Hillary Clinton: China crackdown 'a fool's errand'

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticised China's crackdown on dissent as "a fool's errand", saying Beijing is trying to halt history.

In an interview with The Atlantic, Mrs Clinton also called the nation's human rights record "deplorable".

She defended US dealings with Beijing, saying: "We live in the real world."

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says Mrs Clinton seemed to suggest the Chinese system itself would collapse and that democracy was inevitable.

The article quotes Mrs Clinton as saying last month that China's leaders were "worried" that the wave of pro-democracy protests overtaking the Middle East would spread east to China.

"They're trying to stop history, which is a fool's errand," she said. "They cannot do it, but they're going to hold it off as long as possible."

China-US talks
Since February, China has detained hundreds of pro-democracy activists, lawyers and writers and has clamped down on news media reporting on the Middle East protests.

Mrs Clinton's remarks were published as US and Chinese officials held high-level strategic and economic talks in Washington.

At the opening of the meetings on Monday, Mrs Clinton said in a speech that the US remained concerned about the human rights situation in China.

"We know over the long arch of history that societies that work toward respecting human rights are going to be more prosperous, stable, and successful," she told Chinese officials.

"That has certainly been proven time and time again, but most particularly in the last months."

Criticism of China's human rights record had been muted at the beginning of the Obama administration but has become increasingly more vocal, our correspondent says.

However, Mrs Clinton said later that the US and China were achieving much greater understanding through regular talks between top officials.

"I do think we are reaching a much better understanding and I think that's one of the principal purposes of the dialogues," she said following the third Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two countries.


Source: bbc.co.uk

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Japan 'to review energy policy' over nuclear crisis

Japan is to reconsider plans to increase its reliance on nuclear power in the wake of the crisis at the Fukushima plant.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Japan had to start from scratch with its energy plans following the disaster.

The plant has been leaking radiation since the 11 March earthquake and subsequent tsunami damaged cooling systems to the reactors.

Operator Tepco has asked for government help to compensate those affected.

More than 80,000 local residents living within a 20km (12 mile) radius of the plant have been evacuated from their homes.

Agriculture and businesses have been hit and there is no timescale yet for allowing residents to return, although a small group were allowed inside the no-go zone briefly on Tuesday to gather belongings.

Total compensation claims are not yet known, but analysts say they may be more than $100bn (£61bn).

'Big incident'
Nuclear plants currently supply about 30% of Japan's electricity.

Addressing a news conference, Mr Kan described nuclear power as a "major pillar" of Japanese society, along with fossil fuels.

But he said other forms of energy would also be key in the future.

"The current basic energy policy envisages that over 50% of total electricity supply will come from nuclear power while more than 20% will come from renewable power in 2030," he said.

"But that basic plan needs to be reviewed now from scratch after this big incident."

"Better safety must be ensured in nuclear power while renewables need to be promoted."

He said greater focus would also be placed on ways of conserving energy, turning Japan into an "energy-saving society".

Mr Kan also said he would not take his prime minister's salary until the plant was under control and would be paid only as a member of parliament.

Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power Company) has said that it may take up to nine months to achieve a cold shut-down at the nuclear plant, which workers are struggling to stabilise.

Cooling systems were knocked out, causing fuel rods to overheat. There were subsequently explosions at four reactors operating at the time of the earthquake.

Engineers are pumping water into the reactors to cool them as they work to restore the damaged cooling systems.

Mr Kan's comments came hours after Tepco said it had presented a formal written request for assistance to Economy Minister Banri Kaieda.

In a statement, the company said it faced "an extremely severe situation" in terms of raising funds and that it needed state help so that "fair and prompt" compensation could be paid to local residents.

It has promised to restructure and executive salaries have already been reduced.

Japan's biggest power utility also faces billions of dollars in extra fuel costs to make up for reactor closures at Fukushima.

Shares in Tepco - which serves an area that accounts for 33% of Japan's economy - have plunged since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda hinted that the government would give Tepco some form of support.

"They can't be allowed to face bankruptcy," said Penn Bowers, an analyst at CLSA in Tokyo. "I think everyone understands they can't be allowed to fail."


Source: bbc.co.uk

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Microsoft confirms takeover of Skype

Microsoft has confirmed that it has agreed to buy internet phone service Skype.

The deal will see Microsoft pay $8.5bn (£5.2bn) for Skype, making it Microsoft's largest acquisition.

Luxembourg-based Skype has 663 million global users. In August last year it announced plans for a share flotation, but this was subsequently put on hold.

Internet auction house eBay bought Skype for $2.6bn in 2006, before selling 70% of it in 2009 for $2bn.

This majority stake was bought by a group of investors led by private equity firms Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowit.

Other major shareholders include tech-firm Joltid and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Shares in Microsoft were down 1.3% at $25.50 in early trading in New York.

'Defensive move'
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said: "Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world.

"Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."

