Wednesday 24 July 2013

Royal Baby Boy

London: New parents Kate Middleton and Prince William debuted the Royal Baby, posing outside the hospital door.

One day after his birth, the as-yet-unnamed Prince of Cambridge made his global debut outside the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital in London.

Palace reps confirmed that "the Duchess is to be discharged from the hospital."

Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 31, smiled for hundreds of cameras and cheering well-wishers while offering the first glimpse of their little one.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him that's for sure. He's a good boy, he's quite heavy," said William of his son, who Kate gave birth to on Monday.

The baby weighed healthy 8 lbs., 6 oz. "It's the first time we've seen him, really we haven't had a proper chance to catch up," William added. "He's got his mother's looks, thankfully" said William.

The name is not deceided as yet so don't hold your breath for the name's announcement they'll likely pick one soon.

Kate and William acknowledged the hard work of the staff at St. Mary's in a statement earlier, and we eagerly await for more details on their bundle of joy.

I don't believe in comebacks: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Bollywood: There were reports of Ash being approached for films with Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but the actress isn't keen to divulge anything. "It is too early to talk about projects now. Nothing has been finalised yet," she said to the foreigh media.

Otherwise, she has been too busy with baby Aaradhya and Ash doesn't like to term her hiatus as a 'break.' "I don't believe in comebacks. When was I away from the industry that I have to make a comeback now? I was always involved in it, so there is no point, in terming it as a 'comeback'. Yes, I was enjoying a slight break with my daughter and I thoroughly loved it."

And, she surely is cherishing motherhood. "Motherhood is a whole book in itself. It has changed me and enhanced me as a person. I cannot put it simply in answer," she added.

Apart from her daughter, the actress treasures the loha (an iron bangle) given to her by her mom-in-law Jaya Bachchan. "I enjoy jewellery a lot. But the most treasured are the very simple pieces, which include my wedding ring, a Manglorean style bangle and my mother-in-law's loha, which I cherish," she added.

The Bollywood actress may or may not work in Bollywood movies and if she does, it wont be termed as a comeback.

India gives go-ahead for new dam on Chenab

New Delhi:  In an another attempt to affect Pakistan’s water interests, India has started preparations to construct the Pakal Dul Hydropower Dam with a capacity to generate 1,500MWs of electricity on Pakistan’s Chenab River, in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, documents available with Investigation Cell of Dunya News revealed on Wednesday.

 

As per details, the dam would be constructed on River Chenab in Kishtwar area of Occupied Kashmir and tender has also been issued for the dam construction.

 

The project would have a reservoir capacity of 0.108 million acre feet (MAF), dead storage capacity of 0.014 MAF, full reservoir level of 1,700 metres and a dead storage level of 1,620 metres.

 

The concrete-face, rock-filled dam would have a height of 1,708m and a maximum water level of 1,703m. It will have a surface spillway with crest level of 1,684m with two bays and two tunnels.

 

According to the design, the tunnel-type spillway will have a dual purpose: to pass floods and sediment management. It will have two head race tunnels of 10,000m each and four tail race tunnels of 125m each.

 

According to experts, the construction of dam would have severe impact on flow of River Chenab.

 

On the other hand, the Indus Water Commissioner seems unmoved over this development and no objection has been raised against the project so far.

Kerry to meet Syrian rebel leader at UN

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with the new leader of the Syrian opposition at the UN this week, as US plans to boost military aid to the rebels gain steam.

 

Kerry will meet newly-elected Syrian opposition chief Ahmad Jarba on Thursday afternoon at the United Nations in New York, on the sidelines of a Security Council meeting.

 

"The secretary plans to meet with... president Jarba and other members of the coalition, including Michel Kilo and Burhan Ghalioun," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

 

"They will discuss the current situation in Syria, how to support a process of political dialogue and the Geneva conference, and ways to bolster our assistance to local communities."

 

It will be Kerry s first meeting with Jarba since he was elected head of the Syrian National Coalition on July 6.

 

Kerry will seek to convey "the US commitment to continuing to help strengthen the opposition," Psaki said.

