India Vs Sri Lanka Final World Cup 2011 - Fate Predicted

The men in blue have thrown their best performances in Mohali to conquer Pakistan in the exciting Semi final on 30th March and are all set to meet the Lankans at Wankhade on 2nd April in the finals. Sri Lanka on the other hand is also at the top with their batting strength. Their bowling department also is strong and it is sure that the Men in Blue will have to give their best performances to gift us the ICC World Cup Trophy 2011.

We had also seen that enjoyment in the face of every Indian when they defeated Pakistan in the Semi Final. Will India be able to repeat that magic performance again in Finals? Who will win the India Vs Sri Lanka Final World Cup 2011 match? Our Vedic Astrologers has analyzed the situation and here are the astrological details for the India Vs Sri Lanka Final match.

Based on the Date and Time of the India Vs Sri Lanka Final Match: The ascendant is cancer and its lord Moon is well placed in the 9th house with yogadhipathi Mars. This indicates strong possibility for India to win the world cup final match; however, the chart also indicates that the match is going to be a tough one. Lot of expectations is there from Sachin and he will be able to meet the expectations to a certain extent. Moreover, Jupiter and Sun are also favoring India by their placement in Pisces along with Moon.

Based on the Prasna Chart: - The charts are indicating that the India Vs Sri Lanka Final will be a tough encounter. Dhoni will have to use his tactics, presence of mind and his experience well in this world cup encounter to gift India their 2nd World Cup Trophy.

So, according to our astrologers, India Vs Sri Lanka Final Match will be a tough one; however, the planets are strongly favoring India to gift us our 2nd world Cup trophy.

Instant Insight or Prasna Astrology is an amazing mixture of ancient and modern Vedic predicting techniques. For ages, Prasna Astrology has been trusted by expert astrologers for having an insight into the immediate future. Pick a number between 1 to 249 and in a matter of minutes our astrologer will predict the answer to any of your queries.Based on the time of the question asked, our experienced Prasna Astrologer will study all the planetary indicators and answer your question in near real time. So experience the satisfaction through Prasna Astrology in real time.

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http://astrology.sify.com/astronews/india-vs-sri-lanka-final-world-cup-2011-match/

Immoral? Poonam doesn’t care

Winning is one thing. Losing your clothes for a win, another. At the time we went to press, the results of the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final may’ve been uncertain, but what was certain was that the moral brigade was livid about model Poonam Pandey’s announcement that she’d run through the stadi
um in the buff if the boys in blue won the World Cup.

The 20 year-old said she first intended to go naked for fans in the stadium, and then in the dressing room, in front of the Indian team. “Showing happiness through nudity is against Indian values. I must congratulate her that she feels happy enough to do so, but there are other ways to show happiness,” says Vinod Bansal of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

“We are totally against such vulgarity and obscenity,” fumes Shalini Thackeray of the right wing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Shiv Sena says it will handle things ‘their way’ if the government doesn’t step in to stop such gimmicks.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/immoral-poonam-doesn-t-care/article1-679416.aspx

India: To 1.21 Billion, but More Slowly

India’s population has grown to 1.21 billion, second to only China, according to new census data. And despite a decade of slower population growth — it was 17.6 percent from 2001-2011, down from 21.5 percent in the 10 years before that — India still gained 181 million new people over that period, roughly the entire population of Pakistan. The government’s efforts to improve conditions for Indian women seemed to be borne out in some of the data, including an increase in female literacy that was higher than the country’s overall improvement, up about 9 percent to a nationwide literacy rate of 74 percent. But Indian officials expressed alarm about one statistic: the ratio of young girls to young boys (counting those 6 years or younger) fell over the past 10 years, from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to 914 per 1,000 in 2011. That raised worries that despite laws to prohibit it, many families are still using abortion to ensure that they have sons.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/world/asia/01briefs-ART-India.html

Toddler Raped, But Her Attackers Shouldn't Be Punished

A toddler was raped, but as horrific as the thought is, those who raped her shouldn't be punished. You see, her attackers were just boys -- 7- and 9-year-old boys who shouldn't even know what rape is. Someone is to blame, but it's not them.

It happened in Memphis this past summer. The 2-year-old victim's brother, 5, saw it occurring and told his mom. Thank goodness he did. While the boys first blamed each other, they later admitted to the crime.

The boys are due in court today where prosecutors are recommending they be removed from their families' homes and placed in state custody for treatment, not punishment. They want to determine what these boys have been exposed to that would make them do this to another child. James Sanders, the attorney defending the 9-year-old boy, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal


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http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/118109/toddler_raped_but_her_attackers

Indian selectors humiliated

The five National selectors, headed by K. Srikkanth, returned to their respective homes after being humiliated in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Their ‘mysterious' absence at the Punjab Cricket Stadium (PCA) in Mohali was not to be missed on Wednesday as India clashed with Pakistan in the World Cup semifinal.

The selectors, who had confirmed room bookings at the Taj, were denied accommodation by the hotel authorities. PCA sources confirmed that the selectors were turned back by the hotel despite holding confirmed bookings.

The hotel, which has a tie-up with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was facing unprecedented demand for rooms. The hotel did not offer any alternative arrangement and the selectors —Srikkanth, Yashpal Sharma, Narendra Hirwani, Raja Venkat and Surendra Bhave — were left with little choice.

The selectors lost little time in leaving Chandigarh. They drove back overnight to Delhi and were watching the match from their homes instead at Mohali. It is learnt the hotel authorities had transferred the room bookings to the International Cricket Council (ICC) even though the selectors' accommodation was the responsibility of the BCCI. The selectors had reported at 3 p.m. and had left the city four hours later by road.

