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Drama surrounds new North Korea missile tests

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Pyongyang, July 04: North Korea has test-fired three more missiles off its eastern coast in Wonsan, officials monitoring launchpads in the North have reported.

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired the first two missiles, which appeared to be of scud type, around 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT Friday) into the Sea of Japan.

The third missile was launched at around 10:45 am local time and flew for about 400 kilometers (250 miles) — similar to the previous two missiles.

Gilani talks on borders with Napolitano

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Islamabad, July 04: Pakistan urges US officials to chalk-out a comprehensive strategy to counter cross-border infiltration of militants from neighboring Afghanistan.

“The US government should support Afghanistan in working out a permanent solution to check uncontrolled, illegal crossings, particularly of militants, terrorists and drug trafficking across the border with Pakistan,” Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani told US Secretary for Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano in Islamabad on Friday, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Pakistan ask Sri Lanka to bat in first Test

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Karachi, July 04: Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss Saturday and sent Sri Lanka in to bat in the first cricket Test at the Galle International Stadium.

Pakistan opted for a lone specialist spinner in Saeed Ajmal on a wicket freshened up by early morning showers, leaving out seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf returned to Pakistan’s Test side after 18 months, after breaking links with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

Kaneria dropped as Pakistan field

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Karachi, July 04: For the first time since the Multan Test of 2004, or 38 Tests, Pakistan started a Test without Danish Kaneria. They were always going to play three fast bowlers, and going to field first if they won the toss. And they did win it.

Two of those fast bowlers were debutants – the 17-year-old Mohammad Aaamer and the 30-year-old Abdur Rauf. So was Kaneria’s replacement, Saeed Ajmal, perhaps getting the nod by the virtue of being an offspinner against Sri Lanka’s ready supply of left-hand batsmen.

Shakeela Bano is DSP, Yasmeen Deputy Collector in A.P.

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Hyderabad, July 04: Seven Muslim men and women, who got selected in Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Group I Examination and were posted to the senior position in police and other departments today called on the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to thank him for his policy of 4% reservations for Muslims in education and government jobs.

Six of the seven successful candidates were the beneficiaries of the 4% reservation quota while one Ms. Ayesha Khan was successful in general category.

Rain gave India the advantage – Kirsten

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London, July 04: Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, has credited India’s innings not being affected as much as by inclement weather as crucial to taking a series lead.

West Indies innings began two hours late and was interrupted thrice due to rain, and further intervals initially readjusted India’s target to 195 in 27 overs before a further shower reduced it to 159 in 22 overs. In the end, thanks to MS Dhoni’s unbeaten hand, India won in the final over with six wickets in hand.

Israel deports Free Gaza activists

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Israel deports Free Gaza activists

Jerusalem, July 04: Israel deports five Bahraini activists among the Gaza-bound humanitarian convoy it had earlier seized on charge of violating its ‘territorial waters’.

On Friday, the five, who allegedly include a reporter for the Doha-based satellite TV channel, al-Jazeera, were taken out of Israel custody to be taken back to their homeland via the Ben Gurion airport south of Tel Aviv, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.

They had traveled to the blockade-stricken coastal sliver among the international Free Gaza Movement aid convoy.

I was to do Akshaye’s role in ‘Short Kut’: Anil Kapoor

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Mumbai, July 04: If the original cast of “Short Kut – The Con Is On” would have remained intact, audiences would have seen Anil Kapoor playing the role that Akshaye Khanna now essays. Also, Arshad was a late entry into the project as he finally got the part written for Akshaye.

“Yes, the film did see some casting changes though all of it happened before it went on floors. Akshaye was always the first choice for the film and he was on board immediately. After ‘Gandhi My Father’, it was but natural that he acts in my next production as well,” Anil told IANS.

Iraq hails Iran for projects in Kurdistan

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Baghdad, July 04: An Iraqi official expresses gratitude to the Islamic Republic’s envoy to Baghdad for Iran’s participation in civil projects in Kurdistan.

The governor of Iraq’s Suleymaniyeh city, Dana Majeed, in a meeting with Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad, praised Iranian companies for accomplishments in completing bridges, railways and tunnels.

“Iranians have proved trustworthy to the local Iraqi officials in the area,” Majeed added, noting that Iranians were invited to take part in some other projects in the region.

Sangakkara upbeat ahead of first Test as captain

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Colombo, July 03: These are exciting days in the life of Kumar Sangakkara. Last week his wife gave birth to twins, and during that nervous period (“unbelievable feeling, overjoyed”), he was also aware he had a Test match starting on July 4, his first as captain.

Having led Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 final is all right, but he knows leading in Tests is the real deal.

‘Loose nukes greatest danger in Pakistan’

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Washington, July 03: The threat of insiders in the nuclear establishment working with outsiders seeking a bomb is nowhere greater than in Pakistan, according to a former officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

“Pakistani authorities have a dismal track record in thwarting insider threats,” writes Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, who served as a CIA officer for 23 years, in the July/August issue of Arms Control Today, published by the Arms Control Association.

Former ICC chief warns against India-led cartel

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London, July 03: A Pakistani former head of cricket’s international governing body on Friday accused India of exploiting its financial clout by trying to form a cartel of top nations.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani warned against attempts to create a divide in international cricket by allowing a top tier with Australia, England, India and South Africa.

PCB to have honorary selectors

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Karachi, July 03: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided not to appoint paid selectors in future and will have a single selection committee to pick both national senior and junior teams.

