If men desighned bra

Freida gets bold

While Freida gets bold for the latest photoshoot for a magazine, you decide if she completes the bold and the beautiful look?

I Admire Abhishek: Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai who was recently at the inauguration of a Longines store in New Delhi, was more than forthcoming talking about her hubby dearest Abhishek Bachchan. She was her usual chirpy self and could stop gushing about Abhi.Drona might not have got rave reviews but Ash is all praises for Abhi.

“I think he’s a wonderful actor. I’ve always admired his approach to his work. You have to admire all the actors (in Drona), I did. Abhishek played Drona realistically. I viewed the film through a child’s eyes. It has to be perceived as a fantasy adventure,” she said.

Ash maintains that Abhi is a mature actor who understands cinema well enough to make good career decisions.

He understands cinema so well that he is not afraid of taking risks. He stands by his family, friends all the time and because of this I identify a lot with him,” she gushed.

“I know him for a very long time now. Together we have grown from actors to colleagues to friends and now we share a very special bond. It is definitely a nice feeling,” she added.

Okay Ash… We know you are madly in love with him… but stop being so ‘politically correct’ always…

Malhotra appointed IPL tourney director

Ex-army officer Dhiraj Malhotra has been appointed as the tournament director for the second season of the IPL.

Catherine Simpson, of International Management Group, was appointed the joint tournament director of the T20 League and, along with Malhotra, would be in overall charge of cricket operations, programming and logistics during the 45-day event, a media release from IPL said.

Malhotra has been with the International Cricket Council for the last three years and has the experience of handling the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 as well as the World Cup in the West Indies held in March-April that year behind him.

In addition, he has worked on various Champions Trophies and Under-19 World Cups.

Catherine Simpson has been working with IMG to promote cricket in the sub-continent and the Caribbean since 1994. She has also worked with the company on Wimbledon, Rugby World Cups and Miss World beauty pageants.

The IPL and IMG have also appointed tournament venue operations managers. They are: Jaipur - Rob Hillman and Rakesh Aggarwal; Mumbai - Bikram Singh and Jeremy Parker Tomkinson; Kolkata - Romi Bhandari; Bangalore - Max Heddy; Mohali - Tony Gavin and Kamal Mehra; Hyderabad - Paul Skinner and Rohit Sequeira; Delhi - to be announced.

They would look after the day-to-day operations of the venues in the lead-up to the inaugural match scheduled for Jaipur on April 10, the release said.

Sachin gives BCCI reasons to worry

The BCCI is in a spot of bother with Sachin Tendulkar due to appear in a T20 match alongside ICL players.
Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik, who are not in India's Twenty20 squad, have been pencilled in for Friday's game which among others will also have Marshall, who played for Royal Bengal Tigers in the ICL.

While Tendulkar will turn out for New Zealand Cricket Players' Association Masters side which will also have Marshall, Karthik will play for the Australian Masters outfit.

The move which finds support from India coach Gary Kirsten has put the BCCI in a fix since it has shunned all kinds of contact with ICL and its players.

They stopped VVS too

The Board had even prevented VVS Laxman from playing for Nottinghamshire since the side had ICL players.

Though NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills said Marshall is no longer contracted to the rebel league, the ICL claimed the New zealander is still part of it.

"The ICL players are allowed to play in New Zealand domestic cricket. Moreover, Hamish is not an ICL-contracted player. He finished his contract last year," Mills was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

While the BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty declined to comment on the matter, Niranjan Shah, the Indian team's manager here said the board would take up the matter with New zealand Cricket.

"No Indian player will play for a team that has an ICL player," Shah reiterated before adding that it would not be a problem if Marshall is no longer contracted with the ICL.

Tevez: I want to win everything

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez has his heart set on winning an unprecedented Quadruple with the Red Devils.

The first leg of what would be an historic achievement for Sir Alex Ferguson's men comes this Sunday when they play Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup final.

United are also leading the Barclays Premier League, fighting hard in the last-16 of the Champions League and are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Not surprisingly the Argentina international is eager to win as much as he possibly can.

"The best part of the season is coming up," said Tevez of United's trophy hunt.

"We're in the last 16 of the Champions League, we are top of the league and we're in the Carling Cup final.

"We want to win everything, that's what the fans are demanding and we will try to win on all fronts.

"Let's hope we can do that."

Tevez is nearing the end of a two-year loan deal at Old Trafford with United having to negotiate a transfer fee and personal terms if they wish to keep him beyond the summer.

The pocket dynamo starred for United last season, but following the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov at Old Trafford, Tevez has subsequently found himself relegated to the bench far more often than he would like.

Even so, he is determined to give his all to the United cause.

"My personal goal is to play as many minutes on the pitch and score as often as I can for the team," he added.

Army closes in on BDR headquarters

The army is apparently set to enter the BDR headquarters with heavy arms through all gates near Nilkhet and Hazaribagh, flaring up the fear of a heavy bloodshed.

Around 4:15pm, army personnel fired several gunshots on way to the mutineers' centre of operations.

Some private television stations reported that army already entered the BDR headquarters through gate No 2, triggering a battle as the BDR mutineers retaliated.

Residents of the surrounding areas were evacuated.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun earlier told reporters that BDR jawans agreed to surrender arms and go back to barracks.

Mutineers surrender arms

The mutineers of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) surrendered their arms this afternoon hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged them to go back to barracks, apparently ending nearly a two-day battle.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun and Finance Minister AMA Muhith received the arms at the Pilkhana's BDR Headquarters.

White flags have been hoisted at the headquarters.

The Armed Police Battalion has been assigned to guard the armoury, different private television channels reported.

Several army officers along with their family members, who were kept hostage by the mutineers, were released in phases today after the armoured army encircled it.

Incidents of sporadic gunshots also reported from the gate No 2 and 3 of the headquarters.

Negotiations between the mutineers and government have been going on since yesterday to calm down the agitation that claimed 11 people.

Tensions have still been running high in and around the BDR Headquarters that spread across the country.

The prime minister yesterday verbally pardoned the BDR rebellions but it could not make any immediate breakthrough.

At least 50 people were feared killed in Wednesday’s BDR revolt, UNB adds today quoting State Minister for Law Advocate Quamrul Islam.

Go back to barracks right now or face action: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) urged the BDR mutineers to go back to barracks at this moment after surrendering their arms, otherwise "I'll be bound to take any step in the interest of the country".

"You surrender the arms. I'm giving you words that none of you will be harmed," the premier called upon the rebel BDR jawans during her address to the nation.

In her brief televised address to the nation, she said, "Do not take the law in your own hands. You have to be patience and abide by the chain of commands. I'm requesting you not to find any way of self-conflict. We're trying to resolve your problems with patience. Do not follow any away so that I loss my patience."

"I am trying to solve the problems through negotiations not through using force," she said adding, "I'm requesting BDR jawans to stay far from any rumour or any provoking speeches by any groups or individuals."

"I'm very socked at the yesterday's incidents," said the premier adding the steps have already been taken for appropriate treatment of the injured.

Some unwanted incidents are polluting the environment, she said and called upon all not make any comment that may aggravate the situation.

India files charges against Mumbai attack gunman

Investigators charged the lone surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks with 12 crimes yesterday including murder and waging war against India.

Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Kasab has been held by the police since he was captured in the early hours of the attacks, but had not been formally charged. Nine other attackers were killed during the three-day siege, which left 164 people dead and targeted luxury hotels, a Jewish center and other sites across the city. The formal filing of charges paves the way for Kasab's trial to begin.

The charges a several-thousand page document also included Kasab's confession, detailed accounts from 150 witnesses and closed circuit television footage that shows him and his accomplice walking into Mumbai's crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji train station and spraying it with bullets, Mumbai police's main investigator Rakesh Maria had said earlier.

Indian law requires that charges be filed against a suspect within 90 days of arrest. Kasab was formally arrested November 28.

Kasab has been given a copy of the police charge sheet, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said yesterday.