The fiasco, claimed a PCA source, was due to a tussle between the BCCI and the ICC over ticket allocation and hotel bookings. The selectors are often known to fetch for themselves from the airport to the hotel or the stadium but this was a first as far as accommodation was concerned.

The last time a National selector was humiliated was Hirwani when he was evicted from a hospitality box during an Indian Premier League match (IPL) but surprisingly chose to suffer the indignity without any protest.

Incidentally, the selection committee includes two members — Srikkanth and Yashpal — of the 1983 World Cup winning team. The selectors, undoubtedly, deserved better treatment for having done a decent job of the responsibility entrusted to them.

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http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article1585743.ece

U.S. wants other nations to pitch in on Libya

President Obama has touted his emphasis on multilateralism in the U.S. military intervention in Libya, but — for political, operational and legal reasons — his “coalition of the willing” is smaller than any major multilateral operation since the end of the Cold War.

The Cable compiled a list of the countries that contributed at least some military assets to the five major military operations in which the United States participated in a coalition during the past 20 years: the 1991 Persian Gulf War (32 countries participating), the 1995 Bosnia mission (24 countries), the 1999 Kosovo mission (19 countries), the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan (48 countries) and the 2003 invasion of Iraq (40 countries), at the height of the size of each coalition.

As of today, only 15 countries, including the United States, have committed to a military contribution to the war in Libya.

Experts quickly point out that all of these military interventions happened in different contexts. However, they added that the reason Obama’s Libya war coalition has less international involvement than all the others was also because of his administration’s behavior in the lead-up to the war, its approach to multilateralism, the speed at which it was put together, and the justifications for the war itself.

Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the administration’s effort to build the coalition was hampered by its stated desire to hand off the leadership of the Libya intervention to NATO.

“Obama, in his deference to [getting out of the lead], has not only wanted other countries to do as much as they could, he has essentially forgone his responsibility to build the coalition,” he said.

The mission in Libya is, by definition, smaller in scale than those in Iraq or Afghanistan, and a no-fly zone doesn’t require as many countries as a full-on invasion, O’Hanlon pointed out. However, the relatively few Arab countries contributing military assets — three so far — could pose a problem for the mission’s legitimacy.

Although the Libya intervention was endorsed by the Arab League, the endorsement doesn’t require any Arab countries to contribute materially to the effort, said David Bosco, an assistant professor at American University.

“At a certain point, the administration is going to have to decide whether just to say this is a coalition of willing countries,” he said. “That’s not the end of the world.”

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-wants-other-nations-to-pitch-in-on-libya/2011/03/30/AFh2IY6B_story.html

Japan says battle to save nuclear reactors has failed

Japanese officials have conceded that the battle to salvage four crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant has been lost.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power [Tepco], said the reactors would be scrapped, and warned that the operation to contain the nuclear crisis, now well into its third week, could last months.

Tepco's announcement came as new readings showed a dramatic increase in radioactive contamination in the sea near the atomic complex.

The firm's chairman, Tsunehisa Katsumata, said it had "no choice" but to scrap the Nos 1-4 reactors, but held out hope that the remaining two could continue to operate. It is the first time the company has conceded that the at least part of the plant will have to be decommissioned.

But the government's chief spokesman, Yukio Edano, repeated an earlier call for all six reactors at the 40-year-old plant to be decommissioned. "It is very clear looking at the social circumstances," he said.

Tens of thousands of people living near the plants have been evacuated or ordered to stay indoors, while the plant has leaked radioactive materials in to the sea, soil and air.

On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] suggested widening the 30-kilometre exclusion zone around the plant after finding that radiation levels at a village 40 kilometres from the plant exceeded the criteria for evacuation.

"We have advised [Japanese officials] to carefully assess the situation, and they have indicated that it is already under assessment," Denis Flory, a deputy director of the IAEA, said.

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was due to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday to show support for the Fukushima operation and for talks with his Japanese counterpart, Naoto Kan. Sarkozy, the current G8 chair, is the first foreign leader to visit Japan since the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

An emotional Kastumata apologised for the anxiety the crisis has caused.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/31/japan-battle-save-nuclear-reactors-failed

Palestinians to ask for UN recognition if peace talks fail, says Abbas

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been dropping hints that he will leave his post in September should negotiations with Israel not resume by then, and should there be no agreement about the establishment of a Palestinian state.

During a meeting in Ramallah with members of the Council for Peace and Security (who include former top IDF officers ), Abbas declared that the PA intends to work toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, and to win Israeli recognition for such a state. However, he indicated, if no accord is reached between the two sides, and if serious talks do not resume, the PA will turn to the UN General Assembly in September and request recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

Asked about possible scenarios following such a UN vote, Abbas claimed he is deliberately maintaining ambiguity on this issue. Yet, he said, "should we return [from the United Nations] empty-handed, we will convene a meeting of the Palestinian leadership and decide what to do. We have autonomous rule, but we don't have independence. There is and isn't occupation. The [Israeli occupiers] can come at any moment. They can invade our territories. They can do anything. They can even stop me, as head of the PA, from going home."

"So what are we supposed to do?" he asked. "What should be our answer, if we have lost all hope? I can't respond to that."

Abbas reiterated that the PA will only turn to the UN General Assembly if it runs out of all other options.

"If you [Israelis] do not want negotiations, and don't want an accord, then what are we supposed to do?" he said. "We have imposed order and security here for the past four years, and things are stable now: There is law and order, the economy is progressing, life is normal everywhere in the West Bank. Please, you must take advantage of the opportunity to continue [with talks]. If [the Israelis] don't want [talks], then we will leave. We will leave."

When asked by Haaretz whether he means by these statements that the Palestinian Authority will be disassembled, Abbas responded that he did not say that. He clarified that under the present circumstances, the question "why continue this way" is asked repeatedly.