Skype will now become a new division within Microsoft, and Skype chief executive Tony Bates will continue to lead the business, reporting directly to Mr Ballmer.

"It's a strategic asset and a defensive move [for Microsoft]," said Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Financial.

"If they can put it on Windows 8, it gives them an advantage. It helps them in the tablet market."

Other analysts say Microsoft's aim in buying Skype is to improve its video conferencing services.

Price concerns
Although the price tag of $8.5bn will not stretch the US giant, some experts have questioned whether it is paying too much for a company that has struggled to turn a profit.

Michael Clendenin, managing director of consulting firm RedTech Advisors, said: "If you consider [Skype] was just valued at about $2.5bn 18 months ago when a chunk was sold off, then $8.5bn seems generous.

"[It] means Microsoft has a high wall to climb to prove to investors that Skype is a necessary linchpin for the company's online and mobile strategy."

This view was echoed by Ben Woods, head of research group CCS Insight.

"The big unanswered question is how do Skype assets work for Microsoft... how do you justify the price?" he said.

Skype was founded in 2003.

Calls to other Skype users are free, while the company charges for those made to both traditional landline phones and mobiles.


Source: bbc.co.uk

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Triesman claims four Fifa members sought 2018 bribes

Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman claims four Fifa members sought "bribes" in return for backing England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.

Triesman - who was initially chairman of England's bid - made the allegations about Jack Warner, Nicolas Leoz, Ricardo Teixeira and Worawi Makudi.

He said their behaviour was "below what would be ethically acceptable".

However, Fifa vice-president Warner said the allegations made against him by Triesman were "a piece of nonsense".

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Warner added: "I've never asked Triesman nor any other person, Englishman or otherwise, for any money for my vote at any time.

"In the English campaign, before Triesman was unceremoniously kicked out, I've spoken to him on his initiative on only three occasions, while I've spoken to his other colleagues on other occasions and not one of them will ever corroborate his bit of trivia.

"I have been in Fifa for 29 years and this will astound many, I'm sure, including people like David Dein [international president of England 2018 bid] and Geoff Thompson [head of England's 2018 bid]."

Triesman admitted that - with hindsight - his bid team should have reported Warner, Leoz, Teixeira and Makudi immediately.

Speaking before a British parliamentary inquiry into the governance of football in England and the country's failure to secure the right to host the 2018 World Cup finals, Triesman said the FA chose not to complain at the time for fear of jeopardising England's bid.

As it turned out, England collected only two out of 22 votes in December last year as Russia landed the tournament.

"I think, in retrospect, we would have burned off our chances," Triesman told the Department of Culture, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday. "In retrospect, that was not the right view to take and I accept that."

Triesman said he now planned to take his evidence to Fifa, while John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, said he would be writing to Fifa president Sepp Blatter to launch an investigation into the evidence "as a matter of urgency".

Blatter himself promised immediate action if evidence of wrongdoing by executive committee members was revealed.

"I was shocked [upon hearing] but one has to see the evidence," said the 75-year-old Swiss on Tuesday, adding that the accused executive committee members were not elected by the same congress as him.

"They are coming from other confederations, so I cannot say that they are all angels or all devils.

"There is a new round of information. Give us time to digest that and start the investigation by asking for evidence on what has been said.

"We will react immediately against all those in breach of the ethics code rules.

"Zero tolerance is going through Fifa, it is one of the items on the Congress. It is my battle horse."

Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke claimed the governing body had been very clear about what was considered ethical behaviour during World Cup voting.

"We will be asking for evidence or any information," he said. "We sent a letter to all ExCo [executive committee] members on what they can or cannot do so we were very clear from day one."

Triesman's specific claims are:

- Fifa vice-president Warner asked for around £2.5m to build an education centre in Trinidad, with the cash to be channelled through him, and later wanted £500,000 to buy Haiti's World Cup TV rights for the earthquake-hit nation, again to be channelled through him;

- Paraguay's Fifa member Leoz asked for a knighthood;

- Brazil's Fifa member Teixeira asked him [Triesman] to "come and tell me what you have got for me", with the implication being that he wanted something in return for his vote;

- Thailand's Fifa member Makudi wanted to be given the TV rights to a friendly between England and the Thai national team.

Triesman also claimed that Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore offered to support the England 2018 World Cup bid in return for the FA's backing for his controversial '39th Game ' proposal.

But Scudamore claimed Triesman's version of events was incorrect.

"I'm afraid David's recollection of the facts and the chronology is simply wrong in this instance," he said in a statement.

"I was, along with my organisation and our member clubs, always in full support of England's bid for the 2018 World Cup.

"It was discussed at numerous club meetings and that support was never made conditional on the International Round concept (39th Game), or anything else for that matter.

"In fact, the league and its clubs had moved on from the idea of an International Round some time before the FA started structuring the 2018 Bid Company and associated positions.

"I will be writing to the select committee to provide them with the accurate facts in this matter."

