Three spinners in India's World Cup squad, Rohit Sharma dropped

NEW DELHI: India included three spinners and dropped Rohit Sharma in their final 15-member squad for the ICC cricket World Cup selected by the five-member selection panel led by K Srikanth in Chennai on Monday.

The list of 30 probables were pruned to half and no big star is left out of the final squad for the mega-event starting February 19.

The top-seven of the Indian batting-order -- Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni -- are in the team as expected and Yusuf Pathan take the all-rounder's berth.

The inspirational Zaheer Khan lead the pace attack and his pacer partners will be the trio of Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Praveen Kumar. S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma failed to make the cut.

Harbhajan Singh will spearhead the slow bowling department with Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin as his spin partner. Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha were also vying for the slot.

Just a day before the selection meeting, doubts have arisen over Sachin Tendulkar's availability after he pulled out of the remainder of the ODI series in South Africa as a precautionary measure after sustaining a hamstring injury during Saturday's second match.

But going by indications, the injury is not serious and Tendulkar will be making his sixth World Cup appearance.

Squad

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin, Ashish Nehra.

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PM's remarks on autonomy evoke mixed reaction

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's willingness to consider autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir evoked mixed reaction from political parties on Wednesday with ruling National Conference and CPI(M) welcoming the initiative but separatists saying it will not solve the crisis.
A day after Singh told an all-party meeting that the Centre was willing to consider autonomy within the ambit of the Constitution, National Conference President and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah said "we welcome the Prime Minister's initiative on autonomy within the Constitution and I am hopeful that this will bring some peace to the valley.
As a step forward in this direction, the senior Abdullah said his party "will begin dialogue with other political parties in the state and work out to bring a consensus on this issue."
The state Pradesh Congress Chief Saif-ud-din Soz did not directly comment on autonomy but said the Prime Minister's comments on the situation in the state will definitely produce a much-required "healing touch" in the state.
He said the Prime Minister was very positive in the meeting and his expression of concern for the people of Jammu and Kashmir shows his compassion. "His speech will definitely produce a much-required healing touch for the people of the Valley."
Asked about his views on autonomy, he said "you see I am an ardent believer of dialogue between people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Government. I am sure it will yield a resolution to the political problem."
Soz also stressed on the need to send an all-party delegation to the state to have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the Valley. "I also want senior editors of the prominent newspapers also to visit the Valley," he said.
PDP, which welcomed the Prime Minister's opening remarks, however, reacted guardedly on the autonomy issue saying Kashmir is not a problem between Centre and the state.
"It has both internal as well as external dimensions which have to be addressed. Devolution of powers can be a part of resolution but cannot be a resolution by itself because we need to sort our relationship with the other Kashmir," PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said.
She said the problem needs a holistic solution and just devolution of powers from the Centre to the state.
BJP was critical of the proposal saying there cannot be autonomy within the country. If the proposal reverses the state's integration with the country, then the party will oppose, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shanker Prasad said.
Leader of another national party from the state, Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami of CPI-M said the Prime Minister's offer to discuss autonomy is a welcome statement.
"But the Prime Minister should himself hold consultations to build a consensus for a larger autonomy and devolution of power within the state," he said.
Tarigami, considered a peacemaker, said what the Prime Minister has said at the meeting has definitely a positive message to the people of the state.
"All the participants projected the views and the meeting will surely help reduce the grievances of people of the state," he said.
Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Abdul Gani Bhat rejected the autonomy offer saying it was no solution to the problem that is begging for resolution for last six decades.
"Autonomy is an arrangement between Delhi and Srinagar. Kashmiris have tasted autonomy--the autonomy that swallowed the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir's body and soul together.
This news is taken from- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/125054/top-stories/srikrishna-report-on-telangana-to-go-public-on-jan-6.html

