Dubai, Feb 23 (PTI) India's Sania Mirza today clinched her second doubles title of the season after she combined with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands to defeat Nadia Petrova and Katarina Srebotnik in the title clash of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, here. The unseeded Indo-American duo prevailed over the Russian-Slovenia combo 6-4 2-6 10-7 in a tightly-contested final of the USD 2,000,000 hard court event. The match lasted for one hour and 32 minutes. After a rather easy victory in the first set, the eventual winners were made to struggle as Petrova and Srebotnik fought back strongly to take the second set. Sania and Bethanie, however, sealed the issue in their favour by winning the crucial third set. The two players had won the Brisbane International last month to make a superb start to the 2013 season. This was Sania's 16th championships wins in doubles, and she also has one single title win. Both the pairs had two aces each but Petrova and Srebotnik, interestingly, committed just one double fault compared to three by the Indo-American duo. As far as first service was concerned, the runner-up team's winning percentage was 68 compared to the winners' 62 per cent. However, in the second service, Sania and her partner's winning percentage was 53 compared to the runner-up's 41 per cent. Sania and Bethanie had to work hard for points as their opponents fought well throughout. The total points won were 63 by Sania and Bethanie even as their opponents fell short by just one point. PTI AH PM
Sania combines with Bethanie to win Dubai tennis title
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 23 Februari 2013 | 23.24
GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 21:32
GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
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GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
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GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
GJM to send delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs
Darjeeling(WB), Feb 23 (PTI) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will send a five-member delegation to New Delhi to meet MPs of various national parties in an effort to assess the current political mood in the capital on creation of Telangana. "A five-member delegation will leave for Delhi on January 24 and meet MPs of various political parties," GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said today. "The Morcha wants to assess the current mood in Delhi regarding the formation of Telangana. The party's future agitation depends on the Centre's decision on Telangana," said a source in the GJM. GJM sources hinted that Morcha would revive the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland if the Centre announces creation of Telangana. Party sources said the Morcha had also formed various other teams, which would tour other states to meet political leaders. These teams have been instructed to mobilise support in favour of Gorkhaland. The decision to send a Morcha delegation ahead of GJM chief Bimal Gurung's visit to Delhi, which has been scheduled for the first week of March, was taken at a central committee meeting of the party held at the Singamari office here today, the sources said. PTI COR RG RT
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Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 21:02
Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
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Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
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Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
Hyd twin blasts failure of intelligence agencies: Shivpal
Mainpuri (UP), Feb 23 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today termed the Hyderabad twin blasts as a failure of the intelligence agencies. "Somewhere the blasts were a failure of the intelligence agencies and the Union government should accept the fact," he said. Yadav, who was here to distribute cheques to 885 beneficiaries of girls' education schemes, told mediapersons that Samajwadi Party has always cooperated with the Centre on the issue of eliminating terrorism. PTI CORR SAB PG NKB KAS
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Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 21:02
Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
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Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
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Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
Raja wants to appear before JPC on 2G as witness
New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) A Raja, former Telecom Minister and prime accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, today created a flutter by making a strong pitch to appear before the JPC as a witness claiming he has been "condemned unheard". Raja's request to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar comes days after Attorney General G E Vahanvati blamed him for various issues before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). He has also been blamed for the 2G scam by other witnesses before the special CBI court. "The truth of the matter is being suppressed on the basis of preconceived notions, deliberate bias, faulty investigation and erroneous conclusions. "...perhaps the most telling example of this situation is the judgement of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 02.02.2012, where specific and prejudicial observations were made against me without giving me a hearing," Raja wrote in the letter. Raja's request has come when the three-month-long Budget session has just commenced. There was no immediate reaction of JPC Chairman P C Chacko to the request of Raja, who had been in Tihar jail for several months in the 2G issue before being granted bail. Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi steered clear of the issue while an AIADMK leader said it was a fight between DMK and Congress and his party would not get into it. Raja, a leader of the DMK, met Kumar at her office yesterday and handed over a letter expressing his willingness to appear as a witness before the committee. He has sent a copy of the letter to Chacko. Raja said while he has the "fullest respect" for the court, "the fact remains that I have been condemned unheard." (MORE) PTI NAB ETB SPG VMN
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HUNGER 2LAST
Referring to the opposition allegation of distributing Referring to the opposition allegation of distributing 25 kg rice instead of 35 kg among poor per month, Deb said: "The state government is not eating away the rest of the rice. They allocate rice for less number of poor families and we distribute it among more number of BPL families." The opposition, however, accused the BJD government of keeping people underfed due to its faulty policies. Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan claimed the UPA government was giving about Rs 3,000 crore subsidy to the state including Rs 2,600 crore under food subsidy. He termed Odisha's claim of reducing poverty by 20 point, from 57 per cent to 37 per cent, as "false". He argued that if the state government was taking credit of poverty reduction rate, also based on NSSO report, why it termed as not accurate the NSSO's data on perceived adequacy of food consumption in Indian households. Rejecting the minister's reply, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh led a walk out by the Congress legislators. PTI AAM SKN NN RT
Four killed in separate accidents
Sangrur, Feb 23 (PTI) Four persons, including three members of a family, were killed today in two separate road accidents on Ludhiana-Malerkotla highway, police said here. Malerkotla resident Jarnail Singh, his son Sukhdev Singh and a relative Inderjit Singh were killed after the vehicle, in which they were travelling, hit a road divider after one of its tyre burst, they said. The two others injured in the accident were admitted to the Malerkotla civil hospital, police said. In another road mishap, Sukhvinder Singh, a resident of village Nanaksar Jagera, was run over by a bus here early this police, police said. PTI CORR CHS NKB KAS
Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 21:32
Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
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Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
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Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
Mobile suspectedly belonging to Maoists seized by police
Gaya (Bihar), Feb 23 (PTI) Police today seized a mobile phone suspectedly belonging to Maoists who triggered the landmine blast near a culvert at Majhaulia village in Gaya district yesterday killing eight persons, including six policemen. According to police sources, a woman from the village found the mobile phone suspectedly belonging to Maoists from the crime site and police seized it from her. During inspection of the mobile, it came to light that the SIM card belonged to a resident of Chatra district in neighbouring Jharkhand state, the sources said. Bihar police have informed its counterparts in Chatra regarding it, the sources said. Maoists used Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) to blast a jeep at Koili culvert yesterday. PTI CORR SNS RG RT
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Jaisalmer Desert Festival begins