In a separate development, it was also claimed that two more Fifa executive committee members were paid nearly £1m to vote for Qatar's bid.

Conservative MP Damian Collins said evidence submitted by the Sunday Times newspaper - which has been published on the UK Parliament website - claimed Fifa vice-president Issa Hayatou, from Cameroon, and Jacques Anouma, from the Ivory Coast, were involved.

Collins also said the Sunday Times submission claimed Qatar specifically employed a fixer to arrange deals with African members for their votes.

Mike Lee, the London-based public relations consultant who worked on Qatar's bid, said he was unaware of any payments being made.

Lee, formerly communications director of the Premier League, Uefa and London's 2012 Olympic bid, told MPs: "I was working at the highest level of that bid and talking at length with the chairman and ceo and saw no evidence of any of these allegations.

"My experience is I would have had a sense if such things were going on and I had no sense of that."

These latest accusations could spell more trouble more Fifa.
Two other executive committee members, Amos Adamu from Nigeria and Reynald Temarii from Tahiti, were banned by Fifa's ethics committee last year.

That means eight executive committee members, one third of the total 24, have either been alleged to have been already found guilty of impropriety in relation to the 2018 and 2022 bids.


Source: news.bbc.co.uk

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Punjab thrash Mumbai by 76 runs to cause big upset

Mohali: After a glut of one-sided snooze-fests, the IPL produced the kind of upset the Twenty20 format is made for, with the tenth-placed Kings XI Punjab producing a strong performance to trounce the table-toppers, Mumbai Indians. Punjab came out determined against Mumbai's gun bowlers - Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh - and scrapped their way towards a solid base, before Munaf Patel's five-for kept them to 163. In reply, Mumbai combusted in a rash of ridiculous shots to hand Punjab two points on a platter, and keep their campaign alive.

Scorecard

It was the kind of score Punjab would have taken at the toss, given how badly out of form their batting has been in recent games. It gave them the rare luxury of something to bowl at, and they responded with purpose and vigour. Aiden Blizzard produced three edgy boundaries in the first over from Praveen Kumar, but things went rapidly downhill from there for Mumbai's batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar guided an innocuous delivery from Praveen straight to backward point in the third over, before Adam Gilchrist pulled off an alert stumping to send Rohit Sharma on his way. When Blizzard was adjudged out nicking a leg-side ball from Praveen in the fifth over, Mumbai had slumped to 27 for 3, and there was no middle-order counter-attack to put them back on track. Even a couple of dropped chances and a missed run-out did not spark a revival, and the exit of Andrew Symonds, Ambati Rayudu and T Suman in successive overs set up a happy evening for the Mohali faithfuls.

Punjab's defiance was captured earlier in the day, in the way Gilchrist fronted up to Lasith Malinga. The bowler of the tournament screamed in for the second over of Punjab's innings, and delivered it full and wide of off stump. The out-of-form Gilchrist rolled back the years by moving across and slicing it through point. The next ball was hit even more fiercely, but it found the fielder. Buoyed by the confidence of having middled two balls, Gilchrist took guard outside the crease for the next delivery. It was a yorker, followed by a bouncer that clattered Gilchrist on the back of his helmet. He was stunned for a moment and floored for a minute, but he got a new helmet and carried on. Punjab were not going to flinch today.

Paul Valthaty did his bit to kick-start the innings before perishing in Munaf's first over, pulling him straight to deep midwicket. Gilchrist carried on though he was clearly not at his best, struggling to pick Harbhajan's straighter ones, and to adapt to the drop in pace once Malinga exited the attack. Symonds let him off on one of those indiscretions, when Gilchrist drove Dhawal Kulkarni uppishly into the covers. Gilchrist celebrated by launching Rohit Sharma for a straight six, while Shaun Marsh checked in by creaming Kulkarni twice through the off side.

Malinga returned and produced the breakthrough, hurling down another pacy bouncer which Gilchrist feathered behind. Marsh had found his range by then, and seamlessly took charge of the innings along with Dinesh Karthik. Blizzard made things easier for Punjab, dropping Dinesk Karthik when he top-edged Kieron Pollard. Karthik celebrated by sweeping and reverse-sweeping T Suman for successive fours in the 14th over, as Punjab coiled for the final assault. It was the cue for the Munaf show to begin.

Marsh welcomed Munaf to the crease by crashing the first ball of his second spell through the covers, before imparting a violent thump to another half-tracker, to send it sailing along towards the deep midwicket fence. Pollard had his own ideas, though, running at full tilt, diving to his right and intercepting the ball with both hands, to pull off one of the best catches of the tournament. That sparked Mumbai's best phase in the game, as Munaf used clever changes in length and pace to cut through the lower order. He dismissed David Hussey for a duck, before foxing Karthik and Ryan Harris into scooping catches into the outfield. Munaf's efforts had restricted Punjab to just 39 off the last five overs, but Mumbai's spectacular batting collapse meant it counted for nothing.


