on the return trip there were a little more than 100.

“One reason is the inconvenient timing of the train. The service is available only on Saturday and Sunday of the week,” said an official at the Kamalapur Railway Station.“When one goes to Kolkata on Saturday usually he does not return on that very day or on Sunday. He may need 2-3 days to complete his task there. But then he has to wait for seven days to get the next train.

This discourages the passengers and often half of the 326 seats go vacant,” he said. According to the sources at the station the train had only 77 passengers yesterday and 70 on the day before. In the month of August the highest number of passengers was 147 and the lowest was 62 in a trip. In July, the highest number was 151 and the lowest 86 at one trip.

Another reason why passengers feel discouraged is the hours wasted at the customs. "I go by bus because it takes less time and nowadays buses are lot more comfortable. Although train journey is fun and safer I will go by train only when I will not have to wait for hours at the borders,” said Bibek, a singer who often visits Kolkata.Many passengers think of going by train but change their minds because of hassles at the borders."I always thought about going to Kolkata by train because it is more comfortable than bus. I have heard that the authorities are trying to shorten the time of travel by reducing time at the customs. After that I will go by train," said Tareq Ali, another frequent traveller to Kolkata.

Sources at Bangladesh Railway said that it takes around 4:30 hours to check papers at the borders.“The customs and immigration takes around four and half hours at the borders. So once a person travels by train he does not want to go for the second time. This is a prime reason why we are losing passengers,” said an official of Bangladesh Railway. He said a three-day meeting was held from August 31 to September 2 on the issue. The meeting decided to take urgent steps to reduce waiting hours at least by one hour on each side.“We need assistance from our home ministry and NBR to curtail the hours. We have requested them for this and they have taken a positive decision in the inter-ministerial meeting,” said the official.

“But the Indian side will also have to reduce it by an hour. We hope they will request their home ministry and NBR for it,” he said.“We have heard that the authorities are holding meetings and have decided to reduce the travel time but we are yet to get an official letter about it,” said officials at Kamalapur Railway Station. Asked if any advertisement is being planned to popularise the service they said they were unaware about any such move.The train service has three types of seating arrangements normal at Tk 860, AC (chair) at Tk 1,266 and AC (cabin) at Tk 1,910. From Dhaka the train starts at 8:30 in the morning and reaches Kolkata at 9:30 at night.

Kashmir separatist warns India crackdown could fuel revolt

Afp, Srinagar
(Indian Kashmiri Muslim demonstrators throw stones towards Indian police during a demonstration in Srinagar yesterday. Indian police clashed with stone-throwing protesters in the Kashmiri summer capital, a day after a protester died in similar anti-India demonstrations. Photo: AFP)

Kashmir's top separatist has warned India's heavy-handed crackdown on protests in the Muslim-majority region could trigger a renewed violent upsurge in the long-running separatist revolt.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also the disputed region's most prominent cleric, said New Delhi needed to accept that Kashmiris were as opposed as ever to Indian rule and a referendum on self-determination was the only way out of the crisis.

"We will continue to fight peacefully and politically," Farooq told AFP in an interview, which had to be conducted by telephone within Srinagar city because he is under house arrest."(However) If India pushes us too hard to the wall, tomorrow you can't really ignore the fact the youth might be angered and forced to resort again to arms," Farooq said.Militant violence has fallen sharply since nuclear-armed India and Pakistan began a peace process in 2004 aimed at settling all outstanding issues including the future of Kashmir, which they both claim in full.But in the past few months, the Kashmir valley has witnessed the biggest pro-independence demonstrations since the revolt erupted in 1989, triggering a violent crackdown by Indian security forces.

Thousands of police and federal paramilitary reinforcements have been deployed in the already heavily militarised city of Srinagar to keep the peace during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.Farooq, 34, and two other top separatist leaders -- Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik -- have been placed under house arrest as security forces struggle to contain public anger.India should be told by the "world community not to use brute force and intimidate the people," said Farooq, who was catapulted by his father's assassination in 1990 into the hereditary position of chief Muslim cleric for the area.

The massive protests, which peaked last month, were triggered by a state government plan to donate land for use by a Hindu trust which oversees an annual Hindu pilgrimage in the Kashmir valley.

India focuses on care for flood victims

Rescue effort winds down
Afp, Patna
(Indian flood-affected villagers run to collect relief material dropped by a relief helicopter of the Indian Air Force in Madhepura district in India's northeastern state of Bihar yesterday. India was grappling with the task of feeding and housing close to a million villagers displaced by huge floods in the eastern state of Bihar as the rescue effort wound down. Photo: AFP)

India was grappling on Sunday with the task of feeding and housing close to a million villagers displaced by huge floods in the eastern state of Bihar, as the rescue effort wound down.Some 900,000 people fled from their homes or were evacuated by boat since the Kosi river breached its defences three weeks ago on the Nepal border and changed course.Bihar officials have turned every available building -- schools, temples, student housing -- into temporary shelters.

But as destitute villagers squatted on roads after getting off rescue boats and mothers held babies ill from drinking muddy flood waters, survivors and charities said far more aid would be needed."Private people are helping us, but the government is not helping us," said Mithilesh Yadav, 30, who left his village on a rescue boat with his wife and five children Wednesday."The schools, the camps, everything is full. We have put up these huts ourselves. We have to live somehow."Up to five million people have been affected in India and another 60,000 in Nepal, aid agencies say, underlining the scale of the task facing authorities and charities.In relief camps in Nepal at least 14 people have died from disease, the top official of the border district of Sunsari told AFP on Sunday.The Indian media has been critical of aid efforts by the government and international agencies.

One national daily, the Hindustan Times, ran a photograph of children with their hands outstretched for food with the headline, "India's Shame."Aid agencies said they and authorities were doing everything they possibly could, but admitted there were still many awaiting food, shelter and health supplies."The government machinery and everyone have been moving around the clock," said Aditi Kapur, a spokeswoman for British aid group Oxfam, which has workers in the badly affected Supaul area."At the same time, there are still people in remote areas who are waiting for relief. Shelters are cramped and unhygienic. There are pregnant and lactating women who need safe drinking water.

These things are not there."The top administrative officials in three of the five Indian districts flooded by the river have been replaced in the past two weeks amid allegations of mismanaging relief efforts, the Press Trust of India news agency has reported.With India and Nepal still trading accusations on who was to blame for the failure of the flood walls, it was unclear when work on repairing the breach would start, and how long it would take to complete.

The delays have meant that India must ready to provide for at least a million people for several months."This is really only the beginning," said Malini Morzaria, a European Commission humanitarian aid representative who visited the area last week, adding that the body has pledged two million euros (three million dollars) to the aid effort."There is still much work to be done in reaching the most vulnerable," she said.

Holy Ramadan

Photo: AFP

The holy month of Ramadan is here. This month is devoted to fasting and observed by the Muslims throughout the world as one of the “five pillars” of Islam.Fasting, however, is not mere abstinence from food and drink during certain hours every day.

The prohibition also extends to other activities.The emphasis on gratitude to Allah serves to remind us of the duty of charity towards the less fortunate, another pillar of Islam (Zakat).

So, it is a moral duty of the rich to extend their helping hand towards the have-nots that Allah has made obligatory for the former. The Ramadan is a great opportunity for them to stand by the less fortunate.Let us uphold the spirit of Ramadan.

Federer outguns Djokovic

Tennis
US Open
Federer outguns Djokovic

(Swiss star Roger Federer is ecstatic after his win over Novak Djokovic of Serbia (not in picture) during the US Open semifinal at Flushing Meadows on Saturday. Photo: AFP)

Roger Federer moved within one victory of his fifth consecutive US Open title Saturday, firing 20 aces to overpower Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.But the Swiss superstar will have to wait until Monday to try and capture his 13th Grand Slam title and move within one of the all-time record total of Pete Sampras.In a rematch of last year's final, second seed Federer stretched his US Open win streak to 33 matches but rain stopped the other semifinal between world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray.

"Winning here at the Open would mean a hell of a lot to me," Federer said."At the moment the focus is to defend my title and get my fifth. The Pete thing is very much alive and everything is possible, but I would like to focus on the five in a row right now." Olympic champion Nadal defeated Federer in this year's French Open and Wimbledon finals and the Spanish left-hander replaced him atop the rankings last month, ending a Federer reign of 237 weeks. "If I win it's great and I'm back in the race and things aren't so bad like everyone is saying," Federer said.