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http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/palestinians-to-ask-for-un-recognition-if-peace-talks-fail-says-abbas-1.353178

Rain gives fans a scare

CHANDIGARH: Thunder, lightening and rain hit Mohali on Tuesday night, giving a sleepless night to cricket fans having tickets for Wednesday's ICC World Cup semi-final match between arch rivals India and Pakistan at PCA Stadium. Overnight rain poses a threat to cricket matches if there is water logging or pitch damage.

The sky in the morning was clear and nobody could have predicted rain later in the day even though it was windy for most of the time.

Cloud cover developed late in the evening and at around 10pm, it started raining in Mohali and Chandigarh.

Jatin Kapoor, who came from Delhi to watch the match, got worried on seeing rain in the Tricity. 'I will pray for the weather to stay dry,' he said. Mohali-resident Shailender Anand, who is expecting guests from Pakistan for the thriller, said three of his friends from Lahore were arriving on Wednesday morning. 'It will be shocking if they do not get to watch the match as they have got visas with much difficulty,' he added.

Meteorological officials said that rain was expected to last a few hours. They added that there was less chance of rainfall in Mohali on the day of the match. 'Sky would be cloudy. However, a sudden change in weather cannot be ruled out', officials on duty mentioned.

The met department predicted that maximum temperature on Wednesday would be around 32 degrees Celsius, while minimum would be near the 17 mark.

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http://sports.ndtv.com/world-cup-2011/features/specials/item/171315-dhonis-unnerving-equilibrium

Syria’s Cabinet Resigns; Concessions Expected

CAIRO — The Syrian government resigned Tuesday in what might have been a prelude to other concessions in a speech President Bashar al-Assad is expected to give to the nation on Wednesday, part of an expanding effort to address protests against his authoritarian rule.

The resignation was seen as a significant — if primarily symbolic — gesture in a nation where the leadership rarely responds to public pressure and where decisions are made not by the cabinet but by the president and his inner circle, including multiple security services.

“It is not about the government, it is about the policies of the state,” said Abdel Majid Manjouni, the head of the Socialist Democratic Arab Union Party in Aleppo. “The ministers are not the ones who decide these things. That is the president. He makes the policies.”

Mr. Assad’s speech on Wednesday was scheduled to try to calm tensions after government forces repeatedly opened fire on demonstrators, killing dozens of people. According to officials, the speech, originally expected on Monday, will offer significant political concessions, including the lifting of laws that restrict civil and political freedoms. The promises, however, were greeted skeptically by a public accustomed to a leadership that has talked of reform for years without results.

“Now it’s all about evaluating Assad’s words and how to judge his actions,” said Andrew J. Tabler, a Syria expert in Washington. “He doesn’t have a good track record on following through and I can’t imagine he can now, given the regime’s structure.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/middleeast/30syria.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Legal role for Clooney

Silvio Berlusconi’s defense lawyers yesterday named George Clooney as a witness at the Italian prime minister’s upcoming prostitution trial. Berlusconi, 74, is accused of having paid for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan, known as Ruby, and using his influence to try to cover it up. Clooney was listed because Ruby once said she had seen the Hollywood star and his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis at one of Berlusconi’s parties, according to the law firm representing Berlusconi.

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http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2011/03/30/legal_role_for_clooney/

Autistic boy,12, with higher IQ than Einstein develops his own theory of relativity

A 12-year-old child prodigy has astounded university professors after grappling with some of the most advanced concepts in mathematics.

Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 - higher than Albert Einstein - and is now so far advanced in his Indiana university studies that professors are lining him up for a PHD research role.

The boy wonder, who taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and Trigonometry Apps in a week, is now tutoring fellow college classmates after hours.

And now Jake has embarked on his most ambitious project yet - his own 'expanded version of Einstein's theory of relativity'.

His mother, not sure if her child was talking nonsense or genius, sent a video of his theory to the renowned Institute for Advanced Study near Princeton University.

According to the Indiana Star, Institute astrophysics professor Scott Tremaine -himself a world renowned expert - confirmed the authenticity of Jake's theory.

In an email to the family, Tremaine wrote: 'I'm impressed by his interest in physics and the amount that he has learned so far.

'The theory that he's working on involves several of the toughest problems in astrophysics and theoretical physics.

'Anyone who solves these will be in line for a Nobel Prize.'

But for his mother Kristine Barnett, 36, and the rest of the family, maths remains a tricky subject.

Speaking to the paper, Mrs Barnett said: 'I flunked math. I know this did not come from me.'

And it hasn't gone un-noticed by Jake, who added: 'Whenever I try talking about math with anyone in my family they just stare blankly.'

Jake was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, a mild form of autism, from an early age.

His parents were worried when he didn't talk until the age of two, suspecting he was educationally abnormal.

It was only as he began to grow up that they realised just how special his gift was.

He would fill up note pads of paper with drawings of complex geometrical shapes and calculations, before picking up felt tip pens and writing equations on windows.

By the age of three he was solving 5,000-piece puzzles and he even studied a state road map, reciting every highway and license plate prefix from memory.

By the age of eight he had left high school and was attending Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis advanced astrophysics classes.

Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369595/Jacob-Barnett-12-higher-IQ-Einstein-develops-theory-relativity.html#ixzz1I2p6FpHK

President Obama defends U.S. role in Libya

President Obama fended off criticism from both the right and left last night as he sought to justify the first war launched by his administration — saying air strikes in Libya prevented massive slaughter while cautioning that inaction would carry “a far greater price for America.”

Obama sought to defend the intervention while insisting that the United States is pulling out of the Libya operation, handing control to NATO after halting Moammar Gadhafi’s brutal attacks. But he took fire from the left last night while getting mocking attaboys from the right.

