CNewsworld's Blog

Friday, April 30, 2010

Pakistan women cricket team crush WI in 3rd T20

GEO 436 ST. KITTS: West Indies Women were setback in their preparations for the Women's Twenty20 World Cup, when Pakistan Women crushed them by eight wickets in their third and final T20. The Windies Women were restricted to 105 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs, and the Pakistani Women replied with 102 for two to win with seven balls to spare at Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex. Cordel Jack led the way for the Windies Women with 46, after they were sent in to bat on a hard, true pitch. No other Windies Women's batter scored more than 20. Pakistan Women's captain Sana Mir was her side's best bowler with three for 17 from three overs. Opener Sajjida Shah then anchored the Pakistan Women to victory with five fours in 51 from 54 balls. West Indies Women have been placed in Group-A of the Women's T20 World Cup with defending champions England, arch-rivals Australia, and sports rivals South Africa. Pakistan Women have been drawn in Group-B alongside 2009 runners-up New Zealand, as well as fellow Asian sides India and Sri Lanka. The Women's T20 World Cup opens next Wednesday. All of the group matches will be contested in St. Kitts before the semi-finals in St. Lucia on May 13 and 14, and the Final on May 16 in Barbados.

Kidnapped intelligence officer found dead

GEO 436 MIRANSHAH: Former intelligence officer Squadron Leader Khalid Khwaja (Retd) found dead in Mir Ali area of Miranshah, Geo News reported. The self-styled militant organisation, Asian Tigers, which has been holding hostage two former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers and a journalist, came up with new demands Wednesday for the release of the kidnapped men About four days ago, it had approached former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentarian from Kohat, Javed Ibrahim Paracha, and sought his role in negotiations between the government and their group for the release of the two retired military officers, Col Sultan Amir (Retd) commonly known as Col Imam and Squadron Leader Khalid Khwaja (Retd), and a British journalist Assad Qureshi. The three men had gone to the volatile North Waziristan tribal region on March 26 to work on a documentary about Taliban. They went missing and an unknown organisation, Asian Tigers, believed to be run by a banned militant organisation of the Punjabi Taliban claimed responsibility for their kidnapping.

NAB recovers Rs225b since 2000

GEO 436 ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Babar Awan told the Senate on Friday that according to the NAB’’s record, it recovered 225 billion rupees from defaulters since 2000 and some 1.7 billion rupees were disbursed among NAB’’s employees during this period as reward for the recovery. Senate Chairman Forooq Naik instructed to constitute a committee to scrutinise the affairs of NAB. The Senate was also informed that a new law to ensure across the board transparent accountability was in the offing and it would be tabled before the parliament soon, after due consultation with all political forces. Law minister told the Senate that the government was committed to ensuring good governance through transparent accountability and that the new law would help in achieving that goal.

Oil extends gains in Asian trade

GEO 436 SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended gains in Asian trade Friday on optimism over the US economic recovery following positive jobs data along with easing global fears about Greece’’s debt crisis, analysts said. New York’’s main contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, rose 39 cents to 85.56 dollars a barrel. London’’s Brent North Sea crude for June delivery was up 28 cents to 87.18 dollars per barrel. Prices were supported by rising equity markets in Asia after a rally on Wall Street following encouraging US company results.

Asian markets rally as Greek bailout nears

GEO 436 HONG KONG: Asian stocks rallied on Friday at the end of a tough week, with sentiment boosted by hopes that a bailout for debt-laden Greece is in sight. The news also lifted the euro from its one-year lows, sending the yen down to the benefit of Japanese exporters. Tokyo shares were 1.35 percent higher by the break, Hong Kong up 1.30 percent and Singapore advanced 0.68 percent. Investors followed a rally on Wall Street, where the Dow rose 1.10 percent on the news out of Europe. Athens has called on the EU and IMF to activate a three-year rescue package worth 45 billion euros this year as it faces a May 19 deadline to repay nine billion euros in old debts. The euro, which had hit a year low of 1.3202 dollars on Wednesday, bought 1.3242 dollars in quiet Tokyo morning trade, compared with 1.3244 dollars in New York late Thursday. It was also trading at 124.59 yen against 124.46. The dollar was trading at 94.07 yen in line with New York levels.