"A win would be huge." By reaching his 17th Slam final, Federer matched Rod Laver for third on the all-time list, one behind Sampras and two shy of Ivan Lendl's record. Federer is trying to become the first man to win two Slam events five times in a row, having turned the trick last year at Wimbledon, and would be the first man since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win the US title five times in a row. Federer connected on 76 per cent of his first saves and pulled out an ace when he desperately needed it on several key points. "My serve got me out of trouble a few times," Federer said. "It has been hard all week to break against the wind. It makes quite a difference in how you construct points. I've concentrated quite a bit on my serve and it has helped." At times, Federer looked and felt like the dominating figure he has been for the past five years.

"I had moments where I thought, 'This is how I normally play on hardcourts.' I had moments where I thought, 'This is how I want to play all the time,'" said Federer. Federer breezed through the opening set in only 25 minutes. "The way I played the first set was a key moment," Federer said. "He was looking a little tired. I think I broke his will as well when I got the third set. All of a sudden I was playing my best with the lead. I knew I could get it in four." Australian Open champion Djokovic, 21, would have replaced Federer, 27, as world number two had he won the US Open. "He was playing good. He deserved to win," Djokovic said. "I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to give him a challenge. I was just unlucky to lose that third set and it was more or less routine for him in the fourth.

" Djokovic netted a forehand to give Federer a break chance in the 11th game of the third set and sent a backhand volley long to hand Federer a 6-5 lead. Federer made a miraculous leaping forehand save of a Djokovic overhead smash on the next point and held to claim the set. "In the important moments he served it out really well. He didn't give me a chance because he served well," Djokovic said. "I knew the third set was crucial. If it went my way I had a bigger chance to get the victory." Djokovic surrendered a break in the fifth game of the fourth set, sent a backhand volley wide to give away another in the seventh, and saw Federer hit a winner to hold and end matters after two hours and 45 minutes.

Federer improved to 7-2 all-time against Djokovic, who ended the Swiss' run of 10 consecutive Slam finals by beating him in an Australian Open semifinal. Federer has never lost a US open semifinal or final and was last beaten here by David Nalbandian in the 2003 fourth round. Djokovic was unhappy at playing his semifinal just 31 hours after he went to bed from a night quarterfinal, saying, "It's not really the best thing you want to have for yourself. But what are you going to do? I had bad luck."

Federer too strong for Djokovic

Defending champion Roger Federer gave one of his best displays of a troubled season to beat Novak Djokovic and reach his fifth successive US Open final.

The Swiss world number two, unbeaten at Flushing Meadows since 2003, stormed to the first set after an early break.
Djokovic rallied to take the second but Federer showed his class and experience to come through 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2.

Federer will play Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal in the final, which has been moved to 2200 BST on Monday.

Rain began to fall during the third set between British number one Murray and world number one Nadal, forcing the match to be suspended until Sunday.

"This was a big match, I knew it from when I saw the draw," said Federer. "He's been playing very well on hard courts for the last one-and-a-half years.

Overall, it's been a very exhausting tournament mentally and physically for me, so I'm happy that I got to the semi
Novak Djokovic"It was important to stay grounded because I knew the match could change, like it did in the second set.

"I think I broke his will when I won the third set and then I knew if I played well I could win in four sets."
And looking ahead to the final, Federer admitted he would like another crack at Nadal.
"I won't be surprised if Andy would beat Rafa, but just I think the meaning would be more to play against Rafa here at the Open," he said.

In what was a rematch of last year's final, both Federer and Djokovic held their opening service games in impressive fashion, but Djokovic could not manage to do so in his second as Federer's power from the baseline saw him establish a 3-1 cushion.

Federer denied the Serbian any opportunities to get back into the first set, making just three unforced errors in total.
The second set looked like it too would hinge on the fourth game, when Federer sent a backhand wide to hand Djokovic his first break of the match and a 3-1 lead.

Federer, appearing in his 18th straight Grand Slam semi-final, battled back to 4-4 but then at 5-6, having already saved two set points, pulled a forehand wide to hand the Serb the set.

towser83Defeat for Federer would have seen the 27-year-old slip to number three in the rankings behind Djokovic.
But, after the third set went with serve up to 5-5, the 12-time Grand Slam champion raised his level to secure a crucial break en route to taking the set 7-5.

Federer lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open but there was to be no repeat for the 21-year-old, who made two backhand errors to gift Federer a break in the fifth game of the fifth set.
The world number two never looked likely to relinquish that advantage and did not lose another game in sealing his triumph.
"I think he deserved to win, absolutely," said Djokovic. "I was just a little disappointed from my side that I wasn't able, physically I wasn't able enough to give him a challenge.

"I think I played well that second set, and, you know, was on serve in that third one. Then I was just unlucky to lose that third set and then more or less routine in the fourth for him.

"Overall, it's been a very exhausting tournament mentally and physically for me, so I'm happy that I got to the semi."
And asked if he regretted his critical comments towards the New York crowd following his semi-final win over Andy Roddick, the Serb said: "No, I think they were pretty fair."

US lenders 'face state takeover'

US mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are set to be put under government control in an attempt to rescue the firms, media reports say.
Top bosses would be removed under the US Treasury plans - which could see the US's largest ever financial bail-out.

The takeover of the shareholder-owned companies, which hold or guarantee half the country's mortgage debt, could be announced by the US Treasury on Sunday.

In July, Congress approved a plan aimed at offering them more liquidity.
This followed huge losses by the two firms as result of a big increase in defaults and repossessions in the US housing market.
'Management told'
On Saturday, a senior politician, Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson had told him the government would use its powers to ensure the continued and stable functioning of the companies.

The Washington Post, quoting senior administration sources, said the firms would be put under a legal status known as "conservatorship" which would greatly reduce the value of the two companies' common stock.
Other securities - including company debt and preferred shares - would be guaranteed by the government, the paper added.

The New York Times reported that senior executives at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were informed about the plan on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal said it would include changes in the top management.
There would also be quarterly infusions of cash to keep both firms afloat, the papers say. The total cost to taxpayers is not known but could amount to billions of dollars, they add.

Struggling homeowners
The two contenders for the US presidency, Barack Obama and John McCain, have been briefed on the takeover by Mr Paulson.
"We've got to keep people in their homes," said the Republican candidate, John McCain.
"There's got to be restructuring, there's got to be reorganisation, and there's got to be some confidence that we've stopped this downward spiral," he added, saying that the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must not benefit executives at the two companies.
The Democratic Party candidate, Barack Obama, said any action should be focused "on whether it will strengthen our economy and help struggling homeowners".
"We must not allow government intervention to protect investors and speculators who relied on the government to reap massive profits," he said, adding "we must protect taxpayers, not bail out the shareholders and management of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac".

Fragile
On Friday, America's Mortgage Bankers Association reported that at the end of June, about four million homeowners with a mortgage - representing a record 9% - either were behind in their payments or faced repossession.

In the past year, the financial crisis has taken a heavy toll on both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The country's two largest buyers and backers of mortgages lost a combined $3.1bn between April and June.
Both companies say they have the resources to weather the losses, but their shares have fallen sharply on fears that they could go bankrupt as borrowers default.

The rescue plan passed by Congress in July gave the US government the authority to buy shares and offer liquidity to companies to keep them afloat.

Many analysts believe their collapse would be a major shock to the already fragile global financial system.
Together, the two firms own or guarantee about $5.3 trillion worth of home loans - about half the outstanding mortgages in the US.

That is about 25 times as big as the obligations of Northern Rock - which was nationalised by the UK government earlier this year, and twice the size of the UK economy.

Andorra 0-2 England

Two-goal hero Joe Cole spared England's blushes as Fabio Capello's side began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a stuttering victory over Andorra.

In Capello's first competitive match in charge, England dominated but were booed off at half-time after failing to break down Andorra's packed defence.

Cole came on at the break and made an instant impact, volleying home Frank Lampard's free-kick on 49 minutes.

Six minutes later, Cole prodded home his second from Wayne Rooney's pass.
It was a match reminiscent of England's last visit to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, under Steve McClaren in March 2007, when they were also jeered off at the interval and had to wait until Steven Gerrard's 54th-minute goal to break the deadlock against the part-timers.

Again England's frustration grew as Andorra, ranked 186th in the world, continued to hold out and Capello will be relieved that the changes he made at the break paid dividends.