“For those who doubted our capacity to carry out this operation, I want to be clear: the United States of America has done what we said we would do,” said Obama in his 25-minute address delivered last night to midcareer military officers at the National Defense University in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-Somerville), said, “How do you win when you don’t know what the objective is?” He said Congress should have been allowed to vote on the intervention. “I still believe that Congress has a role to play, a constitutionally mandated role. There was nothing that explained his ability to take direct action.”

University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds, the conservative blogger known as Instapundit, declared, “Eerily like a Bush speech, but without the conviction.”

William Kristol of the Weekly Standard, meanwhile, said, “You’ve come a long way, baby. That was a pretty unapologetic, freedom-agenda-embracing, no-shrinking-from-the-use-of-force, presidential speech.”

But Boston College law professor Richard Albert said, “He hasn’t articulated in a compelling or coherent fashion the organizing logic that frames his administration’s foreign policy.”

Obama said, “To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as president, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.”

“The democratic impulses that are dawning across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest form of dictatorship, as repressive leaders concluded that violence is the best strategy to cling to power,” Obama said. But he added, “Broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake.”

Citing Iraq, he said, “Regime change there took eight years, thousands of American and Iraqi lives and nearly a trillion dollars. That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya.”

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http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/2011_0329obama_defends_us_role_in_libya/

Syria awaits end of decades-old state of emergency

DAMASCUS — Syria is counting down the hours until President Bashar al-Assad makes the promised announcement of the end of 50 years of emergency rule, but the move will have but symbolic impact unless accompanied by other major reforms, analysts say.

"To lift the state of emergency is a symbolic gesture at best," said Faysal Itani, deputy head of Middle East and North Africa forecasting at London-based risk assessment group Executive Analysis.

"Even if it were followed through... it would not address the key issue, which is the high degree of economic and political power in the hands of a select political elite," Itani told AFP.

"The only thing that would do, in the current situation, would be sweeping reform of how power is distributed."

Syria has a religiously and ethnically mixed population. Alongside a large Sunni Muslim community, it has Christian and Kurdish minorities as well as a significant Alawite population, from which President Bashar al-Assad himself hails.

Growing unrest in Syria has turned increasingly violent in recent days, as Assad faces his deepest crisis since he succeeded his father in 2000.

Syria has been under a state of emergency since 1963, when the Baath party seized power. After a series of palace coups, Bashar's father Assad, rose to presidency in 1970, crushing any signs of dissent in his three-decade rule.

The 45-year-old Bashar is expected to address his country in the days to come, but there is no confirmation that he will officially announce that emergency rule has been lifted.

And even if he does, analysts say, more reforms are needed for Syria to shed its reputation and quell simmering dissent in impoverished areas.

"For lifting the state of emergency to have a real impact, President Assad will have to dismantle the state security court and other institutions created over the past 30 years to enforce the repressive rule," said Nadim Houry, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"While it would be a positive step forward, a lot more reforms are needed to provide Syrians with the freedom they deserve."

A key step forward would be to set up an independent body to supervise Syria?s multiple infamous security agencies and enact laws in compliance with international human rights norms, Houry said.

Syria's emergency law imposes restrictions on public gatherings and movement and authorises the arrest of "suspects or persons who threaten security".

The law also authorises interrogation of any individual and the surveillance of personal communication as well as official control of the content of newspapers and other media before publication.

In a conciliatory move last week, the state announced talks were underway to adopt new laws on the media and licensing of political parties.

But analysts say it is too early to say what the annoucement will mean in terms of press freedom in the key Middle Eastern state.

"The state of emergency only provides legal cover of something that is already being done by force," said Itani.

Houry said: "The steps that need to be taken for true reform, for example, include the establishment of an independent electoral commission to register new political parties."

And until the heart of the matter is addressed, the wave of unrest is unlikely to subside, the analysts agreed.

"About 80 percent of the population feels disenfranchised, and they are the hardest hit by socio-economic problems," Itani said.

"The Baath is going to have to open up to power-sharing and it is not clear that they are willing to do so."

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jLklOwrkm_Fa5yowWxdTo51CYT8w?docId=CNG.34a222e35c6a2e98d03744cee3b43b05.171

French Spiderman scales Burj Khalifa

Dubai: Crowds of people gathered on the Dubai Mall Boulevard faced great disappointment as rumours circulated Alain Robert, the French Spiderman, would not climb Burj Khalifa due to windy conditions.

Yet at 6.10pm on Monday evening Robert took his first foothold on the world's tallest tower with one aim — to reach the top.

Half an hour later VIPs and dignitaries took their seats at Burj Island Park in downtown Dubai for the opening ceremony of the tenth annual Education Without Borders (EWB) conference as Robert reached nearly halfway up the tower and stopped for the first of three rests.

Almost half an hour later he resumed his ascent in darkness under spotlight as the night turned chilly and the wind increased.

Robert's climb of the 828 metre tower was to inspire over 2,000 students who descended on Dubai on Monday for the three day EWB conference being hosted by the Higher Colleges of Technology.

Follow your heart

"I'm doing this to show the students there is no edge or borders and to inspire people to break the mould and not limit themselves," said Robert. "Part of my message is not only to follow your heart but try to innovate in all things you do."

Following his heart is exactly what led Robert to the tip of the world's tallest building. It is climbing buildings that brings him joy.

"To live we don't need much, just a roof over our heads some food and drink and that's it... everything else is superficial," said Robert. "I climb because I need to find something I enjoy in life and I enjoy climbing buildings.

"I've climbed the second, third and fourth tallest buildings. All that is missing is Burj Khalifa."

A little nervous about the wind conditions he would face during his climb, Robert had no expectations other than reaching the summit of the Burj Khalifa.

"It seems there will be a little challenge because today is a windy day and it will make things a bit more difficult," Robert told Gulf News hours before his ascent.