SAARC agrees to work together for climate change

GEO 436 THIMPHU: The 16th SAARC summit concluded here Thursday also issued "Thimphu statement on climate" highlighting the issue of climate change and stressing the need for joint efforts to face this challenge in the region. Following is the text of the "Thimphu statement on Climate Change." The 16th meeting of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 28-29 April 2010, recalling the high priority attached by the Leaders of SAARC at successive Summits towards preserving and sustainably managing the rich, fragile and diverse ecosystems of South Asia. Expressing deep concern about the adverse effects of climate change and its impact on the region, particularly on the lives and livelihoods of the 1.6 billion people of South Asia; Recognizing that effective responses, both on mitigation and adaptation should be formulated and implemented at regional and international levels; Mindful that while South Asia's contribution to climate change is minimal, the impacts of this global phenomenon transcends national boundaries; Also Mindful that the Member States of SAARC as developing countries face the dual challenge of addressing the negative impacts of climate change and pursuing socio-economic development; Emphasizing the overriding importance of socio-economic development and poverty eradication in our region, and convinced that reducing dependence on carbon in economic growth and promoting climate resilience will promote both development and poverty eradication in a sustainable manner; Determined that South Asia should become a world leader in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy; Reiterating the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to be the basis for an agreed outcome in the global negotiations on climate change; Also underlining that an agreed outcome of the global negotiations must emerge from an inclusive, transparent, open and democratic process of negotiations; Noting that South Asia is particularly prone to climate change and related disasters making the need for a regional response to meet the challenge of climate change more urgent and compelling; Welcoming the adoption of Climate Change as the theme of the Sixteenth SAARC Summit as an important initiative to galvanize and consolidate regional endeavours with the objective of making South Asia climate change resilient; Also Welcoming the signing of the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment as a significant step towards promoting and strengthening regional cooperation; Convinced that South Asia could benefit from cooperative regional initiatives and approaches, exchange of experiences, knowledge, transfer of technology, best practices to address the challenges posed by climate change; Aware that preservation of environment and mitigating the impacts of climate change are mutually reinforcing; Determined to address the adverse effects of climate change in accordance with the purposes and principles of regional cooperation enshrined in the SAARC Charter; Hereby adopt the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change and agree to undertake the following: (i) Review the implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change and ensure its timely implementation; (ii) Agree to establish an Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to develop clear policy direction and guidance for regional cooperation as envisaged in the SAARC Plan of Action on Climate Change; (iii) Direct the Secretary General to commission a study for presentation to the Seventeenth SAARC Summit on 'Climate Risks in the Region: ways to comprehensively address the related social, economic and environmental challenges'; (iv) Undertake advocacy and awareness programs on climate change, among others, to promote the use of green technology and best practices to promote low-carbon sustainable and inclusive development of the region; (v) Commission a study to explore the feasibility of establishing a SAARC mechanism which would provide capital for projects that promote low-carbon technology and renewable energy; and a Low-carbon Research and Development Institute in South Asian University; (vi) Incorporate science-based materials in educational curricula to promote better understanding of the science and adverse effects of climate change; (vii) Plant ten million trees over the next five years (2010-2015) as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign, in accordance with national priorities and programmes of Member States; (viii) Evolve national plans, and where appropriate regional projects, on protecting and safeguarding the archeological and historical infrastructure of South Asia from the adverse effects of Climate Change; (ix) Establish institutional linkages among national institutions in the region to, among others, facilitate sharing of knowledge, information and capacity building programmes in climate change related areas; (x) Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Marine Initiative to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies in the region and the critical roles they play in sustainable living to be supported by the SAARC Coastal Zone Management Center; (xi) Stress the imperative of conservation of bio-diversity and natural resources and monitoring of mountain ecology covering the mountains in the region; (xii) Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Mountain Initiative on mountain ecosystems, particularly glaciers and their contribution to sustainable development and livelihoods to be supported by SAARC Forestry Center; (xiii) Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Monsoon Initiative on the evolving pattern of monsoons to assess vulnerability due to climate change to be supported by SAARC Meteorological Research Center; (xiv) Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Climate-related Disasters Initiative on the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) to be supported by SAARC Disaster Management Center; (xv) Complete the ratification process for the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment at an early date to enable its entry into force; and (xvi) The Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change shall meet at least twice a year to periodically monitor and review the implementation of this Statement and make recommendations to facilitate its implementation and submit its report through the Senior Officials of SAARC to the SAARC Environment Ministers.

Ryan Harris to replace broken-again Brett Lee

GEO 436 CANBERRA: Doug Bollinger may have helped make the Chennai Super Kings champions and been Australia’’s best player in the IPL but Ryan Harris is expected to be named as Brett Lee’’s replacement today. The distress of Lee being sent home from the World Twenty20 in the West Indies after breaking down again outweighs the embarrassment of Australia losing its opening warm-up match to Zimbabwe in St Lucia. However, Lee’’s latest setback, which may end his international career, only heightens the embarrassment for the selectors, who chose the ageing paceman in the 15-man squad before he had recovered from his previous injury. Bollinger received wide acclaim in the IPL for transforming Chennai from also-rans and was the only Australian named in Cricinfo’’s All IPL XI but statistically Harris had a slightly better tournament. While Lee was forced home from the IPL with a broken thumb sporting figures of 0-149 in four matches and an economy rate of worse than 10 an over, Harris claimed 14 wickets and Bollinger 12. Both played eight matches after arriving at the IPL late following Australia’’s tour of New Zealand. Despite his outstanding form in the past year, which included being part of the NSW Champions League Twenty20 triumph in India last October, Bollinger has not played a Twenty20 match for Australia. Harris has played two, against the West Indies in Sydney and New Zealand in Christchurch during February. Despite his extended recent injury history Lee, one of just two bowlers to claim more than 300 Test and one-day wickets for Australia, retained his Cricket Australia contract when the new list of 25 players was announced this month. The selectors wanted to nurse Lee through to next year’’s World Cup on the subcontinent during March, hoping to use him as a short-form weapon in the same way Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes are used in the Twenty20 team. If he had a successful tournament, Lee would have been part of the squad to tour England in June and July for seven one-day matches against England and two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan. A return to the national team appears unlikely given his recent injury history and the surfeit of in-form pacemen around the nation. The irony of Lee’’s latest setback, a strained muscle in his right forearm, is that he was Australia’’s most economical bowler in the one-run loss to cricketing minnow Zimbabwe, claiming 1-13 from his four overs. He felt pain during his last over and was later sent for MRI scans. A team spokesman said the injury was not related to Lee’’s recent elbow surgery which wiped out his summer and led to his eventual retirement from Test cricket.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010