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PHOENIX: US President Barack Obama warned that victory in Afghanistan would be neither "quick" nor "easy"."The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight," Obama told the Veterans of Foreign Wars service organization in the southwestern state of Arizona ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election on Thursday."We won't defeat it overnight. This will not be quick. This will not be easy," Obama said, explaining his strategy of intensifying the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan was now taking effect.The president defended the war as a necessary conflict, which was "fundamental" to the defense of American people in depriving Al-Qaeda of a safe-haven to plot follow-on attacks to the September 11 strikes in 2001.Obama noted an upsurge in "fierce" fighting in Afghanistan, but vowed to constantly adapt US tactics and ensure the troops have the tools and equipment they need to d...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 KUWAIT CITY: The disgruntled former wife of a Kuwaiti bridegroom has reportedly confessed to starting the fire which charred at least 43 women and children at a wedding tent. The woman, who is the ex-wife of the bridegroom, was arrested after some maids claimed that they saw her setting the tent on fire with some kerosene-soaked rags, Kuwaiti News channel reported on Monday. The 23-year-old suspect was reportedly taking revenge on her former husband for the ill-treatment he melted out to her during their marriage. Meanwhile, the bride escaped unhurt but her mother and sister were killed in the devastating blaze which also claimed the lives of 43 women and three children in just three minutes while injuring 90 others, the newspaper said. The fire broke out on Saturday in a tent reserved for women at a wedding ceremony in Jahra north of Kuwait City.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the United States was impartial in Afghanistan's upcoming election and was ready to work with whomever voters pick.Afghanistan on Thursday heads to the polls in its second-ever presidential election, which comes as the new US administration pours more troops in the country in hopes of bringing stability and rooting out Islamic extremists."The United States of America remains impartial in this election," Clinton said in a statement."Like the Afghan people we want to see credible, secure and inclusive elections that all will judge legitimate," she said, adding: "We look forward to working with whomever the Afghan people select as their leaders for the next five years."While predicting challenges ahead, she said: "The Afghan people should be commended for their courage in conducting this election despite the stresses of wartime, and we and the international commu...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson's father, Joe, says the late pop star will be buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles on what would have been his 51st birthday.Jackson told the New York Daily News his son, who died June 25, is due to be interred the morning of Aug. 29. The burial plans reportedly were completed in the past few days. A public funeral was held for Michael Jackson July 7.The results of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recording artist's death have not yet been released.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has reacted to a possible arms deal involving sale of US drones to Pakistan. Krishna has emphatically told America that an arms sale would create instability in the region adding that in the past, such weapons have always been used against India. Pakistan has drawn up a big list of military purchases from the United States. But, what's worrying India is that Islamabad is lobbying hard to get the deadly Predators Drones from the United States. The worries of New Delhi are that any military equipment bought by Pakistan is essentially meant to be used against India, said Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Pakistan is seeking Predator Drones from the United States saying they need the drones to fight militancy along the Afghan border. But, invariably the drones would be used along the Indian border both for spying and combat missions, he worried A list has been drawn up and they include helicopt...

KABUL: Top candidates in the Afghan presidential race addressed rallies attended by thousands of cheering supporters on Monday, the last day of campaigning for key elections overshadowed by Taliban threats.Seventeen million voters go to the polls Thursday to elect a president for the second time in Afghanistan's history. They will also elect 420 councilors in 34 provinces, in a huge logistical operation handicapped by insecurity.President Hamid Karzai, who has ruled Afghanistan since the US-led invasion overthrew the Taliban regime in 2001, is the front-runner but a strong campaign by former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah could force a run-off.More than 10,000 people poured into a Kabul stadium -- a once notorious Taliban execution ground -- wearing blue baseball hat waving blue flags, carrying pictures of Abdullah and chanting his name over and over again.In a vote stunt rare for Afghanistan, a helicopter circled overhead, dropping hundreds of leaflets with Abdullah's phot...

Monday, August 17, 2009 MUMBAI: Playing the role of a college student in a new movie ‘Kameeney’, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra said that she had never been a college student in her real life.Becoming the Miss World at the age of 17 years, Priyanka first due to winning this title and then her film acting, could not go to college and now she said that she would always feel sorry for this.However, Priyanka said that she is grateful to film director Vishal Bhardwaj who provided her the chance to experiment the college life.The 27-year-old filmstar has played in ‘Kameeney’ the role of a girl who studies in a college. Priyanka said sho would always remember this character.

