MELBOURNE: Australia completed a summer clean-sweep of Pakistan as a fired-up fast bowler Shaun Tait sent the tourists home with one last defeat in the Twenty20 International clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Friday night.Pakistan were a different outfit in the field and with the ball in rolling the home side for 127, but their batting fell the same way it did in the three Tests and five one-dayers as Australia fought back for a two-run win.Left-arm paceman Dirk Nannes and Shane Watson bowled brilliantly at the death and conceded nine runs in the final two overs as Pakistan finished 125-9, even though Mohammad Asif hit the last ball for four.Tait, the Man-of-the-Match, was the star with 3-11 after he began the innings with a 156 km/h opener, hit 160.7 with the third delivery and claimed a wicket in his second over.Tait also struck in his third over and when his skipper Michael Clarke needed one last effort in the 15th over, he removed the dangerous Kamran Akmal, whose 64 from 33 balls had the tourists headed for a breakthrough win.Watson landed the death blow at the start of the final over, when Umar Akmal (21) holed out to long-on, as Pakistan began the over needing 10 runs to win, again falling short to end a dismal tour.Australia's win was their first in three attempts in this format over Pakistan, the reigning world champions, and will provide encouragement ahead of the next world championships, in the Caribbean starting in April.Australia staged a strong comeback given they lost 73-9 and were all out in the 19th over and only Clarke (32), David Warner (24) and David Hussey (40 not out) reached double figures.The innings never really fired against some good bowling from Umar Gul (3-20) and acting Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik (2-31) and sharp fielding, which included three run-outs.But Australia were even better with the ball, as besides Tait, Nannes, Watson and Mitchell Johnson all bowled timely maidens and Nannes conceded just two runs in the penultimate over.Watson finished with 2-24 and leg-spinner Steven Smith took 2-34 on international debut, wickets in his third and fourth overs giving his side the ascendancy.Umar Gul (10) was the only Pakistan batsman to reach double figures behind the Akmals, but his inability to get Nannes away in the 19th over was costly.The crowd of 60,054 was the biggest of the season.Friday, February 5, 2010
Kamran Akmal was the top scorer from Pakistan. He made 64 from 33 balls
MELBOURNE: Australia completed a summer clean-sweep of Pakistan as a fired-up fast bowler Shaun Tait sent the tourists home with one last defeat in the Twenty20 International clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Friday night.Pakistan were a different outfit in the field and with the ball in rolling the home side for 127, but their batting fell the same way it did in the three Tests and five one-dayers as Australia fought back for a two-run win.Left-arm paceman Dirk Nannes and Shane Watson bowled brilliantly at the death and conceded nine runs in the final two overs as Pakistan finished 125-9, even though Mohammad Asif hit the last ball for four.Tait, the Man-of-the-Match, was the star with 3-11 after he began the innings with a 156 km/h opener, hit 160.7 with the third delivery and claimed a wicket in his second over.Tait also struck in his third over and when his skipper Michael Clarke needed one last effort in the 15th over, he removed the dangerous Kamran Akmal, whose 64 from 33 balls had the tourists headed for a breakthrough win.Watson landed the death blow at the start of the final over, when Umar Akmal (21) holed out to long-on, as Pakistan began the over needing 10 runs to win, again falling short to end a dismal tour.Australia's win was their first in three attempts in this format over Pakistan, the reigning world champions, and will provide encouragement ahead of the next world championships, in the Caribbean starting in April.Australia staged a strong comeback given they lost 73-9 and were all out in the 19th over and only Clarke (32), David Warner (24) and David Hussey (40 not out) reached double figures.The innings never really fired against some good bowling from Umar Gul (3-20) and acting Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik (2-31) and sharp fielding, which included three run-outs.But Australia were even better with the ball, as besides Tait, Nannes, Watson and Mitchell Johnson all bowled timely maidens and Nannes conceded just two runs in the penultimate over.Watson finished with 2-24 and leg-spinner Steven Smith took 2-34 on international debut, wickets in his third and fourth overs giving his side the ascendancy.Umar Gul (10) was the only Pakistan batsman to reach double figures behind the Akmals, but his inability to get Nannes away in the 19th over was costly.The crowd of 60,054 was the biggest of the season.Should the Afghan government talk to the Taliban?