Jaisalmer, Feb 23 (PTI) The three-day annual 'Desert Festival', a major tourist attraction which showcases the rich heritage of Rajasthan through cultural and folk performances, was inaugurated state Governor Margaret Alva here today. Folk artists performed traditional dances in the grand procession which depicted vibrant culture and folk life of the state, besides several competitions including turban tying, moustache competition at Poonam Singh stadium. Alva, the chief guest for the function, inaugurated the festival organised by the state government. Senior government and district administration officials were present in the function. PTI SDA KAS
India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 21:32
India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
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India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
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India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
India should demand probe into human rights violations:CPI-M
Chennai, Feb 23 (PTI) CPI(M) today said India should demand an independent, high-level and credible inquiry on human rights violations allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army in the last phase of the war against the LTTE. "India should be demanding an independent high-level, credible inquiry into the atrocities committed during the last phase of the war and the human rights violations," party general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here. Responding to queries on the United Nations Human Rights Council meet at Geneva in March where the US is scheduled to move a Lanka-specific resolution, he said he cannot say in what form the issue will be raised or what the resolution will be about but "this should be India's stand." He also said the party will launch nation-wide 'jathas' soon, culminating in Delhi. This would seek to highlight the Left party's alternative proposals on issues including corruption and education. PTI SA BN RT
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Will back any stir by Ramdev against land cancellation: BJP
Shimla, Feb 23 (PTI) A day after Himachal Pradesh government took over possession of the land given to Ramdev's trust after cancelling its lease, BJP today said it will support any agitation by the Yoga teacher against the move. "Himachal BJP would back any agitation by Ramdev against cancellation of land lease to Patanjali Yoga Peeth," state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti said today. Yesterday, the Himachal authorities, in a swift but peaceful move, had taken over the land given to Ramdev's trust Patanjali Yogpeeth by the previous BJP regime, three days after the state government decided to cancel its lease. Satti said the move of Congress government has only created political ill and given credence to the allegations that it was targeting the political rivals. "We are with Ramdev on this issue and demand a review of decision by the government," Satti said. The lease would be reconsidered when BJP comes to power in the state, he said, adding, the previous BJP government had given land to 'Patanjali Yogapeeth' to facilitate setting up a centre for propagation of Yoga and Ayurveda, which would provide employment thousands of youth. "It would have only benefited the people of Himachal but unfortunately, the Congress has overlooked the interests of common man," Satti said. The party chief came down heavily on the ruling Congress. Satti alleged that the Congress government has not taken any decision in public interest during its two months rule, except ordering inquiries, changing the names of the schemes started by the BJP. In a strong worded resolution adopted at the first meeting of state executive after Satti was appointed state BJP chief for second term, the party alleged that BJP leaders, MLAs and workers are being implicated in false cases by the state government. "The BJP leaders, MLAs and workers are being implicated in false cases and Congress leader are pressurising the officers for getting contracts but the BJP would not take the things lying down and give a befitting reply by opposing these actions in Vidhan Sabha and in the streets," the resolution said. MORE PTI PCL SHS
Villagers launch fast-unto-death against thermal power project
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 16 Februari 2013 | 23.24
Nagapattinam (TN), Feb 16 (PTI) After Kudankulam nuclear power plant, another energy project in Tamil Nadu has run into opposition with around 200 residents of Vellakovil village in this district today launching a 'fast-unto-death' against the proposed 1,200 MW coal-based private thermal power plant in their area. The protesters, including women and children, said their agitation would continue till the scrapping of the Rs 8,000 crore project proposed by Chettinadu Power Corporation in about 800 acres in Tarangambadi taluk. Since December 2012, the fishermen and the people of this area had been organising agitations, including processions and demonstrations, opposing the setting up of the project, contending that it would affect costal ecology and the livelihood of 30,000 people of 25 hamlets. The plant would also cause extensive air, water and land pollution, they claimed adding it would directly affect about 1,800 acres of agricultural land. A huge compound wall being constructed by the company would hamper free movement of people between inland and the coast, particularly at times of natural calamities like tsunami, they said. "Since our repeated demands have fallen on deaf ears, we have been forced to take up this extreme step and we will continue our agitation till the construction work is stopped," they said. The commissioning of Indo-Russian Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project set up in Tirunelveli District has been delayed due to protests by local people citing safety concerns. PTI CORR VS VMN BS
Death toll from Pakistan bomb reaches 47
Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 21:02
PAKISTAN-VIOLENCE-SHIITES:Death toll from Pakistan bomb reaches 47
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New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) Delhi Government has sought relaxation of norms for land use in the Delhi Master Plan 2021 to facilitate setting up of more schools and avoid closure of educational institutions currently running in various areas. Delhi Education Minister Kiran Walia said the Delhi Development Authority needs to relax land use norms so that more schools can be set up in the city. Appropriate amendment was required in the Master Plan 2021 so that Government can allow existing unrecognised schools to continue functioning as per provisions of the Right To Education Act 2009. These unrecognised schools will have to be closed down with effect from April 1, 2013 if required changes are not made, she said. Following implementation of the RTE Act, 2009, it has become necessary to review the land use norms in respect of primary and elementary schools so that maximum numbers of school can be recognised, the minister said. Walia said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has already taken up the matter with Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath and Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna. As per current norms, the schools need to conform to certain minimum requirement like infrastructural facilities. However considering the ground reality of Delhi it may not be possible for unrecognised schools to fulfill the land norms provided in the Master Plan 2021, she said. Since neighbourhood schools are charging nominal fee and catering to the educational needs of thousands of children, it becomes imminent to consider an amendment in MPD 2021, she said. PTI MPB RT
Five Kumbh pilgrims die in road accident
Jaunpur (UP), Feb 16 (PTI) Five pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh, returning from the Kumbh Mela, were killed and eight injured in a collision between their jeep and a truck in Jalalpur area here, police said today. The dead included three women, SP Manjil Saini said adding the accident happened on the Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway near Ijari village late last night. The jeep carrying 14 pilgrims, all hailing from Ujjain in MP, was trying to overtake the truck when the mishap took place, Saini said. The driver of the truck, which dashed against a tree, was also injured, the SP said. The dead were Mahngi Yadav, aged 55, Nirbhay Yadav (60), Ahilya (36), Lalita (70) and Lalita Devi (50), Saini said. Three of the injured were referred to Varanasi, the SP said. PTI CORR AVA PG RKC RKC
UN envoy says abuses still go on in Myanmar despite reforms
YANGON (Reuters) - Human rights abuses are still occurring in Myanmar despite reforms by the quasi-civilian government, a U.N. rights envoy said on Saturday, singling out arbitrary arrest and torture of alleged ethnic Kachin rebels.
Tomas Ojea Quintana, U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, was speaking at the end of a five-day mission to the country, where President Thein Sein has pushed through reforms since the end of military rule in 2011.
"While this process of reform is continuing in the right direction, there are significant human rights shortcomings that remain unaddressed," Quintana told reporters, calling for urgent action before the problems became entrenched.
The quasi-civilian government has agreed ceasefires with most of the ethnic rebel groups fighting for autonomy. But fighting flared up in Kachin State in June 2011 and the conflict escalated late last year when the military used air strikes to thwart what it said was rebel aggression.