If convicted on the two most critical charges murder and waging war against India the 21-year-old Kasab will likely face the death penalty.

India has blamed the attack on Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist militant group widely believed created by Pakistani intelligence agencies in the 1980s to fight India rule in the divided Kashmir region.

India has also said that all 10 attackers were from Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Pakistani officials acknowledged that the Mumbai attacks were partly plotted on its soil and announced criminal proceedings against eight suspects.

There are no details yet about when Kasab's trial is likely to begin.

Meanwhile, India had earlier said that they will respond to Pakistan's questions on dossier after filing of chargesheet in Mumbai attack case.

"After the chargesheet is filed, we will reply," Home Minister Chidambaram told reporters outside Parliament on being asked when India would reply to the set of 30 questions posed by Pakistan on the Indian dossier.

Ronaldo: We can make quarters

Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed Manchester United's last-16 Champions League display away against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

United claimed a 0-0 draw in the San Siro and, with Ronaldo to the fore, were often in the driving seat against an Inter Milan side that will be looking to make amends in a fortnight's time at Old Trafford.

Whilst Inter's war of words has already started ahead of the clash in Manchester, Ronaldo is confident that the Red Devils have what it takes to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"We played better than Inter in my opinion. We created more chances, especially in the first half. But we didn't score," Ronaldo told reporters after the match in Italy.

"We have the second leg at home. We have a better chance than here.

"I know here is always difficult to play, but we've shown we are a great team and we deserved to win."

Striker Wayne Rooney was not quite as enthusiastic following the draw, but the England international is adamant that United can still progress.

"We really should have taken one of those chances and given ourselves a better chance for the game at Old Trafford," he said.

"It's always a difficult place to come and a draw is still a good result."

NZ thrash India in series opener

New Zealand drew first blood in their series with India with a seven-wicket win over India in the opening Twenty20 match in Christchurch.

Set a target of 163, the hosts reached it with eight balls to spare as Jacob Oram smacked a huge six to bring up the winning runs.

Brendon McCullum was the top scorer for the home side with 54 off 49 balls.

Having seen his opening partner Jesse Ryder trapped leg before by Ishant Sharma in just the second over he went about constructing an innings firstly with Martin Guptill, who was lucky not to be given out lbw first ball, Ross Taylor and finally Oram.

After his lucky escape it was Guptill who cut loose first as he regularly found the boundary then took to Irfan Pathan in the sixth over, smacking the left-armer for consecutive sixes.

But just nine runs shy of his half-century he was trapped leg before by Harbhajan Singh to leave New Zealand 56 for two.

But Taylor and McCullum took the match away from the Indians with a 50-run partnership as they worked the singles and punished the bad balls.

Taylor eventually went for a 20-ball 31 when he was bowled by Zaheer Khan leaving Oram, playing as a batsman only on his return from injury, and McCullum to complete a successful run chase.

McCullum brought up his half-century in the 19th over with a six off Yusuf Pathan, who like his brother Irfan was expensive, and Oram wrapped up the innings with his second six four balls later.

Earlier, Suresh Raina had held the Indians' innings together as wickets fell at regular intervals, particularly through the middle of the order.

Raina's unbeaten 61 in 43 balls and a vital partnership of 61 runs with Harbhajan at the end of the innings helped the visitors to post a reasonable total.

When Virender Sehwag unleashed consecutive sixes off the first three balls he faced it looked like it would be a tough night in the field for New Zealand as Tim Southee conceded 19 runs off the first over.

But Iain O'Brien struck back for the home side with the last ball of the second over to get the vital wicket of Gautam Gambhir (six) then bowled Sehwag (26) with the first ball of his next.

They fell like ninepins

That had India 32 for two which quickly became 61 for five as Rohit Sharma (seven), Yuvraj Singh (one) and captain MS Dhoni (two) fell in quick succession.

A good piece of fielding by Oram ended Yusuf Pathan's innings after he had smacked three successive sixes off Nathan McCullum in his eight-ball 20.

Irfan Pathan was next to go, caught by Nathan McCullum off the bowling of Ryder and India were struggling at 101 for seven in the 14th over.

But Harbhajan and Raina showed plenty of composure and creativity as they held firm with Raina bringing up his half-century in the penultimate over, his 54 taking just 38 balls and including five sixes and a four.

Harbhajan then showed some nice touches to claim successive boundaries in the final over before being bowled by Southee for 21 with the last ball of the match.

Sonia, Advani locked in a close fight for PM's post

Even before the 2009 General Election campaign has taken off, Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi have squared off publicly.

But a CNN-IBN CSDS poll suggests that it is not Rahul versus Modi, but Sonia Gandhi versus LK Advani that remains the real leadership battle of the coming General Elections.

The nationwide poll across 23 states asked BJP and Congress voters who their preferred prime ministerial choices were.

Among the Congress voters

Rahul Gandhi ranked third with 13 per cent of voters supporting him as the prime minister.

The incumbent, Dr Manmohan Singh ranked second with 23 per cent of the vote.

Sonia Gandhi was way out in front with 46 per cent of the vote among Congress supporters.

Though Sonia Gandhi shunned the prime ministership once, she is still seen as the face of her party.

Manmohan Singh emerged ahead of Rahul Gandhi is also perhaps an evidence that five years in office have given him a strong public image, especially among the urban middle class.

Among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) voters

There still seems to be a preference for the original big two who have guided the party for almost half a century.

With 10 per cent of support among the BJP voters, Narendra Modi ranked third.

With 27 per cent of support, Atal Behari Vajpayee was second.

LK Advani ranked first with 31 per cent of the BJP voters wanting him as their party's prime minister.

Interestingly, this is perhaps the first time that Advani has emerged ahead of Vajpayee in a poll of this nature. This suggests that the BJP's core supporters have now finally recognised that Vajpayee era is coming to an end.

For Modi and Rahul though, there is reason to look positively to the future. They are clearly ahead of any other contenders at this stage within their respective parties. Perhaps, their war of words is only a trailer to the battle that may lie ahead in the 2014 General Elections.

'India, Pakistan were close to Kashmir accord'

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf were close to signing an accord to end the decades-old conflict over Kashmir after three years of secret talks but failed to achieve the vital breakthrough, media reports here said.

The peace initiative is described in an article by investigative journalist Steve Coll. Writing in the New Yorker magazine, Coll writes that the two sides had 'come to semicolons' in their negotiations when the effort lost steam, the Washington Post said Sunday.

'The negotiations, which began in 2004, produced the outlines of an accord that would have allowed a gradual demilitarisation of the disputed Himalayan province, a flash point in relations between the rivals since 1947.

'The effort stalled in 2007, and the prospects for a settlement were further undermined by deadly terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November,' the Post said, quoting the New Yorker report.

The attempt ultimately failed, not because of substantive differences, according to Coll, but because declining political fortunes left Musharraf without the clout he needed to sell the agreement at home.

Although Musharraf fought for the deal - as did Manmohan Singh - he became so weakened politically that he 'couldn't sell himself', let alone a surprise peace deal with Pakistan's longtime rival, Coll notes, quoting senior Pakistani and Indian officials.

Musharraf resigned as president in August 2008.

Coll, a former Washington Post managing editor who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for his book 'Ghost Wars', writes that the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was the cornerstone of a broad agreement that would have represented a 'paradigm shift' in relations between India and Pakistan: a moving away from decades of hostility to acceptance and peaceful trade.

The Post reports that under the plan, the Kashmir conflict would have been resolved through the creation of an autonomous region in which local residents could move freely and conduct trade on both sides of the territorial boundary.

Over time, the border would become irrelevant, and declining violence would allow a gradual withdrawal of troops that now face one another across the mountain passes.

'It was huge - I think it would have changed the basic nature of the problem,' the New Yorker article quoted a senior Indian official as saying. 'You would have then had the freedom to remake Indo-Pakistani relations.'

BNP joins parliament

Lawmakers of the main opposition BNP today (Monday) joined the Parliament after a lapse of 17 working days.

