Japan crash out of World Cup after shootout defeat to Paraguay

PRETORIA, South Africa (Kyodo) -- Japan crashed out of the World Cup finals in heartbreaking fashion on Tuesday after a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the second round.

Yuichi Komano missed Japan's third spot kick and Oscar Carodozo buried the decisive penalty to give the South Americans victory after a goalless 120 minutes and deny Japan a first ever place in the quarterfinals.

Paraguay will now meet European champions Spain, who beat Portugal 1-0, at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday for a place in the semifinals.

Yasuhito Endo and Makoto Hasebe both converted comfortably but after Cristian Riveros had made it 3-2 to the Paraguayans, Komano fired against the crossbar to leave Japan facing an uphill task.

Nelson Valdez scored to make it 4-2 and although Keisuke Honda gave the Blue Samurai hope, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was helpless to stop Cardozo giving the South Americans their first quarterfinal berth.

A tearful Komano was too distraught to speak to reporters after the match but Okada had encouraging words for his players, who reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil.

"The players tried so hard, so I wanted to win for them. Maybe this shows a lack of ability on my part," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada.

"This tells you that it is not easy to win (at the World Cup). The players made a huge effort and I am proud of them. This team has made Japan and the whole of Asia proud," added the 53-year-old who hinted he would now be letting go of the national team reigns.

"I don't think there is anything left for me to do now," he said.

Okada went with the same side that started in all three of Japan's Group E games while Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made a handful of changes to the team that drew 0-0 with New Zealand.

Fullback Carlos Bonet returned along with defender Antolin Alcaraz and forward Lucas Barrios. Midfielder Nestor Ortigoza and forward Edgar Benitez came in for their first starts of the tournament.

Yoshito Okubo was presented with a half chance with less than 20 seconds gone, firing off target after Enrique Vera had lost the ball but it was the Paraguayans who enjoyed the lion's share of possession in a cagey first period.

Kawashima had to be alert to block a shot following a sharp turn from Lucas Barrios on 20 minutes but Daisuke Matsui nearly broke the deadlock at the other end seconds later with a dipping strike from distance that rattled Justo Villar's crossbar.

Roque Santa Cruz then drove a loose ball wide after Claudio Morel's corner had caused panic in the Japanese defense before Honda, presented with a rare chance, fizzed a shot inches past Villar's right-hand post five minutes before halftime.

The South Americans continued to look dangerous after the break and Ortigoza weaved his way into the box only to be denied by a wonderful interception from Yuto Nagatomo.

Yuji Nakazawa produced more gutsy defending to charge down a shot from Benitez and the Japanese might have snatched it at the end of normal time, but Marcus Tulio Tanaka was unable to connect with Kengo Nakamura's flick on from Endo's free kick.

Neither side looked like they wanted to finish the game in extra time although Honda had a low free kick beaten away by Villar 10 minutes into the first period.

Kawashima admitted he was disappointed about not being able to stop any of Paraguay's penalties.

"All of the players ran their socks off and I would really liked to have saved even just one penalty. I am disappointed. The team grew in stature with each game."

Canada signs nuclear deal with India

Canada and India signed off on a deal that will see Canadian uranium exported to India as part of a wide-ranging pledge to increase trade, in spite of long-standing concerns regarding India’s nuclear weapons program.

Immediately after wrapping up the two-day G20 summit at the Toronto Convention Centre, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was off to a bilateral meeting and dinner with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a few blocks away at the Westin hotel.

The nuclear deal signed Sunday night has been in the works for some time and was discussed when Mr. Harper visited India late last year.

“India fully reciprocates Canada’s desire to intensify our bilateral relations in all areas,” Mr. Singh said.

The two countries also agreed to a joint study “that lays the groundwork” for bilateral free-trade negotiations.

Several Conservative cabinet ministers were hand for the dinner, including Trade Minister Peter Van Loan.

India first obtained its nuclear technology from Canada, but a controversial test of a nuclear weapon in 1974 suggested the Canadian research reactor had been misused to obtain weapons-grade plutonium.

Some nuclear policy experts, including M.V. Ramana of Princeton University, have warned the deal could increase tension between India and Pakistan, which has also tested nuclear weapons.

The concern expressed by experts is that while India will not use the new Canadian uranium for weapons, it will free up more of its domestic supply to be used for its weapons program.

Both Prime Ministers, however, insisted the new arrangement is structured in a way that assures this will not happen.

“We did engage in extensive negotiations to deal with those issues,” Mr. Harper said, adding that he has absolute confidence that the deal is sound on that point. “We cannot live as a country in the 1970s. We are living in very different realities today. ... We want to make sure that we send the message that we are going to be friends and allies on a very big level going forward in the future. That is our objective here and that’s the clear message we are sending in moving in this direction.”

Mr. Singh offered a similar assurance.

“Nuclear materials and equipment supplied to India under the agreements we signed today will be fully safeguarded,” he said. “We have a foolproof system of export controls. We have complete civilian control of our own nuclear facilities and as such there is absolutely no scope whatsoever of the nuclear materials and nuclear equipment supplied to India being used for unintended purposes.”

World Cup: Italy out of competition

Italy and New Zealand became the next two teams to leave the World Cup competition, an especially disappointing result for Italians who rarely see their football team leave the World Cup so early.

Holders Italy bowed out of the competition with only two points to their name and no wins in their group games. Robert Vittek put Slovakia in front with a brace of goals before Di Natale halved the deficit for the Italians.

It looked as though they had wiped out the deficit completely but Quagliarella goal was seemingly ruled offside by Howard Webb. Slovakia made it a further goal advantage when Kopunek came off the bench to make it 3-1 to the Slovakians. The Italians fought back again to make it 3-2 thanks to a Quagliarella goal that was allowed this time. But they were unable to find a third goal and were dismissed from the tournament. Paraguay booked their place in the last sixteen with Slovakia after a 0-0 draw with New Zealand.

