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Sunday 30 December 2012

Pakistan beat India by six wickets despite Dhoni’s valiant century




Pakistan achieved the target of 228 with 11 balls to spare after a fine unbeaten 101 by opening batsman Nasir Jamshed. Jamshed and former skipper Younis Khan (58) were involved in a crucial 112-run stand for the third wicket after Pakistan made a poor start losing the first two wickets for 21 runs on board. Chasing a small total, Pakistan were on the back-foot right from the first ball when Mohammed Hafeez had his off-stump blown away by a big in-swinging delivery from Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (2/27). Pakistan adopted a cautious approach as runs dried down. Azhar Ali (9) tried to break free trying to pull a short delivery outside off from Kumar but instead lobbed it to Rohit Sharma at midwicket. With Pakistan down to 21/2, Jamshed and Younis formed a great partnership that brought the innings on track. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (16) also departed soon, but Jamshed and former captain Shoaib Malik (34 not out) added 56 runs for the fifth wicket to take the team home safely. Jamshed hit five fours and a six during his 132-ball patient knock. ADVERTISEMENT It was the absence of the fifth wicket that hurt India badly. The 10 overs shared by Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, gave 80 runs Earlier, Dhoni, who battled cramps, was involved in two crucial partnerships, 73 for the sixth wicket with Suresh Raina (43) and a 125-run unbeaten stand for the seventh wicket with local boy Ravichandran Ashwin (31 not out), that helped India get a competitive total after a disastrous start. A fine spell of fast bowling by left-arm pacer Junaid Khan (4/43) removed the Indian top order. The 23-year-old Junaid in his first spell of six overs, conceded just seven runs and picked up the wickets of Virender Sehwag (4), Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh (2) and Rohit Sharma (4). Towering fast bowler Mohammed Irfan (1/58) cleaned up Gautam Gambhir (8). Junaid made the most of the moisture in the track to trouble the Indian batsmen. Sehwag, Kohli and Yuvraj were castled while Rohit was caught at third slip. With India struggling at 29 for five, Dhoni and Raina joined forces to get the innings back on track with a heroic 73-run stand. Raina's patient 88-ball stay was studded with two fours. Raina departed in his attempt to hit out off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez but the ball hurried on to him and knocked out his leg stump. Hafeez bowled miserly and gave away just 26 runs from his 10 overs. The second ODI will be held in Kolkata on January 3 while the final and the third ODI is slated for January 6 in Delhi.

Thursday 14 June 2012

Lance Armstrong doping probe has its merits









http://adf.ly/1063440/www.google.com

It was only four months ago that Lance Armstrong was riding in the clear.

Two years after federal prosecutors in the United States opened an investigation into whether the seven-time Tour de France winner had engaged in an illegal doping program, the case was closed.

But, because the 40-year-old cyclist managed to avoid criminal charges, that did not guarantee those tasked with preserving the integrity of sport were just going to sit on their hands.

But the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency vowed to continue to look and the agency this week notified Armstrong that it intended to seek sanctions against him, which could result in a lifetime ban from sport, and even the retraction of his seven Tour de France titles.

Armstrong continues to maintain his innocence. His accusers continue to push. The public wonders why it still matters nearly seven years after Armstrong won his last Tour de France.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/06/14/lance-armstrong-doping-probe-has-its-merits/

'Dallas' Reboot: Five Burning Question





Wednesday night's series premiere left us wondering everything but who shot J.R.
How about that highly entertaining return to "Dallas" Wednesday night (June 13)? TNT's reboot of the iconic '80s hit struck a chord with viewers, 6,863,000 of them to be exact, which made it the #1 scripted series premiere on all of cable so far this year.

Now that we've seen the first extended episode and been properly introduced to the new young castmembers, it's time to throw out a few burning questions we hope to have answered over the course of season one.
Whose Side Is Marta On?
Despite the aggressive scheming set up by the male characters on the show, the biggest surprise in the series premiere was in the reveal of the bait-and-switchery by Marta Del Sol (played by Leonor Varela). She's "working" for both sides of the Ewing family, or is she? J.R. told his son that he's known her for years and that she'll be the key to taking Soutfork from brother Bobby, and then we see John Ross and Marta having their own not-at-all-inconspicuous meeting on the 50-yard line of Dallas stadium. So who is Marta really working for? Bobby, J.R. or John Ross?

How Soon Will Christopher and Elena Rekindle Their Romance?
Clearly the love still burns between Christopher and Elena. We didn't even need that heated scene re-hashing the abrupt end to their too-recent engagement to know that their flame has yet to be extinguished. So what now? If John Ross is responsible for sending the email that ended their relationship, there are trying times ahead, no matter the fact that Christopher just married his second love, Rebecca. We're predicting to see a kiss between Christopher and Elena by episode three or four.