The party yesterday decided to get back in the House following an assurance from Speaker Abdul Hamid of “respectable seating arrangements in the House”.

Referring to the February 19 talks at the speaker's office, Chief Whip of the opposition Joynal Abedin Faruk yesterday said, “The treasury bench chief whip has assured that we will be given chairs of four parliamentary standing committees in line with our recommendations.

On January 28, the BNP lawmakers walked out of the parliament in protest against the new seating order in the front row in parliament.

Earlier on the day, Speaker Abdul Hamid re-arranged the seating order with four seats, instead of nine seats, allocated for the opposition BNP in the front row.

'Slumdog' sweeps Oscars with 8 awards

Rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" swept the board at the 81st Academy Awards here Sunday, winning eight Oscars including best picture on a night of high-voltage Hollywood glamour.

The feel-good film about a Mumbai tea boy who rises from poverty and enters a television quiz show to win millions and find the love of his life, won eight of the nine categories in which it was nominated to dominate the awards at the Kodak Theater.

The acting honors saw Sean Penn triumph for his portrayal of murdered gay politician Harvey Milk in the biopic "Milk" while Britain's Kate Winslet ended her Oscars losing streak for her performance in Holocaust drama "The Reader."

There was a tear-jerking posthumous Oscar for late Australian actor Heath Ledger, a moment of unforgettable poignancy that reduced the star-studded audience to hushed silence.

But it was the triumph of "Slumdog Millionaire" that stole the show, with more than a dozen members of the Bollywood-inspired movie's cast and crew crowding the stage to receive best picture from Steven Spielberg.

"Together we've been on an extraordinary journey," said producer Christian Colson. "We had passion and we had belief and if you have those two things, truly, anything is possible."

The "Slumdog" Oscar-haul included best director honours for British film-maker Danny Boyle and a brace of Academy Awards for Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who won for best song and original score.

It was a fairytale night for "Slumdog", which had been nearly released directly to video last year, a move which would have ruled it out of Oscars contention.

The best picture award brought the curtain down on a revamped Oscars ceremony that had earlier seen Penn and Winslet carve up the top acting honours.

"Thank you. Thank you. You commie, homo-loving sons-of-a-gun. I did not expect this," joked the famously outspoken Penn after collecting the second best actor Oscar of his career.

Penn used his acceptance speech to urge opponents of same-sex marriage -- recently banned in California -- to rethink their positions.

"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support," he said.

"We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

Winslet, 33, meanwhile won her first Oscar after five previous defeats, for her portrayal of a former Nazi death camp guard who starts a love affair with a teenage boy in post-war Germany and is later put on trial for war crimes.

Winslet admitted she had been dreaming of Oscars gold for a very long time.

"I'd be lying if I haven't made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror and this would have been a shampoo bottle," she told the audience.

"It's not a shampoo bottle now," Winslet quipped. "I feel very fortunate to have made it all the way from there to here and I'd like to thank some of the people along the way who had faith in me."

Earlier Heath Ledger's family took to the stage to collect the tragic star's best supporting actor honour for his portrayal of Batman villain the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

"Heath, we both knew what you had created in the Joker was extraordinarily special, and had even talked about being here on this very day," Ledger's sister Kate said. "We really wish you were, but we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful daughter Matilda. Thank you," she added.

Spanish star Penelope Cruz won the best supporting actress prize for her part in the steamy Woody Allen comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

"Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one," an overwhelmed Cruz said as she accepted her award.

Period romance "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which began the night with 13 nominations, ended the night with only three Oscars in the technical categories of art direction, makeup and visual effects.

The new-look awards extravaganza had got off to a flying start with Australian actor host Hugh Jackman wasting no time in launching into a medley of musical numbers that referenced this year's nominees.

It was one of several innovations made by Oscars show producers that breathed new life into the previously tried and trusted formula which had led to record low television ratings last year.

In the most noticeable break with the past, the show called on giants of the acting world to introduce each individual nominee in the acting categories, a ploy that heightened the anticipation inside the theatre.

Top Strikers: Catch me if you can

As we enter the UEFA Champions League's Round of 16, Kelvin Leong checks out the top five marksman in Europe's elite event.

Five players are sitting joint-top scorers of this season's UEFA Champions League, but only four can add on to their impressive goal tally.

Marseille's Mamdou Niang, who took the competition by storm in the group stages, will have to sit and watch the rest of the tournament after the French giants got knocked out in Group D.

Juventus' evergreen captain Alessandro Del Piero has been rolling back the years in this edition with five scorching beauties in the group stages. Hs majestic display against a hapless Real Madrid was one of the best individual performances in the group stages.

Steven Gerrard, who we all know has a tendency to bail his team out when the going gets tough, has put his name amongst the best with five thunderbolts, some worthy of goal of the tournament.

Lyon's French megastar Karim Benzema knows no boundaries as he terrorized European defences into submission and sits on five as well.

Rounding up the lot is Barcelona's Argentine magician Lionel Messi, a potential Player of the Tournament whose mesmerizing runs have given defenders nightmares across Europe.

Champions League Top Scorers
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) - 5
Karim Benzema (Lyon) - 5
Mamadou Niang (Marseille) - 5
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - 5
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 5

Who do you think will continue blasting in the goals and help his team to win the prestigious title?

More JMB grenades, explosives seized

Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in separate drives arrested seven more operatives of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Gazipur, Jamalpur, and Nilphamari districts yesterday morning and Friday night.

They also recovered three grenades and a large amount of other explosives from the possession of the arrestees.

Gazipur police arrested four of the activists of the banned militant Islamist outfit, including a woman, with grenades and other explosives in their possession during a raid on a one-storey house in East Kalomeshwar of Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The arrests and weapons recovery in Gazipur were made after seven other JMB operatives including three women had been arrested the day before with seven grenades, a huge quantity of other explosives, and jihadi books and CDs in their possession.

They new arrestees are identified as Nasrin Aktar, 22, Atikur Rahman, 20, Zahid Hasan, 21, and Masud Rana, 22.

Nasrin is from Chinir Bandar in Dinajpur, Zahid from Sherpur, and Rana and Atikur are from Gaibandha. They were living in that house for the last two months, locals said.

The new arrests were made upon information given by Mamunur Rashid, a JMB operative who had exploded a grenade Friday afternoon injuring at least 13 people including nine police and three journalists while in handcuffs during a news briefing in the office of Gazipur police superintendent.

Nazmul Islam Khan, acting officer-in-charge of Joydevpur police station, told The Daily Star that the new arrestees said Nasrin's husband Mir Hossain is their leader. All of them confessed to being activists of the outlawed Islamist outfit, police added.

The bomb disposal unit of Rab diffused the grenades this time.

In another drive, police arrested two JMB men from Sarishabari and Sadar upazilas of Jamalpur district Friday night. They are identified as Mukhlesur Rahman Mishu and Abdullahel Kafi.

Our Nilphamari correspondent reported that Rab arrested another JMB activist from a char (shoal) in the River Tista around 5:00am yesterday.

The arrestee is identified as Monowar Moulana, 45, son of Golam Farid of Solmari Alsiapara village in Jaldhaka upazila of the district.

Rab-5 arrested him on information given by the JMB operatives arrested earlier.

Officer-in-charge of Jaldhaka Police Station Narendra Nath Sarker confirmed the arrest, but said Rab had yet to hand him over to police.

Talking to The Daily Star, Rab Director General Hasan Mahmood Khandaker said, "We can't say that JMB is not active, but now they are not that organised. They, however, are trying to reorganise themselves."

He declined to disclose the sources of JMB's explosives and funding, 'for the sake of investigation'.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said, "JMB is still active, but not to the extent that we can't handle."

The IGP admitted that they suspect the JMB operatives collected the explosives and made the grenades and bombs to carry out attacks.

Pakistan-style truce in Afghanistan acceptable

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that Washington could accept a political agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban if the insurgents will lay down their arms and accept the government's terms.