Japan fans hold sleepover to mark Michael Jackson’s death anniversary

Michael Jackson fans, some paying $1,000 for a sleepover among his possessions, swarmed to Tokyo Tower on Friday to commemorate the first anniversary of the singer’s death with a candlelight vigil, gospel concert and silent prayer session.

Though Jackson fans gathered around the world to mark his death one year ago, the Tokyo “Lifetime Collection” event was the only overseas exhibition of Jackson memorabilia that has the sanction of his estate, promoters said.

“I don’t know what to say, seeing all his things makes it all come back to me,” said Yumiko Sasaki, a 48—year—old Tokyo officer worker who has been a Jackson fan since she was 12. “It makes me so sad to think that he is gone. He was wonderful.”

Guests paying $1,100 each were to sleep overnight at the Tokyo landmark, where they would have catered food, watch a gospel choir and dance to Michael Jackson’s music, before observing a period of silence as the sun rose.

Matt Taylor, the event’s organizer, said more than 10,000 fans applied for the 50 sleepover slots. He said proceeds would go to the estate, Jackson’s mother and children and charities that he supported.

He said the final 200 were chosen at random, and then the guests were screened by telephone interview to make sure they were emotionally stable.

“We had to be careful because people in Japan are very emotional about Michael Jackson,” he said. “There is even a Michael Jackson depression, a kind of shock over his death. We wanted to make sure that the people who came here would not be overwhelmed by the moment.”

Mr. Taylor said the sleepover was a “once in a lifetime” chance for the fans to be surrounded by such items from the singer’s life as the gate at his Neverland residence, costumes from his many tours, shoes, hats and even a 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom that he used to drive around Los Angeles with friend and actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Along with the VIP guests, hundreds of fans not able or willing to shell out the $1,100 for the full night event shuffled through the Tokyo Tower grounds to offer flowers and other gifts to the King of Pop, who died at age 50.

Divided Koreas remember start of Korean War

The two Koreas commemorated the 60th anniversary Friday of the outbreak of the Korean War, promoting vastly different views of the origins of the conflict that still divides their peninsula.

The war started in the early hours of June 25, 1950, with an attack by North Korean troops. The Korean peninsula had been divided in 1945 after colonial ruler Japan’s defeat in World War II.

The United States and 15 other countries sent troops to aid South Korea under the fledgling United Nations, while Chinese soldiers came in to fight with the North and the Soviet Union provided air support and advisers. Three years of combat devastated both sides. The fighting ended with an armistice, not a permanent peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war.

In Seoul, South Korea held an official ceremony to remember the war, widely known as “6/25” for the date it began. President Lee Myung—bak presented plaques of appreciation to representatives of countries that sent soldiers or supplies to aid the war effort.

“Sixty years ago today, North Korea’s communists opened fire on all fronts of the 38th parallel on a weekend’s dawn when all people were sleeping peacefully,” Mr. Lee said in a speech. The gathering was attended by South Korean and foreign veterans of the conflict, foreign ambassadors and serving South Korean and U.S. soldiers. The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.

North Korea’s view of the conflict, which it calls the Fatherland Liberation War, is vastly different. Under the headline “U.S., Provoker of Korean War,” the country’s state news agency on Tuesday accused Washington of starting the war with a surprise attack.

“All the historical facts show that it is the U.S. imperialists who unleashed the war in Korea and that the United States can never escape from the responsibility,” the Korean Central News Agency said.

On Thursday, KCNA followed up with a massive 4,300—word article listing damage done by the United States to North Korea since 1945.

KCNA cited the “Committee for Investigation into Damage Done by the U.S. to the Northern Half of Korea” as finding the total monetary cost for North Korean suffering came to a staggering $65 trillion. That amount is five times the U.S. national debt of about $13 trillion.

A commemorative rally was expected to take place on Friday in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square, named after North Korea’s founder and wartime leader who died in 1994.

The mood surrounding the 60th anniversary is far different than during the 50th in June 2000, which came just days after the conclusion of the first—ever summit between the Koreas.

This time relations are tense following the sinking of a South Korean warship in March off the west coast of the peninsula near waters contested by the two countries.

South Korea and the United States accuse North Korea of firing a torpedo to sink the 1,200—ton Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. North Korea denies any role in the sinking and has vowed war if it is punished.

Mr. Lee used the occasion of the anniversary to urge Pyongyang to own up to the sinking.

“North Korea should clearly and frankly admit and apologize for its wrongdoing over its provocation,” Mr.Lee said. He called on the country to assume a responsible attitude in the international community.

At a separate ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, the commander of U.S. and U.N. forces in South Korea issued a warning to Pyongyang.

“The North Korean leadership must know that further provocations will be dealt with swiftly and decisively,” Gen. Walter Sharp said in a speech.

China, which remains North Korea’s closest ally, called the war an event of the past and emphasized it maintains good relations with both Koreas.

“History is already history,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters on Thursday, adding the war “has taught us to cherish the hard—won peace and tranquillity and stability.”

Pakistan should act against Saeed: Chidambaram

India asked Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice all those behind the Mumbai attacks, including JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed and handlers which included some Pakistani Army personnel.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said he will “politely” tell Pakistan that the time has come to address issues concerning the deadly Mumbai attacks with seriousness that they warrant.

“I will use the opportunity to bring home to Pakistan gravity of issues and the need for response that is appropriate to the gravity of the situation,” he told reporters accompanying him to Islamabad, where he will attend the SAARC Home Ministers’ Conference and also hold talks with his counterpart Rehman Malik.

“It has been 18 months since I took over. The time has come to address these issues (regarding Mumbai attacks) with seriousness that they warrant. That is what I am going to tell them politely,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

He said he will take the opportunity to exchange views on matters that have been concerning India for the last 18 months.

Asked whether he would raise the issue of Hafiz Saeed with Malik, Mr. Chidambaram said: “Hafiz Saeed is one among them.