Who's Responsible for the Burglaries?
Over the course of this first extended episode there were two burglaries, one at Christopher's office and another at Bobby's home. Was it John Ross? J.R.? It's certainly easy to blame John Ross, since he is so obviously adept at manipulation and acquiring confidential information. And J.R. has no qualms about robbing his brother, but why make such a big show of it? And if it wasn't the J.R.'s, who did it and how will they use whatever was taken against their targets?

How Serious Are J.R. and Bobby's Illnesses?
Come on now, we just got the original Ewing boys back on the air and they both have life-threatening illnesses to deal with? Sure, it's realistic that Bobby and J.R. are dealing with cancer or perhaps other age-related ailments, but we cannot have their lives hanging in the balance of this first season, at least not due to medical reasons. We'll take a good ol' bounty on their heads or something appropriately more dramatic. In the meantime, how long will J.R. and Bobby be dealing with these problems?

Is John Ross Inherently Good or Evil?
All signs currently point toward evil, given the fact that John Ross is likely the reason for the end of Christopher and Elena's engagement, along with the burglary at Christopher's office. Not only that, but he wants to wrestle Southfork away from his own flesh and blood and defy the wishes of his beloved grandmother. According to actor Josh Henderson, who plays John Ross, the troublesome young lad is going to be walking a fine line all season.

"It's funny people keep asking, 'Who's good and who's bad?' " Henderson laughed. "We'll have to see. I follow in my father's footsteps basically, a little bit. Now how that describes my character we'll see, but it's definitely a lot of fun."

Earthquakes that rattled Disneyland occurred near major fault





The 4.0 earthquake that rattled the Disneyland Resort’s red-carpet premiere of the new Cars Land attraction occurred near a major fault in Southern California that can produce a magnitude-7.0 temblor.

The 8:17 p.m. shaker occurred very near a section of the Whittier fault, which straddles the border of Los Angeles and Orange counties along the suburbs of Whittier, La Habra Heights, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Brea and Yorba Linda. Wednesday evening's quake occurred just 8 miles from Disneyland.

"The Whittier fault is capable of producing a magnitude-7 earthquake, so is of concern to many seismologists, as it lies directly under a large population center," according a report posted on the Southern California Seismic Network.

More research is needed to determine which fault triggered the quake, but the initial analysis suggests it did not happen on the Whittier fault directly, said Caltech seismologist Egill Hauksson.

The fear would be that a small quake on the Whittier Fault could trigger a larger quake. The Whittier fault is relatively long, and the longer the fault, the bigger an earthquake can be.

Wednesday's quake was relatively shallow, at a depth of about 6 miles. Deeper quakes, Hauksson said, like those 8 to 10 miles below the surface, are more worrisome, because "quite often, these larger earthquakes start at greater depth, and they break ... to the surface and then run along the fault," Hauksson said.
Scientists have not detected an earthquake on the Whittier fault in modern history. The magnitude 5.6 Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, which caused destructive damage and killed eight people and $358 million in damage, actually occurred on the underground Puente Hills thrust fault, which lies under downtown L.A., the southern San Gabriel Valley and southeast L.A. County.

The Chino Hills earthquake, a magnitude 5.4, issued a strong jolt throughout Southern California in the summer of 2008, but most areas remained unscathed. A magnitude 4.7 quake in Inglewood in May 2009 shattered windows near the epicenter and renewed worries about the dangerous Newport-Inglewood fault, which killed 115 people during a 1933 earthquake. Finally, the predawn Pico Rivera quake in 2010, a magnitude-4.4, rattled nerves but caused no structural damage.

Nine aftershocks followed the main shock Wednesday night. The latest, a 1.7 shaker, hit just north of Yorba Linda High School at 7:35 a.m.

“It was a jolt, and a little teeny shake, and I kept thinking more was coming, but it stopped,” said Claudia Welch, a secretary at Yorba Linda High School who lives nearby. The school reported no damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported light shaking from southeast L.A. County into northern Orange County and the Riverside area.

With Disney's California Adventure near the main shock, the celebrities, media and other invitation-only guests who had gathered for the final piece of the $1.1-billion expansion of the Anaheim park were briefly scared.

"Earthquake just happened in so cal, felt at #carsland preview" tweeted @FindingMickey. "#disneyland #JustGotScarier."

The #JustGotScarier hashtag on Twitter was a play on the #JustGotHappier phrase Disney had used to promote Cars Land, which opens to the public Friday.