 

Jarba met on Tuesday with French leaders and said he called for "total political support, diplomatic support, humanitarian emergency aid and military and other aid."

 

Jarba was accompanied in Paris by the Free Syrian Army chief General Selim Idriss, who said the opposition was "working with our European and American friends to obtain technical, medical and humanitarian assistance and, we hope, also weapons and ammunition."

 

Idriss repeated his complaint that the rebels did "not have enough" weapons as they battle the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

 

The United States is currently providing humanitarian and non-lethal military aid to rebel groups but has said it will significantly expand the "scope and scale" of its military assistance.

 

President Barack Obama s plan to provide vetted Syrian rebels with weapons and strategic military aid appears to have gained traction in Congress after lawmakers said a "consensus" had been reached to accept the proposals.

 

House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Rogers said they had agreed to the plan despite "very strong concerns about the strength of the administration s plans in Syria and its chances for success."

 

But the details have been kept secret, and it remains unclear precisely what extra aid Washington intends to give the rebels.

Spain passenger train derails, killing at least 56

MADRID (AP) - A passenger train derailed on a high-speed stretch of track in northwestern Spain on Wednesday night, killing at least 56 people and leaving dozens injured in the country s worst rail accident in decades, officials said.

 

Officials gave different death tolls in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, president of the region of Galicia, said at least 35 people aboard the train were killed.

 

Spain s leading Cadena SER radio station cited the president of the Galicia s main court, Miguel Angel Cadenas, at the scene saying 56 people were killed, but that could not be independently confirmed. The station said three carriages had still to be inspected by rescue workers.

 

State-owned train operator Renfe said in a statement that 218 passengers and an unspecified number of staff were on board at the time of the accident. Renfe, which did not give a death or injury toll, said the derailment happened at 8.41 p.m. (1841 GMT) along a high-speed section that had been inaugurated just two years ago.

 

The SER radio station cited unnamed local government officials as saying 100 people were injured but there were no details on the severity of the injuries.

 

Feast day festivities planned in the city of Santiago de Compostela, outside of which the train derailed, were cancelled, town hall spokeswoman Maria Pardo told Spanish National television TVE.

 

Sergio Prego, a passenger on the train, told the SER, "The train was going at a very fast speed and in the curve it went off the tracks, it overturned. We were the lucky ones that were able to get out on our own feet.

 

"Victims? For sure. I have no idea but there must be an awful lot," he said.

 

A photographer at the scene said he saw dozens of what appeared to be dead bodies being extracted from the wreck by emergency workers. TVE showed footage of what appeared to be several bodies covered by blankets alongside the tracks next to the damaged train wagons and rescue workers entering toppled carriages through broken windows.

 

The photographer, Xabier Martinez, told The Associated Press that he also spoke to two injured train passengers who said they felt a strong vibration before the derailing.

 

The accident occurred near the train station in Santiago de Compostela, 95 kilometers (60 miles) south of El Ferrol, the final destination. Rescue workers were also seen in the television images caring for people still inside some of the wagons.

 

Television footage showed one wagon pointing upwards into the air with one of its ends twisted and disfigured. Another carriage that had been severed in two could be seen lying on a road near the track.

 

The train, which belongs to the state-owned Renfe company, had started its journey in Madrid. Although it was not an AVE high speed train, it was a relatively luxurious version that uses the same track as Spain s fastest expresses.

 

It was Spain s deadliest train accident in decades. In 1944, a train traveling from Madrid to Galicia crashed and killed 78 people. Another accident in 1972 left 77 dead on a track to southwestern Seville, according to Spanish news agency Europa Press.

 

Officials at the Interior Ministry and the Adif rail infrastructure authority did not immediately answer telephone calls or return messages seeking comment. Officials with Renfe also did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

 

King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a native of Galicia, both offered their condolences. Rajoy announced he would visit the site Thursday.

President will return before July 30

ISLAMABAD: Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar has rejected reports that President Asifl Ali Zardari will not return to Pakistan and would stay abroad for his remaining days in presidency, state-run radio reported.

