Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

McCain vision marks victory in Iraq

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:48:37 -0400

By GLEN JOHNSON

Columbus (Ohio), May 15: Republican John McCain, looking through a crystal ball to 2013 and the end of a prospective and presumptive first term, sees "spasmodic" but reduced violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden dead or captured and US government spending curbed by his ready veto pen.

The Republican presidential contender also envisions America’s annual income tax angst replaced by a simpler flat tax, illegal immigrants living humanely under a temporary worker programme, and political partisanship stemmed by weekly news conferences and British-style question periods with joint meetings of Congress. In a speech being delivered on Thursday, Mr McCain concedes he cannot make the changes alone, but he wants to outline a specific governing style to show the accomplishments it can achieve.

"I’m not interested in partisanship that serves no other purpose than to gain a temporary advantage over our opponents. This mindless, paralysing rancour must come to an end. We belong to different parties, not different countries," Mr McCain says in remarks prepared for delivery in the capital city of Ohio, a general election battleground.

"There is a time to campaign, and a time to govern. If I’m elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end; the era of problem solving will begin."

To the disdain of some fellow Republicans, the presumed party nominee has worked with Democrats on legislation aimed at overhauling campaign finance regulations, redrafting immigration rules and regulations and implementing government spending controls.

While that has cultivated a maverick image for Mr McCain, the Arizona senator has also been accused of exhibiting a nasty temper, swearing even at fellow legislators from his own party, and unabashed partisanship.

In particular, Mr McCain has clashed with the leading Democratic presidential contender, Mr Barack Obama. After tangling with the Illinois senator on lobbying reforms, Mr McCain questioned Mr Obama’s integrity in a publicly released 2006 letter. (AP)

McCain vision marks victory in Iraq

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:48:37 -0400

By GLEN JOHNSON

"There is a time to campaign, and a time to govern. If I’m elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end; the era of problem solving will begin."

Indian workers on strike in front of White House

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:47:01 -0400

By ARUN KUMAR

Washington, May 15: A group of five Indian workers have launched a hunger strike in front of the White House demanding a US Congressional investigation into their "exploitation" by American companies.

The five workers who began the "water only" protest at Lafayette Park opposite the US presidential mansion on Wednesday were among more than 500 Indian welders and pipe-fitters who allegedly paid up to $20,000 apiece for false promises of green cards and work-based permanent residency in the US.

Seeking "justice from their former employer Signal International and Indian and US recruiters," the workers union claimed the support of the American Federation of Labourers-Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO). "The AFL-CIO and its 10 million members are proud to support the hunger strike by these Signal workers, and their campaign to shed light on the abuses of the US government's H2B guest worker programme," Jon Hiatt, general counsel for the AFL-CIO, was quoted as saying. "We know the US is a powerful country, and we know that Signal is a powerful company. That is why we are asking the Indian government to support us as we stand here with our lives shattered," said hunger striker Muruganantham Kandhasami.

The protesters will move to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Indian embassy here on Saturday. On May 21, 15 more hunger strikers will join the fast, followed by another 15 on May 28, the organisers said.

"If we, the workers of India, can have the courage to talk to US Congressmen and US federal authorities, then surely the Indian government can do the same so that no other Indian worker suffers as we did," the workers' statement said. (IANS)

Lebanon reverses key order against Hezbollah

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:47:45 -0400

Beirut, May 15: Hezbollah will "return things" to normal in Lebanon after the government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of bloody conflict, the militant group’s deputy leader said on Thursday.

The comments by Sheik Naim Kassem came after a meeting between Hezbollah representatives and a high-powered Arab delegation that is in the country trying to find a solution to Lebanon’s worst crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

"The Cabinet’s reversal of the two decisions is a natural step to return things to the way they were before the two decisions," Mr Kassem said. "We want a settlement that will lead to there being no victor and no vanquished." Clashes between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led Opposition broke out last week after the Cabinet decided to sack the airport security chief for alleged ties to Hezbollah and declared the militants’ private telephone network illegal. The network is the backbone of the militant group’s communication abilities and power on the ground.