Source: sports.ndtv.com

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Beckham ponders return for Neville testimonial

Manchester: David Beckham could return to Old Trafford to play in his friend Gary Neville's testimonial when Manchester United face Juventus on May 24.

Nicky Butt and Phil Neville are set to play in the match, a repeat of the 1999 Champions League semi-final, as are Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

They, like Beckham and Gary Neville, were all members of United's celebrated 'Class of 92', a youth side that produced players who would later appear in the trophy-winning senior teams put together by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Former England skipper Beckham, now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, a US Major League Soccer side, has not pulled on a United shirt since leaving the club for Real Madrid in 2003.

When Ferguson brought several young players into the first team at once, former Liverpool captain turned television pundit Alan Hansen declared: "You'll never win anything with kids."

However, the stars of the 'Class of 92' helped bring six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League, which capped a treble-winning season, to Old Trafford.

"I have been fortunate to work with many exceptional young players, but the class of 92 was unique," Ferguson said.

"For so many of them to stay together and succeed at the highest level is a great tribute to their talent and this club's belief in the power of youth.

"I am convinced that no group of players will ever make such an impact on the English game as those boys have done - and continue to do."

Butt, who left United for Newcastle in 2004 and has just returned from a brief spell in Hong Kong, added: "When Gary asked me to play in his game I immediately said yes, especially when I heard that the class of 92 were going to be there too.

"It was a special time for all of us growing up and it is only now as you look back that you actually see what an amazing story it is."

Neville's brother Phil, who joined Everton in 2005, said: "I am so excited to be going back to Old Trafford to celebrate what will be an amazing night for my brother.

"It will be an emotional night for all the family but what a fitting way for Gary to bow out of a fantastic career.

"He will go down as the best full-back to play at Manchester United and he will miss pulling on the red shirt as I know how much it means to him."

Gary Neville, 36, will end his 18-year United career with United against Italian giants Juventus.

He played his final senior game at West Brom in January, when he was fortunate to escape a red card for the second time this season.

In total Neville, who made his United debut as a 17-year-old against Torpedo Moscow, made 602 appearances for the club he has supported all his life, won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and the 1999 Champions League.

In addition, the defender won 85 England caps.


Source: sports.ndtv.com

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Federer focussed on return to the top

Rome: Record 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer insists he still has his sights set on a return to the number one world ranking.

Federer has been in the shadow not only of long-time rival Rafael Nadal in recent times but now also man of the moment Novak Djokovic.

But the Swiss 29-year-old believes he can still return to the top of the tree, even though he trails Nadal by 3,500 points in the rankings.

"It's important for me to get back to world number one. I mentioned it after Wimbledon, it's a goal of mine and it's still very real and very possible," he said at a press conference here in Rome.

"I still have the World Tour Finals in my pocket, I don't have a Grand Slam in my pocket but if I win one it changes everything.

"But these guys (Nadal and Djokovic) are playing better than me and other players.

"Novak has won a lot of tournaments, like Rafa, but I'm getting closer.

"It's not like I'm struggling in the first or second round. It's a new situation with Novak not losing.

"But not much has changed for me from when I was number one. With (Andy) Murray or Novak or even Rafa occasionally in my draw it was always hard.

"Everyone is so consistent, it's not like you can say Murray is bad on clay or Rafael is bad on grass, everyone can play on every surface.

"I'm as optimistic as ever."

From 2003-2007 Federer was the undisputed best player in the world but then Nadal started to emerge as a very real threat to the Swiss's dominance.

And in 2008 when Nadal beat Federer in the Wimbledon final, a tournament Federer had virtually owned for the previous five years, the change-over was complete.

Federer had to get used to his new status as number two in the world but last year he was also overtaken by Djokovic.

And now that Djokovic has beaten Nadal in a clay final, in Madrid last week, many would suggest that the baton is about to pass from the Spaniard to the Serbian.

It was the third time in a row this year that Djokovic has beaten Nadal in a Masters Series final.

He is also the Australian Open champion and remains unbeaten this year.

But Federer doesn't think too much should be read into that Madrid final.

"I thought Novak definitely had a chance to play for it, he's been playing well these last three months," he said.

"Madrid remains a quick clay court so he had a better chance to beat Rafa there if ever he was going to do it.

"It's always surprising to see Rafa lose on clay. It's just one tournament but another good one for Novak."

Federer denied that he is struggling to adapt to his new position slightly out of the limelight in comparison to his younger rivals.

"They deserve the (good) press, they've got a lot of it. It's good stories and I'm all for it.

"They've had a number of matches over the years, the same number as I've had with Rafa because they're playing many semi-finals and finals.

"There's a number of players behind waiting to stake their claim and I'm one of those.

"I've played all the semis since Wimbledon, apart from Monte Carlo. I had a close match with Rafa last week."