He may have left established players such as Joe Cole and David Beckham on the bench here with that match in mind but it will worry him that their replacements struggled against such unheralded opposition.
Initially, Capello's decision to hand a first start to Theo Walcott looked a good one, with the Arsenal forward involved in two good chances in the first three minutes.

Walcott used his pace to reach a ball on the byeline then sent it across the face of goal and, after Rooney miscued, Jermain Defoe was beaten to the ball by Koldo.
Seconds later, Walcott ran into the area to meet a lofted pass from Rooney but had to rush his shot and clipped the ball narrowly over.

Footastic footyIt was a promising start for England but, despite them staying in complete control, that was as good as it got for the visitors in front of goal in the first half.

Capello continued to try to use Walcott's speed on the right flank but he was increasingly crowded out as the match wore on.

And, with Stewart Downing's crossing completely ineffective on the opposite wing, England quickly ran out of ideas.

Too many times the ball was pumped aimlessly into the Andorra area where, with Defoe unable to offer a physical presence, it was easily cleared by defenders.

Capello saw his England side struggle for ideas in the first halfThe travelling England fans showed their discontent as the players came off at the interval and, unsurprisingly, Capello made changes - replacing the Downing with Joe Cole and sending Emile Heskey on in place of Defoe.

Cole had a point to prove after being left out of Capello's last four starting line-ups and immediately looked lively.
He soon made his presence felt too, providing an emphatic first-time finish when Joleon Lescott flicked Lampard's free-kick into his path.

The goal visibly lifted England and John Terry went close to making it 2-0 when he drove a shot into the side-netting from the edge of the area.

A second goal was not long coming, however, and inevitably it was Cole who got it - running on to Rooney's superbly weighted pass to prod the ball past the onrushing Koldo.
Glen Johnson thought he had added a third just after the hour mark but his powerful strike was ruled out because Cole - for once the villain - had drifted into an offside position.

By now England were more than comfortable and Terry also came close to adding to their tally against a side that managed only one shot on target in the entire match and were clearly only interested in damage-limitation.
But there are harder tests to come in Group Six, starting with the trip to Zagreb on Wednesday to face Croatia - the scourge of McClaren in his failed bid to reach Euro 2008.

Andorra: Alvarez, Ayala, Txema, Sonejee, Antoni Lima (Fernandez 90), Ildefons Lima, Pujol (Vales 90), Vieira, Silva (Toscano 65), Jimenez, Andorra.Subs Not Used: Josep Anton Gomez, Riera, Escura, Moreno.
Booked: Silva, Vieira, Antoni Lima.

England: James, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Ashley Cole, Walcott, Barry, Lampard (Beckham 79), Downing (Joe Cole 45), Rooney, Defoe (Heskey 45).Subs Not Used: Robinson, Brown, Bridge, Bentley.
Goals: Joe Cole 49, 55.
Att: 17,500
Ref: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).

South Africa reject tri-series proposal

Tri-series in South Africa
South Africa reject tri-series proposal Cricinfo staff
September 7, 2008
(With South Africa pulling out of the possible tri-series, Pakistan are now looking to organise a one-day series with Sri Lanka © Getty Images)

The proposal for a tri-series in South Africa, also involving Pakistan and probably Sri Lanka has been rejected by Cricket South Africa, who said their top players need to rest after the recent tour of England.

"Cricket South Africa [CSA] have today informed us they can't arrange the series as their players have had a long and hectic tour of England which ended on a disappointing note for them," Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board's chief operating officer, told Reuters. Naghmi was also told by a CSA official that "South Africa's leading players were not interested in playing in a series immediately after their tour of England".

South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur had expressed concerns that fatigue was hampering his team's progress after their 4-0 loss to England in the recent one-day series and warned the administrators against "flogging a dead horse".

The PCB was trying to arrange the tournament to fill the gap created by the postponement of the Champions Trophy which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan in September. However, five of the participating nations said they would not travel to Pakistan because of security concerns, forcing the tournament to be put off.
"We have the option of inviting one or two teams for one-day matches but will only go ahead with them after getting a clearance from the Interior Ministry," Naghmi told the News.

Pakistan are now trying to set up a one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Water starts receding in Indian flood zone

Afp, Purnia
Some villagers began trying to return to their flooded homes in eastern India yesterday as waters slowly receded, but officials warned the move was risky with a month of heavy rains still expected.Almost 900,000 people have been evacuated to higher ground since flood defence walls broke upstream in Nepal almost three weeks ago, shifting the flow of the Kosi river away from its normal course and east onto farmland.Large swathes of the impoverished state of Bihar were flooded. About 100,000 people remain marooned in village islands by the river, with most refusing to leave, while some evacuees are trying to head home.

"We have reached a stage where people in the thousands are still left, but they are now refusing to come out," state disaster management official Pratyaya Amrit told AFP."People think the flood is over. In a lot of the camps people have started moving back. In the last two to three days, at least 10,000 to 15,000 have gone back.

"But India's monsoon season, when much of the country receives more than 90 percent of its rain, does not end till the close of September, and officials say the river could rise again.About 1,100 square kilometres (440 square miles) of villages and farms remain underwater, even though levels have decreased by a foot (30 centimetres) or more in parts.

17 killed in Pak suicide bomb attack

Afp, Ap, Peshawar

(Pakistani residents try to remove debris as they search for suicide attack victims at the attack site in Peshawar yesterday. At least 17 people were killed and about 80 wounded when a suicide car bombing ripped through a security checkpost outside Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar. Photo: AFP)

At least 17 people were killed and around 80 injured Saturday when a suicide attacker rammed his bomb-laden vehicle into a security checkpost in the northwestern city of Peshawar.Police officials said the incident happened after officers had signalled the attacker to stop.

"Sixteen were killed and more than 80 people wounded," police officer Mohammad Ashraf told AFP."An explosive-laden vehicle blew up near the security checkpost. The force of the blast destroyed a nearby market, bringing the building down," he said.

An AFP correspondent at the city's Lady Reading hospital said more than a dozen bodies and scores of injured had been brought there.Police said several people remained buried under debris from buildings rocked by the blast. Pictures broadcast from the area showed a scene of devastation, with the checkpost flattened.Eyewitness Ibrahim Khan said people were thrown into the air by the force of the explosion."It brought down a market and three other buildings adjoining it," he said, bleeding profusely from his left shoulder.

He said he was facing away from the market when he heard the blast, but he had been hit by shrapnel."Some blunt things pierced into my shoulder and I fell on the ground," he added.Police in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, said they had sent teams to the area, which is near the tribal town of Darra Adamkhel -- where security forces carried out operations recently against Taliban rebels.

A security official said the attack could be part of a backlash against the military's intensified campaign in the tribal areas to root out Taliban-linked militants hiding in the lawless rugged region.Provincial police spokesman Riaz Khan described Saturday's attack as "an act of terrorism."Pakistan has been hit by a rising tide of Islamic militancy in the past year. The latest explosion happened on the same day as the country's lawmakers elected Asif Ali Zardari to succeed former president Pervez Musharraf.Musharraf had been a key ally of the United States in its efforts to combat militancy on the Pakistani border with Afghanistan, a region Washington says is being used as a launching pad for rebel attacks on coalition forces.

But Pakistan's fragile coalition government has been struggling to tackle the violence that has seen nearly 1,200 people killed in bombings and suicide attacks across the country in the past year.The unrest has also been attributed to a backlash by militants angered over Musharraf's support for Washington.The interior ministry last month announced that it was banning the main militant group behind the violence, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has threatened more suicide attacks.

Aussies 'spot on'

Cricket
Aussies 'spot on'
CricInfo

(Members of the Australian cricket team pose with the Commonwealth Bank trophy in Darwin yesterday after their 3-0 win over the Tigers. Photo: AFP)

Defending 198 in a one-day international is rarely a comfortable position these days but Michael Clarke, Australia's stand-in captain, insists he was never scared that Bangladesh would cause a mammoth upset and dent his leadership credentials. He could have been forgiven for a few nerves when Tamim Iqbal made the slow pitch look a batting paradise as Bangladesh reached 3 for 82.