Peace talks were held over the border in China this month and Quintana said he was encouraged by this. He also welcomed the government's decision to allow a U.N. humanitarian convoy access to areas controlled by the rebels.
But he added: "I am concerned about the ongoing practice of arbitrary arrest and torture during interrogation by the military of Kachin men accused of belonging to the Kachin Independence Army."
Another area, Rakhine State, suffered two bouts of deadly sectarian violence last year between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas.
Around 120,000 people are now living in camps, according to Quintana. Although conditions had improved since his last visit in August, there was still a lack of adequate healthcare in the bigger Muslim camps, he said, adding that harassment of medical staff by Rakhine Buddhists was one of the reasons.
The government needed to address the problem of freedom of movement in the camps, he said, noting that one "felt more like a prison than a camp".
The government says the Rohingyas are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and does not regard them as citizens. Bangladesh also denies them citizenship and the estimated 800,000 in Rakhine State are therefore effectively stateless.
Quintana said the two communities remained divided by fear, distrust, anger and hatred.
"Mutually respectful dialogue cannot be had while discrimination based on grounds of ethnicity and religion remains unaddressed," he said, recommending that the government amend citizenship laws to end such discrimination.
(Reporting by Min Zayar Oo; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Jason Webb)
Conclave electing new pope could start before March 15 - Vatican
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The conclave to choose Pope Benedict's successor could start earlier than expected, giving the Roman Catholic Church a new leader by mid March, the Vatican said on Saturday.
Less than two weeks away from a historic papal resignation, the Vatican also stressed again that the pope was not abandoning the Church in times of difficulties and urged the faithful to trust in God and in the next pope.
Five days after Benedict announced his resignation in Latin to a small group of cardinals, the Vatican was still in a state of spiritual and bureaucratic shock, groping for ways to deal with a situation without precedent for at least six centuries.
Some 117 cardinals under the age of 80 will be eligible to enter the secretive conclave to elect Benedict's successor. Church rules say the conclave has to start between 15-20 days after the papacy becomes vacant, which it will on February 28.
But since the Church is now dealing with an announced resignation and not a sudden death, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Vatican would be "interpreting" the law to see if it could start earlier.
Cardinals around the world have already begun informal consultations by phone and email to construct a profile of the man they think would be best suited to lead the Church in a period of continuing crisis.
The Vatican appears to be aiming to have a new pope elected and then formally installed in a solemn ceremony before Palm Sunday on March 24 so he can preside at Holy Week services leading to Easter.
The 85-year-old Benedict was having as normal a Saturday as possible, considering that his remaining scheduled public appearances can now be counted on one hand.
The Vatican has been at pains to stress that the pope was leaving exclusively because of diminishing spiritual and physical forces and that the pontiff was certain it was the right thing to do and would not hurt the Church.
"Benedict is not abandoning us in times of difficulty," Lombardi said in his weekly editorial for Vatican Radio. "With confidence, he is inviting the Church to trust in the Spirit and in a new successor of St. Peter."
DETERIORATING HEALTH
Benedict's papacy was rocked by crises over sex abuse of children by priests in Europe and the United States, most of which preceded his time in office but came to light during it.
His reign also saw Muslim anger after he compared Islam to violence. Jews were upset over his rehabilitation of a Holocaust denier. During a scandal over the Church's business dealings, his butler was convicted of leaking his private papers.
Meanwhile, new details emerged on Saturday about the state of Benedict's health in the months before his shock decision.
Peter Seewald, a German journalist who wrote a book with the pope in 2010 in which Benedict first floated the possibility of resigning, visited him again about 10 weeks ago and asked what else could be expected from his papacy.
According to excepts published in the German magazine Focus, the pope answered: "From me? Not much from me. I'm an old man and the strength is ebbing. I think what I've done is enough."
Asked if he was considering resigning, the pope said: "That depends on how much my physical strength will force me to that".
Seewald said he was alarmed about the pope's health.
"His hearing had deteriorated. He couldn't see with his left eye. His body had become so thin that the tailors had difficulty in keeping up with newly fitted clothes ... I'd never seen him so exhausted-looking, so worn down."
Keeping to his schedule, Benedict met a group of Italian bishops and Guatemala's president on Saturday morning and in the afternoon was receiving caretaker Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in a farewell audience.
Monti, a devout Catholic, is leading a centrist coalition in next week's elections but the Vatican says the farewell meeting has nothing to do with the vote.
On Sunday, the pope will hold his customary noon blessing from his window overlooking St Peter's Square before going into a previously scheduled, week-long Lenten spiritual retreat. He will emerge from that on Feb 23.
He will then say one more Sunday noon prayer on February 24, hold a final general audience on February 27. The next day he will take a helicopter to the papal summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, flying into the history books.
Vatican officials said he would stay there for the two months or so needed to restore the convent inside the Vatican where he will live out his remaining years.
(Reporting By Philip Pullella; Additional reporting by Erik Kirschbaum, James Mackenzie and Tom Heneghan; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Telenor India unit to shut Mumbai operations after court order
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Telenor's India unit said on Saturday it would close down its mobile phone services in Mumbai zone immediately after a court ordered that carriers whose permits were revoked and did not win fresh rights to airwaves must stop services.
Telenor's permits in 22 zones were among those ordered to be revoked by India's supreme court last year after a massive scandal over the grant of cellular licences in a 2008 sale.
Telenor won rights to airwaves in six of those zones in an auction in November and has said it might decide to bid for spectrum in Mumbai zone in an auction due in March.
"Unfortunately, we have no choice now but to follow the court's order and close down our network immediately," Sigve Brekke, managing director of Telenor's India operations, said in a statement.
The Telenor unit had 1.8 million customers in Mumbai as of December.
(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; editing by James Jukwey)
First tweeting pope remains silent over resignation
By Naomi O'Leary
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - It could have been the tweet of the century.
But Pope Benedict decided not to announce his resignation on Twitter, which he joined last year in a foray into social media that has reaped uncertain spiritual returns and could be curtailed by his successor.
Obviously keen to avoid any leak of his resignation - which would have been a risk as his tweets are typed up by an aide - the pope announced it in person, in Latin, to a restricted group of cardinals. The video was then given to the world's media.
News of the first pontiff to resign in seven centuries scorched through Twitter, generating 1.5 million comments in the first 36 hours, according to analytics firm Crimson Hexagon.
But of those, a third were negative, criticising the pope or the Roman Catholic Church, and 38 percent were jokes. Just 7 percent were positive, expressing concern for the pontiff or hope about the future.
"We are receiving tweets that I consider not worthy of a human person," said Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, a Vatican office set up in the 1940s to address the flourishing film industry, but which under Benedict branched into Twitter, YouTube and smartphone download "The Pope App".
An easy target of Internet "trolls", the pope has come in for plenty of online abuse.