 

He said that President Zardari went to Dubai and Britain on private tour, however, he would return to country before July 30.

 

Earlier, rumours circulated in the federal capital that President Asif Ali Zardari had left the country for good and had planned to settle abroad.

 

PPP leaders and Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar strongly brushed aside these rumours.

 

There were reports that that Asif Zardari’s friends had advised him to stay away from country given serious threats to his life. President Zardari has already told his associates he will not contest the next presidential elections.

Misbah guides Pakistan to 3-1 series win

GROS ISLET (AP) - Captain Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over West Indies with yet another calm and composed half century in the fifth and final one-day international on Wednesday to clinch the series 3-1.

 

Misbah hit 63 off 93 balls with five fours and a six for his fourth half century of the series, and opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad scored a valuable 64 off 100 balls to guide Pakistan to 243-6 after West Indies made 242-7.

 

The Pakistan captain featured in two productive partnerships by adding 66 runs with Umar Akmal (33) for the fifth wicket stand after steadying the innings with 59-run partnership with Shehzad.

 

West Indies, after being put into bat, was indebted to captain Dwayne Bravo for a rapid 48 with Marlon Samuels (45) and opening batsman Johnson Charles (43) also making useful contributions.

 

"Pretty satisfying," said a smiling Misbah, who was dismissed with the scores leveled before Saeed Ajmal scampered home with the winning run. "A win is always good, especially after the losses in South Africa series and Champions Trophy."

 

Coming into the series, Pakistan lost all its three group matches in the Champions Trophy in England including a defeat against the West Indies and before that it lost 3-2 in South Africa.

 

West Indies was scratchy in the field with Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels exhibiting some ordinary fielding efforts and giving away boundaries, but it came close to dismissing Misbah when the Pakistan captain was on 49.

 

Fast bowler Tino Best (3-48), playing his first match of the series, and the rest of the West Indies players were convinced that Misbah had gloved the leg side catch at the total of 190-4, but he was adjudged not out by television umpire Steve Davis.

 

"The matches could have gone either way, even today a few key decisions went against us," Bravo said. "Those key decisions at crucial times cost us."

 

Pakistan started off its run-chase in style when the opening pair of Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed (23) put on the first half century stand of the series by adding 51 runs off 65 balls.

 

Best, who was expensive in his first three overs that cost him 25 runs, came back strongly with three wickets for 23 runs, but Misbah s calmness in the end saw Pakistan through.

 

Misbah farmed the strike with Shehzad before Akmal cut loose with three successive boundaries off fast bowler Jason Holder.

 

Earlier, Bravo s knock off 27 balls included five fours and three sixes after Pakistan fast bowlers Junaid Khan (3-48) and Mohammad Irfan (2-34) had mopped up the top order and restricted West Indies to 170-6 in the 45th over.

 

But Bravo dominated a 53-run seventh wicket stand with former captain Sammy (29 not out) to give West Indies some hope.

 

Samuels (45) and opening batsman Johnson Charles (43) also made useful contributions, but Chris Gayle s disappointing series ended when he was brilliantly snapped up for 21 by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal with his right hand over his head.

 

Pakistan will now play two Twenty20s against West Indies at St. Vincent over the weekend.

Lottery emails scams-beware!

