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India arrests Samjhauta Express bomber
DR Congo president's aide killed in plane crash
Greece approve austerity as protesters, police clash
Senate polls: MQM finalises list of nominees
Lahore: CNG stations closed for 64 hours
SC to hear missing prisoners case today
Coalition partners to accompany Gilani to SC
SC allows Gilani to take his car inside courts premises
Kerber upstages Bartoli to win Paris Open
Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open
Serbia into Davis Cup quarter-finals
Lescott sends City back to the top
Cabrera-Bello wins Dubai Desert Classic
Athletics: Bolt's absence sparks health fears
US drone attacks 'counter productive', says Gilani

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made another arrest in the 2007 Samjhauta Express twin blasts case. Kamal Chauhan (28) was arrested by agency sleuths from Depalpur town in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Chauhan had allagedly planted a bomb in the trans-border train along with another accused Lokesh Sharma, already under arrest. This is the third arrest in the case. Swami Aseemanand is also in custody for his involvement in the case. Sources said Chauhan had also participated in “meetings” in Gujarat and Nagpur, where the conspiracy was hatched. The NIA would now produce Chauhan before the special NIA court in Panchkula on Monday, sources said. On June 20 last year, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against Swami Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange alias Parmanand, Ramchandra Kalsangra alias Ramji alias Vishnu Patel (still absconding) for hatching a criminal conspiracy, which resulted in blasts in the train near Dewana railway station in Panipat district on February 28, 2007. It resulted in the death of 68 persons. A majority of those killed in the blast were Pakistanis. The agency is also investigating the role of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and RSS leader Indresh Kumar in the blasts. The NIA had already announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of the three key suspects. A reward of Rs 10 lakh each was announced for information leading to the arrest of Dange and Kalsangra.

DR Congo president's aide killed in plane crash

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A close aide to DR Congo President Joseph Kabila was killed and the country s finance minister seriously injured in a plane crash on Sunday in the east of the country, the president s office said. The statement identified Kabila s aide as Augustin Katumba Mwanke, 48, considered a key member of Kabila s entourage, who had the ear of the president. Finance Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo was in a serious condition, while Sud-Kivu governor Marcellin Tshisambo had suffered fractures in both legs, said an airport official. The plane overshot the runway at Bukavu airport, the president s office said. "There were three killed: two American crew members and one passenger," Mwanke, a Bukavu airport official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that there had been eight passengers on the aircraft. Mwanke and the pilot "died on the spot," a source at the presidency said. The twin-engine Gulfstream 200 had flown in from the capital Kinshasa via Goma and apparently missed its landing at Bukavu airport, in the vast country s east. "It touched down only halfway down the runway and went skidding into a ditch beyond the runway. The plane is damaged," the airport official said.

Greece approve austerity as protesters, police clash

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Greek lawmakers approved a new round of drastic austerity measures late Sunday after a long day of street battles between police and protesters left Athens buildings ablaze and the streets in chaos. The deputies defied the 100,000-strong turnout in Athens and Thessaloniki and approved another round of stringent budget measures requested by Greece s international creditors in return for a multi-billion rescue fund. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos denounced the violence in the debate leading up to the vote, saying the street battles around the parliament building had no place in a democracy. Deputies "will assume their responsibility" and make the most important choice of "advancing with Europe and the single currency", Papademos said shortly before the vote took place. The fire brigade said 10 buildings were set ablaze in central Athens, most of them by petrol bombs hurled by masked protesters who have been a common presence at anti-austerity marches since the crisis began in 2010. The health ministry said 54 people were injured in the day s events. Fire engines were initially unable to intervene because of the size of the protest and the chaos that filled the streets around the parliament building, where lawmakers debated the austerity plan ahead of a late-night vote. When protesters wearing gas masks tried to break through the riot police cordon around parliament, the standoff broke out into running battles, with tear gas canisters and rocks flying in opposite directions. An estimated 80,000 protesters gathered in Athens, police said, matching the biggest turnouts achieved against earlier austerity packages last year, while around 20,000 also demonstrated in the second city of Thessaloniki. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos told parliament it had to back the government-approved plan to unlock a 130 billion euro ($171 billion) rescue fund from the EU and the IMF, or Greece would be forced to default. "The situation is very clear. Tonight at midnight before the markets open the Greek parliament must send the message that our nation can and will (support the debt deal)," Venizelos said. The pressure on Greece is huge as leaders in the eurozone core countries express their exasperation with Athens and increasingly minimise the wider dangers of the country stumbling out of the single currency.