There are controllers, there are handlers, so we need to know what action they will take against them. These matters cannot be ignored for ever. Somebody has to address these issues sometime or the other.”

He said he would also take up other issues like infiltration on the border of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistanis who have infiltrated and are indulging in militant activities.

On whether he will seek voice samples of the 26/11 handlers, he said: “Surely they (Pakistan) can give us voice samples of handlers. Now it is universally acknowledged that handlers were in Pakistan. We think we know who the handlers were. Surely, they can give us voice samples. We have recordings on our side.”

Asked whether Pakistan had declined to give voice samples at any point of time, Mr. Chidambaram said one of the dossiers given by Pakistan said a couple of people had declined to give their voice samples.

When asked whether India will accept Pakistan giving voice samples to any third country, he said: “I suggested one time that don’t give it to us. Give it to a third country so that it is subjected to forensic analysis in a third country.

Asked whether Pakistani Army personnel were among the handlers of the 26/11 attackers, he said: “If you are quoting from the dossier (that India gave to Pakistan) you are quoting correctly. But I do not know whether they are real names or assumed names.”

Asked whether the handlers included two Pakistani Army Majors, Mr. Chidambaram said: “That is what the dossier said.”

On whether he would raise the Headley connection to the attacks, he said he won’t do it directly.

Petrol prices decontrolled; diesel, LPG, kerosene to cost more

Petrol will cost up to Rs. 3.73 per litre more, households will have to pay an additional Rs. 35 per cylinder and poor man’s cooking medium kerosene will be dearer by Rs. 3 a litre from Friday, the government said here.

In a major decision to bring petroleum products in line with market rates, the government on Friday freed petrol from all pricing controls and hiked diesel prices by Rs. 2 a litre, Oil Secretary S. Sundareshan announced after the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers.

Even diesel prices will be eventually freed of all administrative controls, Mr. Sundareshan said.

The decisions, taken by the EGoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherejee, were timed appropriately to take advantage of relatively lower global crude prices, which are hovering around $77 a barrel.

Besides, this would also help cut down on the government’s huge subsidy bills, as also relieve the oil marketing PSUs of staggering burden on account of selling these fuels much below the market prices.

Mr. Sundareshan said that the government would, however, continue to “heavily subsidise” the cooking fuels.

Oil Minister Murli Deora had, on more than one occasion, briefed the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr. Mukherjee on the crisis that would befall oil PSUs if no decision was taken on hiking prices.

The decision would cause core inflation, already in double digits, to shoot up further.

In May, WPI-based inflation provisionally entered double digits at 10.16 per cent.

State oil firms currently lose about Rs. 215 crore per day on selling fuel below the imported cost. At present, petrol is being sold at Rs. 3.73 a litre below its cost, diesel at a loss of Rs. 3.80 per litre, kerosene at Rs. 18.82 a litre and domestic LPG at a discount of Rs. 261.90 on every 14.2-kg cylinder.

Indian rupee to get a new symbol

The Indian rupee is all set to get its own unique symbol, joining the club of other international currencies, such as, dollar, pound sterling, euro and the yen as currencies with an identity that is recognisable worldwide.

The Cabinet will decide on the matter on Thursday. A symbol reflecting the Hindi alphabet 'R' is likely to be approved.

Five designs had been shortlisted by the government after an all-India contest. These signs are easy to write and are specially designed to appeal to Indian and international community.

Which is your favourite design? Is the use of such a symbol important to reflect India’s growing dominance in the global economy? Share your views with us.

India defeat Sri Lanka to secure Asia Cup triumph

India captured the Asia Cup for the first time since 1995 with an 81-run victory over defending champions Sri Lanka in the final in Dambulla.

Having opted to bat first, India were given a fine start by Dinesh Karthik, who struck nine fours in his 66.

Skipper Mahendra Dhoni hit two fours and a six in 38 and Rohit Sharma made 41 as they reached 268-6.

Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan for a second ball duck and Ashish Nehra took 4-40 as they were all out for 187.

It was India's fifth Asian Cup title, taking them above the Sri Lankans as the most successful team in the history of the event, which was first staged in the United Arab Emirates in 1984.

Sri Lanka had won three of the most recent four competitions and beat India by seven wickets in the round-robin match between the teams on Tuesday.

But India's openers began well, maintaining a run-rate of six an over before Gautam Gambhir was run out for 15 attempting a quick third run.

Karthik appeared certain to help India to a mammoth total with his powerful strokeplay, but attempted one big shot too many off the bowling of spinner Thilina Kandamby and lobbed a simple catch to Mahela Jayawardene at deep square leg.

Dhoni hit Farveez Maharoof for a huge six before being caught at backward point in the 33rd over, but Sharma and Suresh Raina shared a stand of 50 inside nine overs to set Sri Lanka a tough target.

After Dilshan completely mis-timed a pull and was easily caught at mid-on from only his second delivery, Sri Lanka continued to lose important batsmen at regular intervals.

Upul Tharanga played no shot at a delivery from left-armer Zaheer Khan that cut back in to uproot the off-stump in the eighth over and Nehra then struck twice in three balls, claiming the key wicket of Jayawardene with one that rose and took the edge, followed by Angelo Mathews who edged a wide one.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was the fifth wicket to fall two overs later when he was another to mis-hit a pull, looping a simple catch to mid-on to give Nehra a third wicket.

Chamara Kapugedera struck his seventh ODI half century but was left stranded on 55 as Sri Lanka were dismissed in the 45th over.

"Its an ideal reflection," Dhoni said of his team's triumph. "The guys were putting in a lot of effort, not only in terms of fitness but skills as well and it is good that we've won the Asia Cup after a long time. I'm really happy with the performance over here.

"We wanted to get Dilshan out early because even if he stays for two or three overs he can just take 30-40 runs off you, so it was really good that we got him in the first over.