(Pakistan)These days everytime you open your mail, you may come across emails of congratulates declaring you winners of millions of £/$.
The mails will be coming from various corners, using logos of not just companies but the agencies like UNO n FBI etc.
Recently there is another such way to lure public to trap,is by showing them allthe process having been done. Just pay the local clearence and collect millions. The consignment agent pressented himself as a diplomat having arrived in Islamabad to deliver the package but required to pay not in person the duties/ clearance charges but to send to another person's account. You pay the amount and all connections will stop responding. You refuse to pay it will be showed as if nothing happened. the response will be the consignment is cancelled. As for instance the passport copy image is attached here who called himself a british diplomat assigned duty to convey the consignment. Does such duties fall under their jurisdiction? Is he truly a diplomat? was he a part of the scam/ fishing scheme must be confirmed by the UK agencies. primafacie all documents/ correspondence appears to be fake because they contain errors n mistakes of facts n figures. sometimes you may find errors in figures anf sometime in facts including other grammatical mistake enough to render the entire document useless. Just see the difference at one place asking to pay Rs. 65000/- and in the subsequent email askinf to pay 655000/-
'Let it be known to you that all taxes has been paid by ENGLAND CHEVROLET MOTORS UNITED KINGDOM, Therefore, you will only be required to pay LOCAL Custom Duty, Custom Notarization Clearance Fee 65,000 PKR to Pakistan custom duty fee in clearing of your consignment from the custom duties in your country Pakistan.' email sent on 23-7-13 shows it thus, ' The Pakistan Custom Authority are requesting for the Clearance / Registration charges of your Winning Parcel, which is 65,5000 PKR. He says, 'My Name is Diplomat Mr. John Coleman of Chevrolet Motors Lottery Promotion United Kingdom , i am sent from UK to Pakistan for the delivery of your Winning Parcel, under instruction from Dr. Anderson Wayne of Chevrolet Motors Lottery Promotion United Kingdom' . and ' due to the nature of my job as i am here on a DIPLOMATIC VISA and i have to come down to your Home Address immediately as soon as you pay the Clearance / Registration charges. His name and email:Diplomat Mr. John Coleman .Email: dip-johncoleman1@live.co.uk.
It is on the UK agencies to verify the rest.The passport copy as sent may also be a fake document. The gurantee letter includes no names, and references are also quite old in years.Public should avoid falling victm to such fishing scams and save their savings and hard earned money. [caption id="attachment_2726" align="alignnone" width="224"]colman- the DIPLOMATIC AGENT colman- the DIPLOMATIC AGENT[/caption]

LETTER OF GUARANTEE

The public is advised to be careful in this regard.

Sunday 14 July 2013

Public Health Committee MEPs toughen up plans to deter young people from smoking

A draft law to make smoking less attractive to the young by banning the use of "characterised" flavours such as strawberry or menthol in tobacco products was backed by Public Health Committee MEPs on Wednesday. But they also amended the draft to require health warnings on every side of a cigarette pack and ban slim cigarettes and "attractive" packaging.

 

"The focus is to prevent the industry from recruiting new smokers among the young" said Linda McAvan (S&D, UK) who is steering the legislation through Parliament. "The smoking trend is down, as action by public authorities has reduced the number of smokers over the years. However, there is a worrying drift: 29% of young people smoke. The World Health Organisation has shown that since 2005, the trend has been going up amongst young boys and girls in some countries" she added.

The draft legislation was approved by 50 votes to 13, with 8 abstentions.


The updated Tobacco Product Directive (TPD) will prohibit the use in tobacco products of additives and flavours that make a product more attractive, by imparting a characterizing flavour, and also the use of vitamins, caffeine and taurine. Additives such as sugar that are essential for the manufacture of tobacco products would be permitted.

 The labelling or packaging of any tobacco product must not suggest that a particular product is less harmful than others or has positive health or lifestyle effects.  It should also not resemble a food or cosmetic product, MEPs say.

Packets and packaging of cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and water pipe tobacco should display health warnings on all sides of packets. These warnings should cover at least 75% of the external area of both the front and back surfaces, said the committee.

 

"Slim" cigarettes, of a diameter of less than 7.5mm, and packets with less than 20 cigarettes should be banned, the report says. So-called "lipstick packs" would also be banned.

Cross border distance sales should be prohibited.

E-cigarettes may only be placed on the market under existing rules on medicinal products. However, "given the potential of these products to aid with smoking cessation, Member States should ensure that they can be made available outside pharmacies" , MEPs say.

 The tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields of cigarettes must henceforth be measured on the basis of referenced ISO standards, as existing indications displayed on cigarette packets have proven to be misleading, MEPs say. They therefore propose that no such information should be included on packs.