Clarke was one of only two men in the side who was part of the team that lost to Bangladesh in Cardiff in 2005 and it is a memory he does not like reliving. He is also undefeated as Australia's ODI and Twenty20 captain and on this occasion he was comforted by the depth of his attack."With 200 on the board I was confident if we bowled well we could win the game and once again our bowlers did a great job," Clarke said. "Bangladesh batted well at the start, they were positive, but we all knew if we could just take one or two wickets it would put them on the back foot."That moment came when Shakib Al Hasan, who had joined with Tamim for a 60-run stand, pulled James Hopes to midwicket.

It started a procession of wickets -- the last six fell for 43 runs -- and for the third time in the series made it difficult for Clarke to give all his bowlers lengthy spells as they prepare for the upcoming tour of India.The batsmen did have the chance to spend longer at the crease, although only Michael Hussey made full use of that by making an unbeaten and laborious 57. Clarke has struggled to have an impact with the bat in Darwin -- he joked that the team's No. 3 "was horrendous" -- but he is happy the players have simply shaken off any post-winter rust."We wanted to leave 3-0 winners and we've done that," Clarke said. "The end result, it was closer than the first two games, but our mindset was to win this game.

If it was by one run we weren't really bothered."Our performances have been spot on, I think our preparation has been unbelievable, been really good. The guys have been very disciplined trained hard, even days before the games, and that will hold us in good stead either for the next one-dayers in the Australian summer or the Test series in India."

Ashraful close to axe

Cricket
'Ashraful close to axe'
CricInfo, Darwin
(Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal loses control over his bat as Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is alarmed during the third one-day international at the TIO Stadium in Darwin yesterday. Photo: AFP)

Jamie Siddons has warned Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful that he could soon face the axe unless he quickly turns around his dismal batting form. In the third ODI in Darwin on Saturday, Ashraful drove in the air to point for 3 when his team needed a platform and he also fell for single figures playing bad strokes in the first two games.The series has continued a lean run for Ashraful, who has passed fifty just four times in his past 30 one-day international innings, and two of those successes came against not-Test sides Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

Siddons, the team's coach, is running out of patience."He's been given a lot of positions in the order and he's still failing," Siddons said. "It's disappointing for him, being the leader of the team. If it were anyone else he wouldn't be in the side. He needs to start making runs. He knows that. We talk to him about that all the time. I'm not giving out any secrets ... it's getting close."When asked how long Ashraful would be given to battle out of his slump, Siddons said: "I don't know, it's not my decision. But he needs to make runs. For himself he needs to make runs and for his leadership he needs to make runs."For the coaching staff, just as concerning as Ashraful's lack of big scores is the way he has played.

His final dismissal against Australia came from the next ball he faced after being dropped driving lazily to cover. In the first match he was trapped lbw trying an ugly pull and in the second game he flashed at a full, wide Stuart Clark ball and edged behind.One of Bangladesh's main aims in Darwin has been to bat out their 50 overs and Ashraful's lack of application has rubbed off on several of his team-mates. Siddons was at a loss to why Alok Kapali had tried to pull a straight ball that was much too full from Mitchell Johnson and lost his off stump."I haven't spoken to him yet," Siddons said. "Hard to explain, a bit like Ash's shot. It's hard to explain why they would consider playing those shots to those balls."The 73-run loss was especially disappointing for Siddons, given the terrific effort from Bangladesh's bowlers to restrict Australia to 198. At that point Siddons reiterated to his men what was needed.

"I asked for contributions, it didn't need to be a super-human effort from anyone," Siddons said. "Everything fell into place today. The pitch spun, it was slow, hard for the batsmen to score. It suited our style of cricket perfectly. It suited our batsmen perfectly as well. But for some unknown reason they all threw their wickets away."The only man to show real resolve was Tamim Iqbal, whose 63 gave Bangladesh hope of an upset. While Siddons said Tamim would need to start converting his regular starts into centuries, the coach was happy with the opener's aggressive but largely controlled display.

Tamim was out to a what he himself called "a stupid shot" when he slashed at a cut shot off Shane Watson and was caught at third man. He was running out of partners but Tamim was angry with himself for throwing away the team's last remaining hopes and his chances of a century.He said the batsmen were disappointed to continually let down Siddons with loose strokes. "We're working hard and we have a very good coach," Tamim said. "He pushes us in everything."We are a young side and have to learn a lot of things. The more matches we play, the more improvement will come.

We have to listen to him first. At this moment I don't think we are listening to him."

Worst believed over for storm-hit New Orleans

Worst believed over for storm-hit New Orleans
Over 100 killed in Caribbean, US
Afp, New Orleans

(A US Navy ship and three barges are seen on the Industrial Canal after they broke their moorings and drifted into a railroad bridge as Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast on Monday in New Orleans. Hurricane Gustav weakened to a category one storm after it crashed ashore in Louisiana west of New Orleans, the National Hurricane Centre said. Photo: AFP)

New Orleans shrugged off a pounding blow by Hurricane Gustav, with relieved officials saying the city appeared to have avoided a repeat of the catastrophe of three years ago when Katrina struck with deadly effect."It's been a hell of a day," St. Bernard Parish chief sheriff's deputy Jimmy Pohlmann told AFP as National Guard soldiers reinforced a nearby overflowing levee with sand bags at sundown Monday."I think the worst has passed," he said. "But it always seems when you think you have everything under control something bad happens."Gustav pounded the US Gulf coast Monday with ferocious rain and wind, but the partially rebuilt levees in New Orleans appeared to be holding almost three years to the day since Katrina swamped the fabled jazz city.An estimated 10,000 residents remained in the city after nearly two million people fled coastal areas over the weekend -- an exodus authorities described as the biggest evacuation in US history.At least seven deaths were blamed on Gustav, Louisiana officials told US media, bringing the storm toll to more than 100 dead after the storm battered the Caribbean for days.Four victims on Monday died in accidents during evacuations and three critically ill hospital patients died while they were transferred from local medical centres, local officials said.The toll for the Caribbean was at 96, with most of the victims killed in Haiti.Fallen tree branches and downed power lines crisscrossed streets in New Orleans's Upper Ninth Ward -- ground zero of the 2005 disaster. The wind ripped siding, gutters and roof tiles from houses in the mostly deserted city.A convoy of National Guard soldiers rode through flood water in the poor neighbourhood, determined to ferret out residents defiantly seeking to outlast the hurricane, and to prevent a repeat of the post-Katrina anarchy.The storm slammed ashore Monday morning as a Category Two hurricane packing winds of 110 miles (175 kilometres) per hour but Gustav weakened overland and by Monday evening it had been downgraded to a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Centre said. By 1:00 am (0600 GMT), the storm carried winds of 45 miles (75 kilometres) per hour with the centre of the storm about 50 kilometres southwest of Alexandria, Louisiana. It was headed for eastern Texas later Tuesday, forecasters said."Gustav continues to weaken over Louisiana while dropping heavy rains," the centre said.More than 400 of those who chose not to evacuate were hunkered down in St. Bernard Parish at its border with Plaquemines parish as soldiers, police, residents and prisoners beefed up the earthen wall with sand bags.

Tarique Rahman freed on bail

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) today, nearly 18 months into his arrest on corruption charges.He had earlier posted bail in all of the 13 criminal cases against him.
His anticipated release became the talking point across the country in the last few days as he began getting bail at a quick pace.

But it hit a snag Saturday after the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) appealed against the High Court (HC) bail orders in seven of the 13 cases against him.

Nadal battles through

US Open
Nadal battles through
Afp, New York

(World number one Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his win over American Sam Querrey during their US Open fourth round tie at Flushing Meadows on Monday. Photo: AFP)

World number one Rafael Nadal battled his way into the US Open quarterfinals Monday, outlasting 55th-ranked Sam Querrey 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to match his best career showing at the Grand Slam event.The reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion is trying to become only the fourth man to win three Slam singles crowns in a row, joining Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and the man he dethroned atop the rankings, Roger Federer. "Very tough," Nadal said.

"I'm very happy for the victory. Now I'm in my best round at the US Open and I hope to play better in the next round." But Nadal struggled in the face of an epic effort from lanky US 20-year-old Querrey, who nearly made his fourth-round Slam debut a shocker for the ages and cast major doubt upon whether or not Nadal has what it takes to win a US Open. "He had to earn that third set and fourth set," Querrey said. "It's nice to know he actually had to go out there and fight for it rather than me handing it to him.