A senior PCB official told PTI that the hue and cry over the dissolution of the separate selection committees was not justified as people do not know the real facts.

“The governing council at its last meeting had expressed dissatisfaction with the working of the selection committees.

UEFA to step up fight against match-rigging

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Munich, July 03: The European football union UEFA wants to step up its monitoring system in the fight against match-fixing, a German newspaper reports Friday quoting a UEFA expert.

From next season UEFA will be expanding its monitoring of UEFA matches to include all games in the top two divisions of all European countries, Peter Limacher, UEFA’s head of disciplinary services, was quoted as saying by Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The organization also intends to set up a databank providing information on matches and betting flows.

Opposition acts like dissidents, says Iranian cleric

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Tehran, July 03: A senior Iranian cleric said Friday that the country’s opposition led by Mir-Hossein Moussavi was acting like dissidents because of its fraud accusations after the June 12 presidential election.

“They (the opposition) neither acknowledge the laws nor those in charge of implementing the laws, so what are they after? Isn’t this approach confronting the whole governing system?” Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said at Friday prayers in Tehran.

EU mulling over visa bans on Iranian officials

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Cairo, July 03: The European Union is considering imposing political sanctions on Iran by placing travel bans on certain Iranian officials after Tehran arrested local British Embassy staff in post-election events.

The Financial Times Deutschland, citing European diplomats meeting in Sweden, reported that the decision could be taken as soon as next week but depended on the situation.

According to earlier reports, the 27-nation bloc was also thinking over ‘temporary recall’ of its ambassadors as a ‘sign of protest’ to Iran’s action.

Musharraf should be tried in court, says PML-N leader

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Peshawar, July 03: A leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Thursday urged the government to try former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf in court for using excessive force in the Lal Masjid operation, a media report said.

PML-N leader M.N.A. Khawaja Saad Rafiq has demanded that the government prosecute Musharraf for careless handling of the Lal Masjid and Akbar Bugti cases in which many people were killed, the Online news agency reported.

Musharraf ordered the troops to break into the Lal Masjid to flush out militants who were holed up inside the shrine.

Report: Israel mulling easing Gaza embargo

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Jerusalem, July 03: An Israeli news website says Israel is considering a partial lifting of the embargo on Gaza in hopes of aiding talks to free a long-held captive soldier.

Friday’s report in YNet said Israel would increase supplies of coffee, tea, soups, meat, fish and canned goods into Gaza ahead of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which starts in August.
Israel is also to renew shipments of fuel, clothing, kitchenware and egg-laying chickens.

Israel imposed a near-total embargo of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after Hamas took control.

Hans Baliye finale postponed

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Mumbai, July 03: Star One and Violet Pictures, reality show “Hans Baliye’ was all set to conclude but due to Karishma’s absent, the finale had to be postponed. The vivacious actress was out of country for some personal reason and will be returning today.

We called up the producer, Pankaj Saraswat to comment on the same. “Yes Karishma was out so the finale was postponed but tomorrow she will resume the shoot,” he stated.

Surbhi ka naya sur

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Mumbai, July 03: Surbhi ka naya sur Surbhi Tiwari is keyed up to play a period role in Zee TV’s historical serial “Jhansi ki Rani’. She is essaying the role of Mainabai, wife of Bajirao Peshwa.

“Rani Laxmi Bai is groomed in peshwa parivaar, she has all the traits of that family. I am part of her grooming period,” she briefs the significance of her role.

ICC postpones World T20 championship

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London, July 03: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the decision of postponing the next edition of the ICC World Twenty20 championship by a week, which will now held from April 30 to May 16.

This decision of ICC could be influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as this decision will help the Indian Premier League which is scheduled to begin from18 March as now there will a gap of a week between two tournaments.

BCCI to reconsider decision of dropping Deodhar trophy

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New Delhi, July 03: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been reconsidering their decision to cancel the Deodhar Trophy, the zonal 50-50 tournament, for the 2009-10 domestic season which was taken just a day before.

BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said that they have been trying to fit the Deodhar Trophy in the packed 2009-10 domestic season schedule.

McGrath passes on tips to Aussie pacemen

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Melbourne, July 03: Glenn McGrath has passed on his assessment of England players to Australia’s new bunch of pace bowlers to help them wrest an edge in the Ashes series beginning next week.

McGrath, who has an outstanding record against England with 157 wickets taken at an average of 20.92, met the current Australian fast bowlers in Worcester.

S Korea: North being monitored for signs of more missile firing activity

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Seoul, July 03: South Korea says it is closely monitoring North Korean military sites amid speculation about a long-range test launch aimed toward the US.

The North fired four short-range missiles off its east coast Thursday. The US and Japan called the North’s move “provocative.”

An official of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking anonymously, the South is “keeping a close watch on North Korea as it may fire more missiles.”

In Israel, former US lawmaker remains imprisoned

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Jerusalem, July 03: Former US lawmaker Cynthia McKinney and several other human rights activists remain in an Israeli prison after refusing to sign a deportation form that they claim is self-incriminating.

In a press release from McKinney’s Green Party, she said the form states that the their relief boat carrying 21 activists, medial supplies, cement, olive trees and children’s toys en route to Gaza, was violating the Israeli blockade and trespassing its territorial waters.

She, however, insists the Spirit of Humanity, the Greek-flagged relief boat, was in international waters.