| Hurricane Barbara hits land in Mexico, two dead Posted: OAXACA (AFP) - Hurricane Barbara made landfall in Mexicos southern Pacific coast Wednesday, leaving at least two dead, including a 61-year-old US surfer who drowned under the waves, authorities said.The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour, hit land in the state of Chiapas, a rural region with archeological sites near the neighboring state of Oaxaca, the US National Hurricane Center said.The US man was dragged by the waves and died after he ignored a ban on entering the beach in the town of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca, state civil protection director Manuel Maza told AFP.The second victim was a 27-year-old man who was swept away by an overflowing river in the Oaxaca town of Pinotepa Nacional, Mayor Carlos Sarabia said.In the state of Guerrero, heavy rains flooded some streets of the resort city of Acapulco, with water levels reaching 52 centimeters (20 inches) and sweeping away at least three cars, an AFP correspondent said.In Oaxaca, authorities had urged residents to stay home, while the ports of Salina Cruz, Huatulco, Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido were shut down. Some 200 families were taken to shelters, officials said.Barbara grew into a category one hurricane -- the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale -- before making landfall 35 kilometers (20 miles) west of the Chiapas town of Tonala, the US hurricane center said.In its 2100 GMT bulletin, the center said a prolonged threat of heavy rains was expected but a rapid weakening of the storm would occur late Wednesday and that Barbara would dissipate within the next day or so.Mexicos National Water Commission warned that Barbaras winds could affect the neighboring states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Guerrero.The storm was moving toward the northeast at 15 kph (nine mph), the US hurricane center said. Tropical force winds extend outward up to 110 kilometers (70 miles) from the storms center.Barbara was forecast to dump up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain over parts of Oaxaca and Chiapas, with as much as 50 centimeters (20 inches) possibly falling in isolated areas of southeastern Oaxaca, the center said.These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, it warned. A storm surge would likely raise water levels by up to 1.5 meters (five feet) on the coast.In March 2012, two girls died and 25,000 homes were affected when Hurricane Carlotta tore across Oaxaca.  |
| Evening bomb blasts kill 30 in Baghdad Posted: BAGHDAD (AP) - Bomb blasts tore through two Baghdad neighborhoods Wednesday evening, killing at least 30 people including several members of a wedding party, and extending a relentless wave of bloodshed roiling Iraq.The attacks come as the country is experiencing its most sustained bout of violence since the 2011 U.S. military withdrawal. More than 500 people have been killed since the start of May.Wednesdays deadliest attack struck a commercial street in the mixed Sunni-Shiite Jihad neighborhood, killing 18 and wounding 42, police said.Many of those slain were in a wedding party that was passing by when the blast went off, according to authorities.The southwestern neighborhood was one of the earliest flashpoints in Baghdads descent into sectarian bloodshed in the years following the 2003 U.S. led invasion. It housed mainly Sunni civil servants and security officials under Saddam Husseins regime, though many Shiites now live there too.Many of Jihads Sunni residents earlier this year received threatening leaflets from a Shiite militant group warning them to leave. The group, the Mukhtar Army, is not known to have carried out car bombings in the past.Another 12 people were killed and 31 were wounded when a roadside bomb and then a car bomb exploded near a market, killing 10 people and wounding 25, police said.Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Car bombings in civilian areas are often the work of al-Qaidas Iraq arm, which aims to undermine faith in the Shiite-led government.The surge in attacks in recent weeks is reminiscent of the sectarian carnage that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007. April was Iraqs deadliest month since June 2008, according to a United Nations tally that put last months death toll at more than 700.Earlier Wednesday, a senior member of an Iraqi Shiite militia that once fought the U.S. military warned that Iraq is heading toward widespread sectarian bloodletting similar to the kind that once pushed the country to the brink of civil war.The head of the political bureau of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, Adnan Faihan, also said the militia is preparing to defend itself, but denied the groups involvement in a spate of attacks targeting Iraqs Sunni Arab minority.  |
| Israel to build 1,000 new homes in East Jerusalem: NGO Posted: JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel is preparing to build more than 1,000 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem as the United States strives to revive dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, an NGO said late Wednesday.Danny Seidemann, director of Jerusalem settlement watchdog Terrestrial Jerusalem, told AFP that contracts for 300 homes in the northeastern settlement of Ramot were signed and another 797 plots were to be offered for sale in the southern Jerusalem settlement of Gilo.He said that the plans were approved last year, before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly ordered a settlement freeze, but the latest steps in their implementation were leaked to media by the office of hardline Housing Minister Uri Ariel.This does not mean that the freeze is over, it does mean that Netanyahus minister of construction is trying to achieve that, Seidemann said.Ariel is himself a settler and number two in the pro-settlement Jewish Home party, which joined Netanyahus coalition government in the wake of Januarys general election.Although the freeze was never officially confirmed, NGOs said that Netanyahu did not want to be seen as hampering US Secretary of State John Kerrys initiative to breathe fresh life into moribund peace efforts.There is a de facto freeze at the moment, there have been no new units since the elections, Seidemann said.  |