Monday, August 17, 2009 NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister on Monday said that cross-border terrorism remains the most pervasive threat to India. “There is need for utmost vigilance. There is credible information that terrorists in Pakistan will carry out fresh attacks in India, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. Noting that there were signs of revival of over-ground militant activities, he said attempts were being made to link isolated and unconnected incidents to create an impression of a groundswell of anti-India feeling. "All this shows that efforts to disturb the current status quo have not been given up,” Singh said. Earlier, union home minister P Chidambaram said that the gravity of the terror threat remains undiminished and the country cannot lower its guard.

Monday, August 17, 2009 BERLIN: Jamaican Usain Bolt added the world crown to his Olympic title as he scored to victory in a world record 9.58 seconds in the men's 100m final at the World Athletics Championships here on Sunday.Billed as the first of three potential Berlin duels between Bolt and American reigning world champion on Gay, the 22-year-old show-boating Jamaican crushed the field and smashed his own record of 9.69sec set in similarly spectacular fashion at the Beijing Olympics final.Gay claimed silver in 9.71sec, finishing a good couple of metres off Bolt, with former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica clocking 9.84sec for bronze.Bolt, who took the Beijing Games by storm last summer, winning all three Olympic sprint golds and all in world record times, had overcome a nervy semi-final in which he false started for the first-ever time in his career.But when it came to the final, he enjoyed his normal start, his head staying down over the first 40 metres before slowl...

PARIS: Iranian authorities released a young French academic who was accused of spying on bail, the French presidency announced, after she spent six weeks in Tehran's notorious Evin jail. University teaching assistant Clotilde Reiss, 24, was arrested in Tehran on July 1 after taking part in post-election street protests.She will now have to stay at the French embassy in Tehran while she awaits the verdict in her trial, which was heard on August 8. Her father Remi Reiss said the young academic was "very happy" after being freed and seemed well.

Monday, August 17, 2009 NAZRAN: A suicide bomber exploded a truck at a police station in Russia's restive North Caucasus Monday, killing at least 12 people and wounding nearly 60 others, officials said. The attacker rammed the gates of the local police headquarters in the city of Nazran in Ingushetia and detonated his explosives as police officers lined up for a morning check, said Kaloi Akhilgov, a spokesman for the regional president.At least 12 people were killed and 58 were wounded, said SvetlanaGorbakova of the regional branch of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Prosecutor General's office. She said there were at least nine children among the wounded. The attacker and the truck, which carried at least 44 pounds (20kilograms) of explosives, were pulverized by the blast, Gorbakova said. The police building was on fire and nearby apartment buildings were badly damaged.

Monday, August 17, 2009 LONDON: London's biggest Asian cultural festival kicks off in Brentford.Gunnersbury Park once again play host to the seventh London Mela, one of Europe's largest outdoor Asian festivals.Last year the festival attracted over 70,000 people and organisers predict this year's will be equally as successful with seven zones of urban, classical and experimental music, DJs, dance, outdoor arts, comedy and food.A spokesperson for the event said: "Produced by Ealing Council and supported by the Mayor of London, the free family-friendly London Mela offers something for every generation of every community."

Monday, August 17, 2009 RIYADH: An 11-year-old Saudi girl has become one of the latest victims of swine flu after health officials announced a further three deaths in the kingdom.A total number of 14 people have died from the H1N1 virus in Saudi Arabia to date, the Ministry of Health confirmed.The child was diagnosed with swine flu and died on Friday. The same day a 28-year-old Saudi woman also died from the virus.

Monday, August 17, 2009 LONDON: Prime Minister Gordon Brown affirmed Britain's commitment to Afghanistan Sunday, on a weekend in which roadside bombs killed five more soldiers, pushing the U.K. death toll past 200.The grim milestone has reignited debate about the heavy human cost of a conflict the government claims is vital to defeating terrorism but that critics say is unwinnable.The Ministry of Defense said three soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died after they were attacked while on patrol Sunday near Sangin in Helmand Province. They brought Britain's death toll in the country to 204.Two other British soldiers died Saturday.Brown said it had been "a very difficult summer," but insisted the troops' presence in Afghanistan was keeping Britain safe.Thirteen British troops have been killed so far in August, and 22 died in July, Britain's bloodiest month since the invasion of Afghanistan soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks."Thr...