In London, Afghan President Hamid Karzai argued that the best way to end the war in his country was by reaching out to the Taliban leadership. He also announced that he would invite Taliban leaders to an upcoming peace jirga (tribal conference). This initiative is a significant development in Karzai’s plan for stabilising Afghanistan, which he set in motion about a year ago.
‘Talks about talks’ between the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership have already begun, according to a UN official, who revealed on Thursday that the UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, met “active” members of the Taliban insurgency in Dubai this month. The meeting was not a negotiation, rather, it was an initial discussion on the possibility of beginning peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Afghan government’s desire to engage with the Taliban leadership is bound to cause diplomatic friction between Kabul and Washington. The US also supports talks with militants, but has called for a strategy that involves luring back low- and mid-level Taliban fighters, as opposed to the top leadership, which is accused of sheltering Osama bin Laden and working closely with Al Qaeda.
Do you think the Afghan government should enter peace talks with the Taliban? Should Kabul engage the Taliban leadership, or only win back the loyalty of militant ‘foot soldiers’? Do you think militants will be open to joining the Afghan government and furthering the democratic process? Can Kabul afford to anger Washington?
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group
‘Talks about talks’ between the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership have already begun, according to a UN official, who revealed on Thursday that the UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, met “active” members of the Taliban insurgency in Dubai this month. The meeting was not a negotiation, rather, it was an initial discussion on the possibility of beginning peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Afghan government’s desire to engage with the Taliban leadership is bound to cause diplomatic friction between Kabul and Washington. The US also supports talks with militants, but has called for a strategy that involves luring back low- and mid-level Taliban fighters, as opposed to the top leadership, which is accused of sheltering Osama bin Laden and working closely with Al Qaeda.
Do you think the Afghan government should enter peace talks with the Taliban? Should Kabul engage the Taliban leadership, or only win back the loyalty of militant ‘foot soldiers’? Do you think militants will be open to joining the Afghan government and furthering the democratic process? Can Kabul afford to anger Washington?
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group
Officials meet to set agenda of Pak-India talks
NEW DELHI: Indian and Pakistani officials met here on Friday to decide the agenda for high-level bilateral talks proposed by India over a year after the terror attacks on Mumbai. India has come under international pressure in recent months to re-engage Pakistan and help the West stabilise Afghanistan, where the two countries are involved in a proxy battle for influence.New Delhi’s offer of talks comes after global powers endorsed an Afghan plan to seek reconciliation with the Taliban in which Pakistan will likely play a key role. The move could have ripple effects on the battle against militants in Pakistan and efforts to get Islamabad to go after the Taliban, by reducing its logic of keeping massive forces on the eastern border with India. “I will get back to my foreign office, my government on the discussions that I held ... We have to find a mutually convenient time and a date,” Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik said after meeting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
Indian officials said the meeting was constructive and they were waiting for Pakistan to get back with a date. They said India had offered open-ended talks on all outstanding issues affecting peace and security, emphasising counter-terrorism. Pakistan has called for resumption of full-scale Composite Dialogue on a range of issues, including disputed Kashmir. “Dialogue is the only way forward ... we are not getting into detail. All possible issues which are of concern to Pakistan or India will be discussed,” Mr Malik said.