The government rescinded those decisions on Wednesday, saying that it hoped for a settlement in the crisis with the Opposition that has paralysed Lebanon for 18 months. Sheikh Kassem’s comments also signalled that Hezbollah may end its civil disobedience and reopen roads in Beirut. But its militiamen on the ground appeared to be taking their time — nearly an hour after Sheikh Kassem’s speech, broadcast live on Lebanese television, key Beirut roads were still blocked with sand barriers, including the one leading to the capital’s international airport. (AP)

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Indian lawyer for UK ‘ripper’

London, May 15: A prominent lawyer of Indian-origin Saimo Chahal, is mounting a legal challenge for the release of a jailed Yorkshire ripper on the ground that his human rights had been breached.

Peter Sutcliffe’s 61, was convicted of killing 13 women and attempting to kill seven more across Yorkshire and Manchester, between 1975 and 1980.

He was sentenced to 20 life sentences in 1981 and was told by the judge that he would serve a minimum of 30 years.

However, Punjab-born Chahal, specialising in cases of civil liberties and social welfare, has claimed that Sutcliffe’s tariff, or the minimum term that a convict has to serve before being considered for release, was never formalised.

She is basing the case for Sutcliffe’s release on the ground that the home office disregarded his human rights, in failing to fix a tariff for his sentence. Sutcliffe, who mostly targeted sex workers and killed them before mutilating their bodies, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. (PTI)

Federer pays tribute to Henin

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:31:23 -0400

Hamburg: World no. 1 Roger Federer admitted the tennis community were shocked to hear on Wednesday top-ranked female Justine Henin had announced her retirement with immediate effect.

Federer, who is in the third round of the Hamburg Masters Series here, said he was stunned to hear Henin, who has won seven Grand Slam titles and nearly 20 million dollars in prize-money, had announced her retirement in Belgium.

Henin, 25, withdrew from this week’s WTA tournament in Rome, but Federer says her announcement has stunned the tennis world, especially as she has won at Roland Garros, which starts in less than a fortnight, for the last three years.

"I have only just heard, but it is a shock for the tennis world, especially as she is number one at the moment," said 26-year-old Federer.

"I am sure she has her reasons, but it’s particularly surprising as it’s only a few weeks before Roland Garros, where she has had so much success, and Wimbledon is later this summer, which she has never won."

"It’s, of course, a shame she is out of the game." Having won 41 titles in total on the WTA tour, including 493 wins and just 107 defeats since she made her debut in 1999, Henin is one of the game’s great players added Federer.

"She is a special player, she can play on any surface, which is unusual in the women’s game," he said.

"And it’s remarkable that she has won so many tournaments because she is small and all the newcomers in the womens game are tall, which gives them an advantage. I couldn’t imagine deciding out of the blue to retire, especially if I was no. 1. She has had a couple of injuries, it might be all in all too much for her and she might not want to be on the tour anymore." (AFP)

Lakers closer to finals

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:29:30 -0400

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Lakers held off Utah Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday to move within one victory of advancing in the National Basketball Association playoffs.

Pau Gasol made two key baskets down the stretch for the Lakers, who took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series. Spain’s Gasol finished with 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant scored 26 points for the Lakers, who can wrap up the series with a victory in the sixth match on Friday.

The Jazz were 37-4 at home during the regular season, with one of their rare home defeats coming against the Lakers. (AFP)

Rookies from China look to make it big

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:29:50 -0400

Beijing: Little-known Shang Lei and Wu Ashun may not be regularly hitting fairways and greens on the Asian Tour but these Chinese rookies are hell-bent on emulating the success of Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong.

Shang and Wu have endured a baptism by fire in their quest for glory across the region since earning playing rights through the gruelling qualifying school in Malaysia last December.

While delighted that they are finally rubbing shoulders with Asia’s best, their records so far are not impressive. Shang has missed the cut in all of his seven appearances. Wu has enjoyed a slightly better record with a tied 36th finish.

Despite the lack of early success, the duo are determined to scale new heights in their quest to emulate trailblazers Zhang and Liang. "I was really happy to make it through the qualifying school. There were so many good players there and it was quite a challenge," said Shang, who turned professional in 2003. "But now that I’ve made it through, I am looking forward to greater exposure outside of China. By joining the Tour, I have the opportunity to play on different courses and different countries which create different challenges."

While he respects Zhang and Liang, Shang idolises world No. 1 Tiger Woods. "Tiger is my favourite player. You can find weaknesses in other players but when Tiger is competing, he is solid in every aspect."

