ONE NEWS

Tuesday, June 23, 2009,WASHINGTON: The White House said Monday that no "justice" had been achieved in Iran, following President Barack Obama's warning to Tehran to avoid "violent and unjust" actions towards its people. Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said that it was clear following scenes of violence from Iran over the weekend that "justice has not been achieved." "You have seen violence ratchet up appreciably," said Gibbs, adding that Obama had been moved by the courage of the protestors, particularly the passion to stand up for their rights of expression shown by women.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 WASHINGTON: One person was reported to have died Monday and several other injured during an above ground rush-hour collision between two metro trains in the US capital, Washington, television channels said. A representative of Washington's Metro transportation system told ABC-7 television that one person was killed in the collision near the Fort Totten Metro station near the border with the state of Maryland. A Metro official told AFP that "there have been some serious injuries" in the crash but she was unable to confirm the fatality. Metro said dozens of passengers have been evacuated from the trains.

Monday, June 22, 2009 PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Muslim burqa would not be welcome in France, calling the full-body religious gown a sign of the "debasement" of women.In the first presidential address to parliament in 136 years, Sarkozy faced critics who fear the burqa issue could stigmatize France's Muslims and said he supported banning the garment from being worn in public."In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said to extended applause at the Chateau of Versailles, southwest of Paris."The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement — I want to say it solemnly," he said. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic."Dozens of legislators have called for creating a commission to study a possible ban in France, where there is a small but growing trend of wearing the fu...

Monday, June 22, 2009 TEHRAN: Iran's electoral watchdog, the Guardians Council, has acknowledged some discrepancies in the disputed presidential election 10 days ago that returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, state television reported. Council spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodai said the three defeated candidates had complained that the number of ballots cast in some districts exceeded the number of eligible voters. "Our investigation shows that the number of districts they announced is not correct. Based on our preliminary report, 50 districts face this issue," Kadkhodai was quoted as saying by the television. The local news agency reported that Ahmadinejad's three challengers complained that between 80 to 170 districts of the total 366 had seen a greater number of votes cast than there were registered voters. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai have jointly cited 646 irregularities in the June 12 election which has triggered a wave of angry pro...

Monday, June 22, 2009 NAZRAN: A car bomb exploded as the president of the troubled Russian region of Ingushetia passed in his convoy Monday morning, critically wounding him and killing several others, officials said. Yunus Bek Yevkurov was the third top official to be wounded or killed in Ingushetia in the past three weeks and the fourth in Russia's turbulent North Caucasus this month. The explosion occurred around 8:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) as Yevkurov traveled outside the Ingush regional center Nazran, said Ingush Interior Ministry spokeswoman Madin Khadziyeva. He was hospitalized in unknown condition, she said. Federal Emergency Situations Ministry officials said he was in critical condition.

Monday, June 22, 2009 JERUSALEM: Israelis, Palestinians and people from around the world gathered in Jerusalem to form a human chain for peace around the old city walls.The event called 'Jerusalem Hug' or 'Big Hug' was created as a gesture to encourage respect and peace in the world, starting in Jerusalem.Those who gathered held hands to form a human chain around the city walls and later hugged one another.One woman who calls herself "White Eagle Medicine Woman" organised drumming and singing at the event.She said it was important that everybody worked together to bring about peace in the world.

Monday, June22, 2009 WASHINGTON: The United States is "fully prepared for any contingencies" with North Korea, including a potential missile launch toward US territory, President Barack Obama said in an interview to be aired Monday."This administration -- and our military -- is fully prepared for any contingencies," Obama told CBS when asked about the possibility that North Korea could fire a missile toward Hawaii in the coming weeks.Asked if that meant Washington was "warning of a military response," Obama answered: "No. It's just we are prepared for any contingencies."I don't want to speculate on hypotheticals. But I do want to give assurances to the American people that the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted in terms of what might happen," he added, according to excerpts released Sunday.The US military has beefed up its Hawaii defenses over fears Pyongyang may launch a missile at the Pacific island chain, and is tracki...

Monday, June 22, 2009 LONDON: International Cricket Council has announced World Twenty20 cricket squad, declaring Younus Khan as its captain. The squad consists of four Pakistan, three Sri Lanka, three South Africa and two West Indies players.Indian and Australian cricketers have failed to find a place in the World Twenty20 squad released by ICC in London on Monday.Besides Younus Khan as skipper of the team, the other Pakistani players who have been selected for the team are all-rounder Shahid Afridi, wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and paceman Umar Gul.Sri Lanka's Tillakratne Dilshan, player of the tournament, named as an opener alongwith the West Indies Chris Gayle while South Africa Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers included for the middle-order. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, teenage South Africa paceman Wayne Parnell and Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis complete the line-up, with Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as the 12th man. ICC’s World Twenty20 squad: Jacques Kal...

Monday, June 22, 2009 LONDON: The officials of International Cricket Council (ICC) conducted surprise dope test of Shahid Afridi at the end of T20 World Cup. The test is a part of ICC routine and any player could be call for the test. This time Shahid Afridi was called for the test. Afridi had an ankle injury and will return home after treatment.

Sunday, June 21, 2009 LONDON: Pakistan won their first major title in 17 years when they stunned Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at a sell-out Lord's here on Sunday.Seamer Abdur Razzaq claimed three wickets as Pakistan bowled and fielded aggressively to restrict Sri Lanka to 138-6, then coasted home easily with eight deliveries to spare.Shahid Afridi hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, and former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the undefeated third wicket.Pakistan, runners-up to India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, ended Sri Lanka's unbeaten run in the tournament with style.Pakistan last won an offical multi-nation tournament in 1992 when Imran Khan's team lifted the World Cup by beating England in the final at the Melbourne cricket ground in Australia.The win by Younus Khan's team gave Pakistanis back home reason to che...