"The 22-year-old Spanish left-hander bids for his first US Open semifinal against 35th-ranked American Mardy Fish, who matched his best Slam run from last year's Australian Open by defeating France's Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. "He's a dangerous player. He's playing very well," Nadal said. "He's playing with big confidence and I have to play very well if I want to win."The other quarterfinal on Nadal's side of the draw will send British sixth seed Andy Murray against the hottest player on tour, Argentina's 19-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro.The South American won his 23rd match in a row, beating Japan's 18-year-old Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to advance, while Scotsman Murray ousted a friend, Swiss 10th seed Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3."It's always tough playing against one of your friends," Murray said.

"But this is the quarterfinals of my favourite tournament and I had to put the friendship aside."Murray, who reached his first Slam quarterfinal this year at Wimbledon, assured a rise to fifth in the world with the triumph. He beat Del Potro in May on Rome clay in their only prior meeting when his foe retired in the third set.Querrey fired 20 aces and 52 winners at Nadal but made 50 unforced errors to fall short after three hours and 13 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "At the start I was a little nervous but after an hour I was hitting my shots pretty good," Querrey said. "I was just taking my forehand and trying to rip it as hard as I could. He's just too good." Nadal broke Querrey in the third and seventh games to take the first set in 31 minutes, but in the second, Querrey answered a Nadal break in the seventh game by breaking at love with Nadal serving for the set to equalize at 5-5.Querrey held and ripped a forehand cross-court winner to grab two break points on Nadal in the 12th game. Nadal netted a forehand on the next point and the fight was on.

"It was very difficult, especially after my big mistake in the second set," Nadal said. "I was playing normal. Nothing special but nothing bad."Nadal broke to open the third set but Querrey answered in the eighth game, breaking back on Nadal's fifth double fault to set up the pivotal tie-breaker. Nadal jumped ahead 3-1 in the tie-break when Querrey sent a forehand wide, then won the final four points, three on errant shots by the American, to take the set, jumping for joy when a Querrey backhand went long to seal the set. "I served very bad in the second set but the important thing was I played my best in the tie-breaker," Nadal said.Querrey, who won his first ATP title last March at Las Vegas, was down 4-2 when he forced seven break chances in the seventh game. But Nadal yanked each back from the brink, tension growing with every rescue until two errant Querrey forehands allowed Nadal to hold for 5-2 and he held again to end it.

"If I could have battled through that game and got back on serve, you never know," Querrey said. "The longer the match went on the more free I was on my forehand. It was feeling good, especially in the fourth set."If Fish has anything to say about it, another battle awaits Nadal.

Shah backed for a successful run

South Africa in England 2008
Shah backed for a successful run
Cricinfo staff

Owais Shah is being given the chance to seal a spot at No. 3 in the England one-day team © Getty Images
The various pieces of England's one-day jigsaw have slotted into place seamlessly over the last couple of weeks against South Africa. Kevin Pietersen's desire to have Steve Harmison back in the attack, Andrew Flintoff at No. 5 and Samit Patel as the spin-bowling allrounder has worked like a dream. The only plan that hadn't quite come off, at least until Sunday at Lord's, was Owais Shah's promotion to No.3.

He made 12 in the opening match at Headingley and 23 at The Oval but on his home ground Shah guided England's run chase of 137 off 20 overs with 44 off 40 balls as they took a 4-0 lead in the series. He didn't panic after a slow start and soon unleashed an array of shots against the struggling South Africa bowlers. It was getting increasingly dark, but Shah didn't have any problems picking up the ball, swinging one six over the Tavern boundary.

Pietersen has had the utmost faith in his players so far and had no doubts that Shah would show his true value higher up the order after an extended run at No. 6. "He got a top edge at Headingley and a good ball from [Jacques] Kallis at The Oval," said Pietersen. "I had no doubt he would come off. He knew I had the confidence in him, and so did the players and his county stats prove he's a great player in first-class cricket.
"He deserved a go at three. He's played some fantastic shots, and the way he was talking when I was batting with him was a really good sign of things to come."

Shah's stand of 74 with Pietersen broke the back of South Africa's defence after England had struggled to find the boundary during the Powerplays. Andrew Flintoff came in and finished the match in a blaze of boundaries, but was quick to give credit to the hard work of his team-mate. "I came in and did what I did and probably took the glory - but the work had been done beforehand," he said.

Flintoff added that Shah had the talent to make the most of his promotion to No. 3. The pair played together in age-group cricket for England and, at 29, it was now time for Shah to push for a lengthy international career.
"I've played a lot of cricket with Owais since he was about 14," said Flintoff. "He's always been a special player - I think there's a hell of a lot more to come from him."

Unlike Flintoff and Pietersen, Shah will be back on county duty after the final ODI against South Africa, at Cardiff, on Wednesday after being one of the players

released for the remainder of the season. It will be a chance for Shah to end the season in good form before looking ahead to the Stanford Super Series and a tour of India.

Marsh makes his own mark

Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Darwin
Marsh makes his own mark

September 3, 2008
Shaun Marsh's unbeaten 69 was his third half-century in seven ODIs © AFP

Shaun Marsh's first two one-day internationals at home could hardly have gone any better. Having made a success of his debut ODI series in the West Indies this year, Marsh has continued his excellent form with a pair of half-centuries in Darwin but he knows he is no certainty to retain his place when Matthew Hayden returns from injury.
Marsh's 76 in the opening game was followed by a confident unbeaten 69 that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award in the second contest as Australia cruised past Bangladesh's 117 with 27 overs to spare. First in the Caribbean and now in Australia he has forged a promising opening partnership with Shane Watson.
It is a combination that could be the future for Australia's one-day team. In the short-term, the return of Hayden from a persistent heel injury, probably for the series in India, will force the selectors to choose between Marsh and Watson for the second opening slot.
"Hopefully I can get a few one-dayers when the season starts in Australia when we play South Africa and New Zealand," Marsh said. "I've just got to keep working hard and keep playing well for Western Australia. The season starts there soon so I've just got to keep working hard on that."
Marsh has averaged 50.50 from his first seven one-day internationals and against Bangladesh he has found gaps and regularly scored boundaries while taking few risks. It is a skill that is in high demand among opening batsmen and he is a more attacking type than his father Geoff, the former Australia player.
"I take after my mum a bit, she was always left-handed at whatever she did," Marsh said. "I've probably got a few more shots than the old man."
Marsh has noticed a major improvement in his own batting in the past year, a period during which he averaged more than 60 in the Pura Cup and took the Indian Premier League by storm by topping its run tally. He is one of several men who have impressed the stand-in captain Michael Clarke during the Darwin series.
"There's been some great individual performances," Clarke said. "Shaun Marsh has been on fire. He batted really well in the first game and backed it up today. Guys have an opportunity to either cement their spot in the team or push for selection when guys come back from injury and I think a few of our guys are certainly doing that."
Bangladesh could have had Marsh run out on 5 when he drove to mid off, set off for a single and collided mid-pitch with the bowler Shahadat Hossain. Both men ended up in a messy tangle on the turf and the fielder Nazmul Hossain decided against throwing at the stumps, where Marsh would have been well short.
There were echoes of the Ryan Sidebottom-Grant Elliott crash at The Oval this year, when England ran Elliott out and their captain Paul Collingwood was widely criticised for not calling him back. On this occasion Nazmul erred on the side of caution.
"When he saw the collision he decided against throwing it because he saw them on the ground and he thought he might hit the batsman or the bowler," Mohammad Ashraful, the Bangladesh captain, said. "We play within the spirit of cricket and this was one of those instances. There was a very good run-out opportunity there and he decided against throwing it."
Ashraful would have loved one of his batsmen to show the assuredness of Marsh but he conceded the side's confidence took a pounding following Saturday's 180-run loss. Dhiman Ghosh's entertaining 30 and the tight bowling of Mashrafe Mortaza were positives for Bangladesh but to Ashraful the eight-wicket defeat was just as disappointing as the first failure.
"We are a much better team than this," he said. "We can play much better cricket. We are just not being able to do that at the moment."

Britain leads calls to punish Russia

Britain leads calls to punish Russia
EU leaders hold emergency summit
Afp, Brussels
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana speaks to journalists after a meeting with Georgia's Prime minister Lado Gurgenidze ahead of an emergency summit of European Union leaders on the crisis in Georgia at the headquarters of the European Council in Brussels yesterday. Photo: AFP

European leaders met yesterday seeking a way to condemn Russia's conflict against Georgia as hundreds of thousands of people staged an anti-Russian rally in the Georgian capital.EU heads of state started an emergency summit on the Georgia crisis with divisions between Eastern European nations and Britain which want a tough line against Moscow, while Germany and France lead a group opposed to any move which provokes the Kremlin.Britain urged the suspension of negotiations on a successor to the current accord that set out EU-Russia relations.