"The kind of bowling shown by Zaheer and Ashish was one of the best spells I have seen in these conditions."

Counterpart Sangakkara lamented: "The difference was in the first 15 overs, the way we bowled and the way they did, and also the helpful conditions. I think losing four wickets in the top order was not a great way to start.

"I think 269 was probably a chaseable total. I think a bit more application and being a bit more tight in our batting and having a little more of an attacking mindset would have seen us through.

Sheila says Delhi is game for Olympics

New Delhi, June 24 -- A day before the 100-day countdown to the Commonwealth Games begins, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the Capital was ready to host even the Olympic Games. She said this on Wednesday at an HT conclave to mark the Games countdown and to launch its initiative, 'I Love Delhi: My Delhi My Games'.

Sharing her confidence and the stage were Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi. The CM admitted she was comfortable but nervous about the event.

"We're ready for it. We have good infrastructure and facilities.

We can definitely organise the Olympics." But she said the success of the Games depended on the people of the city.

"This is where HT's 'My Delhi My Games' slogan will help. It is not just for the government but for the people to take care.

The Metro is an example. Delhiites treat it as their own; don't dirty it.

We want them to feel the same way about the city," she said. Opening the conclave, HT Media Ltd's Chairperson and Editorial Director Shobhana Bhartia said, "There is hardly anybody called a true-blue Delhiite.

Delhi is becoming like the new Mumbai where people like me who grew up elsewhere make Delhi home. We all fit the description of the label Delhiite.

The CWG has provided a unique opportunity to show off what we have." Urban development minister Jaipal Reddy too backed the Delhi CM's confidence to host the Olympic Games.

He revealed that his ministry has given Delhi a Rs 18,000 crore facelift for the Games. "The Indian government will be more interested in Delhi than in any other part of the country (to host the Olympics)," he told the packed house.

"With the Commonwealth Games, Delhi will undergo a mighty metamorphosis." Amid the mood of upbeat confidence, Dikshit did point out a few problems.

She asked the organising committee (OC) of the Games to do more to let people know where to get tickets from, saying that people are "itching to see the Games". She also said that though the Games were conceptualised at least six years ago, things were left to the last minute.

"But a lot of planning has gone into it and all stake-holders - municipalities, the IOA, Delhi Police - have done their bit," she said. IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi compared the CWG to an Indian wedding.

"But we haven't left anything to the last minute. Everything is planned to the last T," he said.

He also said that tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies were almost all sold out and joked that he wouldn't be able to fulfil the requests of Delhi's many VVIPs.

Russia launches second stealth warship for India

MOSCOW: Russia launched the second of three stealth frigates for the Indian Navy under USD 1.6 billion deal inked in July 2006.

The launching ceremony of the missile frigate Tarkash (Quiver) in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, was attended by senior Russian and Indian naval officials, state-owned Yantar shipyard said in a release.

The first of three Project 11356 (modified Krivak III) frigates, named the Teg (Sword), was launched in last November.

The third frigate, Trikand (Bow) is due to be delivered in 2011-12.

The new frigates, also known as Talwar class, will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

Earlier, Russia's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard had built three stealth frigates of the same class - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.

Continuing the tradition of the Indian Navy to name naval ships of the same class with same letter in the beginning, President Pratibha Patil during her Russia visit last September had christened the new frigates as the Teg, the Tarkash and the Trikand at various stages of completion at Yantar Shipyard.

World’s Longest Tennis Match

John Isner and Nicholas Mahut, at 9:30 Eastern time, will take the court at the All England Club to resume the longest match in tennis history.  So far, the two have played for 10 hours.  Twice, the match has been suspended due to darkness.  Isner and Mahut sit atop Wimbledon’s all-time aces list for a single match thanks to their record-breaking tennis tilt.  The two are tied 59-59 in the fifth set of the match that will never end!

The previous longest match in Grand Slam tennis history was a 6-hour, 33-minute affair at the French Open in 2004.  Every minute, every serve, every ace breaks a record.  What American Isner and Frenchman Mahut have done on the court is a thing of mesmerizing beauty.  I didn’t need another reason to love tennis, but watching these two just lay it all out, with Mahut surviving multiple match points and Isner soaking through his shirt with exertion has just been incredible.

This match is why people love sports.  It’s been epic in scale, yet incredibly personal.  These guys are just going to keep fighting and keep playing, possibly forever.  Win or lose, this is a once-in-a-generation display of toughness and guts.

New Hyundai Verna 2010 [Price in India] version Launched

The Hyundai Verna was never a pretty car, or for that matter, most Hyundais aren’t. The Hyundai Verna too was no exception with it being just passable in the looks department. But, in India ugly seems to sell more that pretty does and hence we had downright FUGLY cars like the Hyundai Santro selling in droves and now the Maruti Suzuki DZire too seems to be setting sales charts on fire, so much for good looks.

Hyundai has a fairly good looking car in the 2011 Verna but Hyundai India seems to have other plans for the Indian market for the time being.

According to reliable word from a Bangalore based Hyundai dealer, Hyundai India is all set to launch the Hyundai Verna Transform, which literally transforms the passable looking Verna to downright hideous. This car will see an Indian launch in the coming few days, may be as early as 23rd of June. Apart from the ugly front, the Hyundai Verna Transform is set to come with revamped interiors and slightly more features than the existing Verna. The engine options will remain untouched while the price too isn’t expected to go up by too much.

What we’re still wondering about is as to why Hyundai India is delaying the launch of the much better looking 2011 Verna?

Canada Earthquake Shakes Buildings in Toronto, Ottawa

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- A magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Canada shook office towers in Toronto and Montreal, interrupted train service and forced lawmakers and government workers in Ottawa from their buildings.

The earthquake at about 1:41 p.m. New York time today was centered about 53 kilometers (33 miles) northeast of Ottawa, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors were felt as far away as Ohio, New York and Massachusetts, said Bruce Presgrave, a USGS geophysicist in Golden, Colorado.