Monday, August 17, 2009 MOSCOW: One pilot died and another broke his spine after two fighter jets collided during aerobatics practice near Moscow ahead of the annual air show, officials said Sunday. Two of the three crew members on board the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighters managed to eject from the planes before they collided in the accident, which is expected to cast a shadow over the country's annual air show."The pilots have ejected. Two of the pilots are in satisfactory condition, one pilot has died," Russian air force spokesman Vladimir Drik said on Russian television.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has expressed condolences to the family of the dead pilot, Igor Tkachenko, a highly-trained professional and commander of the country's celebrated Russian Knights aerobatic team, his office said.The pilots had been practising aerobatics for a display at the Moscow air show, due to open Tuesday, that Moscow is keen to turn into a leading international commercial aviation ...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 CALIFORNIA: Wildfires raged Saturday in California, where efforts to control the week-old blazes are being hampered by high winds and difficult terrain, state fire prevention agency Calfire said.One blaze in Santa Cruz county, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco, has forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people, destroyed two buildings and is threatening 250 homes in the communities of Swanton and Bonny Doon.California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had been out of state at the funeral for his mother-in-law Eunice Kennedy Shriver toured the affected areas Saturday, local media reported.The governor's office said that the blaze, which began Wednesday, has already destroyed more than 2,700 hectares (6,672 acres) of land and is only 30 percent under control, despite the efforts of 1,600 firefighters.Calfire said their main concerns are high temperatures and difficult terrain, which has forced firefighters to tackle the blazes mostly...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 CALIFORNIA: Wildfires raged Saturday in California, where efforts to control the week-old blazes are being hampered by high winds and difficult terrain, state fire prevention agency Calfire said.One blaze in Santa Cruz county, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco, has forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people, destroyed two buildings and is threatening 250 homes in the communities of Swanton and Bonny Doon.California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had been out of state at the funeral for his mother-in-law Eunice Kennedy Shriver toured the affected areas Saturday, local media reported.The governor's office said that the blaze, which began Wednesday, has already destroyed more than 2,700 hectares (6,672 acres) of land and is only 30 percent under control, despite the efforts of 1,600 firefighters.Calfire said their main concerns are high temperatures and difficult terrain, which has forced firefighters to tackle the blazes mostly...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 TAIPEI: President has ordered to speed up rescue operations to dealt with massive deaths and destruction after Typhoon Morakot struck in Taiwan.Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou put the overall death toll on Friday at about 500, making it the island's deadliest weather disaster since 1959 when more than 600 perished in a typhoon.Taiwan awaited desperately needed aid from the United States, China and other countries Sunday as villagers mourned the hundreds who were killed in the worst storm to strike the island in 50 years.Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said giant helicopters from the U.S. that can carry cranes and backhoes were expected to arrive in a few days to help rescue those that might still be trapped, and to help rebuild roads in villages devastated when Typhoon Morakot hit a week ago. The U.S. has also agreed to send other relief materials, it said in a statement, without elaborating.Typhoon Morakot slammed into Taiwan on August 8, dumping more than ...

Updated at: 0109 PST, Sunday, August 16, 2009 ALGIERS: A head-on collision between a lorry and a minibus in Algeria on Saturday killed 16 people, including more than a dozen members of the same family travelling together, the Algerian civil guard said. The minibus driver and his 5 passengers were killed in the accident that occurred on the outskirts of the city of Ghazaouet, more than 500 kilometres (313 miles) west of the capital Algiers, the civil guard said. The cause of the collision was not y?et known. All the passengers on the minibus were members of the same family who had gone to the beach earlier in the day, the El Watan newspaper said on its website. It had earlier reported that 17 people were killed. The Algerian government recently toughened the penalties against drivers due to the number of fatal accidents from speeding or reckless driving.

MONTREAL: Andy Murray confirmed his new-found status as world No2 with a battling win over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro to take Montreal Masters Tennis title.A tense and high-quality game saw Murray concede a mini-break at 4-4, and with the help of a Hawkeye challenge, Del Potro served out to win the tie break 7-4, and take the first set.The second set proceeded in similar fashion, but only after the opening two games. First Murray broke the Argentine's serve on his fourth opportunity in the game after a bruising series of deuces and break points.But the World No2 then ceded the advantage, losing his serve in the very next game with a combination of errors and some powerful groundstrokes by his opponent.When the set reached 6-6, Del Potro called for the trainer to get some treatment on his shoulder, but he was able to continue. But he made a crucial error in the second tiebreak of the match to allow the Scot to take the lead 4-2. Murray then endured a barrage of Del Potro...