Senate polls: MQM finalises list of nominees

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The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has awarded party tickets to eight candidates for upcoming Senate elections. According to details, Mustafa Kamal, Kunwar Naved Jameel and Kunwar Khalid Younus were awarded tickets to contest Senate polls on general seat and Barrister Farogh Naseem and Umar Sherzai were given tickets for technocrat seats while Nasreen Jaleel and Naila Latif was nominated for women’s seats. It was also decided to award minority seat ticket to Arif Mashi. The party sources said that discussion with Pakistan People’s Party on Senate polls will continue.

Lahore: CNG stations closed for 64 hours

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According to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) load management plan, the CNG stations in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Multan regions will remain shut for 64 hours. The CNG stations will remain closed from 6:00am today to 10:00pm on Wedneday. On the other hand, gas supply to textile industry in Lahore, Muridke and Sheikhupura regions has been resumed for two days.

SC to hear missing prisoners case today

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The three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will resume hearing of missing prisoners case today. The court, during previous hearing, had directed the officials of sensitive agencies to produce the 11 missing prisoners from Adiala Jail on February 13. The court has also summoned secretary defence to appear before the court today. The counsel for the sensitive agencies, Raja Irshad informed the court during previous hearing that four of the 11 prisoners taken into custody from Adiala Jail have died while four are under treatment at the Lady Reading Hospital and remaining three are under detention in Para Chinar.

Coalition partners to accompany Gilani to SC

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Pakistan People’s Party core committee and government’s coalition partners held separate meetings in Islamabad in connection with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s appearance in the Supreme Court in contempt case. They observed that Supreme Court building came under PML-N workers attack during Nawaz Sharif tenure but no one was convicted on contempt carges. They were of the view that Gilani might be first prime minister of Pakistan to be convicted on the contempt of court charges. The meetings also discussed the options that in case of sentence, the notification to de-seat Prime Minister would be sent to Election Commission via Speaker National Assembly. According to a core committee member, Supreme Court has issued 20 to 22 passes and some cabinet ministers and leaders of the coalition parties will accompany Prime Minister Gilani to the court.

SC allows Gilani to take his car inside courts premises

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Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was allowed to take his car inside Supreme Court premises when he arrives for hearing in contempt case today. In an earlier development the apex court had barred Gilani from taking his car inside court’s premises. Pakistan People’s Party’s secretary information Qmar Zaman Kaira moved an application in the court that security risks have increased due to hearing of missing persons case by the Supreme Court. Interior Minister also wrote a letter to registrar of the Supreme Court, asking him to grant permission to prime minister to bring his car inside the Supreme Court building.

Kerber upstages Bartoli to win Paris Open

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Angelique Kerber of Germany won the WTA Paris Open on Sunday by defeating France s Marion Bartoli 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 in the final. The world number 27, who conquered top seed Maria Sharapova in Friday s quarter-finals, became the first German champion at the event since Steffi Graf in 1995. It was the 24-year-old s first win on the main WTA circuit, her previous best being a runner-up finish in Bogota in 2010. Prior to coming to Paris, she had never beaten a top-10 player. It was the first time in five attempts that the 27-year-old Bartoli, the second seed, had reached the final in her home tournament. "It s incredible," said Kerber. "I don t know what to say. The match was so tough but I fought on all the big points. It s been a fantastic week." Bartoli was in tears by the time of the post-match presentations. "I pushed myself all the way but it was not enough," she said after the 2hr 39min final.

Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open

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Slovakia s third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova successfully defended her Pattaya Open title on Sunday, beating fourth seed Russian Maria Kirilenko in a marathon three hour 14-minute battle. The three sets victory 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 was Hantuchova s fifth career title, and means the world number 20 is now unbeaten in 10 matches at the Thai resort, where her victory this year brings her $37,000. "It feels great," said Hantuchova. "I thought it was an incredible match. Maria was playing really well and we were fighting for every single point. "Even though I lost the first set very closely I just kept going and didn t really look back and always just tried to focus on the next point. That was the key." Her Russian opponent and world number 26 Kirilenko was playing in her 10th career final, and hoping to win her first title since she beat Samantha Stosur in Seoul in 2008. In a match contested largely from the baseline, Hantuchova struggled at first to find her rhythm and dropped her serve with a double-fault in the opening game. In the second set, both players held break points, but it was Hantuchova who broke in the first and final games. The final set began with both players dropping their serve to love. Hantuchova then held off a break point at 1-1, failed to convert three break points for a 3-1 lead and another to lead 4-2, but safely served out the match after her opponent had produced her seventh double-fault. "I m disappointed to lose in the final," said Kirilenko. "But if I look back I almost lost the first match so I m trying take the positive things from the tournament. "After the Australian Open I didn t play for nine days because I was injured, and today I was in the final so I think it s a good result still."