Hauksson said the earthquake should still serve as a reminder that Californians live in earthquake country and need to be prepared for the Big One.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/earthquake-disneyland-near-whittier-fault.html

Matt Cain gem gives Giants a perfect game at last








SAN FRANCISCO – Matt Cain tossed and turned and managed all of about four hours of sleep following his history-making gem for the Giants.

Perfectly understandable.

Cain's perfect game will be remembered among the most masterful pitching performances in regular-season baseball history, if not ever.

San Francisco's ace right-hander dominated the Houston Astros every which way Wednesday night in a 10-0 win for the 22nd perfect game ever and the fifth no-hitter already this year.

He struck out a career-best 14 batters, making up more than half of his 27 straight outs and tying Sandy Koufax for most Ks in a perfecto. Cain (8-2) threw 19 first-pitch strikes and never faced a 2-0 count in winning his career-high seventh straight start.

"I'm still pumped," said Cain, who was back on the field playing catch with fellow starter Madison Bumgarner by 10:15 a.m. Thursday after a workout. "I haven't really had a ton of time to sit down and look over stuff, see how it all happened. I don't know that it has hit me yet, maybe when I can sit down and watch the highlights, go over the game."

Add in a pair of improbable catches by Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco to preserve the bid, and Cain wound up with the first perfect game in the franchise's storied 130-year history and its 14th no-hitter. It was the third this month, as Cain joined the Mets' Johan Santana and a combined no-no by Seattle's staff.

He threw 125 pitches — most ever in a perfect game — and 86 of those for strikes. Seven of his strikeouts were called. He didn't shake off catcher Buster Posey even once. They were in sync on this memorable evening, all right.

"It's something I always wanted to do since I was little, but it's kind of a blur when it actually happens," Cain said Thursday, when the Giants lost their series finale to Houston 6-3.

Cain followed up Bumgarner's 12-strikeout night Tuesday, and they became the first Giants pitchers to record consecutive double-digit strikeout games since Vida Blue and John Montefusco in May 1978.

"Things like this bring a team together even more," San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy said. "That's the first one I've seen. It was an incredible night. Matt was going about it like a normal game. That last at-bat he sprinted to first base and I yelled, 'Hey, take it easy.' But he always plays the game hard."

Team President and CEO Larry Baer and the rest of the brass must have been pinching themselves in delight that they decided to reward the two-time All-Star with a $127.5 million, six-year contract days before the season began — the richest for a right-hander.

The 27-year-old Cain showed glimpses of his potential for perfection in consecutive starts in mid-April. There was a one-hitter against Pittsburgh in the home opener, then nine shutout innings against Cliff Lee and the Phillies in a 1-0, 11-inning Giants victory his next time out — a memorable game in which the aces combined to throw 19 scoreless innings.

Yet even Giants Hall of Famers Carl Hubbell, Christy Mathewson, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry hadn't accomplished what Cain did Wednesday.

Perry, who lives in the North Carolina mountain town of Spruce Pine, caught the replays when he woke up early Thursday. He's thrilled the Giants have a perfecto at last.

"I'll take that no-hitter I had, though," Perry said with a laugh, taking a break Thursday from painting his horse barn. "I saw him in the spring and he was throwing well. He was just a strong young man and I expect great things out of him, maybe not another perfect game. I think he'll be the first guy in many years to win 20 games for us. He has the fight in him, he has the stuff and he has the determination to do just that."

Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox tossed the majors' last perfecto at Seattle on April 21. This is the second time in three years there have been two perfect games in the same season — before that, the only other time it happened was in 1880.

And San Francisco pitching coach Dave Righetti was among the first to embrace Cain afterward. Righetti is the only other member of the team with a no-hitter after he stymied the rival Red Sox in a no-no for the New York Yankees on July 4, 1983.

Highlights of Cain's latest brilliant outing were shown before Thursday afternoon's series finale with Houston, and the pitcher received another warm ovation from his supporters at AT&T Park.

Cain's cap, cleats, dirt from the mound, a ball and his uniform are being sent to Cooperstown. The umpires presented the pitcher with a game ball signed by all four of them. The Giants also replaced the pitching rubber and home plate and will keep those as mementos in San Francisco.

First baseman Brandon Belt made sure Cain got the game ball, quickly putting it in his back pocket after catching third baseman Joaquin Arias' throw for the 27th and final out. Cain's wife, Chelsea, hands clasped in front of her except when she clapped as he recorded each out, said "C'mon, c'mon" as Arias fielded pinch-hitter Jason Castro's bouncer and exhaled when the throw across the diamond was on target.

"I think I watched video of the last out 15 times. It was pretty cool, an awesome feeling," Belt said.

Left fielder Cabrera delivered the first save with his glove when he chased down Chris Snyder's one-out flyball in the sixth at the wall that everybody in the ballpark figured was a home run. Then, right fielder Blanco sprinted into deep center for a diving catch on a hard hit drive by Jordan Schafer for the first out of the seventh.