| Assad to seek third term if people want: FM Posted: BEIRUT (AFP) - Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is facing a two-year rebellion against his rule, will run for a third term in 2014 if the people want him to, his foreign minister said on Wednesday.Will President Assad run for a third term or wont he, that will depend on conditions in 2014 and the will of the people, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told the Beirut-based Arab news channel Mayadeen, which is close to Syria and its ally Iran.If the people want him, he will present himself, and, if they dont, he wont. Mr Assad is in constant touch with his people, Muallem said.The Americans have no say on who governs Syria, he added.Western and Arab governments are demanding that Assad step down as part of efforts to end the deadly conflict in Syria which activists say has killed more than 94,000 people since it erupted in March 2011.Earlier this month, Assad told Argentine newspaper Clarin that he had no plans to resign.To resign would be to flee, he said when asked if he would consider stepping aside as called for by US Secretary of State John Kerry.I dont know if Kerry or anyone else has received the power of the Syrian people to talk in their name about who should go and who should stay. That will be determined by the Syrian people in the 2014 presidential elections.Assad has ruled Syria since 2000, when he took over on the death of his father Hafez.He was elected in 2000 and again in 2007, virtually unopposed.  |
| Canada slaps new sanctions on Iran Posted: OTTAWA (AFP) - Canadas top diplomat announced Wednesday more sanctions against Iran, including a total ban on all trade with the Islamic republic, ramping up pressure on Tehran to scrap its nuclear program.Ottawa also added 30 individuals and 82 companies to its Iran sanctions blacklist, accusing them of supporting Tehrans nuclear efforts and helping the country avoid international sanctions.Canadas grave and sincere concern over Irans nuclear program again compels us to act decisively, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.In round after round of talks with both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the P51 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), Iran has failed to engage meaningfully while the risk posed by its enrichment activities only increases.The absence of progress... leads Canada to ban, effective immediately, all imports to and exports from Iran, he added.The move is part of an apparent coordinated effort by Western governments to isolate Iran.Western powers have demanded that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment program, fearing that Tehran would use the material to build a nuclear bomb.Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and intended solely for civilian energy purposes.The sanctions blacklist bans Canadian entities and individuals from any financial or commercial relations with those named.  |
| Federer, Serena advance at French Open Posted: PARIS (AP) - Roger Federer walked onto Court Suzanne Lenglen, smiled when greeted with applause and looked up into the stands, where three youngsters waved a banner that read, Roger 4 Ever.Forever? Probably not, but Federer easily outlasted qualifier Somdev Devvarman in the second round of the French Open, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 Wednesday.Top-ranked Serena Williams also showed staying power, extending her career-best winning streak to 26 matches by beating wild card Caroline Garcia of France, 6-1, 6-2.While Williams looks unbeatable of late, Federer has yet to win a tournament this year, the first time he has arrived at Roland Garros without a title since 2000. But hes rested and healthy, and his vast repertoire of shots was on full display against Devvarman, who is ranked 188th and now 0-9 against top-10 players.The No. 2-seeded Federer glided across the clay, hitting winners from all over the court even beyond the alleys and looking at ease on a surface that once vexed him.He moved ahead of Budge Patty into third place on the mens list for match victories at Roland Garros with 56. Guillermo Vilas and Nicola Pietrangeli share the record of 58.When Federer finally took the Roland Garros title in 2009, he completed a career Grand Slam and tied Pete Sampras record of 14 major titles. He now seeks a record 18th major title, and his first since Wimbledon last year.Through two rounds, both against qualifiers, Federer has lost only 11 games.Williams has dropped just four games. She played the days final match and finished in a hurry, committing only nine unforced errors and never facing a break point.Its important for me to win easily, she said. Its also important for me to play well. If I play well, it will bode well for me at Roland Garros.Speaking French to the crowd during a postmatch interview, Williams was asked what she plans to work on in practice.Id like to improve everything. My French, too, she said, laughing.The No. 1-ranked