To reduce the volume of illicit tobacco products placed on the market, member states must ensure that all unit packets and outside transport packaging are marked with an identifier. This should make it possible to trace the shipment route from the manufacture to the first retail outlet. Twelve years after the current directive came into force, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the EU, killing around 700,000 people per year. Measures taken over the years to cut smoking have had an impact: in the past decade the number of smokers has fallen from nearly 40% in the EU 15 in 2002 to 28% in the EU 27 in 2012.

Hollande to be grilled on economy, derailment in holiday interview

PARIS (AFP) - President Francois Hollande will face tough questions on France's faltering economy and a deadly train derailment in an interview with top television channels on Sunday for the Bastille Day holiday.

 

With the country in mourning after Friday's rail accident near Paris claimed six lives, Hollande will be grilled by journalists from two leading TV channels after he attends the traditional military parade for France's main national holiday.

 

As the parade began, Hollande was driven up the Champs Elysees standing in the back of a camouflaged military jeep, saluted by troops lining the famed avenue.

 

With his popularity at rock-bottom after France fell into recession and unemployment hit record highs, Hollande will be looking in the interview to defend his first 14 months in office and to lay the groundwork for difficult reforms ahead.

 

He will also be keen to reassure the French after Friday's train derailment, which left dozens injured in addition to the six dead.

 

The SNCF state rail company said the accident at Bretigny-sur-Orge was the result of a faulty track and the transport minister complained of under-funding for outdated regional train lines.

 

Since taking power after his victory over right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy in May last year, Hollande's Socialist government has struggled to meet EU-mandated spending cuts while pushing its agenda of investing in economic growth.

 

Sources close to Hollande said he would use the half-hour interview in the Elysee Palace to seek to convince the French that he is "on the right track and fighting unemployment".

 

He will highlight a few promising signs that the French economy may be recovering, including a slowdown in the rise in joblessness, the sources said.

 

Hollande will also touch on tough reforms the government is planning for later this year, including changes to France's pension schemes that have already sparked calls from unions for general strikes.

 

The French leader will deliver a "pro-active message on returning to growth and a promising future", government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said.

 

In a BVA poll released on Friday, respondents said they most wanted to hear from Hollande about unemployment and economic growth, with far less interest in subjects such as immigration, security or foreign affairs.

 

The Bastille Day military parade, down the Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe, will meanwhile draw attention to one of the few Hollande decisions that has won widespread praise.

 

About 60 troops from Mali and a detachment from the UN peacekeeping force there will lead the march, joined by French troops who took part in the country's military intervention against Islamist rebels in the west African nation earlier this year.

 

France's surprise January intervention helped Mali's weak army drive out the Islamists, who had taken over the country's desert north. About 3,200 French troops remain in Mali, as it prepares for the first round of a presidential election on July 28.

 

In a nod to efforts to cut government spending, defence officials said this year's march will be slightly less grand than in previous years.

 

The defence ministry said this year's parade budget was reduced by 10-15 percent, with a third fewer vehicles than last year and 12 percent fewer aircraft.

 

Even with the cuts, about 4,800 servicemen and women will take part, along with 265 vehicles, 58 planes and 35 helicopters from the army, navy, air force and other military structures.

 

Among the aircraft overhead will be the new A400M military transport plane built by Airbus, which was unveiled by the European aerospace giant just last month.

 

Joining Hollande at the ceremony will be UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mali's interim president Dioncounda Traore and Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, whose country became the 28th member of the European Union on July 1.

Sensuality is a part of human emotion: Shruti Haasan

NEW DELHI (Web Desk) - Actress Shruti Haasan, who plays a prostitute in her upcoming release "D-Day", shot some bold scenes with Arjun Rampal for the film. She asserts that sensuality is a key element of her character, and says it hasn t been used just for titillation.
Directed by NIkhil Advani, "D-Day" is an espionage thriller slated to release July 19.
"I m playing a prostitute in the film and sensuality is a key element. We ve not done it for titillation or unnecessary scandalising. The character is like that," the 27-year-old actress said in an interview.
"If you do it in a wrong way, then the audience and actors both don t like it as the conviction is lost. It s very much integral to the character (in the film). As an actor, I feel we get to express all the emotions, and sensuality is a part of human emotion so its very important," she added.
The film also features Irrfan, Rishi Kapoor and Huma Qureshi in key roles.