He was responding to a question from a Pakistani reporter about whether a deal struck by Pakistan with Taliban fighters in the restive Swat valley could serve as a model for Afghanistan.

On Monday, Pakistan announced it would agree to the imposition of Islamic law in the northwest valley as part of an agreement aimed at restoring peace after an 18-month military campaign. The pact was spearheaded by a hard-line cleric who is negotiating with the Taliban in the valley to give up their arms.

A reporter from Pakistan's Geo Television brought up the Swat deal and criticism of it by Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration's envoy to the region.

The reporter asked whether, if Pakistan succeeds in pacifying militant activity in Swat, the United States would allow Afghans to make a similar type of agreement.

Gates replied: "If there is a reconciliation, if insurgents are willing to put down their arms, if the reconciliation is essentially on the terms being offered by the government then I think we would be very open to that.

"We have said all along that ultimately some sort of political reconciliation has to be part of the long-term solution in Afghanistan," Gates said.

Information secretary sued for criticising Bangabandhu

Information Secretary Abu Karim was sued today on charge of writing a book criticising Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.

Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Ilias Hossain Bin Helali, president of Bangladesh Awami Olama League (BAOL) central committee, filed the case at about 12:30pm against Karim with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Dhaka.

The name of the book is "Bagane Fute Achhe Anek Golap".

Tevez: I want to play football

Manchester United ace Carlos Tevez has admitted that he is upset by the fact that he does not play regular first team football.

The Argentine dynamo starred for United last season, but following the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov at Old Trafford, Tevez has subsequently found himself relegated to the bench far more often than he would like.

Argentina national team coach Diego Maradona recently commented that "Carlos Tevez should sit on the bench for no one", and with Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo all ahead of Tevez in United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's pecking order, the 25-year-old is at a loss to explain just why he is being shunned.

"I am not going to comment on Maradona," Tevez told the Daily Mail newspaper ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers.

"If that is his opinion, then fair enough. I can only comment on my feelings and, like any player, I don't ever want to sit on the bench. I want to play, always.

"Last season I played. Last season I was the second top scorer at the club and last season we won the Champions League and the Premier League. And everyone said I was playing well.

"But this season I have been benched and I find that hard to understand when I am not playing badly. I realise another player has arrived and I realise that this is why I am sometimes not in the team.

"But I have not been dropped because I have done anything wrong and that is what is difficult.

"I will continue to fight. It is in my nature to fight and I will continue to try and make the best of every opportunity I do get in the hope that I will not be benched again.'

Speculation is rife that Tevez may leave United if he is not offered a permanent deal once his two-year loan deal end at the end of the current season.

With the striker expected to command a figure in the region of 20million pounds, several leading clubs are expected to join the race to capture his services should United not be able to convince Tevez that he has a future with the reigning English and European champions

However, Tevez was also at pains to point out that a move away from Manchester would only come about if he felt it was right for both him and his family.

"From my point of view, you don't make a decision just because you are sitting on the bench," he said.

"Even if I would like to think I am good enough to play for any team in the world.

"You have to analyse the whole situation, the whole experience of being at a football club, of living in a city. I have to reflect on how I feel about living in Manchester. I have to ask if my family are happy here.

‘Obviously, I want first-team football. But I have to consider all the issues. I have to consider the whole experience of being at the club before I even begin to make a decision.

‘Right now, it is only my intention to give everything, in every game. For the shirt of Manchester I will always give 100 per cent and for the fans of Manchester I will always give 100 per cent. They have been very good to me. They have taken me into their hearts."

Illegal hill rock extraction threatening ecology

llegal collection and sale of rocks from hills, waterfalls and canals in eight upazilas in the district is going on unabated posing serious threat to environment and ecology.

Rock extraction causes erosion of hill cliffs often leading to catastrophic landslides. This also contributes to developing silts in nearby rivers -- a major reason for untimely flooding in Khagrachhari and filling up of Chhara, Zeeree (local name of water sources), environmentalists observed.

According to rock lifters, over 2.5 lakh cubic feet (cft) hill rocks are removed annually from the spots in eight upazilas of the district. Each cft of rocks is sold at Tk 120 to Tk 150. This illegal business is going on under the very nose of security men and officials of forest department, sources said.

Divisional Forest Office sources said the department is responsible for issuing transit passes and collecting revenue.

Primary buyers of the illegal rocks are contractors of various government projects under the municipality, LGED (Local Government and Engineering Department), Public Works Department (PWD), Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) and Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

To legitimise the illegal construction materials, the contractors pay a hefty amount of bribe to the high officials of these departments, sources informed.

According to a government circular issued by a senior assistant secretary of the Environment and Forest Ministry on June 29, 2002, the government is supposed to collect revenue at a rate of Tk. 58 per cft.

In that case the amount of revenue from rocks in Khagrachhari would stand at least at Tk 1 crore annually.

This correspondent witnessed huge stockpiles of hill rocks at Nunchhari, Gugrachhari, Gamaridala, Champaghat and Mohalchhara under Sadar upazila, Akhbari, Dharmopur and Ramsira under Matiranga upazila, Baradam, Babuchhara and Araimail under Dighinala, Kongchairipara and Simanapara under Panchhari, Sindukchhara and Karbaripara under Mohalchhari upazila, Jouthakhamar and Headmanpara under Ramgar upazila, and various other places in Laxmichhari and Manikchhari.

Chailaprue Marma,45, a local rock collector from Gugrachhari said he was neither aware of any adverse effect of rock lifting nor he knew if he had to pay for it to the government.

Mongcrow Marma, another collector told this correspondent that although they are getting hard cash but it is causing crisis of water in winter season.

A first class contractor in Khagrachhari refuted the allegation of buying hill rocks illegally for construction work. He, however, admitted that hill rocks are sometimes used to prevent erosion of river banks.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA) urged the authorities to take stern action against the culprits. "If this continues unabated water crisis would become a major cause of concern as more than 60 percent indigenous people depend on natural sources like Chhara and Zeeree", said Abu Daud, network member of BELA.

Sub Divisional Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) Prodip Kumar Bose citing abrasion test results said, the natural rocks of hill areas are not suitable for construction works.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kawser Hossain told The Daily Star that Deputy Commissioner Khairul Alam recently seized three rock-laden trucks from Gurgujjachhari under Sadar upazila and handed over to police. They had transit pass issued for Selim & Brothers by the Divisional Forest Officer.

Divisional Forest Officer Ali Kabir denied the allegation and said he is not aware about it. He said, some local people collect hill rocks in a small scale for household purposes. Terming it illegal, he said the department can not check it because of shortage of manpower.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tareq Ahmed informed that a case has been filed against Selim & Brothers and added police seized the three trucks with rocks.

Deputy Commissioner Khairul Alam said he had directed all upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to take necessary action so that none can collect hill rocks illegally. A special inspection team has been formed in this regard, he added.

Huge gamma-ray blast spotted 12.2 bln light-yrs from earth

The US space agency's Fermi telescope has detected a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest-ever gamma-ray burst, a report published Thursday in Science Express said.

The spectacular blast, which occurred in September in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light, astrophysicists said.

"Visible light has an energy range of between two and three electron volts and these were in the millions to billions of electron volts," astrophysicist Frank Reddy of US space agency Nasa told AFP..

Hulkenberg wants F1 debut

Williams test driver and GP2 Asia driver Nico Hulkenberg has set a target of making his Formula One race debut in 2010.
The 21-year-old German first rose to fame as an A1GP ace driver and champions. He is also the latest protege of Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber.
He joined the Grove team last year.

Hulkenberg is the reigning F3 Euroseries champion, and in 2009 is stepping up to the F1 feeder series GP2.

Williams' growing faith in the youngster was demonstrated when he recently gave the team's new FW31 its track debut in Portugal, and he aims to continue to impress this year.

"I hope they turn to me if a place becomes available," Hulkenberg told the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.