Williams seeks her first French Open title since 2002. She last reached the semifinal in 2003.Since losing in the first round a year ago at Roland Garros, Williams is 69-3, including titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the London Olympics and the season-ending WTA Championships.The day began with No. 3 Victoria Azarenka filling a mostly empty stadium court with her familiar shrieks as she beat Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-1, 6-4 in a first-round match postponed one day because of rain. That meant Azarenka reached the second round 72 hours after some players.I felt like Im one of the last ones to start, she said. It was a long wait, but I think performance-wise it was a good match.Azarenka waited in vain to play for much of the day on a rainy Tuesday, but said she wasnt flustered by the delay.I just really was chilling the whole day, watching The Voice, she said. It was incredible. I was so entertained. Theres this girl, her name is Judith.She was a duet singer with Michael Jackson. Shes absolutely incredible. I mean, I have no idea how sounds like that can come out of somebodys mouth. Its just, wow.Fans might say the same thing about Azarenka, who wore down Vesnina with her noisy but steady baseline game, committing only 13 unforced errors.Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki lost to Bojana Jovanovski 7-6 (2), 6-3.In other mens second-round play, No. 4 David Ferrer broke serve eight times and beat fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France eliminated Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-3. No. 10 Marin Cilic defeated 18-year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.  |
| Williams sisters pull out of French Open doubles Posted: PARIS (AP) - The sisters were supposed to compete in that event at Roland Garros for the first time since 2010 after receiving a wild card from the tournament.But they withdrew Wednesday. No reason was given by the tournament.Venus said she was bothered by pain in her back during a three-set loss in singles Sunday. Serena is into the third round of singles.They have won a total of 13 Grand Slam trophies in womens doubles, including at the French Open in 1999 and 2010.The sisters have played in only one doubles tournament this season, losing to eventual champions Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.  |
| Wrestling, baseball-softball, squash on IOC list Posted: ST. PETERSBURG (AP) - And now for the gold-medal match. Three months after being surprisingly booted out of the 2020 Olympics, wrestling is back in the frame and will compete against baseball-softball and squash for a spot in the games.We had the opportunity to have a second chance to compete, international wrestling federation head Nenad Lalovic said Wednesday after the three sports made the IOC shortlist. We took the opportunity. We won the first match but there is another one to fight.Of eight sports competing for a place on the 2020 program, five were eliminated from the race karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and the Chinese martial art of wushu.The IOC executive board decided to recommend wrestling, squash and baseball-softball to the full IOC assembly for a final decision on Sept. 8 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Only one will get through.We are competitors. We had seven and now we have two, said Lalovic, a Serb who has revamped the governing body FILA and led the campaign for reinstatement. Be careful, we are good fighters.Despite a tradition dating to the ancient Olympics, wrestling was cut from the list of core sports by the IOC board in February. The decision caused an international uproar and prompted the United States, Russia, Iran and other countries to join forces in an unlikely political alliance to save the sport.Wrestling has gone through a major upheaval since the rejection. Raphael Martinetti resigned as FILA president within days of the decision and was replaced by Lalovic, who won the election as full-time leader 10 days ago.FILA has brought women and athletes into decision-making roles and enacted rule changes to make the competition more compelling. Matches will now consist of two three-minute sessions instead of three two-minute periods, and scoring will be cumulative instead of the previous best-of-three system.Everybody understood what we have done, said Lalovic, wiping away sweat from his forehand after the decision was announced in a packed conference room. They probably trust us that we can do more and this is the result.But we have to do much more, and to prepare ourselves for Buenos Aires with additional arguments. These will not be sufficient in Buenos Aires.Asked whether the result showed the IOCs earlier decision was a mistake, Lalovic said: I cant say that. Simply, I dont judge them. They are in the position to judge us.Wednesdays announcement came after the eight sports federations made 30-minute closed-door presentations to the IOC board.The board voted by secret ballot over several rounds, with a majority required for making the shortlist and low vote-getters eliminated. Wrestling showed its newfound strength by winning on the first round with eight of the 14 votes. It took baseball-softball and squash several votes before they secured enough votes for selection.The number of this vote today doesnt have any influence on the voting in the session, Lalovic said. It doesnt mean we have any advantage in Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires, well have the same starting position.Baseball-softball beat karate 9-5 in a head-to-vote to win its spot on the list. Squash got through in the final round, getting eight votes to defeat wushu with four and sport climbing with two.It was never going to be an easy decision but I feel my colleagues on the board made a good decision in selecting baseball-softball, squash and wrestling to be put forward in Buenos Aires, IOC President Jacques Rogge said in a statement. I wish the three shortlisted sports the best of luck in the run-up to the vote in September and would like to thank the other sports for their hard work and dedication.The process has created some embarrassment for the International Olympic Committee, which was forced to row back from its previous ruling. The addition of wrestling to the mix has not gone down well with all the applicant sports and some IOC members. If wrestling wins the vote in September, that will defeat the IOCs original goal of bringing in a new sport in 2020.  |