Italy senator under fire over black minister remarks

ROME, Latium (AFP) - A senator from Italy s anti-immigration Northern League on Sunday came under fire for saying Cecile Kyenge, the country s first black minister, resembles an orangutang.
Prime Minister Enrico Letta said the remark by Senator Roberto Calderoli on Saturday was "unacceptable".  "I love animals... but when I see pictures of Kyenge, I cannot help thinking of similarities with an orangutang," he was quoted as saying at a party meeting in the northern city of Treviglio. The remark went viral in social media, sparking widespread denunciation.
Letta said in a communique Sunday: "The words reported today in the press attributed to Senator Calderoli regarding Cecile Kyenge are unacceptable and go beyond all limits."
Khalid Chaouki and Gianni Cuperlo, two lawmakers from the centre-left Democratic Party, demanded the resignation of Calderoni, who is deputy speaker of the Senate. "The remarks addressed to Minister Kyenge are not worthy of a man who represents our institutions," Cuperlo said.
Calderoli is famous for his provocative comments and actions. In 2006, he was forced to resign from the government of then prime minister Silvio Berlusconi after wearing a T-shirt printed with cartoons mocking the prophet Mohammed.
Since the Democratic Republic of Congo-born Kyenge took up her post as integration minister earlier this year she has faced numerous expressions of hostility from the Northern League, which is allied with Berlusconi s centre-right People of Freedom party but is now in opposition.
She has been the subject of verbal slurs and death threats posted on racist social media sites and even on her own Facebook page.

Syrian troops advance against rebels in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Heavy clashes between President Bashar Assad s forces and rebels broke out Sunday on the edge of the Syrian capital, where the government has been pushing its offensive to retake key districts that have been in opposition hands for months.
The Syrian military has seized the momentum in the nation s civil war over the past three months, wresting back territory lost to rebel forces and solidifying its hold on contested areas, particularly on the fringes of Damascus. Two of those embattled districts in the capital are Jobar and Qaboun, from which anti-Assad forces frequently launch mortar rounds on the heart of the capital.
A Syrian government official said forces loyal to Assad have recaptured 60 percent of Jobar, just south of Qaboun, and were trying to recover the remainder of the area. The remarks, made to reporters Sunday during a military escorted tour of Jobar organized by the Information Ministry, could not be independently verified.
But an Associated Press reporter on the tour saw massive destruction that pointed to heavy fighting in the neighborhood: entire factories that manufactured marble tiles had been razed to the ground, and reporters walked through the devastated area via holes knocked in walls amid warnings of opposition snipers in the area.
At least two bodies, apparently those of gunmen, were lying on the floor of a bunker described by the official as a "terrorist" hideout. He declined to be named, saying he was not allowed to make press statements.
Assad s government describes the rebels fighting to overthrow him as terrorists playing out a foreign conspiracy hatched by Israel, the United States and some of its Arab allies in the region, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
During the tour of Jobar, reporters were taken to a hideout the army said it seized a day earlier after killing 30 rebels and their leader inside. Reporters were shown RPG mortar rounds and explosive devices as well as an alleged chemical material with a strong odor.
Arabic graffiti on the walls read: "The al-Tawhid Brigade," and "the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant", names of militant groups fighting to topple Assad.
Sunday s tour came as Syria s main Western-backed opposition group claimed that 200 civilians were trapped in a mosque in Qaboun, near Jobar, as fighting raged outside between rebels and Assad s army. It warned that thousands of civilians in Qaboun could be "massacred" by Assad s army, as armored vehicles and elite forces move into the neighborhood.
The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said dozens of people were held captive Saturday by regime forces in the basement of the al-Omari Mosque, but were able to escape when clashes broke out between rebel and regime forces in the perimeter of the mosque, leading troops to retreat.
In Washington, U.S. officials said Israel targeted advanced anti-ship cruise missiles near Syria s principal port city in an airstrike earlier this month, according to a report by The New York Times. It cited the officials as saying the attack on July 5 near Latakia targeted a type of Russian-made missile called the Yakhont that Russia had sold to the Syrian government.
There was no immediate comment from Assad s government, whose key political ally and arms supplier is Russia. Israeli officials did not comment on the report.