"It's a problem," Celli said in an interview in the marble-floored offices near St. Peter's Basilica that house the communications hub. "When you are offending in a vulgar way, that is not worthy of a human being."
Nevertheless, the 85-year-old was not "naive" in joining the micro-blogging site synonymous with instant news, irreverence and mob behaviour. "The idea of the Holy Father was simple: I want to be present where people are present," Celli said.
NO HINT
There was no hint of the resignation in recent tweets, sent from a locked room in the Vatican from a computer kept especially for the purpose and fortified against possible hacks.
Last Sunday, one day before the announcement, he tweeted: "We must trust in the mighty power of God's mercy. We are all sinners, but His grace transforms us and makes us new."
The only tweet from @Pontifex since then was on Ash Wednesday, the start of lent this week, when he reminded his more than 1.5 million online followers the Christian fasting period had begun.
The Vatican's communications apparatus, put in place mostly by Benedict's predecessor, is readying for its busiest weeks since John Paul II's death and Benedict's election in April, 2005.
The day Benedict announced his resignation, hits on the Vatican's news website jumped from 14,000 to 190,000 in a day, forcing technicians to switch from one to four servers to prevent a crash.
Benedict is likely to send his last tweet on February 28, his final day as pontiff before he departs the Vatican in a helicopter.
After that - during the "Sede Vacante" or "Empty See" when there is no pope - the @Pontifex Twitter account will be silent.
Anyone with "The Pope App" on their smart phone will be able to watch for the white smoke that heralds a new pontiff on a live stream trained on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Benedict's push into online media was part of a battle that was central to his papacy: to win back believers in the rapidly secularising developed world. But patchy success means the next pontiff may choose not to Tweet.
"It will depend on him for sure. When the new pope will be elected we are going to present to him such an opportunity," said Celli.
"We need to touch the imagination of people. We need to touch their heart. Because we have a lot of new technology, but do you realise how really difficult it is to communicate with people?"
(Reporting by Naomi O'Leary; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Photos of ailing Chavez stir emotions in Venezuela
By Girish Gupta and Andrew Cawthorne
CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez's supporters joyfully brandished first photographs of him since cancer surgery two months ago while opposition activists said the images were worrying evidence of Venezuela's political vacuum.
In a first proof of life since his six-hour operation in Cuba on December 11, authorities published four photos on Friday showing Chavez lying in a hospital bed smiling next to his daughters.
Underlining the gravity of his situation, however, an accompanying statement said the 58-year-old socialist leader was breathing through a tracheal tube and struggling to speak.
Within hours, the photos were on sale in Caracas streets, where some of Chavez's passionate supporters clutched them to their hearts as if they were a religious icon.
"It doesn't matter that he can't talk. We understood his message," said Aniluz Serrano, 57, selling prints in colonial Bolivar Square, named for Venezuela's independence hero and Chavez's idol, Simon Bolivar.
"When I saw this photo, I thought how beautiful, here he is calling on the people to keep fighting. When I see this smile, I can see Christ, I can see Simon Bolivar."
The photos and new medical details confirmed what most Venezuelans already assumed - that Chavez is seriously ill and may not be able to return to the presidency.
He has ruled the South American OPEC nation since 1999, maintaining huge popularity among the poor thanks to oil-financed welfare policies and his common touch, while alienating private business with nationalizations and taking an authoritarian line on opponents.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro and other allies say Chavez remains the head of state, signing decrees and giving instructions - sometimes in writing - from Havana.
"President Chavez in full recovery," was the headline of various state media. "He's alive ... he will be back," said Idan Sotto, 24, buying one of the photos in downtown Caracas.
PICKING OVER THE PHOTOS
Opposition politicians believe such optimism is misplaced, given Chavez's obvious frailty, and are renewing demands for more detailed information on his condition and ability to rule.
Should he be formally declared unable to govern, an election would be called within 30 days, probably pitting Maduro against opposition leader and state governor Henrique Capriles.
Capriles lost an October presidential election, and the opposition coalition is struggling to remain united, with some pushing for a more militant approach to Chavez's absence.
"Venezuelan sovereignty is being given away to the Cuban government," one of the most strident opposition leaders, Maria Corina Machado, told Reuters in reaction to the photos.
"It is obvious the photos were to make the world believe Hugo Chavez is in charge of government but what they've done is precisely the opposite ... I'd like to ask a question to any democratic citizen in the world: could you imagine a situation in which you have 69 days with no word from your president?"
As well as predictable political bickering, the photos spawned a plethora of online scrutiny and theories.
Some hunted for evidence of image editing. Others simply mocked the photos as the typical recourse of an autocratic and secretive government trying to spin a dire situation.
"It's hard to see why reading the dreadfully boring Granma would generate smiles," said columnist Andres Canizalez, in an opposition newspaper, referring to the Cuban Communist Party's daily newspaper that Chavez is clutching in the photos.
Many Venezuelans commented on the irony of Chavez's voice loss given his famously garrulous and bombastic rhetoric - from a thundering denunciation of then-U.S. President George W. Bush as the "devil" at the United Nations, to hours-long, meandering speeches that have been a staple of political life at home.
Though it is impossible to predict what the next few months may hold for Venezuela, all sides agree Chavez will leave a lasting imprint on the country.
"Chavismo will probably last generations. It will not die," Goldman Sachs analyst Alberto Ramos said, seeing a parallel with 1950s populist Argentine leader Juan Peron whose memory and ideology remain highly influential.
"The death of Peron was not the death of Peronism in Argentina."
(Editing by Vicki Allen)
Alguersuari says Formula One has become an auction
REUTERS - Pirelli tyre tester Jaime Alguersuari vented his frustration at failing to secure a Formula One race seat on Saturday by saying the sport had become an auction favouring money over talent.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has been trying to find a way back onto the starting grid since he and Swiss team mate Sebastien Buemi were dropped by Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso at the end of the 2011 season.
He had sounded confident about his chances but those hopes have been dashed with lower-ranking teams favouring drivers who can bring sponsorship with them to help shore up strained budgets.
The only remaining vacancy is at Force India, with whom Alguersuari had been linked, whose decision now looks like a choice between their former driver Adrian Sutil and young Frenchman Jules Bianchi.
"I never imagined that after Red Bull's incomprehensible decision not to count on me in 2012...I would have to fight so much outside the track," Alguersuari said in a statement issued by his management.
"I have been convinced most of the 2012 season that my seat was secured in a team that usually scores," he added. "They did tell me and I believed it to be true.
Alguersuari said he had hoped that "the value of my sporting career, and the verbal commitments received, would materialize with my return to F1 in 2013. This has not happened.
"Those who committed themselves with me have given me reasons that I must accept but that I do not share. F1 has become an auction."
The Spaniard said he would continue working with Pirelli and had not given up hope of returning to grand prix racing despite the difficulty of securing backing in debt-stricken Spain.
