Manmohan asks Pak to reciprocate

NEW DELHI: Asserting that the recent beheading of the Indian soldier along LoC has cast a "negative impact" on bilateral ties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked Pakistan to reciprocate India's efforts for friendship with it. "We take a consistent review of our ties with Pakistan. The incident has cast a negative impact on our ties. We will take steps with care and due consideration," he said addressing a meeting of AICC here. "We want friendship with Pakistan. They should also make efforts in this regard. It is not possible only with our efforts," the Prime Minister said. His remarks were greeted with applause from the gathering of delegates at AICC which was presided by party chief Sonia Gandhi with Vice President Rahul Gandhi on her side.

Kamran Faisal’s death: No FIR lodged yet

ISLAMABAD: It has been 48 hours since the mysterious death of Kamran Faisal, the NAB officer part of the team probing the Rental Power Plants (RPP) case, but no FIR has been lodged yet. The initial report has citied that the cause of Kamran Faisal’s death was suicide, however his relatives claim that he was murdered and are seeking a judicial inquiry. Kamran’s relatives alleged that torture marks were found on his body, which have also been shown to the media. The report from the Poly Clinic in Islamabad counter’s this claim and states that no torture marks were found on the body. AC Secretariat Noman Yusuf has been named the inquiry officer tasked with finding out the reason behind Kamran Faisal’s death. Yusuf will speak with Kamran’s friends, hostel staff, NAB officers and record their statements. It has been reported that Kamran was under stress during the investigation of the RPP case and had requested to be removed from the probe.

BJP, RSS promoting 'Hindu terrorism': Indian home minister

JAIPUR: Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde Sunday has said that the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS are promoting ‘Hindu terrorism’. The minister said that the government got an investigation report which indicated that be it the RSS or BJP, their training camps are promoting Hindu terrorism. Shinde further said they are trying to bring peace in the country, but admitted that sometimes there is injustice to minorities. Meanwhile, the BJP denouncing the Indian home minister’s claims demanded apology from the government.

Pakistan squad leave for South Africa series

LAHORE: A 16-member Pakistan squad today (Sunday) left for South Africa to play a three test series‚ five ODIs and two T20.
Talking to newsmen at Lahore airport before departure‚ test and One day team Captain‚ Misbah ul Haq said that moral of the team is high after the series won in India. He said that the team will have to perform in all departments of game as batting and bowling of South Africa is good and strong.
Misbah said that role of spinners will be crucial during the tour. He said that there will be pressure from number one team of the world but we will perform better.
The first test match will be played at Johannesburg from the first of next month.The second test will be played at Cape Town from 14th of next month while the 3rd and final test at Centurion from 22nd of next month.

Aussie, Sri Lanka ODI called off after rain

SYDNEY: The fourth one-day international between Australia and Sri Lanka was abandoned after rain halted play on Sunday with the tourists chasing 223 runs to take the series.
Sri Lanka needed 209 more runs off 46.4 overs with all their wickets in tact when the umpires took the players off the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was on four and Tillakaratne Dilshan nine.

Australia scored 222 for nine off their 50 overs after winning the toss.
"The outfield is still quite wet so unfortunately..." said a disappointed Australian skipper Michael Clarke.
Opener David Warner top scored with 60 off 73 balls but ninth man Mitchell Starc starred for the hosts knocking 52 off 37 to help Australia post a decent total.
Sri Lanka have routed Australia in the last two games to seize a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
The final leg will be played in Hobart on Wednesday.
"We've got a chance to level the series," Clarke said.
 

NAB Balochistan probing 5 more ministers

QUETTA: NAB Balochistan is probing corruption in various ministries of the provincial government has extended its investigation to five more ministries, Geo News reported Sunday.
NAB Balochistan sources said that earlier inquiries into the corruption and irregularities of eleven ministries were completed and the report was sent to the NAB Chairman for further action, while the investigation into five ministries has now been taken up by seizing the records of these ministries.
Sources said that ministries of education, health, social welfare and others are included among those probed and their ministers might be arrested after clearance sought from the higher authorities.

Azarenka survives scare to make fourth round

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Victoria Azarenka survived a scare Saturday in a tough, three-set battle with injured American Jamie Hampton before booking her place in the Australian Open fourth round.

The top-seeded Belarusian came through the match on Rod Laver Arena 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to set up a clash next with either 16th-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci or unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina.

On a cool Melbourne day, Azarenka held her opening game with pinpoint serves and got a break in the fourth when Hampton hit a backhand into the net.

She turned the pressure up with some powerful groundstrokes from the baseline but Hampton refused to give up and had a break point in the fifth that she failed to convert.

Azarenka was being tested and was soon pumping her fist and shouting "C'mon" as her emotions showed, and her persistence paid off when a delicate lob handed her another break to be 5-1 in front.

But the 23-year-old Hampton bounced back, forcing Azarenka into a forehand error to keep the set alive.

The American held serve than broke again for 5-4 and Azarenka was in trouble before the Belarusian stepped up a gear and took the set on a Hampton double fault.

Hampton kept her focus and immediately broke for an early lead in the second set before throwing away her serve and it was back to level pegging.

Neither player was serving well and Azarenka got broken again, with her frustrations evident as she was pushed around the court. Hampton was sizzling and had two set points at 5-3, but the top seed saved and held.

Hampton left the court for treatment on a lower back problem at the changeover, but despite being in obvious pain she held serve for the set, with Azarenka slamming her racquet in frustration.

The brave American, who appeared close to tears at times from the discomfort, had the crowd onside and got a crucial break in the third for a 2-1 lead before Azarenka fought back to win the next five games.

The victory keeps Azarenka on course to meet former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals, and potentially Serena Williams in the semis, as she defends her first Grand Slam title