Israeli leader vows to keep weapons from Hezbollah

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel s prime minister insisted Sunday that he will not allow "dangerous weapons" to reach Lebanon s Hezbollah militants, following reports that Israel recently carried out an airstrike in northern Syria against a shipment of advanced missiles.
The airstrike in Latakia reportedly targeted Russian Yakhont anti-ship missiles, one of the types of advanced weapons that Israeli officials have previously said they would not allow to reach Syria. It would be the fourth known airstrike against Syria this year.
Asked about the reports on the CBS-TV show "Face the Nation," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to confirm or deny Israeli involvement in the latest airstrike.
"My policy is to prevent the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and other terror groups as well. And we stand by that policy," he said, according to a transcript of the interview provided by CBS.
Israel has been carefully watching the Syrian conflict since it erupted in March 2011. While it has been careful not to take sides in the civil war, Israel has repeatedly said it would take action to prevent what it calls "game changing" weapons, including chemical weapons and advanced guided missiles, from reaching Hezbollah or other hostile militant groups. Syria s President Bashar Assad is a key backer of Hezbollah.
In January, Israeli aircraft destroyed what was believed to be a shipment of advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles in Syria that were bound for Lebanon.
In May, a pair of Israeli airstrikes near Damascus targeted advanced Iranian ground-to-ground missiles also thought to be headed for Hezbollah. Israel has never confirmed involvement in any of the airstrikes.
Following the May attack, Syrian President Bashar Assad vowed to retaliate if Israel struck his territory again. Assad has not commented on the latest alleged airstrike.
Yakhont missiles are powerful anti-ship weapons launched from the shore that are difficult to defend against.
They travel at twice the speed of sound close to the surface of the water, making it hard for radar to detect them. Israel sees them as threatening its military and commercial installations along the coast, including its offshore natural gas reserves.

Ukrainian man smears Polish president with egg attack

KIEV (Reuters) - A Ukrainian man smeared Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski with a broken egg when he visited the site of a 1943 massacre of Poles in neighbouring Ukraine on Sunday, police said.
The attack followed a move by the Polish parliament last week to recognise the massacre by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War Two as "ethnic cleansing bearing the hallmarks of genocide".
The move upset Ukrainian nationalists who view the UPA as heroes and freedom fighters.
On Sunday, Komorowski visited the western Volyn region and attended mass at a Catholic church.
As he emerged from the church "a young man from the crowd tapped his shoulder with his hand in which he was holding a crushed egg", police said in a statement.
The 21-year-old man, a resident of Ukraine s southern Zaporizhia region, has been detained and faces hooliganism charges and up to three years in prison, they said.
It was unclear whether the man belonged to any of Ukraine s nationalist groups, the largest of which, "Svoboda" (Freedom) won dozens of seats in parliament last year, becoming a major political force.
"Svoboda" has criticised the Polish parliament s decision but said it would not seek to disrupt Komorowski s visit.
The territory of Volyn was long disputed by Poland and Ukraine. Historians believe tens of thousands of people died in the massacre during the wartime Nazi occupation.
Seventy years later, public opinion in Ukraine remains split on the insurgent movements which co-operated with the Nazis in hope of driving out the Soviet government and creating an independent Ukrainian state.
In the last days of his presidency in 2010, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko awarded wartime nationalist leader Stepan Bandera the title "Hero of Ukraine".
The award was annulled by a court under his successor, current President Viktor Yanukovich.

Magical Afridi earns Pakistan big win against WIndies

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - All-rounder Shahid Afridi returned to international cricket with a blistering half century and a career-best 7-12 as Pakistan recorded a thumping 126-run victory over West Indies in the first one-day international on Sunday.