Blanco came up holding the ball for all to see as fans in the sellout crowd of 42,298 jumped to their feet in celebration.

"I have watched it a lot, and I still don't believe I made that play," Blanco said Thursday.

Not since 1917 have there been five no-hitters in a season by mid-June. The only year that came close was 1990, when Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Stewart each pitched no-hitters on June 29 — the fourth and fifth of the season.

Of the 22 perfect games, half have come in the last 24 years. Roy Halladay and Dallas Braden each threw one two seasons ago, with Braden's coming across the bay with the Oakland Athletics on Mother's Day 2010. Braden was among those to offer congratulations to Cain on Twitter.

The Astros, who had a perfect game thrown against them for the first time, also got no-hit by Marichal on June 15, 1963.

Cain tried to keep it all in perspective the day after.

"The crazy thing is that in four more days I've got to pitch again," he said. "Enjoy it, love that it happened. But I have to start thinking about pitching against the Angels on Monday. I'm trying to stay on a routine."

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Siachen: A symbol of The bravity of Pak Army

Wasif Chudhary



The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about 35.421226°N 77.109540°E, just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. At 70 km (43 mi) long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-longest in the world's non-polar areas.[4] It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col on the China border down to 3,620 m (11,875 ft) at its terminus.
Once again, we are lamenting the death of soldiers; the brave sons of the soil who were tragically killed at the highest battlefield in the world, while we slept comfortable and warm in our cosy beds.
The Pakistani nation is praying for their beloved and brave young soldiers............
Indeed they write a great history to sacrifice their lives.
We All Love You

Sunday 8 April 2012

President Zardari in India

Wasif Chudhary


Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari went to India today on a personal visit. He went to the shrine of Ajmair. On his short visit he also met Indian Prime Minister in one to one meeting.
According to sources the both leaders talk about issues of Sir Creek, Siachun and also discuss some other bilateral issues.
President Zardari also invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan.

Lahore

Wasif Chudhary


Yesterday I came to Lahore. Lahore is known as the heart of Pakistan. The people of Lahore are very friendly and cooperative. They love to eat different kinds of food, they also love to go outside with their families.
Minare Pakistan, Badshai Mosque, Lahore Fort and Anar Qali Bazar are some of the famous places of Lahore. When we talk about Shrines, the DATA DARBAR, AND MIAN MEER have special place among them.
Lahore is a crowdy and noisy city. The foreigners also come here to visit these famous places.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Why Hafiz Saeed is in the most wanted list of America

Wasif Chudhary


The Taliban and Alqaida is considered as the enemies of USA and its Allies. There leaders are in the most wanted list of America but a few days before the world seen that America announced headmoney of a social worker of Pakistan, The leader of Jamat Ud Dawa Hafiz Saeed.
Hafiz saeed is supporter of Kashmir movement and has no connections with any terrorist organisation.
I think America is building pressure on Pakistan to open the NATO supply Line. The strategy of US may also be to make things difficult for Pakistani President who is going to visit India in a few days.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Army Coup in India

Wasif Chudhary




General V.K Singh is the chief of Army Staff and the relations between him and the Government of India are at there worst in the last few months. The root cause of this issue is the right demand of Indian Army Chief for Justice. But the Indian Government refused to listen the vulnerable voice of One of the most respected Indian Rank.
Today some voices are also heared about the Army Coup in India in Mid January this Year. In which direction the camel will sit is the question which has no answer at the moment.

Monday 2 April 2012

Oh Summer.....

Wasif Chudhary


Wasif Chudhary



The weather plays an important role in the journey of life. Some people love winter and some love to have summer but here in Pakistan the summer is always very hot and the winter is always very cold. The winter has come to an end in Pakistan and the summer is on track. But belive me it will be a testing season for every one in Pakistan.
Therefore people always pray to Almighty to give them some rain in Summer.

Sunday 18 March 2012

War of the Wars Starts: Pakistan take on India in Bangladesh



Wasif Chudhary


Pakistan is batting first here against India. This is the match to whom the fans and lovers of cricket are searching for, for the last many months.
I want to mention here that in the last match which the two great rival played against each other was the semifinal of world-cup 2011 which India won. But the things are not so simple. According to many critics of cricket, that match was fixed. However the ICC has refused to investigate that issue.
India who lost the game against Bangladesh seems under pressure. And Pakistan is looking to crush them...
Lets see what happens

Friday 16 March 2012

Century of Centuries By Sachin, Great Player of Cricket

Wasif Chudhary






In a match of Asia Cup between Bangladesh and India, the Master Blaster finally made his 100th century. He is a great player of cricket. He has a style, he has a technique and he has a great career.
Congrats Mr.Sachin