| Oops Miss Universe Canada crowns wrong winner Posted: OTTAWA (AFP) - Losing is never easy, but for one unlucky contestant in Canada's Miss Universe competition the bad news came 24 hours later -- after she'd been crowned the winner.Red-faced organizers admitted on Wednesday that a typo led to a counting error that resulted in Denise Garrido, 26, being wrongly named the victor at Saturday's event. She was stripped of her sash and crown the next day.I was shocked. I'd achieved my dream and suddenly after a day of it sinking in it was suddenly taken away from me, a heartbroken Garrido told AFP, after losing her chance to represent Canada at the Miss Universe final in December.In a statement, pageant director Denis Davila blamed an inexperienced employee for the typo when transferring the judges' handwritten scores into a computer program that determines the winner.An independent audit later spotted the error.It turned out that Garrido had actually finished third runner-up to Riza Santos, also 26, of Calgary, who will now collect her crown in that city on Saturday, according to a pageant spokesman.This is the second consecutive year in which controversy has enveloped the pageant. In 2012, transgender model Jenna Talackova waged a battle to enter the competition. She went on to win a prize for congeniality.Looking for a silver lining in the debacle, Garrido said she will always relish having been crowned even if it lasted for only 24 hours.  |
| Oil falls to near $93 on fear of Fed pullback Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil fell near $93 a barrel Wednesday on concerns that the Federal Reserve may ease up on its stimulus measures and that the stock market rally is cooling.By afternoon in New York, benchmark oil for July delivery was down $1.69 to $93.31 a barrel. It fell as low as $93.10.Improvement in the U.S. economy, particularly the housing sector, has set off speculation that the Fed will pull back on stimulus measures. The Fed has been buying $85 billion of bonds each month in an effort to keep interest rates low and encourage borrowing, lending and investing. That environment has helped make oil a more attractive investment than low-yielding options such as bonds.Oil has also ridden the coattails of the record-setting U.S. stock market. On Wednesday, analysts questioned if investors might be anticipating a pullback in stocks, as the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average gave back the gains they recorded Tuesday.Also overhanging the oil market is the reality of supply and demand. Supplies are ample while demand is modest, keeping energy prices in check, traders said.We all know that the US supply is near record highs and demand is playing catch up as slow as the economy is recovering, said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinions. So now we're stuck with moderate demand, consistent and steady supply and no real worry about where the next barrel of oil is coming from.The latest information about U.S. stockpiles of crude and refined products is on the horizon.Data for the week ending May 24 is expected to show declines of 1.5 million barrels in crude oil stocks and of 800,000 barrels in gasoline stocks, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.The American Petroleum Institute will release its report on oil stocks later Wednesday, while the report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration the market benchmark will be out on Thursday. Both reports come a day later than usual because of Monday's Memorial Day holiday.Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, was down $1.33 to $102.90 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.  |
| ICC cricket committee issues Test warning Posted: LONDON (AFP) - The International Cricket Councils (ICC) cricket committee said Wednesday countries could risk losing their Test status unless they played a minimum number of Test matches over a four-year period.In a statement issued after it concluded its two-day meeting at Lords, the committee, chaired for the first time by former India captain Anil Kumble and featuring ex-England skipper Andrew Strauss, said it was concerned by several recent examples of Test matches being postponed to make way for one-day games.The committee, while approving of all three major international formats, which also include one-day internationals and the even briefer Twenty20 fixtures, said Test cricket needed support if it was to retain its place at the pinnacle of cricket.The ICC cricket committee reiterated its support for the strategy of ensuring an optimum balance and a clear differentiation between the three formats of the game, and noted the need to ensure that Test cricket, in particular, was protected, the statement said.Noting the examples during the year where Test matches had been postponed