In Ottawa, several emergency vehicle sirens could be heard downtown, and hundreds of people evacuated buildings in the blocks around Parliament Hill. Mobile phone reception was intermittent in the half hour afterwards and the Bank of Canada was closed. There have been no reports of injuries or major damage.

“I was sitting at my desk when I felt a small shake,” said Kelly Cromwell, a money manager at J. Zechner Associates on the 47th floor of the TD Canada Trust Tower in Toronto’s financial hub on Bay Street. “My chair then started to move to the right, and that’s when I got up and ran to the elevator.”

The earthquake was the strongest in eastern Canada since 2000, when a 5.2 magnitude tremor shook Quebec, according to the USGS and Natural Resources Canada. The Ottawa area is part of the Western Quebec Seismic Zone, which gets three to four earthquakes a year. One of the most damaging quakes in the region occurred in 1935, when a magnitude 6.1 event struck.

Epicenter Motel

“There is no evidence of damages. Picture frames fell and windows shook, but no injuries,” said Linda Léveillé, owner of a motel in Val-Des-Bois, Quebec, about 5 kilometers from the epicenter.

Passenger train service in the triangle between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto resumed in late afternoon after a three-hour interruption for track inspections, Via Rail spokeswoman Elizabeth Huard said in a telephone interview. Travelers should expect delays of 45 minutes to three hours, she said.

Steve Lee Lalande, a spokesman for the Quebec provincial police, told Radio-Canada television that the belfry in the village of Gracefield crumbled. A portion of Quebec’s route 307 has been closed after collapsing, Nicole Ste-Marie, a spokeswoman for the provincial transport ministry, said in a telephone interview.

Lawmaker Cut Short

Don Davies, a lawmaker with the opposition New Democratic Party, had to cut short an Ottawa press conference on the costs of the Group of Eight and Group of 20 summits in Canada.

“I don’t always exit with such drama,” Davies said after reporters had begun running for the exits as the building shook.

Toronto resident Andrea Ercolani initially mistook the tremor in Toronto for the vibrations from helicopters that had just flown low over downtown ahead of the G-20 summit. Toronto is about 425 kilometers from the earthquake epicenter.

“I was very nervous,” said Ercolani, 26, who works at a food magazine, Inspired. “I’ve never felt an earthquake before.”

Laurent Godin, a professor of structural geology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario who studies faults that cause earthquakes, said he wasn’t surprised there was so little damage reported to date.

Building Codes

“In another country with not as good building codes, there might have been more damage,” Godin said in an interview. “I’ve worked a lot in Nepal and Kathmandu and a 5.5 there would have been a totally different story.”

The tremor comes three days before leaders from the Group of 20 countries converge on Toronto to debate ways of coordinating exit strategies from fiscal stimulus. A 12-block section of Toronto’s financial district is already surrounded by three-meter (10-foot) high chain-link fences and concrete barriers, part of the largest security operation ever in Canada with 20,000 police and security guards.

“We’re thinking of making T-shirts -- I survived the Great Quake and the G-20 in Toronto 2010,” said John Curran, a Toronto-based senior vice president at CanadianForex Ltd., an online foreign-exchange dealer.

Pak to ban Google, Yahoo, Hotmail

Islamabad, Jun 24: Lahore High Court in Pakistan has ordered a ban on nine leading websites including Google, Yahoo and Hotmail, MSN, YouTube, Bing and Amazon, accusing them of posting blasphemous materials. The court ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block nine websites as earliest as possible.

 

Mr Muhammed Sidiq filed a petition in the court accusing that these websites were publishing sacrilegious materials and twisting facts about quran which are harmful to Islam community. He had sought for banning these online sites, in the petition.

Justice Mazher Iqbal Sidhu heard the petition and issued the order banning these websites. He has also ordered the PTA Chairman to be present before court on Jun 28, with relevant materials.

The spokesman for the Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, Wahaj-us-Siraj told a news agency that they have not received such an instruction, so far.

The popular networking sites including Facebook, had been blocked by Pak authorities in May for holding blasphemous materials. The access to the sites were later restored.

Nikki Haley wins Republican governor nomination in South Carolina

WASHINGTON: Indian-American Nikki Haley has bagged the Republican nomination for South Carolina's gubernatorial elections to be held in November.

The victory, the national US media said, elevated her to the national stage and almost a certain win later in the year.

If elected in the November elections, Haley would be the first Indian American female and also the first ever female governor of South Carolina.

The 38-year-old overcame a series of allegations of extra-marital affairs, which she had denied, to win the nomination.

In the run-off to the primary elections yesterday, Halley defeated Congressman Gresham Barrett. The Indian-origin Republican candidate, a mother of two, was endorsed by top party leaders including Sarah Palin, the former Alaska Governor, and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts Governor.

US media reported that Haley, who was born as Nimrata Randhawa, starts as a favourite against Democrat Vincent Sheheen as South Carolina has strongly favoured the Republican.

The state has never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Haley, who was trailing behind most of her Republican rivals, started gaining ground and eventually won the Republican nominations soon after she was endorsed by Palin and Romney, both of whom campaigned in her favour.

Haley got 62 per cent of the total votes polled, while Barrett received 38 per cent. The Washington Post said the victory makes Haley not just the front-runner for the office this fall but a likely national GOP star.

"Even before Haley had officially become the nominee, the Republican Governors Association had all-but-endorsed her -- recognising that an Indian-American woman as their nominee was a terrific national storyline," the daily said.

"Given Haley's background and the primacy of South Carolina in the 2012 Republican presidential primary process, she will almost certainly become a national figure in short order," it added.

Echoing the same view, The New York Times remarked that the victory "swiftly elevates her to become one of the leading faces of the national Republican Party" and puts her within one step of winning election in the fall as South Carolina's first female governor.

1st Female PM For Australia.