"Although Spain's economy is in the worst shape in our modern history, and except for Banco Santander no other company considers Formula One as a profitable and sustainable business, I know how old I am, I know my track record and I'm convinced that I deserve a winning car in F1," he said.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso will be the sole Spaniard on the starting grid this season at Santander-backed Ferrari. The country's sole F1 team, HRT, folded after the end of last season.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by John Mehaffey)
79th Kannada Literary meet begins
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 09 Februari 2013 | 23.24
Bijapur (K'taka), Feb 9 (PTI) Discussions on the need for development of Kannada language and to check attempts to divide Karnataka were highlights of the 79th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, which kick started here today. Chairman of the Sammelan and well-known writer K Chennabasappa exhorted the government not to support the forces which try to divide the state. "There is no need for another Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat and the seat of power in Karnataka, and no need for regional parties also," he said. His remarks came in the backdrop of opinions expressed recently by some favouring separate statehood for North Karnataka districts, which came in for flak from several leaders and Kannada protagonist organisation. Chennabasappa urged people to send their wards to Kannada medium schools and wipe out the feeling that those who get education in English medium will get jobs. Government should reserve 50 per cent of jobs to those who studied in Kannada medium. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, in his inaugural address, promised that the there will be no closure of Kannada medium schools and the government was committed to all round development of the state's official language. "Development is the main manifesto of the BJP Government in state. In the current year budget Rs 289 crore has been earmarked for Kannada and Culture department which is record in the history," Shettar, who presented his maiden budget yesterday, said. He said formation of new taluks was a revolutionary step of BJP Government and Bijapur district got seven new taluks. Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind Karjol, Kannada Sahita Parishat Chief Pundalika Halabi, Minister S K Bellubbbi and Opposition Congress leader in the Legislative Council S R Patil were present on the occasion. PTI CORR MSR VS SCY SS
First Delhi Lit fest begins
New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) Writers are duty bound to provoke thought and prevent degradation in society, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said at the inaugural edition of Delhi Literature Festival. "The society is going down and it is the writers and thinkers who can help us to shake up things. We need to pick up strings again and nobody can be better than writers for this work," Dikshit said here. The two day Delhi Literature Festival got underway today at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The first day's events saw a book launch, discussions on literature in the age of new media, independent publishing in India as well as a poetry session. Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini who felicitated authors along with Dikshit said, "There is a keen and rapidly growing interest in Indian literature. India is becoming popular even in remote countries." With several literary festivals happening in India, this is the first festival of literature to be organised in the national capital. Chairperson of the National Commission on Minorities Wajahat Habibullah said that it is a promising trend. "So many literature festivals are happening in our country and young people are attending them in good numbers, it is a promising trend," Habibullah said. Author Madhulika Liddle's 'My Lawfully Wedded Husband' was launched at the first session of the literary event organised by Unnati Fortune Group and Cinedarbaar. Prominent names like Advaita Kala and Arunava Sinha lead the list of 35 authors who will form a part of the event. In a session 'Beyond The Blog: New Media and the Future of Literature', blogger Jai Arjun Singh said that new media gives opportunity to write without the limitation of word limit. "I was getting frustrated with limited word count. Blogs provided me with a writing practise," said Singh the writer and blogger of 'Jabberwock'. Author of 'The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic' Anna MM Vetticad said that though Internet is a wonderful place, it is extremely dangerous at the same time. "There is a great democratisation of voice due to social media but people need to be taught how to use it. There are propaganda websites also", Vetticad said. Director Lifi Publication Ramesh Mittal in a session on 'Indie Publishing in India' said, "Indie publishing comes from independent art. With new technology more and more Indie publishing is happening." Former civil servant and literary-cultural critic Ashok Vajpeyi addressed a session on poetry. The second day of the festival will see a musical performance by Zakrus Group, a folkloric music band, that is heading down to perform at the festival all the way from Iran and a unique storytelling session by Michal Malinowski, from Poland. PTI IKA HKR ANS RT
Rape victim commits suicide
Fatehabad (Haryana), Feb 9 (PTI) A 35-year-old woman, who was gang-raped by three youths on February 2, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree in Ghotru village in the district, police said today. The mother of three children was waylaid by the youths, identified as Keemti Bishnoi, Ashok Mavliya and Sushil Kumar of neighbouring village Hasanga when she was out to search her mentally challenged husband, SP Vikas Dhankhar said. Later, they forcibly dragged her to an isolated place and gang raped her, he said. However, when she disclosed the incident to the village elders, they held a meeting during which the trio confessed to have committed the crime. Yesterday, one of the accused rang up the victim and threatened of dire consequences if she complained the matter to the police, Dhankar said. Intimidated by the threat, the woman took the extreme step last night to end up her life. A case has been registered in this regard while the further probes are on, the SP added. PTI cor VJ DBR
AFZAL-2NDLD MOMENTS 2 LAST
Eight persons, including a doctor and a magistrate, were Eight persons, including a doctor and a magistrate, were present when he was hanged. His body was buried inside the prison complex soon after his execution. "He (Guru) was buried near Jail No.3 with full religious rites," said another Tihar Jail official. A Maulavi performed the last rites. Asked about his daily routine, another jail official said Guru used to spend most of his time either alone or with books as he had a good collection inside his cell. The official said he had a radio and he used to listen to FM channels regularly. "He used to wake up early in the morning and offer Namaz regularly." "He also used to go for walk in the morning in a park outside his cell," he said. This is the first time that Tihar Jail witnessed a hanging in the last two decades. The last was Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh, assassins of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who were sent to gallows in 1989. The jail authorities refused to share any details about whether he had any last wish or about any final words. Guru was found guilty of conspiring and sheltering the militants who attacked Parliament on December 13, 2001, in which nine persons were killed. The mercy plea of Guru, who was sentenced to death in 2002 by a special court and later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2005, was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 3. The family of Guru residing in Sopore in north Kashmir was informed about the decision of the government that his mercy petition has been rejected. However, Guru's lawyers Nandita Haksar and N Pancholi said his family was not informed about the government decision to hang him. The lawyers said the family came to know about Guru's hanging only through news channels. "The family was not informed about the decision. They came to know only through news channels. The family is in Sopore. They cannot come due to curfew," the lawyers said. PTI SMJ MPB PYK RT
188 candidates left in fray in Nagaland
Kohima, Feb 9 (PTI) Altogether 188 candidates were left in the fray for the February 23 Nagaland assembly election after the time for withdrawal of names ended today. The state's Chief Electoral Officer J Alam said out of the 189 nomination papers found valid after scrutiny, one Independent candidate withdrew from contest and the final list of candidates stood at 188 for the 60-member Assembly. There are only two women candidates in the fray and the total number of voters is 11,93,438, the CEO said. Prominent candidates included Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio (Northern Angami), Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie (Western Angami), Opposition Leader Tokheho Yepthomi (Dimapur III), Congress president SI Jamir (Dimapur II) and Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen (Koridang). Out of the 2023 polling stations in the state, 821 have been identified as sensitive and 662 as hyper sensitive, Alam said. Twenty constituencies would be witnessing straight fight while 18 would have triangular contest. Eighteen others have four candidates while two constituencies have five and six candidates in the fray. The CEO said the number of additional forces (Central Armed Police Force) to be deployed for peaceful conduct of the polls has gone up to 230 from 180. Out of the 230 additional companies, 39 have already been deployed while the remaining 191 would be arriving only after the February 14 Tripura elections. Besides, the state would also deploy about 13,000 security force, which include State Police, Village Guards and Home Guards personnel. PTI NBS NN PS
Assad makes minor government changes - state media
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad appointed new oil and finance ministers on Saturday, state media said, announcing a limited reshuffle during a deep economic crisis.