Talks on a new agreement are due this month.British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote on the eve of the summit that there should be a "root and branch" review of EU relations with Moscow."It's vital we send a strong and united EU message today. We must be clear in our support for Georgia's territorial integrity and in our condemnation of Russia's action," his spokesman said Monday.Poland said the 27-nation bloc should consider calling off an EU-Russia summit in October.But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU must "speak clearly" over the crisis but insisted that the bloc "should not cut off dialogue" with Russia over the five day war.The Kremlin ordered tanks and troops into Georgia last month to push back a Georgian offensive on August 7 to retake South Ossetia, a separatist region that broke away from Tbilisi in the early 1990s with Moscow's backing.

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev upped the stakes last week by recognising the independence of South Ossetia and a second separatist region Abkhazia, drawing fierce criticism from the West.Russian troops still hold positions in western Georgia after the five-day conflict, serving in what Moscow describes as a peacekeeping mission. Tbilisi calls them an occupation force.In Tbilisi, Georgians staged what officials called the biggest protest in the country's history against the Russian action."Georgia is united as never before, there are one million people on the streets," President Mikheil Saakashvili told a huge crowd on Freedom Square in central Tbilisi that was awash with the red crosses of the national flag.Simultaneous protests took place in several other towns against Russia's partial occupation of Georgia and the decision by Moscow to recognise the two separatist provinces.

Huge posters depicting graphic images of dead and injured from last month's fighting against Russia hung from buildings along the protest route.Similar demonstrations were planned in European cities including Brussels, London and Vienna.Monday's summit was called by French President Nicolas Sarkozy so that the European Union could formulate a "clear and united message" over the conflict.Talk of slapping sanctions on Russia has waned amid threats from Moscow of retaliatory measures.

EU leaders are expected to concentrate on aid for Georgia, ways to bolster its economy and easing visa restrictions for Georgians.

Arman does it for his mom

Football
Citycell Fedaration Cup'08
Arman does it for his mom
Sports Reporter

(Clockwise from top left) Abahani striker Zahid Hasan Emily (C) tries to skid past two Mohammedan defenders, a partial view of the near packed Bangabandhu National Stadium, Mohammedan players set off to celebrate their title triumph moments after Abahani captain Nazrul (not in the picture) had missed the decisive penalty in the tiebreaker, the victorious Mohammedan team on the podium with the Citycell Federation Cup that they won with a 3-2 shootout win yesterday. Photo:

Anisur RahmanArman Aziz had a wound during Mohammedan's 3-1 semifinal victory over Chittagong Mohammedan that needed 11 stitches to mend. According to coach Maruful Haque, the Mohammedan midfielder had five percent chance of playing in the final.The national booter not only played against the odds but also led Mohammedan to win yesterday's Federation Cup final against perennial enemies Abahani."My mother told me to play.

I obeyed her," said Arman before rushing to the podium to take the trophy at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.His bravery was all Mohammedan needed to unite the side after they lost captain Jewel Rana through injury. Aziz was inspirational in the midfield, battling almost alone as Sharif and Egyptian Hazem Khaled failed to provide good support under pressure from their counterparts."It was Arman's decision to play and I am happy that he ended up without aggravating his injury," said coach Maruf, who was happy to win a tile in his first season with a top club.The 40-year-old Maruf is more famous for being theoretically rich but he also proved that he is as able practically."I am happy at the team's performance but the job is only half done. I would be able to say that I am successful only at the end of the season."In reply to a question, he said that his boys followed the instruction to let Abahani attack in the first half. "We played the waiting game. Abahani played consistently well in the tournament but they looked tired and many players had injuries in the final."

Although playing matches with little gaps and poor ground condition due to rain has taken toll on our players, we played well and hoped to win the game in regulation time," added Maruf.His Abahani counterpart, veteran Amalesh Sen, was understandably upset.Despite finishing undefeated, B. League champions Abahani fumbled on the final barrier when three players shot their penalties poorly."The match should have not gone to the tiebreakers. Robin was offside when he scored the equaliser.

Our defenders were waiting for the assistant referee's signal and hesitated to clear," said a fuming Amalesh after the final.He, however, rued the injuries in the final."Joy was declared fit by the physician but he picked up an early injury. We also lost Sujan, which left us with only one more replacement."After going one up, we had absolute domination but could not bring another attacker because Siraji and Samad Yussif were also limping."The accidental goal let us down and due to injuries, my team could not really give their best."Abahani captain Nazrul Islam admitted that going ahead, Abahani were caught for relaxing a bit.

"We dominated till scoring but Mohammedan equally fought back," he said.

Bowlers must also lift - Mortaza

Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Darwin
Bowlers must also lift - Mortaza
Cricinfo staff
September 2, 2008

(Shahadat Hossain leaked runs in the opening match and Bangladesh want a tighter effort from their bowlers © AFP)

Bangladesh's batting woes have been well documented but their main fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza said the attack must also lift if the team is to avoid another drubbing on Wednesday. They lost the opening ODI against Australia by 180 runs after falling for their lowest one-day international score but Mortaza knows the bowlers need to help out by restricting Australia more.

Early in the innings Shahadat Hossain could not keep the openers tied down and then through the middle overs Shaun Marsh and Michael Hussey easily picked off ones and twos while taking few risks. It let Australia build a solid platform that in turn allowed Hussey to pick up his rate in the final overs and guide Australia to 254.

"In the last game I was bowling tight from one end but Rajib (Shahadat Hossain) was leaking runs," Mortaza said. "Against Australia it is mighty important to bowl a high percentage of good balls. We had a chat with the AIS bowling coach Damien Fleming during our warm-ups and he also stressed on making scoring difficult and said that you win yourself a point with every dot ball you bowl against Australia."

But even if the bowlers do their job on Wednesday, the batsmen must also show far more concentration to challenge Australia. In the opening game they were bundled out for 74 with nearly half their overs still available and Mortaza hopes the top order can show more confidence the second time around.

"I personally thought that two or three of our top-order batters did not look confident in that game," Mortaza said. "I am not giving excuses but the drop-in track was difficult for run-scoring and we did not look like working our way out of pressure at any time.

"We have to be more than twice as good, play our natural game and get near 220 or 230. That's the only way we can get over Saturday's poor show."

Shah backed for a successful run

South Africa in England 2008
Shah backed for a successful run
Cricinfo staff
September 1, 2008

(Owais Shah is being given the chance to seal a spot at No. 3 in the England one-day team © Getty Images )

The various pieces of England's one-day jigsaw have slotted into place seamlessly over the last couple of weeks against South Africa. Kevin Pietersen's desire to have Steve Harmison back in the attack, Andrew Flintoff at No. 5 and Samit Patel as the spin-bowling allrounder has worked like a dream. The only plan that hadn't quite come off, at least until Sunday at Lord's, was Owais Shah's promotion to No.3.

He made 12 in the opening match at Headingley and 23 at The Oval but on his home ground Shah guided England's run chase of 137 off 20 overs with 44 off 40 balls as they took a 4-0 lead in the series. He didn't panic after a slow start and soon unleashed an array of shots against the struggling South Africa bowlers. It was getting increasingly dark, but Shah didn't have any problems picking up the ball, swinging one six over the Tavern boundary.

Pietersen has had the utmost faith in his players so far and had no doubts that Shah would show his true value higher up the order after an extended run at No. 6. "He got a top edge at Headingley and a good ball from [Jacques] Kallis at The Oval," said Pietersen. "I had no doubt he would come off. He knew I had the confidence in him, and so did the players and his county stats prove he's a great player in first-class cricket.

"He deserved a go at three. He's played some fantastic shots, and the way he was talking when I was batting with him was a really good sign of things to come."

Shah's stand of 74 with Pietersen broke the back of South Africa's defence after England had struggled to find the boundary during the Powerplays. Andrew Flintoff came in and finished the match in a blaze of boundaries, but was quick to give credit to the hard work of his team-mate. "I came in and did what I did and probably took the glory - but the work had been done beforehand," he said.