 

Afridi, recalled after missing last month s Champions Trophy due to poor form, scored 76 off 55 balls to pilot Pakistan to 224-9. Afridi then skittled West Indies out for 98 in 41 overs to record the second-best ever bowling figures in one-day internationals after Sri Lanka s Chamina Vaas  8-19 against Zimbabwe in 2001.

 

It was also West Indies lowest ever ODI total against Pakistan.

 

West Indies had Pakistan on the mat at 47-5 before Afridi and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (52) featured in a 120-run stand against some inconsistent bowling which saw the home team bowling 23 wide balls.

 

The second one-day international of the five-match will be played at the same venue Tuesday.

 

"It was the most difficult pitch on which I have ever played," Misbah said. "The ball was seaming and stopping, but it was Afridi s day, the way he batted and bowled."

 

West Indies never looked to threaten Pakistan s total from the onset once 7-foot-1-inch fast bowler Mohammad Irfan clean bowled Johnson Charles with a low full toss and had Darren Bravo caught behind down the legside.

 

Chris Gayle, who wanted to make his 250th ODI appearance a memorable one, was run out in a mix-up with Marlon Samuels for just one run as West Indies slumped to 7-3 in five overs.

 

Lendl Simmons and Samuels batted at a snail s pace before Afridi started the slide in the 23rd over.

 

Afridi had Simmons stumped and trapped captain Dwayne Bravo leg before wicket off the next delivery. He went on to claim the wickets of Kieron Pollard, Samuels and Kemar Roach in his opening spell of eight overs before he returned to finish off the innings by claiming the last two wickets of Sunil Narine and Holder.

 

"I just try to keep it simple, sometimes I get good turn off the pitch and if I don t get turn I try to bowl straight ones for leg before wicket decisions," Afridi said.

 

Afridi also reached 350 wickets in ODIs to become the third Pakistan to achieve the feat after Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416).

 

Earlier, Afridi dominated Pakistan s record-breaking sixth wicket stand against West Indies of 120 runs off 113 balls with Misbah holding the innings together with a sedate 52 off 121 balls.

 

Afridi holed out in the deep in the 39th over which helped West Indies to hit back but its bowlers were guilty of giving away too many extras which swelled Pakistan s total.

 

Holder broke through early after Dwayne Bravo won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat at Providence Stadium hosting its first international match after two years.

 

Ahmed Shehzad (5) and Mohammad Hafeez (1) were clean bowled while attempting to leave Holder s incoming deliveries but Nasir Jamshed (6) was unlucky to be adjudged leg before wicket by umpire Joel Wilson as the television replays suggested the ball was missing the off stump.

 

Asad Shafiq was brilliantly caught behind by makeshift wicketkeeper Johnson Charles after West Indies opted to leave out regular  keeper Dinesh Ramdin for at least first two games of the five-match series.

 

Pakistan stuttered at 23-4 and it could have been 24-5, but umpire Wilson again erred when he could not hear a clear edge off Umar Akmal s bat that would have earned Holder his fifth wicket.

 

However, West Indies did not have to wait long as Akmal got a leading edge off Roach and was caught by Dwayne Bravo at mid-on after struggling to score 19 runs.

 

Afridi then revived Pakistan s innings with Misbah, who gave the flamboyant all-rounder most of the strike.

 

The introduction of spinners Narine and Samuels eased the pressure on the batsmen as both spinners bowled a dozen wide balls among them and gave away 56 runs between them off six overs.

 

Afridi raised the 100-run stand with a flat six off Samuels over long on before he holed out off a slower delivery from Pollard.

 

Misbah raised his half century off 119 balls with only one boundary but added some valuable runs with Pakistan s tailenders to take the team s beyond the 200-run mark.

 

The Pakistan captain was caught behind in the 48th over when he got a thick edge off Bravo, who also conceded 14 runs in his last over with No. 10 Asad Ali hitting a big six over mid-wicket.