Accused Pak cricketers may be kept out of remaining matches

AP Mohammad Asif

Four Pakistani cricketers facing police investigation for their role in alleged match-fixing are likely to be kept out of the rest of the Pakistan-England tour following pressure from the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which was reported to be “adamant” that they should be dropped from the remaining matches.

Captain Salman Butt, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and bowlers Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif were questioned by Scotland Yard detectives for several hours on Saturday over allegations of “spot fixing” during last week’s final Test match against England at Lord’s.

Dutch police question Arab duo after US terrorist warning

AP An officer checks a passport at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. U.S. Authorities arrested two persons on charges of preparation of a terrorist attack. File photo : VARUN VARIER

Dutch police were on Tuesday questioning two Arabs detained at Amsterdam’s airport after a warning by U.S. officials that the men might have been rehearsing a terrorist attack.

Dutch counter—terrorism officials were taking the incident very seriously although the men had posed no risk to the flight from Chicago they had been travelling on, a spokeswoman for the Dutch Coordinator for Counter—Terrorism (NCTB) said.

The men — presumed to be Yemeni nationals — were suspected of carrying a mock bomb in their checked baggage on board earlier domestic flights in the U.S.

Officials were investigating whether the men may have been checking out the flights for possible terrorist attacks, Dutch media reported.

The NCTB spokeswoman said the Dutch investigators were awaiting more information from their U.S. counterparts. The U.S. Home Security Department had raised the original alert.

The men had arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport on a flight from Chicago on Monday night. The Dutch public prosecutor confirmed the men, identified as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al—Soofi and Hezem al—Murisi, were arrested “at the request of American authorities.” According to U.S. media reports, the men had been carrying fake bombs in their checked baggage on previous domestic flights in the U.S. The ABC network quoted a senior U.S. law enforcement official as saying: “This was almost certainly a dry run, a test.” Al—Soofi, resident in Detroit, Michigan, had attracted attention when he tried to embark on a flight from Birmingham Airport in the U.S. state of Alabama to Chicago because he had been wearing voluminous clothes despite high temperatures.

Officials found 7,000 dollars in cash, several mobile phones and watches taped together, as well as a carpet cutter and three other large knives in his luggage. The man had ultimately been allowed to continue his trip as no explosives were found in his baggage.

On landing in Chicago, al—Soofi had checked in his baggage for a flight via Washington to Dubai and Yemen. Instead of embarking on this flight, however, he had taken a plane to Amsterdam together with al—Murisi. The unaccompanied luggage had been taken off the other plane by officials.

Fearing the future, few Iraqis cheer U.S. departure

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, left, walks with Gen. Ray Odierno, right, after he arrived, in Baghdad on Monday. Photo: VARUN.

 

 

As Vice President Joe Biden presides over the formal end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq, few Iraqis are cheering the American exit.

Iraqis, who for years have railed against the U.S. occupation, are generally happy to see that the American presence won’t be endless. But there is also considerable trepidation about whether Iraq can go it alone.

“It’s not the right time,” said Johaina Mohammed, a 40—year—old teacher from Baghdad. “There is no government, the security is deteriorating, and there is no trust.”

Just under 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, down from a peak of nearly 170,000 at the height of the military surge in 2007. Those troops will be focused on training and assisting the Iraqi military, and will no longer be allowed to go on combat missions unless requested and accompanied by Iraqi forces.

Underscoring the shift, Mr. Biden was making a new appeal to Iraqi leaders Tuesday, including Prime Minister Nouri al—Maliki, to end the political deadlock and seat a new government. The March 7 parliamentary elections left Iraq without a clear winner, and insurgents have since exploited the uncertainty to hammer Iraqi security forces.

Iraqi forces are vastly improved and attacks have plummeted since the dark days of 2006 and 2007. But rarely a day goes by without some loss of life, and spectacular attacks such as the violence on Wednesday that killed 56 people still happen with disturbing regularity.

Mr. Biden and U.S. officials have downplayed suggestions they are abandoning Iraq at a crucial time. The vice—president on Tuesday said militants’ attempts to again wreck havoc in Iraq have been unsuccessful.

“Notwithstanding what the national press says about increased violence, the truth is, things are still very much different, things are much safer,” Mr. Biden said in comments to Mr. al—Maliki before the two met privately.

But many Iraqis do not share his optimism.

India to urge China to curb illegal trade in tigers

Defence ties between India and China may be strained in the wake of the visa denial row, but the two countries hope next week will see increased cooperation in both wildlife conservation and global financial issues as two delegations from New Delhi travel to Beijing.

On Monday evening, a delegation from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the National Tiger Conservation Authority arrived in Beijing for a five-day visit, to urge Chinese counterparts to strengthen enforcement and curb illegal trade in tigers and other endangered big cats. Poaching in Indian forests is largely resorted to for meeting the raging demand for tiger parts in traditional Chinese medicine.

INFORMATION ON ACCOUNTS STASHED AWAY IN SWISS BANKS NOW EASIER

India and Switzerland on Monday signed a protocol to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement that would enable the government get information about some of the illegally stashed wealth in Swiss banks.

                                   It was signed bye the Finance Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee and the Head of the federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Federal Councillor.

LALUR AGITATION CALLED OFF

The Lalur Malineekarana Virudha Samara Samithi on Monday called off its agitation , including a six day hunger strike , organised to press for the speedy and systematic implementation of the Lalu Model Project for Solid Waste Management (LAMPS).

300 workers trapped in mine,rescued

About 300 workers labourers working in an underground coal mine of mahanadi Coalfields Limited at talcher in orissa's Angul district were trapped in the mine on Monday after a sang in the lift . The workers were rescued , in small batches , through the lift which is used for bringing out coal

PARLIAMENT ADOPTS NUCLEAR LIABILITY BILL

Parliament of India adopted the Civl Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill,with the Rajya Sabha approving the legiaslation on Monday , paving the way for overseas companies to set upnuclear rectors in the country.

BLACKBERRY GIVES IN TO SET UP SERVER IN INDIA

Canada-based Research in motion (RIM) , the makers of Blackberry,on Monday provided certain proposals for lawful access to its services by India's security agencies.