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Wildfire Rock Across The Europe

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Spain, July 24: Deadly summer wild fires spread across Spain, France, Italy and Greece on Friday with holidaymakers rescued from beaches and thousands of firefighters brought into the battle.

At least seven people are known to have died in the fires in three days. A Spanish fireman and a shepherd and a farmer on the Italian island of Sardinia were the latest fatalities.

Helicopters and civil protection boats plucked about 120 people to safety from a beach at Capo Pecora in the southwest of Sardinia on Thursday night after they became trapped by flames.

Sangakkara ton frustrates Pakistan in drawn Test

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Colombo, July 24: Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century to steer Sri Lanka to a draw in the final Test against Pakistan here today and win his first series as captain.

The left-hander made 130 not out as Sri Lanka, faced with a world record target of 492, defied the Pakistani bowlers to finish with 391-4 on the fifth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

The rock solid Sangakarra’s 19th Test century featured a fourth-wicket stand of 122 with Thilan Samaraweera (73) and 114 for the unbroken fifth with Angelo Mathews (64 not out).

China holds key to climate change deal: Ban Ki-moon

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Beijing, July 24: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said here today that China’s support was crucial if a new international climate change deal was to be successfully brokered.

“Without China there can be no success this year on a new global climate framework deal,” Ban said during a speech to launch a programme promoting environmentally friendly lights.

“But with China there is an enormous potential for the world to seal a deal in Copenhagen.”

Langer acclaimed for Bradman feat

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Sydney, July 24: Justin Langer was on Friday lauded by his peers after claiming the legendary Donald Bradman’s long-standing record as Australia’s greatest run-scorer in first-class cricket.

The 38-year-old former Test opening batsman passed the previous record of 28,067 runs, held for six decades by ‘The Don,’ while batting for Somerset against Worcestershire in the English County Championship on Thursday.

Langer made 107 for his 86th first-class century and 100th hundred in all competitions and has now amassed 28,080 first-class runs.

Kiwis chose national team over IPL

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Christchurch, July 24: Six Kiwi players, including skipper Daniel Vettori, have chosen the national team ahead of the Indian Premier League and signed their new contracts for the next season despite a clash between a home series and IPL commitments.

Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor were allowed the extra time to confirm their NZC contracts and all 20 players have now signed the national deals, New Zealand Cricket Board said.

Difficult to reach to UP Govt “even at my level”: Pawar

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New Delhi, July 24: Centre today said it is finding it difficult to reach out to Uttar Pradesh Government in order to formulate a strategy to deal with the situation arising

“This is one state (UP) which is difficult to contact at the highest level, even at my level,” Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha.

He made these remarks while responding to a Calling Attention Notice on deficient monsoons in the country.

Uproar in Bihar assembly over assault on girl

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Patna, July 24: The Bihar assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over the alleged stripping of a 22-year-old girl in public with Opposition members storming into the well of the House and forcing Speaker U N Choudhary to adjourn the proceedings at least four times.

The issue was raised by MLAs belonging to RJD, LJP, Congress and Left parties as soon as the House assembled. They trooped into the well of the House and asked the speaker to accept an adjournment motion moved by them seeking a debate on “growing atrocities on women in Bihar”.

Shoaib Akhtar must work on his fitness: Inzamam

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Karachi, July 24: Instead of sulking over his non-inclusion in the Champions Trohy squad, paceman Shoaib Akhtar must work hard on his fitness to stake his claim in the Pakistan cricket team, says former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.

“I think what he must do is focus on his fitness a lot, do some hard training, chart out his future course of action and come on the field and perform to silence his critics,” Inzamam said today.

“It is unfortunate but in recent times, Shoaib has had many fitness issues and this has affected his performances as well his selection for the national team,” he added.

Aamir to play the lead in wife’s directorial debut

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Mumbai, July 24: Superstar Aamir Khan has finally let the cat out of the bag. The actor has confirmed that he is playing the lead in wife Kiran Rao’s directorial debut ‘Dhobi Ghaat’.