Syria's near two-year revolt against Assad, which has turned into a civil war, has ravaged infrastructure and halved the output of staple crops. It is also putting pressure on the Syrian pound.
State news agency SANA said Assad replaced five more ministers including those for agriculture and housing. Security posts such as the defence and interior ministers remained unchanged.
It said Assad appointed Suleiman Abbas, a former deputy oil minister, as the new oil minister and Ismail Ismail, a former head of the state owned grain company, as the new finance minister.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a violence monitoring group, said clashes between rebels and government forces continued in several provinces including Aleppo, Idlib and Homs and Damascus.
(Reporting by Mariam Karouny; Editing by Alison Williams)
Bale double spurs Tottenham to win over Newcastle
LONDON (Reuters) - Gareth Bale scored both goals in another virtuoso performance to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 home win over Newcastle United on Saturday and send his side third in the Premier League.
Chelsea can reclaim third place with a home win over Wigan Athletic later (1500 GMT) but for now Spurs have a two-point cushion after the unstoppable Wales winger netted his fourth and fifth goals in four games for club and country.
Bale struck first with a dipping free kick after five minutes with James Perch failing to jump in the visitors' wall before Lewis Holtby wasted three chances to increase the lead.
Newcastle's French forward Yoan Gouffran then grabbed his first Premier League goal since signing last month when his effort was deflected in midway through the first half but he later needed oxygen for a leg injury and was substituted.
Spurs had lost their way slightly and introduced Emmanuel Adebayor with the Togo striker finally having returned from the African Nations Cup. Their pressure eventually paid off when Bale ran through and finished with aplomb after 78 minutes.
He missed an easy chance for a hat-trick in stoppage time.
Second-placed Manchester City can cut the gap to leaders Manchester United to six points if they win at Southampton in the late game (1730). United host Everton on Sunday (1600). (Writing by Mark Meadows, editing by Justin Palmer)
Fisher and Sterne retain joint lead in Joburg Open
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africans Trevor Fisher Jnr and Richard Sterne kept the joint lead in the Joburg Open on Saturday after they both carded 68s in the third round.
The pair go into Sunday's final round locked on 19-under-par for the tournament, five shots clear at the top of the leaderboard.
Sterne is a five-times European Tour winner, but has not claimed a trophy since 2008, while Fisher is seeking his first win on the tour.
Fisher surged ahead on Saturday having gone out in 33 in his first nine holes, but three bogies coming home allowed his rival to stay in touch.
It could have been different after a fine approach to the 18th green left Fisher a 10-foot putt for eagle, while Sterne landed in the greenside bunker.
But an excellent save out of the sand gave Sterne a birdie and, when Fisher let the eagle chance slip, the opportunity to take the overnight lead was gone.
A quartet of players are five shots back, including twice winner Charl Schwartzel.
The 2011 Masters champion shot a bogey-free 68 to stay in the hunt, along with Chilean Felipe Aguilar (70), and home players Jaco van Zyl (67) and George Coetzee (70).
South African Garth Mulroy produced the round of the day, with a 65 which took him to 12-under for the tournament. The 2011 Joburg Open runner-up sunk eight birdies to go into Sunday tied for eighth place.
With thunderstorms predicted for Sunday afternoon, the tee-off times for the fourth round have been brought forward, with the leaders playing in a three-ball. (Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; Editing by John Mehaffey)
If only I had a right foot, moans perfectionist Bale
LONDON (Reuters) - Flaws in Gareth Bale's game are few and far between but panicked Premier League defences at least now know that making him shoot with his weaker right foot will give them a chance.
The Welshman scored twice in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 home win over Newcastle United on Saturday to make it four in three league matches but he could so easily have grabbed a hat-trick had an injury-time opportunity not fallen on his right foot.
Instead of the goal-of-the-season contenders he is accustomed to score, his wild effort over the bar with the net at his mercy was possibly one of the misses of the campaign.
"I'm disappointed with the one I missed, I need to work on that," he told Sky television with a smirk. "I'm enjoying my football, that's the most important thing."
The 23-year-old, who also netted for Wales in midweek, is at the peak of his powers and moved on to 13 league goals for the season after an early dipping free-kick and a 78th-minute winner which owed much to his long legs and clinical finishing.
Spurs boss Andre-Villas Boas, whose side are in the mix for the Champions League places, has shifted his tactics of late to allow Bale to operate in the centre of midfield as well as on the left wing but that may have contributed to his late miss.
Bale, coveted by some of the world's top clubs and constantly linked with a move away if Spurs do not start becoming true Premier League and European contenders, will use his right foot more often in his new role and will improve.
"We gave him more freedom and things worked out better second half," the Portuguese coach said.
"We are just fortunate to have a player, another player, like this."
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed the speedy Bale for outwitting a lowly side who had won their previous two games to ease relegation worries after a raft of French signings in the transfer window.
"He is difficult to contain. He was always going to get some freedom and he is in electric form," said Pardew, who added that injured goalscorer Yoan Gouffran had gone to hospital for an x-ray on a sore shin. (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by John Mehaffey)
Nadal creates athlete, event management company
MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has set up his own company to manage athletes and organise events with his long-term agent Carlos Costa, the world number five announced on Saturday.
"Together with his manager, Carlos Costa, Rafa Nadal began a new adventure on January 1 in the world of representing athletes of various sports like tennis, golf and football as well as organising events," Nadal's spokesman said in a brief emailed statement.
Spaniard Nadal, who is making his return from a seven-month injury layoff at this week's clay event in Vina del Mar, Chile, was previously represented by U.S.-based firm IMG, for whom Costa also worked.
He earned $25 million in endorsements last year from companies including Kia Motors and Nike, according to Forbes, putting him equal 16th on the magazine's list of the world's highest-paid athletes (www.forbes.com/athletes/list/).
IMG spokesman Jim Gallagher confirmed Nadal's contract with the company had expired at the end of 2012.