"It might be a little freezing as I'll reach the top around midnight so my climb will partly be in darkness."

However, as he neared his second rest after 90 minutes of climbing, Robert was ahead of schedule.

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http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/leisure/french-spiderman-scales-burj-khalifa-1.784348

Divine assistance: Fasting, praying for the success of Team India

NEW DELHI: From February 19 onwards, Sakshi Dhoni has been fasting every day the Indian cricket team has played a match in this World Cup. She would continue her fast on Wednesday, when India plays Pakistan in the second semifinal, in the hope that this routine will culminate on April 2, when the final takes places in Mumbai.

While Indian skipper MS Dhoni's wife performs her vows, Yuvraj Singh's mother Shabnam, too, has been interceding with the Gods. She has completed many rounds of visits to religious places in Chandigarh-her hometown and the venue of the India-Pakistan game -- praying for the success of her son and the Indian team.

Those prayers have borne fruit so far: Yuvraj has been in sublime batting touch, scoring 341 runs in seven matches so far at an average of over 113. He has also taken 11 wickets and is a serious contender for the Player of the Tournament award.

Attacking opener Virender Sehwag can also count on pleas for divine assistance from his mother Krishna. After scoring 175 runs in the tournament opener against Bangladesh, Sehwag has gone off the boil somewhat. He missed the game against the West Indies due to injury and has scored just one half-century in the match against South Africa that India lost.

But she is confident that he will come good against Pakistan, a team against which he has enjoyed good success. The last time India and Pakistan played in a world cup match-Centurion in 2003-Sehwag teamed up with Sachin Tendulkar to set up an easy win.

"Viru is baar koi bada dhamaka karega," she says.

Krishna will not travel to Mohali for the match because she is nervous about watching her son play. She has not seen a single World Cup game live; only recorded clippings. There will be no exceptions, not even for one of the biggest cricket matches that will be played in India. "I get very tensed," she says.

Instead, she will stay at home and pray for her son and the Indian team.

Dhoni's wife is not nervous about watching him play, but she does not hang around either every time India is in action. It's her way of giving him space to concentrate on the biggest tournament of his life.


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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/icc-world-cup-2011-fasting-praying-for-the-success-of-team-india/articleshow/7812645.cms

Daughter & Dad Reunite, Make Baby

It would have been a beautiful reunion story. Last year, Penny Lawrence, 28, set out to find her birth father whom she had never met. From her home in Ireland, she was able to track Garry Ryan, 46, down in Texas. They met, connected ... and then connected a little too much. She's now pregnant with his baby.

It is beyond disturbing and completely and utterly unfathomable to me that something like this could happen, but they act as if it's the most natural, beautiful thing in the world. They say they're in love and deny that it's incest. Instead they say they are victims of Genetic Sexual Attraction.

Chelsea sekely comments:

No! Who is to say they wont be attracted to the child also. How embarrassing and shameful to grow up in that hose hold as well.
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Facebook comment from Jill Coury Benson

I think it is too weird and makes my stomach sick.....but....in the egyption times, royal brothers and sisters were seperated from each other when little and raised apart so they could be runited to marry each other and keep the blood lines pure. See where it got them???? A bunch of sickly kings..... Anthropolgy explains to us that when we grow up familiar with each other and in our family unit places we are too familiar with each other to have those initimate feelings...but growing up apart and maybe the two of them are

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http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/117968/daughter_dad_reunite_make_baby

Cyclops Baby Born in India Only Survives 1 Day

A baby boy with one eye in the center of his forehead and no nose was born in India last week. He survived only one day.

Doctors were shocked when they delivered the infant by cesarean section from the 34-year-old mother, Veena Chavan.

Dr. Ashok Anand, professor of gynecology at the hospital, told reporters, "The child must have possibly suffered from cyclopia."

A sonogram during Chavan's 32nd week of pregnancy revealed the baby was hydrocephalic, meaning water was accumulating on his brain. According to the doctor's report, medical staff wanted to perform an intrauterine shunting procedure but could not because of the advanced stage of her term.

Chavan not only grieved the loss of her son, but was upset that she did not even have an opportunity to see him.

"This was my third pregnancy. I lost my previous child while I was carrying. I was told that the baby had water in the brain but never had I expected the baby to be born with one eye and no nose," she told reporters.

Chavan's one surviving child is an 8-year-old daughter.

Surprisingly, this form of cyclopia occurs in roughly one in 250 embryos and is a rare form of holoprosencephaly, which affects how the front of the brain is formed during fetal development. With cyclopia, the eyes and nose don't form properly.

Such fetuses are often lost early in the pregnancy. Thus, despite the higher-than-expected odds, it's rarely seen. The cause is often the result of a genetic mutation, though alcoholic and diabetic mothers are at greater risk of carrying a cyclopic child.

In 2006, India saw another cyclopic baby born in the city of Chennai. The baby girl survived and was taken home by her parents. No recent reports offer any further information about her survival.

A year earlier, a one-eyed baby girl was born prematurely in Russia but died almost immediately after being delivered. Reports claimed her head, shoulders and back were covered with thick hair and a "small trunk" was growing above her eye.

Cases like these have been documented for hundreds of years but have surely occurred for thousands. The mythological Cyclops dates back to ancient Greece and may have been inspired by a cyclopic infant.

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http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/24/baby-with-1-eye-and-no-nose-born-in-india-survives-1-day/

Japan earthquake: strong quake prompts tsunami warning for disaster zone

The earthquake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale, was pinpointed to 50 miles east of Oshika peninsula in Miyagi prefecture, an area still recovering from the devastation of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Following the new earthquake, the Japanese authorities issued a 20 inch tsunami warning for the Pacific coastal region which was later lifted, with no reports of immediate casualties or further damage.