The superstar who had till now maintained silence about his involvement in the project, will be playing a full fledged role along with Smita Patil’s son Pratiek Babbar, who had made an impressed debut in Aamir Khan’s production ‘Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa’.

India spending crores on VVIP security

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New Delhi, July 24: While efforts to modernise India’s ageing Air Force have witnessed numerous delays, VIP and VVIP aircraft have faced no such problems.

NewsX has exclusive information that India has now signed a Rs 1,400 crore deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters from Italy’s Augusta Westland.

This comes close on the heels of the induction of three Boeing business jets, also meant for VVIPs.

The helicopters will be used to bolster existing security cover for Ministers, Chief Ministers and others on the VVIP list.

Accused nun to move SC against virginity test

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Kottayam, July 24: Sister Sephy, the nun accused in the Sister Abhaya murder case, plans to move the Supreme Court against the virginity test done on her and the ‘vulgar’ language allegedly used by CBI in its chargesheet against her, according to Church sources.

Aji Koyikkal, legal advisor to the Knanaya Catholic Church here told PTI that the virginity test conducted on the nun, as claimed by CBI, amounted to violation of the fundamental rights of a woman.

“Our contention is that the virginity test report itself is concocted,” he said.

Shopian Murder and Rape Case, HC Order To Seek Bail From SC

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New Delhi, July 24: The Supreme Court on Friday said the Jammu & Kashmir High Court cannot order the arrest of police officials accused in the
rape and murder of two women in Shopian district.

The apex court suspended the J&K High Court order that asked two senior police officers of Shopian district to seek bail only from the high court, saying the HC had usurped the bail jurisdiction of the trial court. It allowed the officers to directly move the Shopian sessions court for bail, which it said must be decided without influence from the J&K High Court’s observations, and only on merit.

US wants Baitullah Mehsud’s elimination: Holbrooke

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Islamabad, July 24: Branding Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud as “one of the most dangerous and odious people in the region,” US special envoy Richard Holbrooke has said that his elimination was “without a doubt” of strategic importance to Washington.

Holbrooke asked Pakistani security forces to go after Mehsud and his key aide Maulana Fazlullah because they pose a serious threat to this country.

Microsoft keen to partner Unique ID project:Gates

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New Delhi, July 24: Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, is keen to partner India in a project to issue Unique Identification to each citizen, its chairman Bill Gates said today.

“Microsoft wants to be part of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) project,” he said here at a joint event with Nasscom.

Gates will meet UIDAI chairman Nandan M Nilekani, who was till recently co-chairman of the country’s second largest software exporter, to take the possible association forward.

Azhar blames federation for hockey’s poor state

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New Delhi, July 24: Former cricketer and Congress MP from Moradabad, Mohammad Azharuddin has held the ‘vested interests’ in the national federation responsible for Indian hockey’s poor state.

“Their (hockey federation’s) intention should be that the game of hockey goes up. They should not have any vested interest. Once you have vested interests the game will suffer and the players will also suffer,” Azharuddin said here yesterday, at a panel discussion on ‘Vision of India-The Road Ahead’, organised by a social body named ‘Yuva Samagam’.

Rekha to launch Shilpa Shetty’s spa

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New Delhi, July 24: Shilpa Shetty will soon fulfil her childhood dream of owning a spa and she has convinced yesteryears actress Rekha to launch her medispa Iosis here on Sunday as she feels that the senior star is synonymous with timeless beauty.

“I had to think of who was going to do the grand launch and couldn’t come up with a better name than the diva herself – someone who is synonymous with timeless beauty and wellness. So I approached (the one and only) Rekhaji,” Shilpa posted on her blog shilpashettylive.com

Jackson doctor faces manslaughter probe

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Los Angeles, July 24: Michael Jackson’s personal doctor is the target of the manslaughter investigation into the singer’s death, according to court documents.