"We are very happy for Rafa and we wish him the best of luck," Gallagher said by telephone from New Jersey.
"We hope to do a lot more business with him in the future," he added.
Nadal is the second high-profile tennis player to leave IMG in recent months.
Roger Federer, the world number two, and his agent Tony Godsick both severed ties with the firm last year. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Justin Palmer)
Sauber unveil slimmer sidepods, new drivers
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 02 Februari 2013 | 23.24
HINWIL, Switzerland (Reuters) - Sauber unveiled a new-look car with slimmer sidepods and two new drivers on Saturday but declined to say whether they could improve on last year's sixth place in the constructors' championship.
The new car, the Sauber C32-Ferrari, is visually very different from its predecessor, boasting a smooth, slightly downward-sloping nose section and much slimmer sidepods, Sauber said.
"The C31 was an extremely competitive car with many strengths," chief designer Matt Morris told an audience at the unveiling on an industrial estate near Zurich. "Our aim was to further improve these strengths and eliminate its few weaknesses."
The sidepods, which give the car a distinctive look, were the major change.
"The airflow in this area has a major influence over everything that happens at the rear of the car," said Morris,
Morris said the tyre management had also been improved and the overall weight had been reduced.
"Our car looked after its tyres very well during races last year," said Morris. "However, we had problems now and again when it came to getting the maximum out of them in qualifying. We've looked at this phenomenon closely and made the required adjustments."
The reduced weight had allowed a better distribution of the ballast, while retaining its structural requirements and mechanical setup flexibility.
"My colleagues have done an excellent job here, and we have even exceeded our original targets", said Morris.
FIRST RUN
The car will get its first run at Jerez in Spain on Tuesday.
Germany's Nico Hulkenberg, who has joined from Force India and has two Formula One seasons behind him, will team up with Formula One rookie, 21-year-old Mexican Esteban Gutierrez.
Dutchman Robin Frijns is the test and reserve driver.
Sauber managed four podium finishes and 126 points last season, compared to 44 points in 2011, although the team was somewhat inconsistent.
"We're not saying we want to finish in this or that position in the standings, as ultimately other factors will also come into play that are outside our control," said team principal Monisha Kaltenborn
"We can be clear, however, that we want to continue on our upward curve.
"We have had our eye on Nico Hulkenberg for some time and have been impressed by his performances," added Kaltenborn.
"He is very quick, but, most importantly, he's also very efficient. He understands how to pick up as many points as possible from a particular race situation."
"I'm in no doubt Esteban Gutierrez is now ready to take the final step and put his outstanding talent on display."
"Sauber made significant progress last year from 2011," said Hulkenberg, who was eleventh last season.
"Now the team is ready to take the next step, and I want to play my part in making that happen. My personal aim is to put in a good, steady performance this season."
(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by John Mehaffey)
Baby theft: Hospital orders probe, attaches eight staffers
Jammu, Feb 2 (PTI) A day after a baby was allegedly stolen from its premises, the SMGS Hospital today ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter, besides attaching eight of its staffers to the medical superintendent's office. "We have ordered departmental enquiry and have attached eight people, including persons from the nursing staff," Medical Superintendent Dr A K Sharma said. He said the CCTV cameras installed in the premises captured footage of a woman walking out with the baby, but her face was fully covered. Conceding a security lapse, Sharma, however, said it is not possible for the hospital administration to provide a security guard to each and every patient. "It is a security lapse and we are seriously looking into the matter. But attendants who accompany the patients should also share some responsibility, we cannot place security guard for each and every bed," Sharma said. He did not rule out the possibility of involvement of a hospital staffer into the matter. "It is second such incident in three months. It is bringing disrepute to the hospital. It seems some gang is involved in this and we are also not ruling out possibility of hospital staff being involved in this," he said. Meanwhile, the father of the child, along with some social organisations, staged protests outside the hospital seeking immediate recovery of the baby. The baby, belonging to a couple from Rajouri district, had gone missing yesterday morning. The hospital attendants, who had fallen asleep, had informed about the matter to the parents after they found the baby missing when they woke up. PTI SNK AGL AGL
AS Roma sack manager Zeman after loss to Cagliari
By Terry Daley
ROME (Reuters) - Italian Serie A club AS Roma sacked manager Zdenek Zeman on Saturday after a 4-2 loss at home to Cagliari on Friday night.
"AS Roma announces that it has relieved Mr Zdenek Zeman of his position as coach of the first team," a club statement said.
"The team has been temporarily entrusted to Mr Aurelio Andreazzoli."
Friday's defeat was the latest in a line of embarrassing results for Roma, who have yet to win this year and find themselves in eighth place on 34 points, nine behind local rivals Lazio in the third Champions League spot
They are also three points behind AC Milan, who are fifth and occupy the second Europa League slot.
Zeman was brought in with much fanfare to replace Luis Enrique in the close season after the Spaniard presided over a disappointing season.
However, the Czech-born coach has failed to challenge for the title or the Champions League places, both season's objectives.
While their attacking play can often be exceptional, his team have conceded 42 goals so far this season, more than any other side apart from 17th-placed Pescara.
The fans finally turned on him after Cagliari's fourth goal on Friday, with hardcore fans in the Olympic Stadium displaying a banner that read "Boemo (Bohemian, Zeman's nickname) out", before turning their backs on the game.
After a meeting in Rome on Saturday morning between club directors and the owner James Pallotta, the decision was taken to relieve the coach of his duties.
"We decided to sack Zeman because we thought it was the only decision to take," sporting director Franco Baldini told reporters after the meeting.
"He's not the only one responsible, but for now we can only change the manager.
"We have faith in Andreazzoli, he knows the players well as he's been here for years, which means we don't lose nore time with him getting to know the players.
"After talking it over with the owner and the management we thought it was the right decision."