I didnt kill her, says husband of slain Indian-origin woman

The husband of the Indian-origin woman who was killed while honeymooning in South Africa after being abducted Nov 14 has denied his involvement in the murder and said he had "searched high and low" for his "perfect partner".
Anni, 28, was found dead after she was abducted by two gunmen while travelling in a taxi along with her husband in Western Cape. The British couple flew into South Africa for honeymoon.
Shrien Dewani, 30, broke down over the allegation saying: "How could anyone say I killed her?"
"It was the end of my world. I feel like Ive been robbed of the rest of my life," the Sun quoted Shrien, a millionaire, as saying.
Shrien, who is in Britain where his business is in debt, said of Swedish Anni: "Id searched high and low for my perfect partner."
"Anni was the One. Her looks, her laughter, her personality, her spirit - everything about her was right for me. Why would I want to kill her? People who suggest this could not have seen us together. Saying I was somehow involved simply defies logic."
Police in Cape Town Monday rubbished speculation about "inconsistencies" in his account of Annis kidnap. Police chief General Bheki Cele said the Brit was not a suspect.
Zola Tongo, 31, the driver of the cab, who was kicked out of the car after it was ambushed by the gunmen, was behind bars. He has been charged with kidnap and robbery.
Police who have arrested two suspects in the carjacking claim Tongo tipped them off about where he was taking the newlyweds.
Shrien recalled his nightmare: "The robber put the pistol to my temple and stripped my 2,000-pound Rado watch from my wrist. I handed him 5,000-6,000 Rand (500 pound) and begged him to let us both go."
"Anni whispered to me in Gujarati so they couldnt understand that she had hidden her wedding and engagement ring. All I could think about was saving our lives."
"They dumped Zola after a few minutes and then started roaring around at crazy speeds smashing over speed bumps and almost losing control," Shrien said.
"Anni got more and more hysterical. I thought we were both going to be killed in a crash. They just kept going faster and faster - as she screamed louder and louder. Then the man with the gun turned round and told me: Shut her up now or Ill kill her. I was trying to calm Anni down but she just kept pleading with them to let us go."
"She gave me another of her rings - one with a stone in it - which I handed to them, saying: "Please take this. Please just let us go."
Later, the carjackers dragged Shrien and threw him on to the sandy ground at the side of the road.
"I looked up to see the car disappearing into the darkness with my lovely wife still inside. I had no money, no phone. I was shocked and didnt know what to do standing in the dark in the middle of nowhere," Shrien said.
The newlyweds terror ride had lasted 40 minutes - and it was another 20 before police arrived. Shrien was driven back to the five-star Cape Grace Hotel on Cape Towns waterfront. Cabbie Tongo joined him as they told police what had happened.
this article is taken from- http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a183506.html

Karnataka HC upholds iron ore export ban:

Bangalore: Today (Friday) state government’s orders prohibited of exporting iron ore and authorize problem to transport was prohibited by Karnataka High Court.

Mostly 40 withdrawal companies, in different part, are challenging the passing order. Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice S Abdul Nazir involved upholding the 25^th July notification forbidding the iron ore exports and also the 26^th July, prohibiting transport problem permits.

The worktable ordered to place narrow mechanism to check its legality in six month.

In this situations the prohibition was spank in the centre of the endanger debates by the Yeddyurappa government over the unlawful mining activities in the state with opposition targeting three minister-cum-mining magnates-B Janardhana Reddy, his brother Karunakara Reddy and their associate B Sreeramulu.

The decision will led to a large amount of India’s iron ore going out of the market mainly in China the main buyer of Indian iron ore, to the respect of the experts. In a year Karnataka produces 45 millions iron ore and exports more than half of it to the traders.

Even it will drive the range of iron ore in the international market. Iron ore prices have risen 38 percent year to date and have rebounded nearly 40 percent from seven-month lows touched in July.

Traders says that China could bye the products from the others suppliers-Australia, Brazil and the others which are the host of others countries to pay back for any loss from India. And the prices may harden again if India’s supplies loss it’s continuously.

Terrorists may target Delhi, Mumbai: Sources

Militants might target Delhi and Mumbai later this month, intelligence agencies have warned. These attacks could be carried out during the anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, sources said.
Sources told Headlines Today that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been planning attacks on the two cities in collaboration with local terror groups. According to home ministry sources, specific information on these possible attacks has been received from a western country.
Sources said as per specific intelligence inputs, jehadi groups from Jammu and Kashmir were planning an attack in Delhi on November 17. Three locations of the city were to be targeted simultaneously.
In Mumbai, the threat still looms large as the attacks have been planned during the 26/11 anniversary or by November 30.
After the warning, security has been tightened across Maharashtra as well as in the national capital.
This article is taken from- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/120377/LATEST%20HEADLINES/terrorists-may-target-delhi-mumbai-sources.html