MONTREAL: Andy Murray confirmed his new-found status as world No2 with a battling win over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro to take Montreal Masters Tennis title.A tense and high-quality game saw Murray concede a mini-break at 4-4, and with the help of a Hawkeye challenge, Del Potro served out to win the tie break 7-4, and take the first set.The second set proceeded in similar fashion, but only after the opening two games. First Murray broke the Argentine's serve on his fourth opportunity in the game after a bruising series of deuces and break points.But the World No2 then ceded the advantage, losing his serve in the very next game with a combination of errors and some powerful groundstrokes by his opponent.When the set reached 6-6, Del Potro called for the trainer to get some treatment on his shoulder, but he was able to continue. But he made a crucial error in the second tiebreak of the match to allow the Scot to take the lead 4-2. Murray then endured a barrage of Del Potro ...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 BULAWAYO: Bangladesh won the five-match series 3-1 defeating Zimbabwe by four wickets with 13 balls left in the high-scoring fourth One-day International here on Sunday.Batting first, Zimbabwe made 312 runs for eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs at the Queen’s Sports Club ground in Bulawayo.The main highlight of the innings was Charles Coventry’s marathon 194 not out as the right-hand middle-order batsman struck seven sixes and 16 fours, facing 156 balls.He equaled the 12-year-old world record of stylish left-hand batsman Saeed Anwar, who made 194 from 146 balls against India at Chennai.Chasing the improbable target of 313, Bangladesh achieved it in 46.5 overs for the loss of six wickets.Opener Tamim Iqbal made 154, the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batsman.

Sunday, August 16, 2009 MUMBAI: India have announced their team for the next month’s three-nation tournament and the Champions Trophy.Former captain Rahul Dravid has been included in the team after two years. The Indian selection committee has selected him in place of Rohit Sharma. Dravid had played his last ODI in 2007.Virender Sehwag could not make his place in the team due to fitness problem. India will play with hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the triangular series.

Sunday, August 16, 2009 BERLIN: Kenya, the United States and Russia won one gold medal each on the first day of the World Athletics, being held in Berlin, Germany.The first gold medal in the event went to Linet Chepkwemoi Masai of Kenya. She surged over the last 20 meters to overtake Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia with a time of 30 minutes, 51.24 seconds in the thrilling finish of the women’s 10,000 meters.Christian Cantwell of the U.S. won his first world outdoor shot put title with a throw of 72 feet, 3 inches, the longest in the world this season. Cantwell, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist who had already won two indoor titles, passed Olympic champion Thomasz Majewski of Poland on the fifth of six throws. Ralf Bartels of Germany won the bronze to the delight of the home crowd.Valeriy Borchin of Russia won the men’s 20-kilometer walk with a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 41 seconds.In 100-meter race, reigning world champion Tyson Gay of the U.S. and Usain Bolt qualified for the semi-fi...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 MONTREAL: Andy Murray made sure of claiming the world number two ranking, but he will have to get past Juan Martin Del Potro on Sunday to claim the ATP Montreal Masters crown.Scotland's Murray will replace Rafael Nadal in the slot behind Roger Federer when the new rankings are released on Monday.Third-seeded Murray beat French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) in the semi-finals and is set to rise to second in the world for the first time in his career.Sixth-seeded Del Potro, who won the title in Washington over Andy Roddick last weekend, continued his dominance over the three-time Wimbledon runner-up as he beat the fifth-seeded American 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.Del Potro fired 19 aces in a semi-final victory lasting just over two hours.Del Potro owns former number one Roddick after winning all three of their meetings. He trails Murray, 3-1, earning his lone victory in their last meeting at the Madrid Masters in May.Murray's trip to the final insured...

Sunday, August 16, 2009 LIVERPOOL: Arsenal outclassed Everton 6-1 on the opening day of the English Premier League Football to make the event’s inauguration memorable here on Saturday.Manchester City, Stoke City and Chelsea also won their matches on the first day.Arsenal displayed the best game in their first match of the event and made three goals each in both halves.In other matches, Sunderland beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0, Chelsea beat Hull City 2-1, Manchester City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0, Aston Villa beat Wigan Athletic 2-0, Portsmouth beat Fulham 1-0 while West Ham United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0.