It is suggested that Weber has already negotiated a preliminary agreement that would pave the way for Hulkenberg to make his grand prix debut with Williams next year.

"That is absolutely my personal goal," he said, albeit admitting that the even tighter test restrictions in 2009 will limit his F1 mileage.

"Last year I drove ten days, this year there will be probably no more than five. But the team already knows from last year how I drive."

Hiddink: I'm the one in charge

New Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has said that he is in charge at Stamford Bridge and not Blues owner Roman Abramovich.

Hiddink faces his first Premier League test on Saturday when he takes his side to play high-flying Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The Dutchman will be in charge of Chelsea until the end of the season following the shock sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, a dismissal that Abramovich instigated.

Hiddink, however, is not the least bit concerned about the Russian oligarch's hands-on approach to club ownership, and insists that it is he who will be calling the shots from now until May.

"I don't talk with Roman a lot about specific tactics or strategy. We talk generally about football and he loves it.

"Ten years ago, though, I was in charge of Real Madrid and there was a clash with me and the president about playing some players who he liked to play.

"I knew the consequences. But with Roman we don't go into details and he doesn't ask either. He can enjoy it when he is watching."

"He is not just showing off. He genuinely loves football. Yes, of course, he likes to see results. But there was no demand to ‘Do this' or ‘Do that'."

Hiddink's task of reigniting Chelsea's title challenge may be a difficult one - they are currently fourth, some 10 points behind league leaders Manchester United - but the former PSV coach is not conceding defeat just yet.

"Realistically it's difficult to catch United. If you're leading with 10 points you feel comfortable. But things can change in a few minutes," he said.

"In the other two competitions Chelsea are still in the race. That's the challenge - I'm not just here to pass time until the end of the season.

"The players are used to winning trophies so let's try and repeat it. If we don't we can't be happy.

"The priority is Villa Park. It's the cliche answer - the next game is the most important."

Nation pays homage to Ekushey martyrs

The nation today pays glowing tribute to the Language Movement martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the mother tongue 57 years ago.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar one minute past zero hours amid tight security to pay homage to the Language Movement heroes.

The speaker and the deputy speaker in the parliament, the cabinet members, BNP Chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia, the Dhaka city corporation mayor and the vice chancellor of Dhaka University, among others, placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.

Stringent security measures were taken in and around the Central Shaheed Minar following yesterday's militant attack in Gazipur and threats of attacks on Ekushey programmes by outlawed militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh.

About 7,000 policemen and over 600 members of Rab were deployed at the Shaheed Minar and Azimpur graveyard.

Police said people would be allowed to enter the Shaheed Minar after being checked through the archways set at Palashi point. Many were seen returning home failing to enter the Shaheed Minar.

Despite the tight security, thousands of barefoot people from all walks of life placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the Language Movement martyrs.

Bangladesh Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, National Awami Party (Nap-Bhashani), Bangladesh National Awami Party, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Bangladesh Sangskritik Karmi Shangha, Bangladesh Abritti Samannay Parishad and Memorial Preservation of Language Movement Forum will hold various programmes on the occasion.

Thousands of people thronged the Shaheed Minars across the country to pay respect to the Language Movement martyrs.

On this day in 1952, students and people from all strata of society took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government's refusal to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages and imposition of Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.

Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiur, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives on this day to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of the then Pakistan.

The day has since been observed as the Language Martyrs Day, which the Unesco later declared as the International Mother Language Day.

The Pakistan government was ultimately compelled to include an article in the country's constitution on February 29, 1956 that declared, "The state languages of Pakistan shall be Urdu and Bengali."

The Language Movement is indeed the most important turning point in the history of Bangalees as its spirit led to the independence of Bangladesh.

On November 17, 1999, the Unesco declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. Countries across the globe have been observing the day since then to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education and raise awareness of cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

The Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas have had a facelift on the occasion, and roads and medians have been festooned with Bangla alphabets and the national flag.

The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted at half-mast atop all government, autonomous and private buildings.

UNB Adds: Opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia today alleged that there was no neutral projection in paying tributes at the Central Shaheed Minar.

“You've failed to maintain neutrality in conducting the ceremony,” she told Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Arefin Siddiquie and his colleagues after placing wreaths at the altar of the memorial after midnight.

Spare change

IS change in the air, as pledged by the ruling AL? The early indications are certainly not promising, but perhaps one should heed the prime minister's admonition that it is still too early to tell.

So let us accept, for argument's sake, that it is too early to detect any kind of a meaningful trend or to sit in judgment on the government's performance thus far. Let us give the new government the benefit of the doubt and wait patiently to see whether it will find its feet as it become more comfortable in office.

Nevertheless, now is a good time to draw up a list of possible indicators, tell-tale signals that we should look for in the coming weeks and months, which will shed light on the direction the government intends to go and suggest whether we truly have turned a corner.

It seems to me that one of the very first tests of the government's commitment to change will be the final disposition of the 122 ordinances that were passed by the caretaker government and which must be ratified within the first 30 days of the new parliament if they are to become law.

The initial signs with respect to how the government intends to deal with the issue of the ordinances have been mixed.

Things started out on the wrong foot with an opaque special committee tapped to provide an initial recommendation as to which ordinances should be passed into law and which allowed to lapse.

Authority for recommending which of the ordinances will make the cut has now passed into the hands of a parliamentary committee, which at least has the merit of being made up of elected and thus accountable parliamentarians.

However, the process by which this new committee is determining which ordinances to recommend for ratification by the full parliament remains unclear. There has been very little transparency as to the selection criteria, no process of public consultation, debate has been sparing, and the basis on which the ordinances are being evaluated remains something of a mystery to the public.

One of the worrying developments has been in the apparent intention of the new government to not approve the Local Government Commission Ordinance 2008, despite the strong support of local government representatives and independent experts for this ordinance, which is key to effective local government reform.

Similarly, the Right to Information Ordinance 2008 was originally slated for non-ratification until the combined voice of the media and civil society persuaded the government to reconsider. This is a salutary instance of the government's sensitivity to public opinion. However, with the entire ratification process being shrouded in opacity, uneasiness remains, and ultimately it seems as though the decision to ratify or not to ratify will be one that the public has little input into.

The one ordinance the fate of which, to my mind, will tell us everything we need to know about the new government's commitment to meaningful change is the ordinance scrapping the parliamentarians' privilege of importing a duty-free car.

Everything one needs to know about the moral seriousness and dignity of our elected representatives can be gleaned from the fact that MPs routinely import extremely expensive luxury cars, sell them on at a mark-up, and pocket the difference.

In the eighth parliament, 275 luxury cars were imported by parliamentarians, almost all of which were then resold at a considerable profit, enriching the MP and denying the tax authorities of an estimated Tk 280 crore in total.

It is bad enough that the people's representatives of a country such as Bangladesh would deem it necessary to travel in luxury cars costing as much as Tk 3 crore a pop, but the smallness of mind and pettiness of purpose of an elected representative lining his or her pocket by abusing this privilege is absolutely mind-boggling.

What sort of a money-grubbing bottom-feeder would stoop to making a quick buck by prostituting his or her dignity in such a humiliating manner? Apparently, a significant proportion of the eighth parliament. It is a small thing, but very telling.

As long as this tawdry exercise in self-enrichment continues, nothing will change in government, and we should not expect anything great from the new parliament.

What needs to change, more than anything, is the mind-set of our leaders, and as long as they use their perch in parliament to make a quick buck as luxury car salesmen, it is a pretty good indication that they won't be serious about attending to the people's business or protecting the public interest.

So let's see if the ordinance banning this parliamentary privilege is passed into law or not. If it isn't, we'll all know what to expect over the next five years.

Zafar Sobhan is Assistant Editor, The Daily Star.

Shoe-thrower defiant as Iraq opens trial

Udai, the brother of jailed journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, is surrounded by the press as he leaves the Central Criminal Court in Baghdad yesterday following the first day of his brother's trial. The 30-year-old Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US president George W. Bush went on trial with his lawyers arguing that the remarkable protest was lawful.Photo: AFP

Corolla vs grey Corolla

In Dhaka where Japanese grey imports dominate the streets one might wonder what cars people buy and why.