2G scam: SC asks govt to file affidavit on PM's silence

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to file an affidavit on Prime Minister's silence on Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy's petition seeking sanction to prosecute former telecom minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum scam case.
The Supreme Court asked the Centre to file the affidavit by Saturday and fixed the hearing on Tuesday.
The apex court also said that showing the files were not enough. It has to say owe the reasons for the delay so that any concealment of fact, the court can fix the accountability. The SC wants the affidavit to be filed on behalf of the Prime Minister by a responsible officer explaining the 11 long months inaction and silence.
The court had on Tuesday asked the government to explain within two days why the "sanctioning authority" - in this case, the Prime Minister - remained silent for 11 months over a request seeking sanction for the prosecution of A Raja in the 2G case.
In a reference to PM Manmohan Singh's oversight role, the SC referred to a petition submitted by Subramaniam Swamy to the PM, to say: "We are on the alleged inaction and silence of the sanctioning authority for 11 months on Swamy's petition seeking sanction to prosecute....This what is worrying us."
An SC bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly hearing the 2G spectrum case asked solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam to examine relevant files before giving his response on Thursday on why it took the government a month short of a year to tell Swamy that prosecution would be "premature" at this stage.
The SC's remarks came on the same day as the Comptroller and Auditor General's scathing report on the allocation of 2G licences in which CAG has not only indicted Raja but also indirectly referred to an oversight failure of the ex-minister's role by saying "there is an imperative need to fix responsibility and enforce accountability for lapses".
SC's query on why the PM did not decide either way - whether there was merit in Swamy's petition or not - is likely to harden the Opposition demand for a joint parliamentary committee to probe the alleged scam. This, in turn, may complicate the logjam in Parliament as the government is expected to resist a JPC.
Swamy's petition against Raja was not vague: SC
The solicitor general defended the PMO by saying that as the CBI was probing the alleged scam, the "sanctioning authority" (PM) was perfectly within its rights to inform Swamy that it would await the outcome of the investigation before deliberating on whether the Raja should be prosecuted or not.
But the bench left little room for confusion. It put its question based on dates and facts - Swamy had filed a petition before the PM on November 29, 2008 seeking sanction to prosecute Raja; CBI had lodged an FIR on October 21, 2009 against "unknown persons"; and the response to Swamy's petition came on March 19, 2010, from the secretary in the department of personnel and training (DoPT) on behalf of the PMO saying the petition was "premature".
"What happened between November 29, 2008 and October 21, 2010?" the bench wanted to know, adding, "We take it that the sanctioning authority was right in awaiting the outcome of a pending inquiry to defer a decision on a private petition seeking sanction to prosecute a minister. But why was the authority silent for 11 months preceding the lodging of the FIR."
In view of these questions, the bench had felt it would be proper to issue notice to the government and ask for a response to Swamy's charge of "total inaction and silence" against the sanctioning authority.
With the solicitor general appearing for DoT, the bench asked him whether he was ready with a response.
Subramanaim said he was. Referring to DoPT secretary Shantanu Consul's letter to Swamy, the Bench expressed its nagging doubt: "whether the papers (Swamy's petition) were ever placed before the sanctioning authority?" The SG emphatically put this doubt to rest by saying the DoPT letter was an official communication and that the "sanctioning authority was in cognizance of the petition".
He said: "The sanctioning authority is not overlooking the petition. But, since it required application of mind to the outcome of the probe, the same was conveyed to Swamy by DoPT. It was aimed to convey that the petition is just deferred to await outcome of the detailed probe."
But the bench wasn't satisfied. It said: "It's not that Swamy's petition was vague. And his right to seek sanction to prosecute, which is a legal right, does not depend on the ipse dixit (a Latin phrase meaning 'he himself said it') of anybody. And the DopT letter terms the petition as 'premature'. Does this mean his right to to seek sanction has not ripened yet? And did the sanctioning authority know at the time of filing of the petition that there will be a CBI probe? We are on alleged inaction and silence. The outcome of the CBI inquiry is totally outside his control. This what is worrying us. Can some one's legal right be asked to wait?"
Attempts by Subramaniam to divert focus from the word "premature" by saying that it just meant to convey that a decision on the petition was being deferred failed to convince the bench. It said: "When the letter comes from the highest authority, the language is carefully used."

This article is taken from- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2G-scam-SC-asks-govt-to-file-affidavit-on-PMs-silence/articleshow/