Flintoff added that Shah had the talent to make the most of his promotion to No. 3. The pair played together in age-group cricket for England and, at 29, it was now time for Shah to push for a lengthy international career.

"I've played a lot of cricket with Owais since he was about 14," said Flintoff. "He's always been a special player - I think there's a hell of a lot more to come from him."

Unlike Flintoff and Pietersen, Shah will be back on county duty after the final ODI against South Africa, at Cardiff, on Wednesday after being one of the players released for the remainder of the season. It will be a chance for Shah to end the season in good form before looking ahead to the Stanford Super Series and a tour of India.

Powell bounces back from Beijing nightmare

(Asafa Powell had the consolation of winning relay gold at the Olympics after finishing fifth in the 100 meters individual event.)

GATESHEAD, England (AP) -- Asafa Powell rebounded from another disappointing Olympics by winning the 100-meter sprint at the British Grand Prix on Sunday in 9.87 seconds.

Powell, the former world 100m record-holder who finished fifth at the Beijing Games, extended his lead all the way and won by three meters.

"It would have been different in the Olympics if I had run like this," Powell said. "But the past is the past and this is the present."

Nesta Carter, Powell's teammate on Jamaica's winning 4x100m team at the Olympics, was second in 10.13.
Kenenisa Bekele, who won both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Beijing, ran a world leading time in the 3,000m, finishing in 7:31.94. Vivian Cheruiyot emulated that feat in the women's race, finishing in 8:33.66.
Tyson Gay won the 200m in 20.26, showing no signs of the hamstring problems that bothered him at the U.S. trials and saw him miss the Olympic 100m final.

"I am very frustrated and disappointed with what happened in Beijing," said Gay, who was eliminated in the semifinals and had to watch Usain Bolt's record-setting performances from the sidelines.

"It was so frustrating having to watch rather than perform. I know I would have been the man to put pressure on him (Bolt) but that's what I've got to work towards now. But I look forward to meeting Usain and finishing my season strongly."

Wallace Spearmon, who was disqualified in Beijing after finishing third, was second in 20.41.
Lauryn Williams of the United States won the women's 100m in 11.24, beating Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica by .05 seconds. Debbie-Ann Ferguson of the Bahamas was third.
"It's a bit difficult to come down off the high of the Olympics and I'm still feeling a little tired," Fraser said. "I'd have loved to have won, but it just wasn't to be today."

Williams later completed a sprint double, winning the 200m in 22.65.
"It's a bittersweet type of win," said Williams, who was fourth in the Olympic 100m. "We all wanted to win the Olympics, but to beat the medalists here was nice."

Bernard Lagat won the 1,000m in a personal best time of 2:16.18.
Lagat, who competed at the Olympics as an American for the first time, struggled in Beijing. He failed to qualify for the 1,500m final and finished ninth in the 5,000m.

"I was injured three weeks before the games," Lagat said. "I had problems with my Achilles tendon so this makes up for that. Now I'm looking forward to the rest of the season."

Symonds determined to fight back

Allrounder reflects on his attitude
Symonds determined to fight back:

(Tim Nielsen says Andrew Symonds' frame of mind in recent months has been a concern © AFP)

Andrew Symonds is committed to forcing his way back into the Australia team but whether that is possible for October's tour of India is uncertain, according to his agent Matt Fearon. Symonds was thrown out of the squad in Darwin after missing a team meeting because he went fishing.

It was only a misdemeanour but it was the last straw for a team leadership group that was already concerned about Symonds' dedication and frame of mind following several other incidents. Symonds flew home to Brisbane while his colleagues took on Bangladesh on Saturday and he said in a statement on Sunday that he had taken on board his team-mates' concerns.

"I have had some time to reflect on the events that took place in Darwin," Symonds said. "I would like to say thanks for the many messages of support that I have received over the past day or so. I appreciate your best wishes. I've been asked to think about what is important to me and I will take this time to do that."

Fearon told Cricinfo the allrounder was pondering his attitude and his future. "Andrew's going to take some time to reflect on what's happened," Fearon said. "He's still committed to playing cricket at the highest level. How he goes about doing that and how it plays out I don't know. Whether it means India I don't know."

It has been an eventful year for Symonds, who among other things was at the centre of a racism row with India's Harbhajan Singh in January. Although his Australia team-mates would love to have him on board for the upcoming Test tour, they know his value to the team is diminished if he is not focused.

"He's had success there and is a very good player of spin and that is important," Michael Hussey told AAP. "He's not going to be built up with pressure with the spinners where it's dot ball after dot ball, which is going to be important when we get to India.

"[On Saturday] I thought, gee it would be great to have Symo here to come in and smack a few to put the pressure back on the Bangladeshi bowlers a bit. But it's the way it is. Maybe if Andrew Symonds was playing and he's not 100% committed he's not going to be able to give his best, so we want someone to come in and give their best."

Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, said the latest incident was unexpected but the ACA would do everything it could to get him back into the Australia team. "It was a surprise," Marsh said, "but there were issues last summer that have been well documented.

"Our role is obviously we're here to support Andrew. We've been in discussion with his manager and look to put in place the best possible support for him."

Australia maintain that a break from the game is in Symonds' best interests as well as for the good of the team, although nobody knows how long his lay-off will be. His attitude over the past few months has troubled the squad's senior figures and the coach Tim Nielsen said the fishing expedition was simply a trigger point.

"They [usually] don't miss a thing and they are always early and presented as well as they possibly can," Nielsen said. "When somebody hasn't got the information that they need or hasn't turned up on time it's usually due to the fact they're away from us and the group a little bit, mentally. That always raises concerns."

While Cricket Australia said it would do whatever it could to help Symonds, the unusual situation means it is not clear what he must do to prove his commitment. "There's no prescribed, exact process for these sorts of things," Marsh said. "We just need to get to the bottom of things and work out what's the best way to move forward."

Keeping an eye on the ball, not the money

England v South Africa, 4th ODI, Lord's
Keeping an eye on the ball, not the money

('The one thing, after the fourth operation, then the side strain that drives you is having days like today. There have been some dark times, but I'm back in the side and determined to enjoy' © Getty Images)

And so the juggernaut rolls on. Not even the rain, increasing gloom or a return to form for Hershelle Gibbs could stop England's one-day bandwagon, while an early-morning back spasm was no hindrance to Andrew Flintoff. The dizzy heights of No.2 in the world are still on the cards, but the successful run chase here was timely from another point of view. At the end of October there's a little bit of money at stake in Antigua and England were able to work on a few Twenty20 skills.

"I don't know how many shots we'd have played if we were playing for a million bucks each," said Kevin Pietersen as he reflected on another job well done. He should have 'focus' tattooed on his arm just below his other inscriptions. Pietersen is taking each individual challenge on its own, broken down into single matches and refuses to be drawn into thinking ahead beyond his quest for a whitewash.

"We just look at the cricket now, how the guys are playing and how they are training. Talking about Stanford isn't a great idea. The key is, and it will be the same on Wednesday [at Cardiff], is not to look too far ahead. It's about delivering and we did it today and will do it again on Wednesday. We'll try our hardness to win the series 5-0 because there would be no greater satisfaction than to finish at 10.30 and know we are second in the world. That's the most important thing, not Stanford."

Still, though, they wouldn't be human if minds hadn't wandered to Pietersen or Flintoff producing similar fireworks in a couple of months. Flintoff is regaining that irrepressible force that made him such a giant of the game. He has already gone back to being ranked the best one-day allrounder, and he is firmly back as the fan's favourite. When he walked to the nets for a few throw downs before the run chase he was greeted to cheers from the Compton and Edrich stands. And he had already quickly shrugged off his early-morning back problem to take a vital 3 for 21; after four ankle operations and a side strain it probably didn't feel like a problem at all.

"These hotels beds are very soft and I think I spent about 11 hours in it last night, far too long," he said. "It was a bit of a spasm but nothing serious and having not played at Lord's for so long that wasn't going to affect anything." With Ryan Sidebottom's back problems earlier this season, the country's hotels might be asked to reconsider their bed policy. Maybe they could give the soft mattresses to the Australians next summer? It's just an idea.
One of the keys to Flintoff's resurgence has been the responsibility throw his way by Pietersen. None of this hiding him at No. 7 that came on his Test return at Headingley. "When Kev asked us to bat at No. 5, I was over the moon," he said. "I've had my best times batting at five, I feel more comfortable there because you get the chance to have a look. I've managed to score a few runs and it's the manner I've scored them has probably been most pleasing."