It is not surprising that in this poor nation of ours people tend to go for compacts. They are cheap to buy, cheap to run, easy to drive in the city and it is easy to get hold of cheap spare parts.

Pull up at the lights and look at the vehicles around you and you would discover that a large number of them are Toyota Corollas, some old and some not-so-old. Almost every other car on Dhaka streets is a Corolla or a Toyota model which is Corolla underneath. The car obviously is not a fashion statement and some would even consider it invisible on streets on account of it not having astonishing styling while others disagree.

When you have such a large number of a single model you are bound to get a bargain for spare parts. Almost all small spare parts stores in the city, if anything, have parts for Corollas.

Corollas do come with the Japanese quality of reliability and let’s face it, people want reliability and it is not that often Corolla owners head for the spare parts store.

For people who need just a car--nothing fancy--to go from A to B the Corolla has been pretty much the choice. Durability-, performance- and reliability-wise there are very few makes that can match the Toyota standards.

Reconditioned car sellers say people lacking an understanding of cars and people who tend to be baffled by technology usually buy Corollas and buying a Corolla is considered a no-brainer.

So to roundup, it is cheap to buy, run and maintain and it is reliable and it comes with a really good reputation that has been built since 1966.

Now the question is, why people mostly buy the grey imports rather than a new car from the authorised dealers of Toyota. They grey-import Corollas in Bangladesh are actually cars that have been used in Japan. Toyota makes these only for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) and they are actually quite different from the Corollas marketed elsewhere in the world. Most cars in Dhaka are JDM cars and the Corollas are no exception.

Since Japan and Singapore have strict restrictions on how long one can use a car before it has to be removed from the road, Bangladeshi car traders import these used cars and sell them to people here.

So, one may think that grey imports are dead cheap--and they would not be wrong--but how cheap are they compared to new cars? Well, you could save up to Tk 8 lakh buying grey imports rather than one from the authorised dealer. The question is what you are getting or, rather, what you are not getting.

The new JDM Corolla has been renamed Axio while the authorised dealer of certain Toyota models will sell you the new Corolla GLi. The Axio is noticeably narrower and a bit shorter in length so that it remains under a certain tax bracket in Japan.

However, the GLi does not give extra room in the cabin for you to brag about but it does give you better boot space. When buying an Axio you are pretty much restricted to the colours the showroom has but in case of the GLi you can choose from seven colours on offer. If you are lucky you could find an Axio with a fitted optional sunroof but if you go to the new car dealer, Navana, they will get you Corolla with a factory built sunroof, making your wallet considerably thinner though.

With an eye for cars, the obvious thing one might notice is the rear brakes. The Axio comes with drum brakes in rear wheels, a technology that started in 1902. The GLi, however, gives you disk brakes on all wheels, ventilated disks at the front.

Brakes and tyres are not something you want to take lightly. Everything a car does goes through the tyres. Brakes are a key component of the experience you have while driving, not to mention the safety issue.

Navana claims that the Corolla GLi comes with an engine and a body that is more suited to our environment, more precisely the environment of the subcontinent, a few more Asian countries and Australia. But if I were you, I would not buy too much into that since Toyota dominates the automobile industry by keeping development cost down. Just think about why some Corolla engine parts fit so well in other models. Sharing parts throughout the range of models distributes the development cost resulting in cheaper cars for buyers.

Care to think why Ferraris are so expensive? They are purpose-built. Every Ferrari price tag includes its own development cost.

Having said that, the 1.5 litre engines of the Corolla and the Axio are a bit different, deep in their version numbers. If you plan to use a car for pretty much for ever, the engine of the GLi would probably last longer and give you less trouble mostly because you will have it new with no miles on the clock. The Axio engine will be an engine used for several years.

Before you hand in the cheque for literally lakhs of taka to sales managers of car showrooms or Navana, there are a few more things you should know about. The Corolla GLi comes with a year or 20,000km warranty but it becomes void the minute you convert it to run on CNG. It also comes with special security keys to start the vehicle--no replica will do. If you lose the keys Navana will ship you in another set. Buy an Axio with similar set of keys and you could be in trouble if you lose them or even if the key batteries die.

13 receive Ekushey Padak

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the Ekushey Padak-2009 to 13 eminent persons at Osmani Memorial Auditorium today (Friday), a day ahead of Amar Ekushey February, the International Mother Language Day.

The award, carries Tk 40,000 in cash, a gold medal weighing three tolas and a citation, were given to the distinguished persons in recognition to their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasted the award giving ceremony live.

The awardees are: Dr Borhan Uddin Khan Jahangir (education), Prof Dr Syed Anwar Hossain (research), Mahbub-Ul Alam Chowdhury (language movement-posthumous), Ashraf uz Zaman Khan (journalism-posthumous), Begum Bilkis Nasir Uddin (music), Manik Chandra Saha (journalism-posthumous), Humayun Kabir Balu (journalism-posthumous), Begum Selina Hossain (literature), Shamsuzzaman Khan (research), Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad (poverty alleviation), Mohammad Rafi Khan (M R Khan) (social service), Mansur-Ul Karim (fine arts), and Ramendu Majumdar (theatre).

Cabinet members, advisers to the premier, distinguished personalities, academics, poets, writers and cultural activists were present, among others, at the ceremony.

Ponting to skip IPL

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting says that he will skip this year's IPL to concentrate on national commitments.
"My country comes first and there was no way I could give my all for Australia if I used the only two-week break we have to go and play in India," Ponting, who is contracted with the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, wrote in his column in 'The Australian'.

"I have been talking with my team, the Kolkata Knight Riders for a month or two now and in the end my only choice was to withdraw from the 2009 competition, but I will most certainly be back for 2010 when I hope to be able to make a much greater contribution," he said.

Ponting, who is currently in South Africa with the Australian squad for a Test and one-day series, thanked Knight Riders for letting him go this time around.

"The franchise has been fantastic about the whole thing and I want to thank them for their understanding," he wrote.

The Australia skipper said he could have played in the IPL for two weeks but said it would have been unfair on both Knight Riders and the national team.

"And then there was the issue of giving up the chance to be with my family for a fortnight. It is always hard to leave Rianna (wife) and I cherish every second I spend with my daughter Emmy."

Roddick off and running in Memphis

Andy Roddick began his quest at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in great opening round fashion.

Top seed Roddick recorded a 7-6 (7/1) 6-2 first round win over defending champion Steve Darcis.

The American world number six, who has reached the Australian Open and San Jose semi-finals so far this season, has made three finals over his previous eight appearances on the Memphis hardcourt, but has only the 2002 crown to show for his efforts.

Darcis dropped to 5-1 in Memphis after the unseeded Belgian again failed to win his first match of the year after first round losses in Brisbane, Auckland, at the Australian Open and in San Jose.

Lleyton Hewitt secured his first major win since undergoing hip surgery after coming from a set down to defeat world number 13 James Blake 3-6 6-1 6-4.

World number 13 Blake looked comfortable in the first set before Hewitt dug deep in the second to blitz the American and pinch the momentum.

In the decider, Hewitt had a match point opportunity on Blake's serve at 5-3, but failed to convert.

But fortunately the South Australian was able to close out the match on serve to set up an encounter with compatriot Chris Guccione.

Robby Ginepri claimed a 6-4 6-4 win over German qualifier Simon Greul, while seventh seeded American Mardy Fish topped Taipei's Yun-Hsun Lu 6-1 7-5.

Fish continued to build on last week's solid effort in San Jose where he reached the final with wins over Blake, Juan Martin del Potro and Hewitt.

Eighth seeded Sam Querrey - in the same half of the draw as compatriots Roddick, Blake and Fish - enjoyed a successful bout against Tommy Haas of Germany posting a 7-6 (7-/4) 6-4 triumph.