Japan's weather agency said that the strong tremor was believed to be the latest in a string of aftershocks to hit the region following the massive earthquake just over two weeks ago.

A large clean-up and restoration project remains in place across the northeast of Japan following widespread devastation and the loss of more than 27,000 lives.

Fears of radiation contamination are continuing to hamper procedures and are causing widespread unease following damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Teams of workers at the nuclear plant located 150 miles north of Tokyo are continuing a tense battle around the clock to stem radiation leaks and restore control inside four of its six reactors.

Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the operators of the plant, caused confusion on Sunday when they erroneously reported that radiation levels in water within one of the reactors was 10 million times higher than normal.

After correcting this to 100,000 times higher the government strongly criticised TEPCO for the "absolutely unacceptable" mistake.

The highly contaminated water has now been attributed to the partial melting of the Number 2 reactor's fuel rods after it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Yukio Edano, the chief cabinet secretary, said: "The radiation seems to have come from the fuel rods that were partially melted down and came into contact with the water used to cool the reactor.

"Steam may have condensed [ ] carrying water from within the containment vessel."

Rolling blackouts to cut back on electricity use in the Kanto region of Japan were resumed today to help counter the energy shortages caused by damage to the nuclear plant.


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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8410322/Japan-earthquake-strong-quake-prompts-tsunami-warning-for-disaster-zone.html

Yemen general is feared player: WikiLeaks

(Reuters) - The top Yemeni general backing pro-democracy protesters is, like Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a crafty survivor who has wielded power for his own benefit, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

General Ali Mohsen, a powerful figure close to Saleh, threw his support behind the democracy movement earlier this week and sent in troops to protect protesters in the capital of Sanaa, where they have gathered in the tens of thousands to pressure Saleh into giving up his grip on power after 32 years.

Yet as far back as 2005, Thomas Krajeski, then the U.S. ambassador in Sanaa, painted a picture in diplomatic cables of a brutal military commander likely to back a more radical Islamic political agenda and draw little public support.

"Ali Mohsen's name is mentioned in hushed tones among most Yemenis, and he rarely appears in public," Krajeski wrote in a cable obtained by Reuters. "Ali Mohsen... is generally perceived to be the second most powerful man in Yemen. Those that know him say he is charming and gregarious."

Noting Mohsen's role in ruling Yemen with an "iron fist," the cable said he controls at least half of Yemen's military. Despite its detail and strong opinions, other parts of the cable contained key inaccuracies, such as Mohsen's estimated age as well as the region he commands.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have long relied on Saleh to try and stop al Qaeda from using Yemen as a base to plot attacks on both countries. The impoverished Arabian Peninsula country is deeply divided, and was already on the brink of becoming a failed state before protests erupted in January, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

After Mohsen's defection on March 21, Saleh reacted by warning against a "coup" that would lead to civil war and beefed up his personal security for fear of an assassination attempt.

Days later, Mohsen told Reuters that he had no desire to take power or hold office, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in "tranquility, peace and relaxation far from the problems of politics and the demands of the job."

The diplomatic cable also indicates that Mohsen would be viewed by the public as an unpalatable successor to Saleh.

"Ali Mohsen would likely face domestic as well as international opposition if he sought the presidency... Yemenis generally view him as cynical and self-interested."

One reason, according to the U.S. ambassador at the time, was because of his side business in smuggling.

"A major beneficiary of diesel smuggling in recent years, he also appears to have amassed a fortune in the smuggling of arms, food staples, and consumer products," his cable said.

Although the opposition welcomed Mohsen's support earlier this week, they are also wary of his loyalties, which fall along the country's tribal and ideological fault lines.

Northern Shi'ite rebels see Mohsen as a ruthless military leader who led the military campaign against them in a bloody civil war. Leftists and southerners worry that their goals for democracy will be overtaken in a military power struggle, while the Islamist opposition is thought to view Mohsen more favorably.

More than likely, Krajeski wrote in the cable, Mohsen would try and orchestrate a transition where he could anoint Saleh's successor: "If he holds true to form, Mohsen would likely prefer to play kingmaker, choosing another loyal military officer to hold the presidency."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/26/us-yemen-general-idUSTRE72P1WV20110326

Lights go off around world to observe Earth Hour

Hong Kong before (top) and during Earth Hour last March

BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As night fell on Saturday, the world saw a wave of darkness spreading from time zone to time zone, with countries and regions switching off lights to observe the Earth Hour event.

During the one-hour-relay campaign, landmarks in hundreds of countries and regions went dark at 8:30 p.m.(0930 GMT) in a unified show of support for action towards a sustainable future.

In Los Angeles, the second biggest city in the United States, the 100-foot-tall pylons, which mark the entrance to the Los Angeles International Airport, glowed solid green an hour before the event and then went dark.

Lights also went off on the Queen Mary, a historic hotel featuring Art Deco staterooms and legendary sites, which turned off many of its exterior lights, including the smokestack.

In Kenya, people counted down in the square of the Kenyatta International Conference Center, the highest building in the capital Nairobi, to mark the commencement of Earth Hour 2011.

Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop, Kenya's image ambassador for the event, graced the occasion and called for a sustainable growth model based on a green low-carbon economy.

"All sportspeople are training in the outside weather but climate change is polluting the environment and thus affecting their performance on the track," Kiprot told Xinhua.

South Korea also joined the world in marking Earth Hour on Saturday, with cities, homes, major landmarks and buildings switching off the lights for one hour starting 8:30 p.m..

Despite the cold wind, a group of people gathered on the top of Mt. Nam in central Seoul, watching candles being lit up. Among the participants, parents brought along their children to increase their awareness about environmental issues.

Other landmarks and major buildings in Seoul such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the Central Government Complex and Gwanghwamun Square supported Earth Hour by extinguishing their lights for one hour.