Serbia into Davis Cup quarter-finals

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Serbia reached the Davis Cup quarter-finals here on Sunday when Janko Tipsarevic defeated Michael Ryderstedt 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to secure an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Sweden. The Serbs, playing without world number one Novak Djokovic, won both opening rubbers on Friday but Sweden stayed alive by winning the doubles on Saturday.

Lescott sends City back to the top

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Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League as Joleon Lescott s goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Roberto Mancini s side had surrendered pole position to Manchester United after their bitter rivals  2-1 win against Liverpool on Saturday, but City underlined their determination to wrestle the title from Old Trafford with a gritty victory in freezing temperatures at Villa Park. Lescott struck midway through the second half to lift City two points clear of United, while Villa are down to 15th place after their fifth defeat in their last seven home matches. City dominated for long spells and England winger Adam Johnson went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when his long range effort hit a post. Mancini s men had won just one of their last six away games, but they ended that barren sequence thanks to Lescott s predatory effort in the 63rd minute. Former Villa midfielder Gareth Barry headed David Silva s corner back across goal from the far post towards England defender Lescott, who kept his balance to direct his hooked shot past Villa goalkeeper Shay Given.

Cabrera-Bello wins Dubai Desert Classic

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Spain s Rafael Cabrera-Bello shot a final-round four-under par 68 and won the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday by one shot over England s world number three Lee Westwood and Scotland s Stephen Gallacher. The 27-year-old world number 119, won his second title on the Euopean Tour with a four-day tally of 18-under par 270. His previous win was the 2009 Austrian Open. On a tough windy day at the Majlis course of the Emirates Golf Club, Cabrera-Bello was bogey-free, while Westwood, who made an eagle two on his second hole, could not make his up-and-down from the fringe on the par-5 18th hole.

Athletics: Bolt's absence sparks health fears

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World 100-meter record holder Usain Bolt has sparked health worries by not running in a hometown meet where he had planned to race after being sighted in Germany instead. Bolt did not run at Saturday s Camperdown Classic at Jamaica s national stadium after a statement three days earlier in which he said he was "happy to be healthy", "excited to begin my season" and "looking forward to a good performance." Bolt s coach, Glen Mills, denied Bolt had planned to compete in Kingston and said his superstar pupil, set to defend Olympic 100 and 200 gold in August at London, was "overseas on his personal business." Mills said he was shocked about notions that Bolt might be injured, even as some within his Racers Track Club say he departed the Caribbean island as early as last Wednesday to undergo precautionary tests for a nagging leg tightness. World 100m champion Yohan Blake said after a second-place 400m finish at the Camperdown meet that training partner Bolt is fine. "Bolt is quite OK," Blake said. "He is doing well in training. He is getting back to his old self. He is off the island to do a general checkup. He s OK." Any disturbance to Bolt s training is a concern with his bid at repeating Olympic gold less than six months away and a host of rivals, including Blake and fellow compatriot Asafa Powell, anxious to try and detrhrone him.

US drone attacks 'counter productive', says Gilani

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Pakistan s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said US drone strikes targeting Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants were counter productive and his country had not given permission for such attacks. "First of all I want to inform you that we did not allow or give permission to fly drones from Pakistan," Gilani told Al Jazeera television in an interview broadcast Saturday. "Drones are counter productive and we have discussed it thoroughly with the US administration." Gilani said the "collateral damage" from drone attacks was counter productive because it undermined his government s efforts to separate tribes from militants, and also violated Pakistan s sovereignty. Gilani said Pakistan s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had "some understanding" on drone attacks with the United States. US diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks in late 2010 showed Pakistan s civilian and military leaders privately supported US drone attacks, despite public condemnation in a country where the US alliance is hugely unpopular. The United States had until now refused to discuss the strikes publicly, but the programme has dramatically increased as the Obama administration looks to withdraw all foreign combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Obama only confirmed the secret drone programme in late January this year. US missiles on Thursday killed the most senior Pakistani in Al-Qaeda and one of the main US targets in the country. Badar Mansoor, who reputedly sent fighters to Afghanistan and ran a training camp in North Waziristan, was killed in a drone strike near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials and a member of his group told AFP. According to an AFP tally, 45 US missile strikes were reported in Pakistan s tribal belt in 2009, 101 in 2010 and 64 in 2011. Islamabad is reviewing its alliance with the United States and has kept its Afghan border closed to NATO supply convoys since November air strikes which killed 24 soldiers. When the route eventually re-opens, it is widely expected to tax NATO convoys carrying supplies shipped to its port in Karachi and trucked through its territory to landlocked Afghanistan. The United States has made increasing use of alternative routes into Afghanistan through the north in order to mitigate against losses in Pakistan.

PoliticusUSA

Cricket - Sports

Monday, February 13, 2012

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