Thursday 15 March 2012

Houston Teen Killed at 'Project X' Inspired Party

Wasif Chudhary




A spring break rave in a Houston mansion that was meant to emulate a movie turned deadly early Wednesday morning after several attendees fired guns, killing one person as police tried to break up the party.
The unidentified male victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston police told ABCNews.com.
The party, which attracted between 500 and 1,000 guests, was meant to copy the party thrown in "Project X".
The 2012 movie follows three high school students who throw the ultimate "anything goes" party that spirals out of control. While a damaged home and a bad hangover may be the only consequences partygoers faced in the movie, a string of copycat parties have caused over $100,000 in real damage, handfuls of arrests and the Houston fatality.
Daniel Menjivara, a 22-year-old college student, said "Project X" and the fact it was spring break were the reasons he and many others attended the Houston house party. Menjivara said he was "the exception" at the party and was surprised to find the crowd was mostly composed of teenagers.
"The house got pretty full. You could barely move around," he said.
Trash cans full of spiked punch were set out for partygoers. Wet foam blanketed the floor. Women who wore bathing suits were granted free entry to the party, according to the flyer.
News of the party spread quickly on Facebook and Twitter, attracting a large turnout to the home, which is surrounded by a field. It's not clear if it is occupied during the day. The nearest neighbor is down the street.
Around midnight, police responded to a noise disturbance at the home and shut down the party.
"Kids took to the streets, but the parking lot was overpacked so you couldn't get out," Menjivar said. "It was just people in the actual street. They got into arguments and started shooting each other."
Willie Armstrong, who was at the party, told ABC affiliate KTRK he witnessed the shooting.
"[The gunman] was just walking, and he pulled out a gun and started shooting, like for no reason," Armstrong said. "He shot the boy in the back of the head and fell on the ground. He started shooting at the crowds, but then he ran through the field."
Officers pursued the gunman on foot but were unable to catch him.
"At this time, it has not been determined if the male pursued by officers is the suspect in this case, as it appears several people discharged weapons at the scene," the Houston Police Department said in a statement.
The copycat party wasn't the first in Houston.
Thirteen teenagers were arrested after trashing a new 4,000-square-foot home last Thursday. Nearly every window was smashed. Sheet-rock had been torn out and was left all over the floor of the half-million dollar house.
Police caught up with the teens the next day when they were throwing another party in the new home development.
"I asked some of the kids why, and they said 'Project X.' And I said, 'O.K., what's 'Project X'?'" Mark Stephens, a private investigator working for the home builder told ABC affiliate WFAA. "When you look at the movie, and you look at what happened here, the parallels are uncanny. It was a copycat. They did everything that I saw in the movie."
In Miramar, Fla., Christopher Dade, 18, allegedly caused $19,000 worth of damage to a foreclosed home before he even had the chance to throw his "Project X" inspired party.
The teen posted a four-minute video on YouTube of the house, which he had prepped for the party, complete with "Project X" spraypainted on the walls and "break me" written on a window. Despite arresting Dade on charges of burglary and vandalism, nearly 2,000 people showed up for the all-nighter and were turned away by police.
"We've never had anything of this magnitude," Miramar detective Yesenia Diaz told Channel 10 News of the party.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

6.4 earthquake hits near Papua New Guinea

Wasif Chudhary




GOLDEN, Colorado — A strong earthquake has struck about 110 miles (177 kilometers) east of Kandrian in the Asian island nation of Papua New Guinea. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.4 quake struck Thursday morning local time about 372 miles (599 kilometers) northeast of the capital, Port Moresby. The quake struck at a depth of 29 miles (47 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue a tsunami alert.

The region lies on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim. About 90 percent of the world’s quakes occur in the region.

Civilian killings hurt Afghan war support for 40 percent of Americans

Wasif Chudhary
http://adf.ly/6GRhK


Forty percent of Americans said the shooting spree by a U.S. soldier stationed in Afghanistan which resulted in the deaths of 16 villagers had weakened their support for the war, a poll showed on Wednesday.

Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed in the March 12-13 online poll by Reuters/Ipsos said the remaining U.S. troops should be brought home immediately, down slightly from the 66 percent who expressed that opinion in a similar poll from early March. Seventeen percent disagreed.

The Obama administration is seeking to contain the fallout from the shocking shooting on Sunday, in which a U.S. staff sergeant walked off his base in southern Afghanistan and shot the 16 civilians, mostly women and children, in a nearby village.

Coming on the heels of violent outcry in Afghanistan triggered by U.S. soldiers' burning of copies of the Koran on a NATO military base, the shooting underscores the challenges the United States and its NATO allies face in the country, where after over 10 years of war the Taliban remains a potent enemy.