Compatriot Wu, who turned professional last season, shares a similar sentiment to Shang. "I was overjoyed when I made it through qualifying school. I made the cut in my first ever tournament at the Sail Open which was a great start for me," said Wu. (AFP)

Russia, Canada in semis

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:30:10 -0400

Halifax, Canada: Russia and Canada cruised into the semifinals while Sweden and Finland needed overtime to advance as the World Ice Hockey Championships now converge on Quebec City for Friday’s semifinals.

Defending champions Canada and Sweden both kept streaks alive on Wednesday, with Sweden advancing to their eighth and Canada reaching their sixth consecutive semifinals at the Worlds. Canada, who will face Sweden on Friday, are trying to capture their 25th title and become the first country to win on home ice in 22 years.

Derek Roy scored a hat-trick as Canada crushed Norway 8-2 and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 22 shots as unbeaten Russia blanked Switzerland 6-0 in their quarterfinals on Wednesday. Russia will face Finland in the other semifinal.

Both Sweden and Finland had to work overtime to get past their opponents. Mattias Weinhandl scored the winner in overtime as Sweden beat the Czech Republic 3-2 and Finland needed an extra-time goal from defenceman Sami Lepisto to beat the USA 3-2.

For the first time in the 100-year history of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Canada are the hosts for the men’s championships. Canada and Finland now travel from Halifax to Quebec City to join the two other teams for the semifinals, bronze medal and gold medal games.

With Wednesday’s victory, defending champions Canada extended their winning streak at the tournament to 16 games, including a perfect 9-0 record in 2007 at the Moscow Worlds. "They are a very disciplined, quick team with great mobility up front and they have one of the best goaltenders in the world," Canada coach Ken Hitchcock said of Sweden.

Rick Nash, Jonathan Toews, Dany Heatley and Ryan Getzlaf also scored on Wednesday for Canada, who won gold in 2003, 2004 and 2007.

"It was one of those games," Roy said. "On the first goal I knew where I wanted to shoot it, but I didn’t know where the goalie was. But on the second and third goal I looked up and saw a huge gap. That’s when you just have to shoot and trust your shot." (AFP)

Pironkova stuns top seed Ivanovic in Rome

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:30:31 -0400

Rome: Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova stunned top seed Ana Ivanovic in the Rome second round on Wednesday, beating the Serbian 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. World No. 3 Ivanovic struggled throughout with her fellow 20-year-old’s deep and powerful hitting.

The Serbian never looked comfortable on the clay surface against her 64th ranked opponent, whom she had struggled to beat in three sets in their only previous meeting, five years ago on the clay in Bucharest. "I had only one victory over a top 10 player which was Venus Williams two years ago," said the victor. "This is my second victory against a top 10, actually she’s no. 3 in the world so it’s one of the best games I ever played. I felt today that she wasn’t very sure with her game. I wanted to put the ball deep in the court and I did a good job with that."

Ivanovic was particularly out of sorts in the first set and found herself serving at 2-5, 0-40 at one point. (AFP)

Fedex cruises, Nadal struggles

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:30:58 -0400

Hamburg: Both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round of the Hamburg Masters Series here on Wednesday while clay court king Rafael Nadal struggled through.

Nadal, world no. 2, needed more than two hours to make the last 16 before he claimed a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win over Italy’s Potito Starace.

Having made an early exit in Rome last week, again Nadal did not have things his own way here and had to save a set point on the second set before winning the tie-break.

But third seed and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who is closing in on Nadal’s World No. 2 status, wasted no time in blasting his way past Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-1.

And Swiss master Federer needed less than an hour to see off Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3 and in the 18 sets the pair have now contested, during their nine previous matches, Nieminen has yet to win a single one.

Seventh seed James Blake was knocked out 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 by Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic and 13th-seed Tommy Robredo also crashed out to Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic after losing 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

And Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 14th seed, made a sharp exit when he went down in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 to Sweden’s Robin Soderling. But former world no. 1 Marat Safin continued his comeback with a straight-sets win over ninth-seed Tomas Berdych in the second round.

Safin has plummeted down the rankings to 89th after suffering a series of injuries, but hit four aces on his way to knocking out Berdych, 11th in the world, 7-5, 6-4 in 90 minutes.

The Russian will play Moya in the third round after the Spaniard’s 7-5, 6-3 win over Belgium’s Olivier Rochus. (AFP)