Someday, it was bound to happen..and it did.

Although I don't see it happening yet for America or Malaysia, primarily in any kind of chauvinistic societies, but I was surprised that happened in Australia today, in the wee hours of the morning. Okay, probably power shift rumblings were already happening invisible to the public eye, but today, I think most were taken by surprise that Julia Gillard decided to step up after Kevin Rudd lost his majority votes for the Labour party, Australia's ruling party in parliament.

Kevin Rudd has given up the leadership of the Labor Party before completing his first term, conceding defeat to Julia Gillard before the spill was even put to a vote, resulting in the installation of Australia's first female Prime Minister. Ms Gillard will be sworn in at lunchtime by Governor-General Quentin Bryce, and will hold a press conference shortly, with details expected to emerge on the mining tax and possible ETS commitments. 

There is also speculation an election could be held sooner rather than later due to the leadership change. 

Yesterday's dramatic crisis within the Labor Party resulted in the positions of party leader and deputy leader being declared vacant at this morning's caucus meeting. According to Labor Party returning officer, Michael Forshaw, Mr Rudd gave a gracious speech to the party room, in which he declared he would not be standing for the position of leader. This left Ms Gillard elected to the position of Labor Leader and consequently Prime Minister unopposed. Wayne Swan was then elected to Ms Gillard's former position of deputy leader, also unopposed. Ms Gillard arrived at this morning's minute at 8.59am accompanied by both Treasurer and now Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, and a security detail.

Upon departing the meeting Ms Gillard said: "I feel very honoured and I'll be making a statement shortly." Mr Rudd's popularity had been in freefall in recent months and Labor powerbrokers yesterday acted on the dire polling, confronting Mr Rudd urging him to make way for Ms Gillard. Mr Rudd fought the move by putting the leadership to a vote at today's caucus meeting. However, after a night of working the phones, Mr Rudd failed dismally to garner even a respectable amount of support and this morning decided not to put his name forward for re-election as party leader. He is expected to remain on the back bench until the election, when he will most likely leave politics. How sad.... u know, I did think he started his career in a very good way and built good bridges both locally (with the aborigines) and internationally (China).

Mr Rudd listed the apology to the stolen generation, keeping the country out of the global financial crisis and the education revolution as some of the achievements he was most proud of. "I was elected by the Australian people as Prime Minister to bring back a fair go for all Australians, and I have given my absolute best to do that — I have given my absolute all," he said. "I hope I've been able to demonstrate to you that this has been a very busy two and a half years." A pity it had to end in this fashion. Australian politics is hard to crack.. it will be interesting to see what unfolds in the next few months with this new shift in power...

Posco project to contribute 11.5% to Orissa GDP

The Orissa government on Tuesday rejected the demand to scrap Posco’s steel project, saying the Rs. 51,000-crore project could contribute 11.5 per cent to the State’s gross domestic products in terms of value addition.

Dismissing the demand by the BJP and the CPI to scrap the project and and not to renew the MoU with the South Korean steel major which lapsed yesterday, Orissa’s steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said, “Posco-India project will immensely benefit the State’s economy.”

Quoting a study conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the minister said that the Posco-India project would alone contribute about 11.5 per cent to the State’s GDP in terms of value addition. “It will create about 8.7 lakh of direct and indirect employment, of which 18,000 will be direct employment.”

He also rejected the demand by anti-Posco agitators for shifting the proposed steel plant site near Paradip.

“There is no plan to shift location of the project,” Mohanty told PTI in an interview, adding the proposed site was most suitable to set up a greenfield port-based 12 million tonnes per annum steel mill.

As the MoU for the proposed mega project signed with South Korean steel major on this day in 2005 expired, the government said steps had been initiated for its renewal.

While anti-Posco agitators had been demanding shifting of the proposed mega steel plant from the area in view the sustainable agrarian economy at the proposed plant site villages, the State government maintained that the South Korean steel major had examined several alternative sites before zeroing on Dhinkia area near Paradip.

Asked if SEZ status to the project could eat into the State’s expected revenue generation, he said that Posco would contribute Rs. 77,870 crore to the state in 35 years from the date of commissioning.

On the clause in the MoU which allowed the South Korean steel major to swap iron ore, the State government maintained that lack of understanding of the reasons behind such a clause had led to criticism.

“Based on a study on the type of the iron ore available in Orissa, Posco felt that although there was iron ore of high Fe content in the State, percentage of impurities like sulphur and particularly alumina was beyond one per cent,” a senior official in steel and mines department said.

Alumina content beyond one per cent adversely affects productivity and longevity of the furnace and leads to increase in fuel consumption, the official added.

In return, the company had to bring back equal amount of raw materials from other countries,” the MoU conditions said.

Pak keen on gas deal, but won’t violate international law

Following a warning by the U.S. on its gas pipeline project with Iran, Pakistan has said it will not violate international law but hoped the multi-million dollar deal, crucial to its energy needs, would not come under the ambit of fresh sanctions on Tehran.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said it would be premature to give a final opinion on whether the US sanctions targeting Iran could affect the ambitious project, hours after U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke said he had asked the Pakistanis not to “over-commit themselves until we know the legislation“.

Mr. Qureshi said the $7.5 billion gas pipeline project should remain intact as it is in the best interests of the country at a time when it is grappling with an energy crisis.

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Holbrooke on Sunday said he had warned Islamabad against signing a deal with Tehran on the gas pipeline as the US is preparing sanctions that could affect the project.

Mr. Holbrooke told a group of American reporters that Pakistan should not “over-commit” itself to the project till the “comprehensive” sanctions are finalised.

Hours later, Mr. Qureshi told reporters in his hometown of Multan that Pakistan needs energy and the pipeline agreement with Iran should remain intact as it is in the best interest of the country.

Pakistani experts hoped that the pipeline project would not be affected by US sanctions imposed on Iran and even US officials did not know for sure whether the pipeline would be affected by the restrictions, Qureshi said.