The documents were filed yesterday, the day after agents seized items from Dr Conrad Murray’s clinic in Houston, Texas, it emerged today.

A search warrant approved by a Houston judge allowed authorities to seek “property or items constituting evidence of the offense of manslaughter that tend to show that Dr Conrad Murray committed the said criminal offence”.

Maliki seeks to boost military arsenal

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Washington, July 24: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed Iraq’s need for more weapons and equipment to bolster the fledgling democracy’s military capabilities, during talks at the Pentagon.

The Iraqis “have many needs… and they are not afraid to articulate them,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters, following a late-afternoon meeting between Maliki and Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

Morrell declined to cite specific military platforms Baghdad has requested, amid speculation that the Iraqi government is seeking F-16 fighter jets.

Clinton, NKorea exchange barbs on nukes

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Washington, July 24: Hillary Rodham Clinton and North Korea exchanged pointed barbs on Thursday, with Clinton declaring North Korea “has no friends left” and the communist regime calling the US secretary of state a “schoolgirl.”

The sharp words came as North Korea announced it had refused to re-enter talks to terminate its nuclear weapons program.

Wanted: Women to eat chocolate for an year

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London, July 24: Scientists are looking for women willing to eat chocolate every day for an year — all in the name of medical science.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia and a hospital in Norwich, eastern England are trying to find out whether chocolate can cut the risk of heart disease and need 40 women to step forward and help.

Most of the women will have to eat two bars of “super-strength chocolate specially formulated by Belgian chocolatiers” daily for one year and undergo several tests to measure how healthy their hearts are.

Pakistan eye face-saving win in final Test vs Lanka

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Colombo, July 24: Pakistan remained on course to win the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka after denting the home team’s chase of a world record target today.

Sri Lanka, set an improbable 492 to sweep the series 3-0 after they had won the first two Tests, were 183-3 in their second knock at stumps on the fourth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

When play begins on the fifth day for the first time in the series – the first Test ended in four days and the second in three – Pakistan will need seven wickets and Sri Lanka a further 309 runs in 90 overs.

Multi-crore business in illicit drugs thriving

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New Delhi, July 24: Watch out! The next time you buy your baby a cough syrup or get yourself any medication, make sure to get a proper bill else you could fall prey to the multi-crore clandestine business of spurious, misbranded and adulterated drugs.

While the top players of the over Rs 85,000 crore pharmaceutical business are up in arms over what they call rampant spread of counterfeit drugs (allegedly 20 to 25 per cent of total pharma sales) in the country, enforcement agencies and some pharma associations say the situation is not that alarming.

‘India has not received any request from Pak for assistance’

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New Delhi, July 24: Government today said it has not received any request from Pakistan for assistance in rehabilitating the people rendered homeless and living in refugee camps due to the military action against Taliban in the country’s troubled north-western region.

The government is aware of the recent developments in Pakistan where the army is rooting out the Taliban due to which millions of Pakistani citizens have become homeless and are living in refugee camps, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Ganguly stays away, Dalmiya set for another term as CAB chief

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Kolkata, July 24: Jagmohan Dalmiya is set for yet another innings at the helm of Cricket Association of Bengal as there was nobody, including former India captain Sourav Ganguly, to challenge the former BCCI president on the last day of filing CAB nominations here today.

Ganguly apparently gave Dalmiya a walkover after failing to manage the required numbers.

There was no challenge for Dalmiya camp’s two joint secretaries – Arun Mitra and Biswarup Dey – and treasurer Subir Ganguly either.

New party tries to give Kurds their ‘Orange revolution’

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Kurdish, July 24: “I must ask you to leave because you are criticising the authorities on state property,” said a Kurdish official, interrupting our conversation with a critic of the Kurdish government.

We were speaking to Peshko Hama Fares Mohammed, a representative of Goran, or Change, the new political party which is seeking to dislodge the two parties which have ruled Kurdistan for the past 18 years. The result will be decided in a hard-fought general election taking place tomorrow.