Federer begins his challenge here with a clash against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and he is wary of the physical threat his opponent poses.

"We haven't played that much, four times I think. We played at the beginning of this year (Federer won in straight sets in Dubai).

"He has the potential to play on clay even if his best surfaces are hard or grass or even indoors."

Source: sports.ndtv.com

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Cell phone alert system to be announced in New York, Washington

New York: A national system that will send emergency alerts to cell phones is set to begin in Washington and New York City by the end of the year.

The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Monday the system will warn people about terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies.

Starting next year all new cell phones will be required to have a chip that receives the alerts. Some smart phones already have the technology. People can opt out of certain alerts, like the amber alerts for missing children.

The alert system will send the emergency messages even if other cell phone voice or text services aren't working. It is expected to be in place in cities across the country by the end of next year.


Source: ndtv.com

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US still waits for access to Osama bin Laden's widows

Islamabad: Pakistan has not yet allowed American investigators access to the three widows of Osama bin Laden taken into Pakistani custody after the raid that killed the leader of Al Qaeda, nor shared their own interrogation report, a Pakistani security official said Tuesday.

The official was speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with the rules of his organization.

The Obama administration demanded access to the women, who appear to have been in hiding with Bin Laden for years, and an American official said that Pakistan had promised to comply.

The widows, along with the Pakistani wife of Bin Laden's trusted courier, and a number of children detained at the Bin Laden compound in Abbottabad remain in the hands of the Pakistani security forces. There are conflicting reports as to how many there are and who they are.

Some information given by intelligence officials appears intended to cast doubt on the account of the raid as presented by American officials; none has been independently verified.

Initial reports indicated that 12 women and children were in the compound; it now appears that there were 17.

Pakistani security officials, asking to remain anonymous, say that along with the widows, two from Saudi Arabia and one from Yemen, there were 13 children, 8 of them related to bin Laden.
The fourth woman, who was wounded in the raid, indicated to officials who first arrived at the compound that her husband had been killed, according to Asad Munir, a retired brigadier and former intelligence service official.

Bin Laden's widows have been identified as Um Hamza, or Mother of Hamza, whose real name is Khairiah Sabar, and is from Jidda in Saudi Arabia; Um Khalid, or Mother of Khalid, whose name is Siham, and is from Medina in Saudi Arabia; and the youngest, a Yemeni, Amal al-Saddah, 29.

Bin Laden's daughter with Ms. Saddah, Safia, who is about 12 years old, is also reported to have been present and even to have witnessed the shooting of her father. Officials have also said that four of the children are bin Laden's grandchildren, by a daughter killed in an airstrike in Pakistan's tribal areas.


Source: ndtv.com

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Man jumps to death off world's tallest tower in Dubai

Dubai: A man committed suicide on Tuesday in a plunge of 39 floors from a segment of the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai, according to its owner and reports in the local media.

Emaar Properties, the owner of the towering Burj Khalifa said in a brief statement "an incident involving a male" was reported at the tower's site at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

"The concerned authorities have confirmed that it was a suicide, and we are awaiting the final report," Emaar's statement also said. It did not elaborate further.

The media reports quoted security officials as saying the man fell from the 147th floor of the 2,717 foot-tall (828-meter) Burj Khalifa and landed on a deck on the 108th floor. It is the first known suicide from the landmark tower, which opened in January 2010.

Reports on the websites of the Gulf News and 7 Days newspapers say the man jumped Tuesday after a dispute with his company.

Police did not immediately reply to calls by The Associated Press for further details.

According to Emaar, the skyscraper has 160 habitable stories. An observation deck is located on the 124th floor and a restaurant - billed as the highest in the world - is located just two floors bellow.

The tower was designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which has a long track record engineering some of the world's tallest buildings, including Chicago's Willis Tower, the tallest in the U.S. formerly known as the Sears Tower.

Burj Khalifa ranks not only as the highest building but also as the tallest freestanding structure in the world, according to its developer.

In March, a French skyscraper climber successfully climbed the tapering metal and glass tower in downtown Dubai in six hours. The 48-year-old climber, Alain Robert, used a rope and harness to comply with organizers' requirements in the Gulf sheikdom.

Late last year, actor Tom Cruise was seen dangling from the Burj during stunt filming for the latest installment of the "Mission: Impossible" series.


Source: ndtv.com

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Osama bin Laden's sons say US violated international law

Washington: The adult sons of Osama bin Laden have lashed out at President Obama over their father's death, accusing the United States of violating its basic legal principles by killing an unarmed man, shooting his family members and disposing of his body in the sea.

The statement said the family was asking why the leader of Al Qaeda "was not arrested and tried in a court of law so that truth is revealed to the people of the world." Citing the trials of Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic, the statement questioned "the propriety of such assassination where not only international law has been blatantly violated," but the principles of presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial were ignored.