“Kashmir is an issue we have been raising with India at every possible opportunity and forum. Terrorism would certainly be one of the areas of discussions because we have issues relating to terrorism and this is something that affects Pakistan,” he said. New Delhi’s talks offer comes in part due to US pressure to reassure Pakistan so that it can focus on fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda on its western border with Afghanistan. Many in India also see the strategy of “coercive diplomacy” against Pakistan failing to get any more concessions on acting against the Mumbai attack planners, even as global sympathy for the attacks wanes with time. But any progress is likely to be slow, especially considering political opposition on both sides of the border. “Expect incremental progress but no breakthrough,” Lalit Mansingh, India’s former foreign secretary, said. “This is abject surrender to Pakistan,” said Prakash Javdekar of main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. “The unanimous position in India was there will be no talks with Pakistan unless there was credible action against the Mumbai attackers,” Javdekar said.—Reuters
On the decline
The numbers are eye-popping: a $3.8tr budget; a deficit equal to 11 per cent of GDP in the next year alone; $8.5tr added to national debt over the next decade — the state of America’s finances is so parlous that it is raising questions about the future of that country’s great power status.
The New York Times saw fit to remind its readers of the words of Lawrence Summers, President Obama’s chief economic adviser and a former Treasury secretary: “How long can the world’s biggest borrower remain the world’s biggest power?” Of course, any obituary of the US as the world’s only true superpower is decidedly premature. Economists such as Nobel-prize winning Paul Krugman have argued for the necessity of deficit spending to prevent the Great Recession from becoming another Great Depression. But there is a nagging sense that America’s political culture will not allow the American state to make vital adjustments needed in the years ahead: between those seeking to expand entitlements (mostly Democrats) and those seeking to cut taxes (mostly Republicans) there does not appear to be a middle ground that could balance spending and revenues in the long term.
The effect of this economic malaise on America’s military might will not be immediate, though. President Obama has suggested increasing the Pentagon’s base budget by 3.4 per cent and allocated $159bn to fund the missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. With the terrorism threat still looming, there is little chance of any cutbacks soon. From Pakistan’s perspective, the $3.2bn of development funds that President Obama has proposed for next year, for example, is a drop in the vast American financial ocean. But the effects of the financial crunch will nevertheless be real. As also pointed out by The New York Times, the American president had to qualify his commitment to the ‘war of necessity’ in Afghanistan, where spending concerns appear to trump war fatigue as the reason for the ‘exit’ part of President Obama’s surge-and-exit strategy. While few things are certain at the moment, it seems clear that economic concerns will at least constrain America’s military and security choices going forward.
The New York Times saw fit to remind its readers of the words of Lawrence Summers, President Obama’s chief economic adviser and a former Treasury secretary: “How long can the world’s biggest borrower remain the world’s biggest power?” Of course, any obituary of the US as the world’s only true superpower is decidedly premature. Economists such as Nobel-prize winning Paul Krugman have argued for the necessity of deficit spending to prevent the Great Recession from becoming another Great Depression. But there is a nagging sense that America’s political culture will not allow the American state to make vital adjustments needed in the years ahead: between those seeking to expand entitlements (mostly Democrats) and those seeking to cut taxes (mostly Republicans) there does not appear to be a middle ground that could balance spending and revenues in the long term.
The effect of this economic malaise on America’s military might will not be immediate, though. President Obama has suggested increasing the Pentagon’s base budget by 3.4 per cent and allocated $159bn to fund the missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. With the terrorism threat still looming, there is little chance of any cutbacks soon. From Pakistan’s perspective, the $3.2bn of development funds that President Obama has proposed for next year, for example, is a drop in the vast American financial ocean. But the effects of the financial crunch will nevertheless be real. As also pointed out by The New York Times, the American president had to qualify his commitment to the ‘war of necessity’ in Afghanistan, where spending concerns appear to trump war fatigue as the reason for the ‘exit’ part of President Obama’s surge-and-exit strategy. While few things are certain at the moment, it seems clear that economic concerns will at least constrain America’s military and security choices going forward.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Christmas plane bomb suspect 'co-operating' with US
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had stopped talking to investigators but prompt further "last week", officials told US media.
Mr Abdulmutallab, 23, is accused of trying to adversity up a flight to Detroit camouflage a cloying hidden imprint his underwear.
He has denied a thrust of attempting to garrote 290 kin.
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says that with Mr Abdulmutallab apparently speech again, officials say tangible is dormant a plea bargain might be due to reached.