(Editing by John Mehaffey)
Death sentence for rape and murder
Sat, Feb 02, 2013 at 20:32
Death sentence for rape and murder
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Death sentence for rape and murder
Death sentence for rape and murder
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Death sentence for rape and murder
Death sentence for rape and murder
Katihar (Bihar), Feb 2 (PTI) A district court here today awarded death sentence to a person for the rape and murder of a minor girl in Bihar's Katihar district. After a speedy trial spanning a fortnight, the district court awarded death sentence to Sanjay Rishi for raping a three-and-a-half-year-old girl on January 23. The police arrested the accused the next day and submitted chargesheet within 24 hours. The court took cognisance of the matter on January 28 and through speedy trial issued the order within nine days. PTI COR SNS AMD HKS
NEWSALERT-VISHWAROOPAM 3
Sat, Feb 02, 2013 at 20:32
NEWSALERT-VISHWAROOPAM 3
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'; if (google_ads[0].type=="text") { if (google_ads.length == 1) { s+=''; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { s+=''; } } s+=adStr; document.write(s); return; } google_ad_client = 'ca-money_test_js'; //2008-03-05 : News Internal 300x250 google_ad_channel = "5088647641"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '2'; google_ad_type = 'text'; google_image_size = '468x60'; google_language = 'en'; google_encoding = 'utf8'; google_safe = 'high'; google_kw_type = 'broad'; google_ad_section = 'default'; google_page_url=document.location.href; // -->Man kills mother for refusing money to buy liquor
Vidisha (MP), Feb 2 (PTI) A young man killed his mother for not giving money to buy liquor at village Nagour under Nateran police staion jurisdiction, about 40 km from the district headquarters, late yesterday, police said today. Police officer Gopal Singh Dhakad told reporters that Ranveer Maihar (25) axed his mother Munni Bai (45) to death when she refused to give him money for liquor. Police has arrested Ranveer and registered a murder case against him. PTI Corr AS KRK
Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
Sat, Feb 02, 2013 at 21:02
Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
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Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
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Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
Kerala bags award for favourite winter, beach destination
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 2 (PTI) Kerala has emerged as the favourite winter and beach destination in the country, according to the annual Outlook Traveller Awards. The state tourism won awards for the "Favourite Winter Destination" and the "Favourite Beach Destination," the second one for its famed beach resort Kovalam near here, a Kerala Tourism release said today. Kerala Tourism was the only state board other than Jammu and Kashmir Tourism to pick up two awards at the travel magazine's award ceremony held in New Delhi last week. "It is a big honour for Kerala to win the two highest prizes in the prestigious Outlook Traveller Awards," said Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar. "The awards are a recognition of the state's leading role in the travel and tourism sectors of the country," Tourism Secretary Suman Billa said. Last year, Kerala had bagged a string of awards like Conde Nast Travel Award in the 'Excellence in Taking Brand India Global' category. It had also edged out Taj Mahal to become the number one travel destination in the Google's search trends for India in 2012. Kerala's hill destination Munnar was on the list of Top 10 Indian destinations on Google's Zeitgiest site showing search trends from around the world. PTI NM VS DKB PMS BS
From DJ EU Officials Spain Aid Cap Of 100 Bn Euros 'should Be Enough'
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Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
Sat, Feb 02, 2013 at 21:02
Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
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Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
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Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
Vishwaroopam row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord
Chennai, Feb 2 (PTI) Ending a week-long suspense and drama, Kamal Haasan's controversial Tamil film Vishwaroopam is finally poised for release in the state with some cuts after the actor and Muslim groups opposed to it reached a settlement during the state-government brokered talks here today. Emerging after the marathon talks lasting six hours in the presence of Home Secretary R Rajagopal at the Secretariat, Haasan said they have agreed to remove certain audio portions and hoped the government would revoke the ban imposed in the wake of protests by some Muslim outfits which considered the film offensive to their religion. "We will immediately arrange to announce the date of release after consultations, including with technical team," the actor who produced the mega-budget Rs 100 crore film told reporters ending nearly two-month long uncertainty marked by twists and turns over its release. Haasan said they would withdraw their petition in the Madras High Court challenging the two-week ban and expressed hope that the government would revoke its action that drew nation-wide criticism for stifling freedom of expression. Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam representative M H Jawahirullah, MLA, said Haasan has agreed for some cuts in the film, portions of which Muslims had deemed to be offensive. "The outcome of the meeting is fruitful," he said as the tri-partite meeting came after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa offered to facilitate it to pave the way for the release of the film though she had strongly justified the ban. The multi-lingual film, originally slated for release on January 11, has been released and running smoothly in other states including Kerala with a 25 per cent Muslim population, and Andhra and Karnataka. Its Hindi version "Vishwaroop" hit theatres in north India yesterday which, according to Haasan, had evoked 'fantastic' response. MORE PTI DSJ SA MS VS RA VMN
From DJ EU Officials Spain Aid Cap Of 100 Bn Euros 'should Be Enough'
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6 soldiers among 35 killed in Taliban attack on Pak check post
From Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Feb 2 (PTI) Dozens of Taliban militants, including suicide bombers, attacked a security forces' check post in Pakistan's restive northwest today, triggering an intense gun battle that killed 35 people, including 13 security personnel and 10 civilians. Security forces repulsed the attack on the isolated check post, located at Serai Norang area of Lakki Marwat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, after an exchange of fire that continued for over three hours. The militants, who were armed with rocket-propelled grenades, launched the assault shortly before 4 am. "Twelve terrorists were killed. The bodies of four terrorists, of whom two were wearing suicide jackets, are in the custody of the security forces," said a security official who did not want to be named. Four personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and nine soldiers died in the fighting, security officials said. Eight injured security personnel were taken to military hospitals in Bannu and Peshawar. Ten members of the same family were killed when a suicide bomber entered a house near the check post and blew himself up, officials told the media. Three women and as many children were among the dead. Officials had initially said that a dozen civilians were killed but they revised the toll after the gun battle ended. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan claimed responsibility for the attack. He claimed four suicide bombers were involved in the assault, which he said was carried out in retaliation for the death of two Taliban commanders in recent US drone strikes. In phone calls to reporters in the northwest, Ihsan accused the Pakistan Army of helping in the drone strikes. Media reports said the Taliban fighters used heavy weapons to target the check post. About 40 militants carried out the attack. Sounds of explosions and firing were heard in the area for several hours, local residents said. The attack came a day after a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Shia mosque at Hangu town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing 29 people and injuring over 50. PTI RHL SAP
Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
Sat, Feb 02, 2013 at 21:02
Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
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Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
Like this story, share it with millions of investors on M3
Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
Aadhaar is a number not an ID card, says Montek
New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI) Seeking to set at rest controversy over Aadhaar, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said UID is a number and not an identity card. "The Aadhaar is actually a number, linked to that number is a biometric record which is centrally stored. The (Aadhaar) number comes in a form of card. But that card is not an identity card," Ahluwalia told PTI when asked about the raging controversy over the issue. Some Cabinet Ministers have reportedly raised the issue pertaining to Aadhaar that whether it is a number or an identity card. The government has recently constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into the issue. Elaborating his point of view, Ahluwalia said, "I can tear up the card. As long as I have the number, I don't need the card. There is no such thing as UIDAI (Aadhaar) card. You need it only because you want to remember your number. If you stick your number in the wallet. That is fine." As regards the GoM, he said, "There are concerns that if you issue a card which is mandatory, it will become basis for harassment so the GoM has been constituted to go into that issue only in relation to the (NMIC) card." There is a separate proposal which is national multipurpose identity card (NMIC) which is being run by the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said adding that when the law was amended by the NDA government, this card (NMIC) was made mandatory. The government has mandated that Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to enrol and collect biometrics details of 60 crore population of the country. The biometric details of rest of the 61 crore population would be collected under National Population Register project. PTI KKS CS KSR
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