Finally, Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic beat American qualifier Kevin Kim 6-4 6-2, while unseeded German Philipp Petzschner advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-4 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

A1GP S Africa preview

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport makes its first ever visit to Kyalami this weekend in round five of the series.

The South Africa leg will take place on 20th to 22nd February 2009.

Go-GP.Org A1GP Gauteng, South Africa is being supported by a number of commercial partners, including Go-GP.Org, the Gauteng government, SAB Miller, ABI and Neo Africa.

Neo Africa will be hosting the exclusive Ignition and Podium parties on the A1GP race weekend, as well as hosting a Charity Supercar Parade on race day for A1GP fans. Neo Africa will also be providing the facilities and communications infrastructure for the media centre at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

Kyalami is South Africa’s most famous motor racing circuit, and is located in Gauteng, just north of Johannesburg. The balanced blend of slow, medium and fast corners and the fact that Kyalami is nearly 2,000 metres above sea level will present a challenge to both the race drivers and engineers at this weekend’s event.

The six former races in Durban have resulted in lively events, including the maiden win for A1 Team Netherlands in 2006. Germany won twice there in 2007 on the way to championship glory, and Switzerland and Canada shared the honours in 2008.

Some teams loved it and some teams hated it but the PowerBoost ‘joker’ has been reinstated to Saturday qualifying. The functionality of the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car allows for the PowerBoost button to be available for an entire lap of Qualifying, and teams will be allowed to use it for one of their four flying laps.

The PowerBoost button gives an extra 60bhp on application, so the ability to use it throughout a lap is likely to make a significant difference to the car’s capability.

As in Taupo, the Sprint race in South Africa will have a standing and not a rolling start after a great deal of consideration was given to the change implemented in New Zealand.

Both these changes will remain a feature for the remainder of Season Four.

SCC organogram finally okayed after 4 years

At long last, the ministry of LGRD has approved the organogram of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), four years after submission of the same.

However, the approved organogram allows a 650-strong manpower for 31 departments and sections of the SCC while the SCC had proposed for 850 staff to manage matters related to over 6 lakh city dwellers.

A letter from the LGRD ministry confirming approval of the organogram reached the SCC one week ago..

“We got an organogram within a few weeks after this government's assumption to power whereas things remained hanging for years due to political reasons. Now I would continue pressing for raising the number of manpower,” said city Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.

Although the then BNP government announced formation of the country's 6th administration division Sylhet in 1994, things proceeded very slowly.

Following a gazette notification declaring Sylhet City Corporation on July 16 of 2002, and the then chairman of Sylhet pourasava, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran took over as the first mayor of SCC on July 28.

Kamran, an Awami League leader, also became the first elected mayor of SCC in March 20 polls in 2003 defeating the then district BNP chief MA Haque. Kamran was re-elected in the August 4 polls last year.

The former pourasava staff were too insufficient to cope with the increased workload for extended areas in the city corporation but the ministry concerned took no initiative to raise the number of SCC staff.

The city corporation in phases temporarily appointed 431 staff members for smooth running of their works.

In December 2007, the LGRD ministry asked the SCC authorities to stop payment of salary and other benefits of some 431 staff, terming their appointment 'illegal and unapproved'.

The SCC fell into crisis as the employees went on strike immediately. Later, following filing of a writ petition by the employees, the High Court issued injunction on the government order for stopping payment of salary and other benefits. But things remained in balance as the LGRD ministry did not approve the SCC organogram proposal that was sent on February 10 in 2005.

Under the organogram, the SCC will now get a magistrate, planner and a PRO along with others in the SCC.

India offers help in Lanka evacuation

India has said it ready to help in the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians caught up in the fighting in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee also told parliament the Tamil Tiger rebels had "done much damage" to the Tamil community and should lay down arms.

The UN and Red Cross have expressed deep concern for the trapped civilians.

The Sri Lankan navy has escorted a new convoy of food to the area but it is only a fraction of what is needed.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry says the army is continuing to take rebel areas in the shrinking zone the Tigers control and the government has again ruled out a ceasefire.

Pro-rebel sources yesterday accused the air force of killing 100 civilians in a cluster bomb attack.

No independent journalists can reach the conflict zone so claims by either side cannot be independently verified.

In his statement to the Indian parliament, Mukherjee said the plight of about 70,000 trapped civilians was a "serious source of concern to us".

He said India was "actively engaged to prevent a further deterioration of humanitarian conditions" and had sent relief supplies to civilians.

Mukherjee added, "The government of India is ready to facilitate the evacuation of civilians trapped in the area of conflict, working with the government of Sri Lanka and the International Committee of the Red Cross, who would take responsibility for the security, screening and rehabilitation."

He said India continued to back "a negotiated political settlement" but that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remained "a proscribed organisation in India [that] has done much damage to the Tamil community".

His comments sparked anger among MPs of two regional parties from India's Tamil Nadu state and the uproar forced two adjournments.

There are about 62m Tamils in the state and they have close links to Sri Lanka.

In the 1980s India sent troops to enforce a peace deal but they ended up fighting the Tigers and were withdrawn in 1990.

BCL men clash to lash reunion

Activists of different units of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday clashed with each other over a trifling matter during its reunion in the city's Paltan Maidan that left at least 20 people injured.

The clash ensued about 11:30am among the BCL activists from Dhaka College, Jagannath University, Government Titumir College and Dhaka Polytechnic Institute following an altercation over sitting at the venue before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived.

The BCL activists hurled plastic chairs at each other and chase and counter chase around the area marked the half hour-long mayhem, leaving at least 20 people injured.

A good number of BCL leaders and activists, particularly females were seen leaving the venue because of the clash.

The clash offended Awami League senior leaders and ministers who went there to attend the programme.

Finding no other alternative, Jubo League President Jahangir Kabir Nanak and General Secretary Mirza Azam took the loudspeaker and asked the troublemakers to calm down.

Through the loudspeaker, they also requested the activists not to leave the venue to make the programme a success and warned that stern action will be taken against the troublemakers as the footages were being taken.

BCL General Secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton told The Daily Star that they will form a probe committee to investigate the incident and stern action would be taken against those responsible for it.

Nine of the injured were given first aid at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. They are Jasim Uddin, Fazle Rabbi, Rakib and Taposh of Dhaka College and Mostafizur Rahman, Shakil Ahmed, Joy and Mithu of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and Rasel, a student of Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University.

Israeli forces briefly enter Gaza city

Israeli forces with tanks and supported by helicopters briefly entered Gaza City early Thursday and exchanged fire before withdrawing, witnesses said.

The armoured vehicles entered the Gaza capital after anti-tank rockets were fire at them, the witnesses said.

No casualties were reported and the Israeli forces returned to their own country's territory.

The Israeli military would not comment on the incident.

Afghan civilian deaths rose 40 pc in 2008: UN

The number of Afghan civilians killed in armed conflict rose 40 percent last year to a record 2,118 people, the U.N. said in a new report Tuesday.

The report said militants were responsible for 55 percent of the deaths, but that U.S., NATO and Afghan forces killed 829 civilians, or 39 percent. Civilian deaths have been a huge source of friction between the U.S. and President Hamid Karzai, who has increased demands that U.S. and NATO troops avoid killing civilians during operations.

The U.S. and Afghan militaries this month announced plans to increase the number of Afghans who will take part in U.S. operations, a step aimed at reducing deaths of ordinary Afghans.

The U.N.'s annual report on the protection of civilians noted that despite new battlefield rules meant to reduce civilian casualties, U.S., NATO and Afghan troops killed 31 percent more civilians in 2008 than in 2007, when the U.N. said those forces killed 629 civilians.

"As the conflict has intensified, it is taking an increasingly heavy toll on civilians," the U.N. said.

Militants increasingly rely on roadside bombs, car bombs and suicide bombers, attacks that are "frequently undertaken regardless of the impact on civilians," the report said.