Despite ongoing violence, Western nations have begun their gradual exit from this long and costly conflict, and most foreign combat troops are due to withdraw by the end of 2014.

In the poll, 20 percent of those surveyed said the shooting did not make them less supportive of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Democrats' support was slightly more likely to have been affected by the weekend incident than that of Republicans, the poll found.

The poll included 1,061 Americans interviewed online, had a credibility interval of plus/minus 3.5 percentage points.

The shooting comes at a delicate moment for President Barack Obama, who is seeking to showcase his foreign policy credentials - including the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last spring - ahead of presidential elections in November he hopes will give him a second term.

U.S. officials have been hoping to conclude a bilateral deal to authorize a modest U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014, which would focus on counter-terrorism and assisting an inexperienced Afghan military.

But the prospects for a swift conclusion to those negotiations appear to have dimmed as Afghans voice their anger over the death of the villagers in southern Kandahar province and demand the United States punish the rogue soldier.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is likely to discuss the fate of the soldier, whose name has not been released, when he meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit he is making to Afghanistan this week.

(Editing by Jackie Frank)

Vehicle explodes on Afghan runway; Panetta safe

Wasif Chudhary


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says an Afghan drove an apparently stolen vehicle onto the ramp area of a British airfield in southern Afghanistan and into a ditch, where it exploded in flames, about the same time U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's aircraft was landing.
A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. John Kirby, said no one in Panetta's party was injured.
Kirby said the vehicle, a pickup truck, drove at high speed onto the ramp where Panetta's plane was intended to stop. He said there was no immediate indication that the Afghan was attempting to attack Panetta's party, but the circumstances were still being pieced together.
Initial reports said no explosive devices were found in the vehicle or in a search of the driver.
Kirby said the driver was being treated for burn injuries.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

The New Cable-TV Guy: Intel

Wasif Chudhary


ntel Corp. is developing an Internet-based television service that it hopes to sell to U.S. consumers, a strategic shift by the chip maker as it sets its sights on the crowded pay-TV business.

Intel has for several months been pitching media companies on a plan to create a "virtual cable operator" that would offer U.S. TV channels nationwide over the Internet in a bundle similar to subscriptions sold by cable- and satellite-TV operators, according to people familiar with the effort. Intel wouldn't provide Internet access, which subscribers would obtain separately.

The TV offering would use Intel technology, and in at ...

Gujrat: 4 policemen killed

Wasif Chudhary




At least four policemen are being killed in Gujrat GT Road Check Post. The Police tried to stop two motorbikes , in reply they opened fire. In result four police men were killed and one injured. The police has started searching the killers.

Sunday 11 March 2012

16 Innocent Afghan Citizens are Killed in Afghanistan, Is this not Terrorism?

Wasif Chudhary





When some terrorists attack the Americans and the American,s are not sure about them that who are they, then Americans assume himself that these are muslims,s and Alqaida Network. In the light of that attack American,s killed thousands of Muslims around the globe. They kill Innocent children, young boys and girls, old citizens, then that is not terrorism.
Today once again the American soldier killed 16 Innocent Afghan citizens. This is a trade mark of American brutality.

Asia Cup Cricket Tournament Starts

Wasif Chudhary




Pakistan India Bangladesh and Srilanka are ready to play against each other in Asia Cup. The Tournament has been started right now.

Officials: Latest Israeli airstrike in Gaza bring death toll to 17

Wasif Chudhary


Gaza City (CNN) -- The latest Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a 12-year-old boy Sunday, bringing the death toll to 17 from two days of bombing, Palestinian medical sources said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the latest bombing, which also left four others wounded, according to the Palestinian sources. The military, on its website, said the airstrikes that started Friday are a response to more than 130 rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. Israel, on Sunday, closed schools in the southern part of the country as precaution. On Saturday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on international leaders to bring a stop to the attacks. However, Hamas' armed wing threatened Israel over the attacks. Israel "will pay the price" for its actions in Gaza, said Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Izzedine al Qassam Brigade of Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged both sides to "avoid further escalation" and "re-establish calm." "I very much deplore the loss of civilian life," she said in a Saturday statement.

Saturday 10 March 2012

Pope addresses U.S. bishops on sexuality

Wasif Chudhary

VATICAN CITY, March 10 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged a group of U.S. bishops visiting the Vatican to hold to Roman Catholic teaching on sexuality.

The pope met Friday with the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, Catholic News Service reported. The bishops, headed by Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis, were at the Vatican for "ad limina" visits, when they report on the state of their dioceses.

Benedict urged the bishops to continue to make a stand against the push for same-sex marriage.