In Singapore, some landmark buildings in the central business district Marina Bay and shopping district Orhcard Road turned off decorative lightings to support the event.

One of the buildings in Marina Bay had a countdown to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiative that has enjoyed ever wider participation since its launch in 2007 in Sydney.

In Hong Kong, China, more than 3,200 companies and buildings joined the global campaign, featuring record numbers of participants.

Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor, known for its night scenes, also went dim at 8:30 p.m. when neon signs and lights of buildings started to black out.

In Finland's 67 cities and towns, including Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Rovaniemi, over 350 enterprises and more than 150 communities and organizations joined the Earth Hour event on Saturday evening.

In the Finnish capital of Helsinki, some landmark buildings, such as Helsinki Cathedral Church turned off the lights between 20:30 and 21:30 local time as part of an effort to draw attention to the danger of climate change. Helsinki-based power plants also turned off their electric logos and ornamental lightings during Earth Hour.

Other international landmarks joining the one-hour blackout include Times Square and the Empire State Building in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the tallest building in the world, Dubai's Burg Khalifa

The Earth Hour event, initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), will traverse the globe over 24 hours, from the first lights being dimmed across Fiji and New Zealand to lights being turned on again in Samoa.

According to Earth Hour spokesman Winston Su, some 133 countries and regions have signed up for the event this year, with 13 of them taking part for the first time.

Speaking at a global launch media conference earlier this month, Andy Ridley, co-founder and executive director of Earth Hour, said this year, the event is challenging people to go beyond the hour and think of other ways to make a difference after the lights go on.

"Earth Hour has grown amazingly from one city to over 4,000 in 128 countries (and regions). For us, it is the time for us to go to the next stage, and for us to go beyond the hour," he said.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/27/c_13800614.htm

Cricket Australia sets Ponting captaincy deadline

SYDNEY: Under-fire Australia captain Ricky Ponting was given just three days to decide his future on Monday as selectors said the next one-day squad would be announced on Wednesday.

Ponting, who let slip Australia's 12-year grasp on the World Cup last week - just three months after their heavy Ashes defeat - has already hinted that he may step down.

Cricket Australia said a squad for next month's three-match one-day tour of Bangladesh was expected to be announced on Wednesday, effectively setting a deadline for the veteran skipper.

Ponting, 36, returned home on Sunday following Australia's quarterfinal exit from the World Cup at the hands of India, saying he was considering his position this week.

"I'll have the opportunity over the next couple of days to reflect on where things are headed for me and certainly what direction I feel things are heading for the betterment of Australian cricket," the Test and one-day captain told reporters.

"I have to really decide what I think is right for me and the team going forward."

Australia play three one-day matches against Bangladesh on April 9, 11 and 13, with Ponting previously stating that he wanted to lead the team on the tour.

But Ponting has since suggested he could quit as captain, saying he was prepared to play on under the likely leadership of his deputy Michael Clarke and bat anywhere in the order.

"I see myself as a leader around the group, simple as that, whether I'm captain or not I still think I've got a lot to offer as far as leadership qualities go," he said.

Though heartened by support of teammates and senior officials, Ponting said he was "absolutely" prepared to drop down the order and step down as captain "if that's what they (CA) and I believe is the best way forward".

Ponting, who has been under attack since the 3-1 Ashes series defeat to England, scored a fighting 104 but it was not enough to prevent India from knocking the champions out in last Thursday's quarterfinal in Ahmedabad.

He has now presided over the end of Australia's 12-year run as World Cup champions after his third Ashes series defeat as captain to England.

Ponting, who has been captain for nine years, had a difficult World Cup, taking a reprimand from the International Cricket Council after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being run out against Zimbabwe.

He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with teammate Steven Smith during their victory against Canada, and for failing to walk in the group match defeat by Pakistan.

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Cricket-Australia-sets-Ponting-captaincy-deadline/articleshow/7804424.cms

Obesity and attending religious events linked, study finds

Warning: Spending too much time at church may be harmful to your health.

A new stuhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifdy has found that young adults who frequently attend religious activities are 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age compared with those who don’t take part in any religious events.

“We don’t know why frequent religious participation is associated with development of obesity, but the upshot of these findings highlight a group that could benefit from targeted efforts at obesity prevention,” said Matthew Feinstein, the study’s lead investigator and a fourth-year student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s possible that getting together once a week and associating good works and happiness with eating unhealthy foods could lead to the development of habits that are associated with greater body weight and obesity.”

The study tracked 2,433 young men and women for 18 years in Chicago, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Ala., and Oakland, Calif.

In the study, “frequent” religious participation meant attending at least one event per week. Most, but not all of the participants, were Christians — reflecting the dominant religion in the United States, Feinstein said.

Courtney Parker, the catering manager for the 20,000-member Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, said he’s not entirely surprised by the study’s results. Parker suspects there may be a historical connection between over-eating and going to church. In years gone by, so many things were taboo — but not eating, Parker said.

Years ago, “church services ran long,” Parker said. “So the first thing you do is go eat, and then you go to sleep.”

Parker said Apostolic has made a point in recent years of serving healthy food at church events. So you’re more likely to see baked fish or chicken, rather than pizza, on the menu.

Feinstein said the study’s results shouldn’t be a cause for alarm because previous studies have shown that regular churchgoers tend to smoke less, have better mental health and live longer than those who don’t go to church.

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/4490719-460/obesity-and-attending-religious-events-linked-study-finds.html

India rewrite history. Send Australia packing.

India batsman Yuvraj Singh whoops it upon driving in the decisive runs in Thursday's five-wicket victory over Australia.