Russian president replaces 4 regional governors

President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia replaced four provincial governors on Monday for their poor performance amid financial crisis.

Before announcing the move, Medvedev said in a televised interview over the weekend that some provincial leaders were not up to the task.

"We aren't going to close eyes on flaws in work and, simply speaking, ineptness, sloppiness and carelessness of some officials," Medvedev told Rossiya state television.

On Monday, he named new governors for the western Oryol, Pskov and Voronezh regions and the northern Nenets region. The changes are subject to approval by provincial legislatures, which are expected to do that soon. Medvedev said in the weekend interview that plunging energy prices made it necessary to increase the efficiency of the government.

"It was easy to work at times when we had high revenues from oil and gas exports," Medvedev said. "In the current situation, it's necessary to learn how to spend public money in a rational way and show managerial skills."

Obama to decide 'shortly' on troops for Afghan war: Germany to send 600 more troops to Afghanistan

The White House on Monday promised that President Barack Obama would "shortly" make a decision on whether to pour thousands more US troops into the Afghan war.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama returned to Washington from a weekend in Chicago that the decision, the subject of intense speculation here, was still expected soon.

"I would expect the presidential decision could come shortly."

"I don't think it will go, without getting into broad timelines, I don't think this is anything that involves weeks," Gibbs said.

Politico.com earlier reported that the president was refusing to be rushed into making a decision on the expected deployment, in what it said was a sign he may be more "independent minded" than military leaders had expected.

In several leaks to newspapers in recent weeks, military leaders have said that they expected a decision to be finalized within days.

US envoy Richard Holbrooke has been tracking through Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent days, as speculation mounts about the deployments and the results of Obama's Afghanistan policy review.

"This is the first time that this president has been asked to deploy large numbers of troops overseas, and it seems to me a thoughtful and deliberative approach to that decision is entirely appropriate," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week.

"The president will have several options before him," Gates told reporters, referring to the US-led effort to stabilize Afghanistan over the past seven years.

"And I think he will make those decisions probably in the course of the next few days." Gates said he had made his recommendations to the president, and that the options under consideration "give him several ways of going forward."

The US commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, has requested up to 30,000 additional troops, including three more combat brigades and an aviation brigade and support troops.

Meanwhile, Germany plans to send 600 more soldiers to Afghanistan to help provide security for presidential elections in August, a NATO diplomat said. The troops, who add to around 3,500 German personnel already in Afghanistan, will arrive six weeks before the polls and remain until after any possible second round of voting is held in September, the diplomat said.

The polls will be a key test of President Hamid Karzai's rule as well as seven-year-old US and NATO-led efforts to help stabilise Afghanistan and spread the rule of its weak central government across the strife-torn country.

Facebook backs down, reverses on user information policy

Under fire from tens of thousands of users, the social networking site Facebook said early Wednesday it is reverting to its old policy on user information -- for now.
Backlash against Facebook began after a consumer advocate site flagged Facebook's policy change.

Backlash against Facebook began after a consumer advocate site flagged Facebook's policy change.

The site posted a brief message on users' home pages that said it was returning to its previous "Terms of Use" policy "while we resolve the issues that people have raised."

The "Terms of Use" is the legalese tacked on to the bottom of most Web sites that details what the site's owners can do with the information that users provide.

Facebook, the Web's most popular social networking site, has been caught in a content-rights battle after revealing earlier this month that it was granting itself permanent rights to users' photos, wall posts and other information even after a user closed an account.

The popular site allows users to create personal profiles where they can then connect with one another, upload photos and share links. The site boasts more than 150 million active users.

Member backlash against Facebook began over the weekend after a consumer advocate Web site, The Consumerist, flagged a change made to Facebook's policy earlier in the month.

The company deleted a sentence from the old Terms of Use. That sentence said Facebook could not claim any rights to original content that a user uploaded once the user closed his or her account.

It replaced it with: "You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. ... (H)owever, you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content."

In response, Chris Walters wrote in the Consumerist post, "Make sure you never upload anything you don't feel comfortable giving away forever, because it's Facebook's now."

Thousands of indignant members either canceled their accounts or created online petitions. Among them were more than 64,000 who joined a group called "The People Against the new Terms of Service."

On Monday, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg tried to quell the controversy by saying the company's philosophy is that "people own their information and control who they share it with."

But members were not appeased because the site did not fix its Terms of Use. The company, in its post Wednesday, said it was returning to its previous Terms of Use because of the "feedback" it had received.

"As Mark expressed in his blog post on Monday, it was never our intention to confuse people or make them uneasy about sharing on Facebook," company spokesman Barry Schnitt said in a blog post. "I also want to be very clear that Facebook does not, nor have we ever, claimed ownership over people's content. Your content belongs to you."

Schnitt said the company is in the process of rewording its Terms of Use in "simple language that defines Facebook's rights much more specifically."

US, India, Pakistan face 'common militant threat'

The newly-appointed US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan said yesterday that Islamist militancy presented the same security risks to both the United States and South Asia.

"India, the United States and Pakistan all have a common threat now," Richard Holbrooke told reporters in New Delhi.

"For the first time in 60 years since independence, your country (India) and Pakistan and the United States all face an enemy that poses a direct threat to our leadership, our capitals and our people."

His comments came after the Pakistan government signed an agreement with Islamic hardliners to enforce sharia law in part of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

Holbrooke, appointed to implement a new US strategy in South Asia under President Barack Obama, was in New Delhi at the end of a regional tour that included visits to Islamabad and Kabul.

Holbrooke met Indian leaders on Monday for talks that focused on the global threat from Pakistan-based militants in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Holbrooke, the new US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, arrived in New Delhi late on Sunday as part of a regional tour after visits to Islamabad and Kabul.

He was appointed to implement a new US strategy in South Asia under President Barack Obama, who plans to boost troop numbers in Afghanistan and to force Islamabad to eradicate al-Qaeda safe havens inside Pakistan.

Holbrooke, a former ambassador to the United Nations, held discussions with Indian foreign policy advisers and was later scheduled for talks with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"We will share our perceptions, and terrorism emanating from Pakistan will be part of that," an Indian official told AFP ahead of the meetings. "We think the Pakistan establishment is key when talking about terrorism."

India has labelled Pakistan the "epicentre of terrorism" in the region and has accused it of sheltering Islamic groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is widely blamed for November's attacks on Mumbai.

New Delhi has noted with strong approval that Holbrooke's tour coincided with Islamabad's admission that part of the Mumbai attacks, in which 165 people were killed, was indeed planned in Pakistan.

"Until the Mumbai attacks, the perception in Washington was that the US is fighting the global war against terror and that India was fighting a local war against terror," said Lalit Mansingh, former Indian ambassador to Washington.

"But that has changed. Now there is a better understanding that there is little difference between so-called global and local terror groups."

New Delhi is also likely to warn the US over military aid to the region.

Pakistan is seeking billions of dollars to combat the Islamist threat from its northwestern tribal belt that became a stronghold for extremists who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban fell in 2001.

Pakistani commanders say they need helicopters, drones and an array of new military equipment to tackle the Taliban fighters, but India is sceptical about their intentions.

"We have heard that Pakistan's wishlist for fighting terror includes precision-guided missiles. We have our doubts about whether Pakistan intends to use them to hunt down insurgents," said one diplomatic source.

Since partition in 1947, mutual suspicion has characterised ties between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, who have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

According to reports, Islamabad told Holbrooke it would be better able to focus on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border if the issue of divided Kashmir was resolved.

But India is adamant that Kashmir remains "a bilateral issue" with Pakistan.

"We will make it clear that Kashmir is a symptom and not the cause of terrorism in the region," the source said.

Pakistan has been a vital US ally since former president George W. Bush invaded neighbouring Afghanistan to oust the Taliban regime for sheltering al-Qaeda after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

But relations have soured, not least after dozens of suspected US missile strikes against militants inside Pakistan.

Holbrooke will report back to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after his Indian visit, which completes his first tour of the region in his new capacity..