However, if the pipeline falls under the restrictions, then Pakistan will not violate international laws, he said.

Mr. Qureshi said Pakistan will protect its interests with regard to energy, which is an essential requirement of the country.

“All the different phases of the gas pipeline agreement have been finalised and we wish that it should proceed forward,” Mr. Qureshi said.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told the media that the Iran-Pakistan pipeline was not raised during meetings between Pakistani officials and Holbrooke.

UN resolutions too do not prevent Pakistan from carrying on with the project because China and Russia had ensured that Iran’s energy sector is not targeted when UN Resolution 1929 was passed by the Security Council, he said.

The comments made by Holbrooke yesterday marked an about-turn from the stand taken by him in an earlier media interaction.

On Saturday, Holbrooke avoided a direct response to a question about the US stand on the Iran-Pakistan pipeline during a news conference at the Foreign Office.

“You’re going to go on and this is your country,” he had said.

Observers had interpreted these remarks by Holbrooke as an indication that the US would not oppose the Iran-Pakistan pipeline.

The US has, till now, been muted in its criticism of the pipeline as it has had to balance its need to support Pakistan in the war against terror while building pressure on Iran.

Iran and Pakistan recently signed an export deal that commits Tehran to selling natural gas to Islamabad from 2014.

Iran has already built 907 km of the pipeline that will carry natural gas from it’s South Pars field.

The pipeline was originally planned to connect Iran, Pakistan and India, though the latter is yet to commit to the project.

Israel eases land blockade on Gaza

Israel has decided to loosen its land blockade of the Gaza strip but the measure may fall short of international expectations raised following the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31.

“It was agreed to liberalise the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza [and] to expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision,” said an official statement following the Israeli Security Cabinet meeting which began on Wednesday. The statement did not list the products which can now be sent into Gaza.

Israel had imposed the blockade in 2006, soon after Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections. The embargo was reinforced following the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas which ended in January 2009.

Observers say Israel has now cleared the path for sending building materials to international organisations, such as the United Nations, whose establishments had suffered damage during the Gaza war.

However, the statement clarified that the “existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war material” would continue.

Besides, the Security Cabinet made no mention about lifting the sea blockade on the impoverished coastal strip.

In its response, Hamas said it rejected the Israeli announcement. “We in Hamas reject the Zionist decision, which is an attempt to obscure the international decision to completely lift the siege on the Gaza Strip,” AFP quoted senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan as saying.

“This is just an attempt to relieve the pressure ... and to continue the siege of Gaza,” he added.

“We demand the complete lifting of the Gaza siege so that all goods are allowed in and there is total freedom of movement without any interference from the Zionist enemy,” he said.

On Monday, the European Union reiterated its call for an “immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza including goods from the West Bank”.

International pressure against Israel to lift the blockade has been mounting since the May 31 raid in international waters on the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara. Nine persons, comprising eight Turks and one Turkish-origin American citizen died during that attack. Analysts say that Israel is now making an effort to link the lifting of the blockade with the release of Gilad Shalit, the captured Israeli soldier by a Hamas offshoot, an end to rocket firing from Gaza into Israel, and termination of weapon smuggling into the coastal strip.

RBI reference rates for US dollar and euro

The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday fixed the reference rates for the US currency at Rs. 46.04 per dollar and the single European unit at Rs. 56.67 per euro from yesterday’s Rs. 45.64 per dollar and Rs. 56.83 per euro, respectively.

In a press release issued here by the apex bank, the exchange rate of pound and yen against the rupee have been given as Rs. 67.8630 per pound and Rs. 50.73 per 100 yen, respectively, based on the reference rate of the US dollar and middle rates of the cross currency quotes at noon.

The reference rate is based on 12 noon rates of select banks in Mumbai and the SDR-Rupee rate will be based on this rate, the release added.

Eurozone crisis poses danger to rapid global recovery: India

India fears that a lingering debt crisis in the Eurozone could disrupt trade and lead to flight of capital from developing economies such as itself and end up derailing the fragile global economic recovery.

Although the crisis arising from government debt in Europe is showing signs of waning, India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in separate meetings at the Institute of International Finance and with Indian and American CEOs on Monday, said that it has already left its mark.

Outflow of portfolio investment, and consequential decline in the stock market and the value of the rupee are effects of the problems in Eurozone.

“It has the potential to disrupt trade and lead to financial contagion,” Mr. Mukherjee said at the meetings, one of which was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The European Central Bank’s decision to buy up government debt and the European Union’s pledge to release a report on banks facing stress have helped ease investor concerns lately, but would come up for discussion by leaders from a Group of 20 nations who will meet at Toronto on June 26-27.

Trouble began after Greece came close to defaulting on debt repayment, and even as EU was contemplating releasing a rescue package, other member countries such as Hungary and Ireland showed identical symptoms.

The sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone, triggered by developments in southern Europe, poses a danger to the prospects of rapid global recovery, Mr. Mukherjee said at the meetings shortly after his arrival here on Monday.

Mr. Mukherjee is leading the Indian delegation to the Indo-U.S. CEOs Forum meeting to be held here.

The minister and the Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Meera Shankar, met with senior executives from global financial services firms to exchange views on India’s economy and the global economic outlook.

The IIF is the leading global association of financial institutions with more than 400 members.

He also interacted with a select group of Indian and American CEOs on issues related to Indo-U.S. economic relationship and India’s role in global economic recovery.

India expects its economy to grow by 8.5 per cent this fiscal, up from 6.7 per cent it recorded in 2008-09 after the 2008 global economic crisis caused by failure of large U.S. banks.

Responding to a question on G-20, the Finance Minister said: “They (G-20) have done their job exceedingly well, by giving the direction, injecting fiscal stimulus package and also identifying areas of weakness where the world leaders had to address to correct the world economy.”