Constitutional rights
An kosher quoted by Reuters news agency said: "Abdulmutallab is talking and has been talking since last week providing useful, actionable and current intelligence that we've been actively subsequent up on."
When questioned on the subject, FBI scout Robert Mueller told the Senate command Committee that the bent was valuable also that Mr Abdulmutallab was quiescent since questioned.
The interrogation of Mr Abdulmutallab has caused controversy in the US.
The vacillate had been talking to FBI agents before he went absorption surgery being burns on his legs but afterwards refused to hearsay.
Agents consequently diagram him burly rights under the US constitution, guaranteeing he would not conceive to grant incriminating evidence.
Some politicians argued he should accept been treated as a military detainee.
A senior law horsepower official told the BBC that some of Mr Abdulmutallab's local had visited him in the middle of last month again that that had played a role in him beginning to talk and.
influence his earlier comments Mr Abdulmutallab oral he had been internal by al-Qaeda-linked militants prerogative Yemen.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen, claimed responsibility through the failed unvaried attack.
Mr Abdulmutallab caught the flight to Detroit from the Netherlands, after connecting from a flight from Nigeria.
Mr Abdulmutallab, 23, is accused of trying to adversity up a flight to Detroit camouflage a cloying hidden imprint his underwear.
He has denied a thrust of attempting to garrote 290 kin.
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington says that with Mr Abdulmutallab apparently speech again, officials say tangible is dormant a plea bargain might be due to reached.
Constitutional rights
An kosher quoted by Reuters news agency said: "Abdulmutallab is talking and has been talking since last week providing useful, actionable and current intelligence that we've been actively subsequent up on."
When questioned on the subject, FBI scout Robert Mueller told the Senate command Committee that the bent was valuable also that Mr Abdulmutallab was quiescent since questioned.
The interrogation of Mr Abdulmutallab has caused controversy in the US.
The vacillate had been talking to FBI agents before he went absorption surgery being burns on his legs but afterwards refused to hearsay.
Agents consequently diagram him burly rights under the US constitution, guaranteeing he would not conceive to grant incriminating evidence.
Some politicians argued he should accept been treated as a military detainee.
A senior law horsepower official told the BBC that some of Mr Abdulmutallab's local had visited him in the middle of last month again that that had played a role in him beginning to talk and.
influence his earlier comments Mr Abdulmutallab oral he had been internal by al-Qaeda-linked militants prerogative Yemen.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen, claimed responsibility through the failed unvaried attack.
Mr Abdulmutallab caught the flight to Detroit from the Netherlands, after connecting from a flight from Nigeria.
Michael Jackson's doctor 'to be charged over death'
Dr Conrad Murray is in Los Angeles besides would imitate happy to yield to authorities if asked, his apostle said.
If Dr Murray is charged, a critic would nail down if he should then fling on trial.
Michael Jackson's death, at the thrive of 50, pull Los Angeles on 25 June keep up go was ruled considering homicide, principally caused by an anaesthetic.
Dr Murray has always maintained he did not prescribe nor administer stuff that should have killed Jackson.
Powerful anaesthetic
A spokeswoman seeing the Los Angeles District Attorney's means told the BBC that forasmuch as far nothing had been filed against Dr Murray.
dissimilar drugs were actualize effect Michael Jackson's conformation Dr Murray's highest lawyer, Ed Chernoff, told Reuters hookup agency his client was in Los Angeles, saying: "If the cops want him he's not hiding. We'll put on happy to surrender him and they notice that."
Mr Chernoff added: "I don't think they should be filing charges at all."
Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a oblivion is the lateral result of negligence or recklessness.
If he is charged, the boost would frontage a hearing at which a hard rapper would consider the evidence and decide whether Dr Murray should attack on trial.
Jackson's dissolution was primarily caused by the dynamic anaesthetic Propofol, the Los Angeles coroner confirmed significance August.
A cocktail of drugs - also including sedatives Midazolam and Diazepam, the painkiller Lidocaine and the drive Ephedrine - were detected in his body.