to make room for other formats of the game, the committee recommended that all Test playing members should be required to play a minimum number of Test matches over a four-year period in order to maintain their Test status.In September last year, Sri Lanka and West Indies agree to scrap a two-Test series due to take place in May and instead play a tri-series involving India.West Indies, having hosted Zimbabwe for a two-match series, will play no further Tests in their home season after Pakistans tour in July was also stripped of two scheduled Tests and reduced to five ODIs and two Twenty20s.This year should have seen the first ICC World Test Championship in England but plans had to be put on hold when officials realised they were bound by commercial agreements to stage a one-day event instead, hence next months Champions Trophy tournament in the United Kingdom.Although Test encounters such as the Ashes between England and Australia, the latest edition of which starts in England in July, remain popular with spectators, other five-day games remain a difficult sell with many fans unable or unwilling to attend.The cricket committee recently hit the headlines when Australias Tim May, chief executive of The Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA), was replaced as a players representative on the ICC cricket committee by Indias Laxman Sivaramakrishnan.FICA called on the ICC to investigate charges of ballot fixing after the former Indian leg-spinner was elected to the committee amid accusations that voters had been put under pressure.Its time someone stood up to this cancer of stand-over tactics that defines the ICC these days, May said earlier this month.While it features several distinguished cricket figures, including Sri Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara, the cricket committee can only make recommendations on cricket playing issues to the ICCs chief executives committee and, if it is a policy matter, the ICC board for approval.Both these committees are scheduled to meet during the ICC annual conference at Lords from June 25-29.  |
| Indian cricket chief must quit, says ministry Posted: NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indias sports ministry on Wednesday piled pressure on the chief of the countrys cricket board to quit on moral grounds over a widening betting and spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the sport.N. Srinivasan, head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been under fire after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for allegedly betting on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.The BCCI on Tuesday set up a three-member inquiry commission to look into complaints against Meiyappan, an executive at the Chennai Super Kings IPL team which is owned by Srinivasans group India Cements.The ministry of youth affairs and sports has observed with considerable disquiet, the reports about match- and spot-fixing in cricket, said a statement from the sports ministry headed by Jitendra Singh.As there is a conflict of interest in this inquiry, therefore BCCI President should tender his resignation on moral grounds, pending the outcome of the inquiry, it added.Earlier Wednesday IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said it would be good if Srinivasan -- who is managing director of India Cements -- stayed away from the inquiry into the spot-fixing allegations.Srinivasan, a 68-year-old businessman from the south of India, said he would not interfere with the probe committee, comprising two former high court judges and BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale.I have already made it very clear that I will have nothing to do with the investigating commission. The probe commission is independent. It has the power to impose sanctions and hand out punishment, he told reporters in Mumbai.Srinivasan, who was elected as the BCCI president in 2011, has been resisting political pressure for him to step down and can only be sacked if two thirds of the boards members vote against him.Also on Wednesday, a court in Mumbai extended the police custody of Meiyappan until Friday to enable investigators to interrogate him further.Betting on sports other than horse-racing is a crime in India.Meiyappans arrest followed similar action against World Cup-winning pace bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two teammates in his IPL franchise the Rajasthan Royals -- Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila.The trio, who deny any wrongdoing, have been sent to judicial custody in New Delhi after police accused them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars after striking deals with bookmakers.The police have widened their probe into the scandal, arresting scores of bookies and Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa.Police suspect that the betting racket is being controlled by international crime syndicates whose bosses are well aware of the rewards if they can manipulate events on the field throughout the cricket-mad region.Spot-fixing is when an element during a game, such as the number of runs scored in a particular over, is fixed. Match-fixing is when the result of the game is fixed.  |