As Flintoff charged England towards the victory line everything was finding the middle of the bat. It has been that way all series. And he has played contrasting innings, too. Aggression at Headingley, consolidation at The Oval and a freedom to swing at Lord's.

Pietersen is never one to mince his words and is taking praise to a whole-new level. "He's playing some of his best cricket," was the assessment of Flintoff, but the man himself was slightly more guarded.

"I'm doing alright," Flintoff said modestly, "but I'm not getting carried away. One of the things I said after my ankle operation was that if I didn't feel I could play as well as I had done, or better, then I probably wouldn't have gone through it. I've been on the other side before so won't get carried way.

"After the fourth operation, then the side strain, what drives you is having days like today. There have been some dark times, but I'm back in the side and determined to enjoy it. At the moment I'm having a great time."
While Flintoff may have taken the late glory, his team-mates needn't have worried about being forgotten. Pietersen has plenty of love to go around and following Samit Patel's glowing report after The Oval, it was the turn of Owais Shah, who was promoted to No. 3 at the insistence of the captain. After a slow start to the series - and his innings here - he finished with 44 off 40 balls.

"When you give a guy confidence and he knows he can come in and play his way, and he's going to be backed, then he'll come good," Pietersen said. "I knew it and he knew the players had the confidence in him. He has the stats and has done it over the years [for Middlesex]. He's delivered today and the way he was talking in the middle was a great sign. I'm very happy with everyone." Why shouldn't he be. At the moment the whole team must feel like a million dollars.

Djokovic toils as Federer cruises

World number three Novak Djokovic was tested to the limit before scraping into round four of the US Open after a four-hour battle with Marin Cilic.

Cilic, 19, won the first set and saved two match points in the fourth before losing 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-0).
Former world number one Roger Federer cruised through, barely breaking sweat as he beat Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 6-2.

Home favourite Andy Roddick also showed something like his best form as he saw off Andreas Seppi 6-2 7-5 7-6 (7-4).
Cilic won a high-quality first set on a tie-break, bravely smacking a clean backhand winner down the line to snatch it.

Both men then fluctuated between the sublime and the distinctly average, with Djokovic allowing an early break to slip in each of the next three sets.
It's good for me to not waste any energy

An inspired Cilic survived two match points before levelling at 5-5 in the fourth but he crumbled in the tie-break and Djokovic prevailed after three hours 52 minutes.
The Serbian admitted: "I was really trying to stay in the match all the time.
"It is always good in the early stages to have long matches, to hustle and stay on the court a long time. Now I'm motivated to go far.

"I always manage to get through these tough matches. If you are mentally able to play the best tennis in the most important moments you are different than the others.
"The good thing about that second set was that I stayed focused. He was stepping in and I was playing a bit too defensive.

"He didn't have much to lose as a youngster. He won at New Haven (one week before the US Open) and he won a couple of matches here and he was on the centre court for the first time.
"It was more the fight and focus I had in the end.

"I got myself together after those two match points. I was mentally strong. For me this match is extremely important mentally for me to continue going on."
Djokovic will now meet Spain's Tommy Robredo in round four.

"He is another tough opponent. If I'm fresh enough mentally and physically I think I can get a positive outcome," Djokovic said.

"I can expect a big fight. He's confident. The good thing about Grand Slams is you have a day off. You can recover. I'm sure I'll be recovered enough."

Robredo earlier beat Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-3.
Roddick, who was the last man to win the US Open before four-times champion Federer, will next face Chilean 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez, a 7-5 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 winner over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
Fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko, a possible quarter-final opponent for Federer, brushed aside fellow Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 7-6 6-3 to set up a fourth-round match with Gilles Muller.

Muller, the qualifier from Luxembourg, continued his incredible run with a 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 win over 18th seed Nicolas Almagro.
The 25-year-old, who won the junior event at Flushing Meadows in 2001, had not won three successive Tour level matches since July 2005.

The qualifier also came from two sets down to beat Tommy Haas in the previous round.
Federer will face Igor Andreev next after the Russian defeated Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-4 6-4.
Defending champion Federer is yet to drop a set in his first three matches and victory over Stepanek was his 30th straight win at Flushing Meadows.

The 27-year-old is seeking to become the first player since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win five US titles in a row.
His last defeat came in 2003 when he lost to David Nalbandian in the fourth round.

He showed no sign of vulnerability on Sunday, with his serve firing particularly well as he avenged his defeat by Stepanek in Rome earlier this year.

"I'm playing well and moving on in the draw.
"I think all in all I'm really happy. I've been serving well for the first three rounds, and that's always a good sign for the rest of the tournament.

"I don't try to impress anybody in the early rounds. If it happens, that's great. I don't really care that much."
Roddick, the eighth seed, believes he too is hitting top form after some mixed results in the lead-up to his home Grand Slam.

The 26-year-old, who landed 73% of his first serves, was broken for the first time at 2-2 in the third set before hitting back to take it on a tie-break.

"For the first time in a little while, I feel like I'm match tough," he said.

"I've gotten in some tough moments here and played my way out of them pretty good, so that's a good sign.
"You're always moving in one of two directions and I'm going in the right one right now."

McCain picks female running mate

Sarah Palin is officially announced as Senator John McCain's running mate

US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate.

At 44, she is three years younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics.

Mr McCain appeared with her on stage at a lively rally in Dayton, Ohio.
Analysts say Mrs Palin was chosen to rejuvenate the campaign of Mr McCain, who is celebrating his 72nd birthday.

The announcement ended weeks of speculation about his potential choice, in which Mrs Palin was mentioned only as a long shot.

Some commentators are calling Mr McCain's running mate decision the strangest since Dan Quayle, George Bush Senior's young and untested pick in 1988.

The fact that she is a woman and a fresh face on the national scene is obviously a potential plus, bringing an excitement and newsworthiness to the Republican ticket, the BBC's Justin Webb reports.

But her less than two years in office would undercut one of the McCain campaign's central criticisms of his Democratic rival Barack Obama: that he is too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief.

The choice seems an audacious, perhaps slightly desperate, effort to bring youth and vigour to the Republican ticket, our North America editor adds.

Tribute to Hillary Clinton
Speaking to a large crowd, who sang Happy Birthday when he appeared, Mr McCain introduced Mrs Palin as someone who "understands working people".

"She's got the grit, the integrity and commitment to the common good which are exactly what we need in Washington today," he said.
"She's exactly who I need, who this country needs, to help me fight to turn the same old Washington politics on its head."

Thanking Mr McCain, Mrs Palin said she would be honoured to serve next to him. She introduced her husband of 20 years and four of her five children. A son who did not appear on stage is in the US Army and will be deployed to Iraq next month.

Speaking of her time in office in Alaska, she said she had "fought corruption" and sought to serve the people.
She paid tribute to other American women in politics, including Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama's defeated Democratic rival.

"It was rightly noted in Denver last week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," she said.

Mrs Palin is the second female US vice-presidential candidate, with the first being Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.
Analysts say Mrs Palin may have been chosen by the McCain campaign as a tactic to win over those Democratic women voters who were disappointed by the defeat of Mrs Clinton by Mr Obama.

Mr Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, congratulated Mrs Palin on her nomination and said she would add a "compelling new voice" to the general election campaign.

"Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics," their joint statement said.

Sarah Palin now appears side by side with Mr McCain on his website
A spokesman for the Obama campaign had earlier suggested Mr McCain's choice was irresponsible, referring to Mrs Palin's former role as mayor of the small Alaskan town of Wasilla.

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," said spokesman Bill Burton.

President George W Bush welcomed Mrs Palin's nomination, describing her as a "proven reformer".
"Governor Palin's success is due to her dedication to principle and her roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic and serves as a wonderful example of the spirit of America," he said.

Anti-abortion
Mrs Palin is seen as a strong conservative, fiscally and socially.
She also opposes abortion and her baby son has Down's Syndrome.
Abortion has been a key issue cited by Republican voters who feel Mr McCain is not conservative enough.
Mrs Palin's electoral chances may be harmed by the fact that she was placed under investigation in Alaska by state lawmakers at the end of July.
She sacked a public safety commissioner and the allegation is that she sacked him because he had not fired a state trooper who is Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law, and who is in a custody battle with her sister.
She says she has "nothing to hide" and is "cool" about the investigation.