Dr Murray told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as ideal of his paste-up for insomnia, according to an affidavit imaginary public hold majestic.
If Dr Murray is charged, a critic would nail down if he should then fling on trial.
Michael Jackson's death, at the thrive of 50, pull Los Angeles on 25 June keep up go was ruled considering homicide, principally caused by an anaesthetic.
Dr Murray has always maintained he did not prescribe nor administer stuff that should have killed Jackson.
Powerful anaesthetic
A spokeswoman seeing the Los Angeles District Attorney's means told the BBC that forasmuch as far nothing had been filed against Dr Murray.
dissimilar drugs were actualize effect Michael Jackson's conformation Dr Murray's highest lawyer, Ed Chernoff, told Reuters hookup agency his client was in Los Angeles, saying: "If the cops want him he's not hiding. We'll put on happy to surrender him and they notice that."
Mr Chernoff added: "I don't think they should be filing charges at all."
Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a oblivion is the lateral result of negligence or recklessness.
If he is charged, the boost would frontage a hearing at which a hard rapper would consider the evidence and decide whether Dr Murray should attack on trial.
Jackson's dissolution was primarily caused by the dynamic anaesthetic Propofol, the Los Angeles coroner confirmed significance August.
A cocktail of drugs - also including sedatives Midazolam and Diazepam, the painkiller Lidocaine and the drive Ephedrine - were detected in his body.
Dr Murray told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as ideal of his paste-up for insomnia, according to an affidavit imaginary public hold majestic.
Daughter of former Manchester City player found dead
Sibylle Sibierski, 18, was discovered by police at a flat in Altrincham closest they forced the door open on Monday.
She was questioned on Sunday over an allegation she assaulted her boyfriend, but was released without rush.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the outmost Police Complaints mission (IPPC) had been informed.
There were no interesting circumstances surrounding her death, police added.
Had a very appurtenant evening, Heart&Soul was fitting further i love A very, very by much
Sibylle Sibierski's last wall posting on Facebook French centre forward Sibierski, 35, passionate to Manchester situation from Lens leverage 2003 and made 92 bunch appearances before he went on to play considering Newcastle United and Wigan steady.
He has now retired from playing.
On her Facebook page, Miss Sibierski's last handrail business in the early hours of Saturday read: "had a very good evening, Heart&Soul was applicable further i love A. very, very much."
The obsolete pupil of St Bede's College and Cheadle & Marple Sixth generate College described herself on her social networking site page whereas "Cute, lovely, nice, naughty, cheeky, appetite my friends, eagerness my family again in urge with an amazing guy".
supplementary than 500 relatives reckon on paid tribute to the 18-year-old on social networking site, Facebook.
She is thought to reckon on been working recently thanks to a promoter at the Lounge 31 nightclub in Manchester city marrow
She was questioned on Sunday over an allegation she assaulted her boyfriend, but was released without rush.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the outmost Police Complaints mission (IPPC) had been informed.
There were no interesting circumstances surrounding her death, police added.
Had a very appurtenant evening, Heart&Soul was fitting further i love A very, very by much
Sibylle Sibierski's last wall posting on Facebook French centre forward Sibierski, 35, passionate to Manchester situation from Lens leverage 2003 and made 92 bunch appearances before he went on to play considering Newcastle United and Wigan steady.
He has now retired from playing.
On her Facebook page, Miss Sibierski's last handrail business in the early hours of Saturday read: "had a very good evening, Heart&Soul was applicable further i love A. very, very much."
The obsolete pupil of St Bede's College and Cheadle & Marple Sixth generate College described herself on her social networking site page whereas "Cute, lovely, nice, naughty, cheeky, appetite my friends, eagerness my family again in urge with an amazing guy".
supplementary than 500 relatives reckon on paid tribute to the 18-year-old on social networking site, Facebook.
She is thought to reckon on been working recently thanks to a promoter at the Lounge 31 nightclub in Manchester city marrow
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Custom Search