"We maintain that arbitrary killing is not a solution to political problems," the statement said, adding that "justice must be seen to be done."

The statement, prepared at the direction of Omar bin Laden, a son who had publicly denounced his father's terrorism, was provided to The New York Times by Jean Sasson, an American author who helped the younger bin Laden write a 2009 memoir, "Growing Up bin Laden." A shorter, slightly different statement was posted on a jihadist Web site Tuesday.

Omar bin Laden, 30, lived with his father in Afghanistan until 1999, when he left with his mother, Najwa bin Laden, who co-wrote the memoir. In the book and other public statements, the younger bin Laden denounced violence of all kinds, a stance he repeated in the sons' statement to The Times. None of Osama bin Laden's sons other than Omar was named in the statement, so it was unclear exactly who else had approved the message.

"We want to remind the world that Omar bin Laden, the fourth-born son of our father, always disagreed with our father regarding any violence and always sent messages to our father, that he must change his ways and that no civilians should be attacked under any circumstances," the statement said. "Despite the difficulty of publicly disagreeing with our father, he never hesitated to condemn any violent attacks made by anyone, and expressed sorrow for the victims of any and all attacks."

Condemning the shooting of one of the Qaeda leader's wives during the assault on May 2 in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the statement added: "As he condemned our father, we now condemn the president of the United States for ordering the execution of unarmed men and women."

The sons' statement called on the government of Pakistan to hand over to family members the three wives and several children of the terrorist now believed to be in Pakistani custody and asked for a United Nations investigation of the circumstances of their father's death.

In addition to the statement, Ms. Sasson shared with The Times notes on what Omar bin Laden, who declined to be interviewed directly, has told her by phone in recent days. The notes describe Mr. bin Laden's struggle, as he came of age, to understand and eventually reject his father's embrace of religious violence.

Mr. bin Laden told Ms. Sasson the death of his father "has affected this family in much the same way as many other families in the past in the loss of a family member."


Source: ndtv.com

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J&K Panchayat Polls: Muslims vote for Kashmiri Pandit woman

Srinagar: In an incredible story of hope from the Kashmir Valley, a Kashmiri Pandit woman won the Panchayat elections in Wusan, a village in North Kashmir where 98% voters are Muslims.

45-year-old Asha's victory is particularly significant as this is the first time in 33 years that a Kashmiri Pandit has been elected to a Panchayat in the Valley.

''Muslims supported me. My Muslim contender lost. A Pandit woman has won,'' she says.

The villagers in Wusan are a happy lot.

"We can give our blood for her," says Halima, a resident of Wusan Village. Another one adds, "Muslims voted for her and she won with a good margin."

Asha's is among the five families that weathered the worst of the Pandit-Muslim strife in the 90s but did not join the mass exodus. Her win, Asha says, is a vindication for Pandits who chose to stay back .

''All Pandits should come back. First, I am asking my neighbours to return. I have shown you how well our Muslim brethren are treating us. Look at what they have done for me. My opponent was their Muslim sister,'' she says, appealing Pandits to return to the Valley," she says.

Asha's name translates into hope and her victory sends a larger message that the centuries-old bond between Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits is still alive.


Source: ndtv.com

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Prince William and Princess Catherine honeymoon in Seychelles

Britain's Prince William and Princess Catherine have finally left for their honeymoon, flying to the Seychelles by private jet yesterday (09.05.11).

Britain's Prince William and Princess Catherine have jetted off on honeymoon.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - who married at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29 - flew to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean on a private jet yesterday (09.05.11) for a 10-day romantic break at a £4,000-a-night villa.
A royal insider said: "I think that for the first few days at least William and Catherine will just want a bit of privacy.
"After the glitter and excitement of their wedding and all the organisation it involved, they can't wait to spend some quality time on their own."
Their destination has been described as pure luxury with one source telling Britain's Daily Mail: "It's one of the most incredible places you will ever visit and Catherine will have the time of her life. It's everything you could want from a honeymoon destination and more - beautiful beaches, tropical seas and complete privacy."
A spokesman for St James's Palace added: "We are not confirming and we are not commenting on speculation on where they may be going on their private honeymoon, we are just confirming that they have gone.
"The couple have asked that their privacy be respected during their honeymoon."
The couple were forced to postpone their trip as William had to return to work as a Royal Air Force (RAF) search-and-rescue pilot immediately after the wedding.


Source: sofeminine.co.uk

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Drummer gets probation for sex with teen girl from band camp

A former drummer with the Miami Heat Street Band was sentenced to seven years probation Tuesday for having sex with a teenage girl he met at a band camp.

Clinton Tyquiem Simmons, now 23, worked as an assistant band director at the camp and the girl was a youth counselor in June 2009.

A police report blacked out the name and location of the band camp and the girl's exact age.

Simmons was originally charged with three counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 15. Each count carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

On Tuesday morning, he pleaded no contest to three reduced counts of child abuse.