It is not often that Ricky Ponting scores a gritty century and ends up on the losing side, especially in a World Cup. But he did as India avenged their 2003 World Cup defeat at the hands of Australia in glorious fashion. The second quarterfinal in Ahmedabad between the two heavy weights was always going to be more than just a match. For some, it was the final before the final. And indeed, the meeting more than lived up to the hype with the home team overcoming some tense moments to romp home with 5 wickets in hand.

A sense of anticipation hung in the air as Ricky Ponting put his boys in to bat first. R Ashwin opened the bowling with Zaheer Khan on a dry and crumbly pitch getting drier and crumblier by the minute. After danger man Shane Watson (25) was castled by Ashwin and the team score at 40-1, Brad Haddin took on the responsibility of punishing loose deliveries mercilessly. Munaf Patel soon became the opener's bunny, as Haddin brought up his fourth tournament half-century off the medium-pacer. However, Yuvraj Singh soon got the breakthrough and Haddin was gone for 53.

On the other end, his skipper, Ponting, had been putting together a chanceless knock that went a long way in restoring his confidence. The middle overs were soon to become a battle of the captains. As Ponting played out an impeccable innings steeped in class, MS Dhoni constantly came at him with different bowlers from both ends and used Zaheer Khan's capabilities with the old ball judiciously. There was also a palpable intensity in the Indian fielding today, with new inclusions Raina and R Ashwin ensuring that the Indians had around 20 fewer runs to chase. In the end, the Australians notched up a competitive score of 260-6 notwithstanding Ponting's dismissal on 104 in the penultimate over.

A fluent start by both Indian openers was not to last long, with the tentative-looking Virender Sehwag wassurprised by a Shane Watson delivery in the 9th over. Tendulkar, in the meantime, carried on with some fearless play, opening the full face of the bat to smack some glorious drives to the boundary. He, however, lived a tad dangerously en route to 18,000 ODI runs and yet another sublime half-century. The little master jabbed at a Shaun Tait delivery in the 19th over, which saw him back in the pavilion on 53 with India at 94-2.

Virat Kohli (24) spent an aesthetically pleasing time at the crease, but played a ridiculous shot to gift his wicket away. Gautam Gambhir (50) gave Yuvraj Singh valuable company, and then inexplicably succeeded at running himself out, after a failed attempt on the previous delivery as well. With the Indian skipper soon gone and the team needing 74 to win off 73, it looked like the "chokers" tag was back in business.

But finisher Suresh Raina, newly included in the squad, had other ideas. Both he and Yuvraj waited out a few tight overs from the pacers and then opened the floodgates off two consecutive Lee and Tait overs, which went for 14 and 13 runs respectively. There was no stopping them thereafter, and Ponting's last-ditch efforts to prolong his team's World Cup stint by reintroducing spin were not to be. Yuvraj Singh (57 off 65 and 2 wickets) who has made a habit of seeing his side through won his fourth consecutive Man-of-the-match trophy and setup another high-voltage clash against Pakistan in the semi-final in the week to follow.

Brief Scores: India 261 for 5 (Yuvraj 57, Tendulkar 53; D Hussey 1-19) beat Australia 260 for in 49.4 overs (Ponting 104, Haddin 53; Yuvraj 2-44) by 5 wickets with 14 balls remaining.

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http://www.sify.com/sports/india-rewrite-history-send-australia-packing-news-cricket-ldzjkcdbhha.html

NATO to Run No-Fly Zone While U.S.-Led Force Hits Qaddafi Troops

March 25 -- NATO agreed to take command of the Libya no-fly zone, stopping short of assuming responsibility for airstrike missions against Libyan ground forces that sparked discord within the 28-nation alliance.

The limited agreement among members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization may delay a U.S. handoff of responsibility for strikes on Muammar Qaddafi’s fighters. The anti-Qaddafi coalition will continue to handle actions which don’t involve the no-fly zone, said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Foreign ministers from coalition nations plan to meet March 29 in London to discuss Libya issues.

U.S. Navy Adm. Bill Gortney said yesterday the coalition flew 130 sorties in a 24-hour period, of which 49 were sent to hit designated ground targets. The allies are striking Libyan government forces that continue to attack civilians in coastal cities Misrata, Ajdabiya and Zentan and launched 14 more Tomahawk cruise missiles against Libyan air-defense and SCUD missile sites.

French officials, who pushed hardest for military action, predicted a quick end to the conflict. French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said in Paris that the coalition has intercepted conversations among Libyan officers indicating that many are ready to abandon the regime.

Oil Prices

“The military action will be counted in days and in weeks, not in months,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said at a Paris press conference.

Oil prices have jumped about 25 percent since the Libyan rebellion began last month, heightening concerns about Middle East crude supplies. The revolt has evolved from the kind popular uprising seen in Egypt and Tunisia into a civil war. Elsewhere, Syria announced a steps in response to protests, including a possible end to 48-year emergency rule that suspended most rights. In Yemen, the political opposition to President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced plans for nationwide protests against the state-of-emergency law just passed by Saleh’s loyalists.

Crude oil slipped from the highest level since September, with crude for May delivery falling 15 cents to settle at $105.60 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold futures jumped to a record of $1,448.60 an ounce.

Cease-Fire Talks

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, after reporting to the Security Council on Libya developments, said in New York he expects Libyan government and opposition representatives to hold cease-fire talks today under African Union auspices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Rasmussen said NATO’s role will be limited for now to the no-fly zone. Earlier in the week, NATO said it would take charge of enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya. NATO will take over command of the no-fly-zone operations in one or two days, according to an administration official authorized to brief reporters on the condition his name not be used.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a four-way conference call with foreign ministers from the U.K., France and Turkey, according to Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman. She later said that NATO would further consider plans to assume command of the ground-strike missions.

“We have not decided yet whether we will take on a broader responsibility,” Rasmussen said

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http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-24/nato-to-run-no-fly-zone-while-u-s-led-force-hits-qaddafi-troops.html