| Clarke looks to successful Champions Trophy defence Posted: CARDIFF (AFP) - Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke said on Wednesday should his side successfully defend their Champions Trophy one day title it would give them a huge boost ahead of taking England on in the Ashes series which follows.The 32-year-old is seeking a pick me up ahead of the Ashes next month after a humiliating 4-0 test series loss to India which was also marked by serious splits in the squad which resulted in disciplinary action being taken against several players.Clarke - who is bidding to regain the Ashes after two successive losses - says all his energies and his teams will be focussed on retaining the one day title they won in South Africa four years ago.The tournament runs from June 6-23 in England and Wales while the five-Test Ashes series is in July-August.I dont think we as a team are focused on the Ashes at all at this stage, said Clarke, who is leading a largely inexperienced test side.No doubt theres a lot of build-up in regards to media and the public back home.Im sure its the same here in England. I certainly have no problems in speaking about it and hearing about the Ashes because its a fantastic series that every Australian cricketer looks forward to.Clarke also played down any fears England would be better prepared for the Ashes, thanks to beating an outclassed New Zealand side 2-0 in a home test series which came to a climax on Tuesday.I think if we win the Champions Trophy itll be more than enough (experience of English conditions), said Clarke.Thats the best preparation possible. Like I say, my focus is having success in this tournament right now. Im not too concerned about the Ashes right now.Clarke said that he was no longer dwelling on the India debacle.I certainly dont want to look back (at the tour), said Clarke.I think Ive had enough time over the past eight weeks to look back. Its about looking forward. Were here for a completely different tour, obviously a one-day tournament as opposed to Test matches that we just played in India. This group is very focused on whats in front of us.We know how tough the Champions Trophy tournament is and how tough international one-day cricket is around the world these days with teams being so close together.You know, its going to be a tough tournament, theres no doubt about it. We know were going to have to be at our best and at this stage were certainly very focused on making sure were as prepared as we can be for that first game.  |
| Ponting tells England there's no avoiding Ashes Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Ricky Ponting has said England despite their best efforts could not avoid talking about the upcoming Ashes series with Australia.The mantra from everyone within the England camp, from captain Alastair Cook down, has been that the side, who completed a 2-0 Test series whitewash of New Zealand in Leeds on Tuesday and face the Black Caps in the first of three one-dayers at Lords on Friday, are concentrating on the here and now.Prior to the Ashes, England and Australia will both be involved in next months Champions Trophy one-day tournament.But former Australia captain Ponting, in England to play for county side Surrey, said there was no avoiding the A-word such is the prestige attached by both countries to crickets oldest Test contest.You can guarantee at different times theyll have conversations about it, Ponting, set to miss his first Ashes since 1993 after retiring from international cricket six months ago, said Wednesday.Its inevitable its going to come up. I dont think theres anything wrong with it, said Ponting, who fully expects Australia captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur to discuss the Ashes well in advance of the first Test against England at Nottinghams Trent Bridge ground in July.When you turn up to play a Champions Trophy game, the last thing on your mind is whats going to happen in the Ashes, he said.The Australian team will be saying the same thing - but I guarantee at different times during the Champions Trophy, Mickey and Michael will be talking about Ashes cricket at some stage.While the retirements of Ponting and Michael Hussey have left holes in Australias batting line-up, the Tasmanian was encouraged by the emergence of a group of fast bowlers including rising stars James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.I think the bowling group weve got at the moment will bowl well in these conditions, Ponting said. I think as far as groups of fast bowlers Ive seen probably in the last 10 years, this current group would probably be as exciting as any.Im really looking forward to the contest. I think it will be a fantastic series.The 38-year-old, one of the best batsmen of his generation, retired from Test cricket in December with 13,378 runs, including 41 hundreds, in 168 matches at an average of 51.85 to his name.And in an interview with Wednesdays Daily Mail he hinted at a possible Ashes return should Australia, aiming to avoid losing three successive Test series against England for the first time since the 1950s, suffer an injury crisis.But Ponting backtracked later Wednesday, insisting he was done with Test cricket.There are three or four spare batsmen on the tour -- Ive retired from Test match cricket. Ill say now No, I wont be playing Ashes cricket this summer -- no matter how many injuries they have.Thats an absolute definite. Im very happily retired from international cricket.  |
| Caretakers did their job well: PM Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Addressing the farewell dinner in Islamabad on Wednesday, Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso said the government successfully completed the task of holding free and fair elections peacefully despite facing different challenges.He said the federal government fully cooperated with the provinces to hold elections in a peaceful manner.The PM said the government was facing the issue of terrorism in three provinces excluding Punjab.Khoso said all the members of the caretaker cabinet performed well in their respective domains.  |