The plea deal hinged on the nature of the relationship, said Steven Schaet, Simmons' defense attorney.

"It was nothing forced. It was all consensual," Schaet said.

Broward Circuit Judge Carlos Rebollo also sentenced Simmons to 100 hours of community service, a psychosexual evaluation and any recommended treatment.

At the time of his May 2010 arrest, Simmons was a drummer with the Miami Heat Street Band. His attorney said he no longer plays with the band.


Source: sun-sentinel.com

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Lady Gaga, Kanye West to Play Cannes Film Festival Gigs

Lady Gaga will be showing her poker face in Cannes this year. The singer landed in Paris on Tuesday to start promotion for her new album "Born This Way," which, like in the U.S., launches in France on May 23.

Gaga will head to Cannes to perform a live concert on Wednesday on Canal Plus' hit show "Le Grand Journal," whose stage takes over the Croisette during the festival.

Gaga will respond to questions from the show's host Michel Denisot and his team of animated French TV presenters before singing "Judas" to a live Cannes crowd.

Gaga's presence will surely cause a stir on the already-bustling Croisette as the 64th annual Festival de Cannes kicks off on Wednesday.

Kanye West is also expected to perform at a festival party next week.


Source: billboard.com

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Arnold, Maria break up after 25 years

Los Angeles, May 10 : Hollywood's sinewy superhero and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver on Monday announced the decision to separate, ending a 25 year old union and parenting of four children.

In a joint statement issued to the media, the separating couple said: “This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us. After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together."

“At this time, we are living apart, while we work on the future of our relationship,” they said. “We are continuing to parent our four children together. They are the light and the center of both of our lives,” the statement added.

On April 26, 1986, the Austria born Schwarzenegger married television journalist Maria Shriver. She is the niece of President John F. Kennedy.

The 63-year-old Schwarzenegger, known for his action films like Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator, Commando, Total Recall and Predator before his political career as a Republican (he was governor for two term in California and held office till four months ago), and his family were living in their sprawling home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood of Los Angeles, but Maria moved out of the place following the separation.

Schwarzenegger, who had earlier been accused of sexual misconduct during his election run up, has said he believes the secret of a good marriage is love and respect.

"If you have the ultimate love for your wife and she has it for you, I think you have a great head start ... That's not to say it won't be difficult sometimes. You go through your ups and downs but you work through it," he was quoted saying.


Source: newkerala.com

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One police officer dead in suicide bombing in Russia's North Caucasus

DAGESTAN, RUSSIA : A suicide bombing on Tuesday killed one police officer and injured another in Dagestan in the volatile Russia's North Caucasus region, RIA Novosti reported.

A young man was walking towards the police headquarters in Dagestan's capital city, Makhachkala. Before reaching his destination, a police officer detained him in order to check his documents.

However, the suicide bomber detonated an explosive device he was carrying. Police launched an investigation to determine the identity of the suspected militant. Minutes after the blast another explosion took place in Makhachkala.

Several people were injured after a car loaded with explosives was detonated in the center of the city in the mostly-Muslim republic. Terrorist attacks and shootouts are an increasing issue in the North Caucasus region.

On Sunday, seven suspected militants were killed during a large-scale security operation by Russian security forces in a forest in the Kizlyar district in northern Dagestan.

In addition, one soldier was killed and three riot police officers were injured during the operation during which police encountered with a group of militants and engaged in a gunfight.

Also on Tuesday, police killed four suspected militants in a raid at an apartment in downtown Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. In late April, law agents killed 10 insurgents, suspected of perpetrating a series of terror attacks on Russian tourists in a ski resort.

So far this year, Russian security forces have killed 146 militants in the North Caucasus region, including 19 senior leaders. The deaths have taken place in the troubled republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Islamist militants in the region have been fighting Russian security forces for years, looking to establish an independent state in the North Caucasus. Around 50 percent of all terrorist-related violence in Russia last year happened in the mainly-Muslim region.

Chechen Islamist rebel leader Dokka Umarov claimed responsibility for ordering the suicide bombing that killed 37 people and injured approximately 200 more at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.

Umarov ordered the Moscow attack in pursuit of an independent Muslim state in the North Caucasus region in southern Russia. In April 2009, Russia ended its ten-year-long anti terrorism campaign against separatist forces in Chechnya.


Source: newkerala.com

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Over 4,000 foreigners got Indian visa on arrival

New Delhi, May 10 : Over 4,000 foreigners from 11 countries used the tourist visa on arrival facility in the first four months of this year, with the maximum numbers hailing from New Zealand, Japan and the Philippines, the tourism ministry said Tuesday.

The highest number of visas on arrival (VoAs) were issued to New Zealand citizens (946), followed by Japan (777), the Philippines (623), Singapore (596), Indonesia (551) and Finland (516). Other country-nationals who availed the facility were from Cambodia (49), Vietnam (32), Luxembourg (25), Myanmar (23) and Laos (1).