Japan studying N-cooperation with India

With billions of dollars from contracts to be earned from India’s ambitious nuclear power projects, Japanese government has started intra-governmental negotiations to decide whether it should ink a civilian atomic pact with New Delhi, which is yet to sign the NPT.

Major U.S. and French nuclear power companies are keen that Japan should conclude an agreement with India so that they can use Japanese technology for an Indian reactor project they are seeking to win, Japanese government sources said.

Intra-governmental negotiations are under way in Japan to decide whether to start negotiations with India over an agreement to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear power, Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese government officials as saying.

The transfer of Japanese technology to India for civilian use requires a nuclear pact, but Tokyo has so far declined to conclude one as New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the report said.

Japan - which suffered U.S. atom bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II - maintains an official policy of not possessing or producing nuclear weapons, and not allowing them on its territory. The nuclear issue is sensitive in Japan, which campaigns for a nuclear-weapons-free world.

While the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is pushing for the nuclear treaty, Foreign Ministry officials are studying the terms under which India can effectively contribute to nuclear arms reduction as a prerequisite for concluding the accord, it quoted sources as saying.

For the Indian project, the major U.S. and French nuclear companies, including Areva SA of France, want to use reactor vessels made by Japan Steel Works Ltd., which commands some 80 per cent of the global market for the equipment, it said.

The companies plan to work out a system for the supply of related equipment for the Indian project after Japan determines its stance on the issue, the report said.

The government needs to decide whether to launch negotiations with India “by autumn or by the end of this year at the latest” to let Japanese companies participate in the project, a METI source said.

When METI minister Masayuki Naoshima visited India in late April, the two governments set up a joint working group to discuss nuclear policies and safety standards to pave the way for a future bilateral nuclear pact, according to a senior ministry official.

A possible nuclear pact between Japan and India may adversely affect the international nuclear non-proliferation framework at a time when Pakistan, which is also a non-member of the NPT, is moving to import Chinese nuclear power-generation technology, the report said.

With an increasing number of countries inclined toward cooperating with India in the field of nuclear power, “I wonder if it is meaningful for Japan to say something different” from them, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada 

said during a recent interview with Kyodo News.

“We will have to make a rather tough decision,” he added.

Laxman’s condition stable

The condition of eminent cartoonist R. K. Laxman, who is being treated for lung infection and kidney problem at a hospital here, is critical but stable.

86-year-old Laxman, who was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday after suffering three mild strokes, is responding to medicines and is stable but the next two days are crucial, doctors attending on him said today.

Mr. Laxman is being treated for lung infection and kidney problem besides being treated for stroke, the doctors said.

Mr. Laxman’s daughter-in-law Usha Srinivas, who visited the cartoonist in the morning, said, “There is slight improvement in his health but he is not in a position to talk”.

The next two days will be crucial, she said quoting doctors. He is being treated by a team of doctors headed by Dr. Hemant Thacker.

Mr. Laxman suffered a stroke on Thursday at his residence and subsequently had two more strokes while he was admitted at Sahyadri hospital in Pune. On Sunday, he was brought to Breach Candy Hospital by an air ambulance by his family physician and friend Dr. Vinkar Gunjal.

Pakistan violates ceasefire again, troops target Indian border outpost

Violating the ceasefire yet again, Pakistani troops fired at a forward border outpost along the international border in the wee hours today drawing retaliation from BSF troops.

An IED explosion also took place along the border line.

"There was a cross-border firing from Pakistan's Suragpur post on Abdullia border outpost along the international border in R S Pura sub-sector, around 30-km from here, at 0400 hours in this morning," the official told PTI.

BSF jawans guarding the BOP and patrolling party took positions and retaliated, resulting in exchange of small arms fire, he said, adding it continued for nearly one-and-half hour intermittently and resumed again at 06.15 hours and was continuing intermittently since then.

"There was also an explosion tiggered by IED near the border line. There was no lose of life or injury to anyone in the explosion and firing on this side of the border," he said.

It was not immediately known whether the explosion was carried out by any intruding militant or anybody else, he said.

Massive search operation has been launched in the area, the official said, adding further details would be known latter.

Yesterday, Pakistani troops violated the seven-year-old ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) yet again, firing at Indian positions at Machhil sector in Jammu and Kashmir killing two porters and injuring two jawans.

The firing comes just four days ahead of Home Minister P. Chidambaram's visit to Pakistan.

Top LeT commander killed in Sopore

A top Lashker—e—Toiba commander and a policeman were killed and four others injured in an overnight gunbattle in Sopore town of North Kashmir, police said today.

The firefight commenced at Bhagat Mohalla, 55 kms from here, when militants opened fire on a search party of special operations group (SOG) of local police, around 9.50 AM yesterday.

A policeman identified as Ghulam Hassan was injured in the firing and was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to injuries, a police spokesman told PTI.

SOG personnel and security forces then tightened the cordon around the house in which the militants were hiding and engaged them.

In the firefight, the militant was killed and four others - two civilians, a policeman and a security personnel - were injured, the spokesman said.

He said the body of the militant, believed to be a Pakistan national, was recovered from the house this morning.

Sources identified the slain militant as top LET commander Zubair.

Zubair, who used to be dressed as a Jammu and Kashmir policeman, was involved in several killings, including the gunning down of four CRPF personnel earlier this year.

Security forces suspect that another militant was killed in the encounter and are looking for the body in the debris, sources said.

The search operation was going on in the area when reports last came in.

Sopore, which has of late became a hot bed of militancy, witnessed a series of attacks yesterday in which nine persons, including three policemen and five BSNL employees were injured.

Five BSNL employees and a cart puller were injured when militants lobbed a grenade at the BSNL office at Sopore yesterday.

Earlier, two policemen were injured when heavily—armed ultras attacked a police party in the central area of the town around 10.40 AM.

In another incident, militants fired three rifle grenades at the camp of 22 Rashtriya Rifles but no one was injured in the attack.