"The church's conscientious effort to resist this pressure calls for a reasoned defense of marriage as a natural institution," he said.

The pope indirectly addressed the battle between church leaders and the Obama administration over insurance coverage for contraception. He said he was aware of "threats to freedom of conscience, religion and worship."

Benedict urged the bishops to move past the scandal over clerical sexual abuse.

"It is my hope that the church in the United States, however chastened by the events of the past decade, will persevere in its historic mission of educating the young and thus contribute to the consolidation of that sound family life, which is the surest guarantee of intergenerational solidarity and the health of society as a whole," he said.

Pope condemns gay marriage again, as it becomes legal in more places

Wasif Chudhary


VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Friday condemned gay marriage in a speech to bishops from the United States after Maryland last week became the eighth US state to legalize same-sex unions.

"Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage," the pope said, warning against "the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage".

"Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature."

He also said bishops could not overlook "the serious pastoral problem presented by the widespread practice of cohabitation".

"The contemporary crisis of marriage and the family... has led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost," he added.

Benedict XVI has frequently warned against liberal family values in veiled references to homosexual marriage and adoptions by gay couples, and the Catholic Church often condemns countries that recognize gay rights.

The pope's fears that the traditional family is at risk are likely to be the focal point of the World Meeting of Families 2012 in Italy in June.

From Europe to the United States and Mexico, gay rights groups pushing for marriage and child adoption reforms are winning growing support, marking a change in public opinion which worries the Vatican.

The issue has sparked heated exchanges between Church leaders and politicians.

Earlier this month, Britain's Cardinal Keith O'Brien told Prime Minister David Cameron that same-sex unions were "madness" and a "grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right".

In the Philippines, despite the general social tolerance of gays, legislation lags. Even bills on other social issues that citizens elsewhere take for granted, such as access to contraceptives and divorce, are languishing in Congress.

Homes of young idols

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Did you hear? The celebrity real estate world recently buzzed with the rumor that Justin Bieber had bought himself a $10.8 million home for his 18th birthday — and it was the same bachelor pad Ashton Kutcher has been renting, no less. It was almost too dreamy for a single item of gossip.

As anyone who attended high school knows, gossip isn’t always true, and TMZ soon reported that while Bieber had in fact toured that home, and two others, Kutcher may be the one who buys that house.
Miley Cyrus
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Price: $3.9 million
Beds / Baths: 5 / 7
Square Footage: 5,173


Last year Cyrus bought this mid-century modern house.
House: Realtor.com | Cyrus: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Miley Cyrus, 19, was born during the heyday of her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, but has come into her own fame, performing as her Disney alter-ego Hannah Montana and as herself.

Last year, Cyrus plunked down the very grown-up sum of $3.9 million for a mid-century modern Studio City house, according to NBC New York. The private, gated and walled property features a double-sided fireplace and sliding glass doors leading out to the deck and patio.


Taylor Swift
Location: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Price: $3.975 million
Beds / Baths: 4 / 4
At 22, country pop singer/musician Taylor Swift has already been quite active in real estate. According to The Real Estalker blog, she bought a penthouse duplex in Nashville’s The Adelicia in 2009. Last year she bought a house in Nashville for her family, and just months later it went back on the market.

Swift picked this one up in spring 2011 for $3.975 million, according to Realtor.com. Built in 1941, this feminine and gracious traditional home manages to reflect its current owner. An unidentified source told the New York Post that Swift bought this house so she wouldn’t have to stay in hotels when she was in L.A.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Location: Bel Air, Calif.
Price: $5.995 million
Beds / Baths: 5 / 5
Square Footage: 4,044


The "Twilight" couple bought this house for just under $6 million.
House: Realtor.com | Couple: Jason Merritt / Getty Images
This modern house could be the ultimate fan headquarters for a die-hard Twihard. For a few months, it was rented by "Twilight" stars and real-life couple Robert Pattinson, 25, and Kristen Stewart, 21, and it went on the market around the premiere of “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” for just under $6 million, according to the listing on Realtor.com.

With its Southern California location, its fabulous views of Canyon Reservoir, its abundance of natural light and its pool and patio, it’s easier to picture buff, shirtless teen werewolves living here than pale, sparkling vampires. Whatever their reasons for choosing it, the famously private couple continue to remain mum.

Chris Colfer
Location: Los Angeles
Price: $860,000
Beds / Baths: 2 / 4
Square Footage: 2,462


Colfer of "Glee" bought this relatively modest house for $860,000.
House: Realtor.com | Colfer: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
In this collection, Chris Colfer’s Laurel Canyon house is the most like a non-celebrity’s first home. Built in 1963 with updates like a ‘90s-esque kitchen and what appear to be wood laminate floors, the house is quite modest for a star of a smash-hit TV series.