According to the tourism ministry, in April alone, a total of 1,234 foreigners came to India as compared to 1,089 in March.

Indonesia topped the list in April with 255 people, followed by New Zealanders at 241. Others were from the Philippines (231), Japan (194), Singapore (165), Finland (105), Vietnam (13), Myanmar (12), Luxembourg (11) and Cambodia (7).

"During the period January-April, a total number of 4,139 VoAs on arrival were issued," the ministry said.

The official said the maximum number of visas were issued at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here. As many as 2,228 visas were issued at the Delhi airport, followed by Mumbai (1,009), Chennai (684) and Kolkata (218).

In 2010, over 6,500 foreigners used the scheme to visit India.

The scheme was first introduced Jan 1, 2010 for citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore. Following a good response, the government extended it to six more countries -- Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar -- from January 2011.

India introduced the scheme in its bid to promote tourism and facilitate the visits of foreigners who plan their visits at a short notice.


Source: newkerala.com

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Claim Pakistani Kashmir before China takes over, India urged

New Delhi, May 10 : India should be assertive and proactive to claim the strategically vital parts of Kashmir "illegally" occupied by Pakistan where China has increased its footprints leading to fears that Beijing may take over the territory by 2020, according to a report.

The report by New Delhi think tank Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis says China's growing footprint in the region had added another strategic dimension to the discourse on the territory that includes Northern Areas, also called Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

"These realities are certain to impinge on India's long-term security interests and therefore it is incumbent upon Indian policy makers to adopt a pro-active approach towards PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) which is an integral part of India," it says.

The report alleges that the Karakoram Highway (KKH) connecting Pakistan with China through Pakistani Kashmir has been used for the clandestine transfer of nuclear material from Beining to Islamabad.

"That this has multiple strategic implications for regional security, especially that of India, has been underscored," it states.

The 1,280-km-long highway connects Havelian rail-head near Abbottabad in Pakistan with Kashgar in Xinjiang region of China. It was built in 1978 with Chinese assistance.

Detailing Chinese developmental projects in Pakistani Kashmir, the report says Chinese companies were working on a number of hydel projects, including Neelum-Jhelum, Gomal Zam and the reconstruction of Mangla dam.

The report citing Pakistan media alleges that the joint power projects signed between China and Pakistan during President Asif Ali Zardari's visit in 2009 were "not transparent" as "often Chinese companies were awarded contracts without open bidding.

"Therefore, it is difficult to have a clear idea of the nature and extent of Chinese involvement in PoK."

It says that people of the region were fearing that if the "current pace of Chinese penetration is sustained, then China may completely take over Gilgit Baltistan by the year 2020".

"This is not an alarmist proposition and such prospects have been hinted at in a New York Times article (that) states that at least 7,000-11,000 Chinese troops have been stationed in the Gilgit Baltistan region."

It "highlights the harsh realities of misrule and neglect in the region" and observes that "popular resentment against Pakistan is increasing day by day".

Reminding the Indian government of the 1994 parliamentary resolution declaring entire Jammu and Kashmir territory as an integral part of India, the report recommends that the government "should openly claim its rightful position on PoK in international fora and denounce Pakistan's illegal occupation.

"India should not only rethink its approach but also try and mobilise international opinion against bad governance and (the) unlawful occupation since 1947," it says.

It recommends that the Indian government should send a "clear and explicit message" to Pakistan and China, "which is seeking to fulfil its strategic objectives by involving itself in developmental projects".


Source: newkerala.com

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PM, Obama discuss Osama killing

New Delhi, May 10 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to US President Barack Obama late Monday on the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's Abbottabad and the situation post the encounter, media reports said on Tuesday.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) denied to share details of their telephonic conversations.

“The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh spoke to President Obama of the United States of America. It was a warm conversation which covered wide-ranging subjects. They discussed further growth and development of India – US relations and the situation in the region,” said a PMO statement.

A statement issued by White House in Washington said Obama spoke to Singh to discuss the "successful American action against Osama bin Laden." However, it did not give further details.

The White House also remained diplomatic in its statement.

"The two leaders re-affirmed their commitment to building a global, strategic partnership, including defence cooperation, and looked forward to the upcoming meetings of the Strategic Dialogue, the Homeland Security Dialogue, the Joint Space Working Group and the High-Technology Cooperation Group," said a statement issued by the White House.

But, according to reports, Singh told Obama that Osama’s death is a ‘decisive blow’ on the terrorist outfit and ‘a significant step forward’. He also told the President that all terrorist organizations should be uprooted from Pakistan.

Osama was killed in Pakistan on May 2, ending an almost decade long manhunt for the world's most sought after terrorist.

Responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, that killed about 3,000 people, bin Laden was hunted worldwide only to be found nearly ten years later in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, which is in close proximity to capital Islamabad.


Source: newkerala.com

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