However, Colfer is just 21, so for that age group he’s doing quite well. And maybe the “Glee” star is too busy filming his show in nearby Paramount Studios to care about domestic aesthetics.

5 seriously injured when car slams into Chicago bus stop - @chicagotribune

Wasif Chudhary




5 seriously injured when car slams into Chicago bus stop - @chicagotribune

Multiple blasts reported at bus station in Nairobi, Kenya

Wasif Chudhary




Multiple blasts reported at bus station in Nairobi, Kenya

Actress Sean Young won't face charges in Oscars altercation

Wasif Chudhary





Actress Sean Young, who was arrested at an Academy Awards party, will not face charges, according to the L.A. city attorney's office.

Young was involved in a "physical altercation" and taken into custody by the person she was fighting with, police said. A security guard at the Governors Ball made the arrest.

John Franklin, a spokesman for the city attorney, cited insufficient evidence in the decision not to charge Young.

Young has demanded an apology and on Facebook said she suffered a bruised arm during the altercation with security.


"I just want everyone to know that I was sober, extremely well-behaved when a very stupid security guard went postal on me," Young wrote.

She was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and released on $20,000 bail.


Young was among 10 people arrested during and after Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, officials said.

Most of the arrests, which included misdemeanors and felonies, were for fraudulent, lapsed or nonexistent credentials, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.

Friday 9 March 2012

Amazing video captures moment sunbathers rescue 30 beached dolphins in Brazil Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2112618/Brazil-beached-dolphins-Amazing-video-captures-moment-sunbathers-rescue-30-beached-dolphins.html#ixzz1oeEijXGl

Wasif Chudhary








Dragging them desperately by their tails, this is the dramatic moment beachgoers leapt into the sea to save around 30 dolphins from certain death.
The rescuers had been sunning themselves on the Rio de Janeiro coastline in Brazil when the dolphins appeared out of nowhere and suddenly beached en masse.
Initially stunned, the sunbathers soon realise the impending danger and race into the surf as the mammals let out piercing squeals of distress.

Terrorism:: Israel kills 2 more Palestinian in Gaza, raising day's death toll to 4 - @Reuters

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Israel kills 2 more Palestinian in Gaza, raising day's death toll to 4 - @Reuters

Italian foreign minister demands details 'within hours' from Britain on hostage deaths in Nigeria -

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Italian foreign minister demands details 'within hours' from Britain on hostage deaths in Nigeria -

Rahul Dravid say Good Bye to International Cricket

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A legend cricketer of the world, Rahul Dravid says good bye to international cricket today. Rahul Dravid is a name of wall of cricket. He captained the team India in many one day and test matches.
He is a stylish and durable cricketer. The services of Rahul Dravid to international cricket and the Indian cricket could not be measured.

Thursday 8 March 2012

Cameron on failed rescue attempt of Nigeria hostages Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara: 'I am very sorry that this ended so tragically'

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Cameron on failed rescue attempt of Nigeria hostages Chris McManus and Franco Lamolinara: 'I am very sorry that this ended so tragically'

Cameron on Nigeria hostages: 'Early indications are clear that both men were murdered by their captors, before they could be rescued'

Wasif Chudhary




Cameron on Nigeria hostages: 'Early indications are clear that both men were murdered by their captors, before they could be rescued

Terrorism: Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian teenager in West Bank

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Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian and wounded another in a village near the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron).

Mozambique ex-rebel Renamo camp raided by police

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A camp of about 300 armed Renamo opposition supporters in the city of Nampula in northern Mozambique has been raided, police have said.

The former rebels - who fought a bloody 16-year civil war - had been living for weeks in makeshift shelters outside party their party headquarters.

They say they were waiting for the go-ahead by their leader, Afonso Dhlakama, to stage anti-government protests.

Police say two officers were wounded and 20 arrested in the operation.

Nampula police spokesperson Inacio Dina has urged residents to stay indoors as police chase those who fled.

It is not clear what prompted the raid early on Thursday morning.

The BBC's Jose Tembe in the capital, Maputo, says the atmosphere in the city has been tense since December when the men arrived in town.


Veteran Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama has stood for president four times
Tension escalated last month when the armed Renamo men abducted a 65-year-old man, he says.

The ruling Frelimo party fought the civil war with Renamo, which was backed by the white minority government in South Africa.

Our correspondent says Mr Dhlakama, Mozambique's main opposition leader, has been warning of protests since he lost the 2009 elections to President Armando Guebuza.

No protests have taken place so far.

Official electoral results gave Mr Guebuza more than 75% of the vote, compared to 16.5% for Mr Dhlakama - the fourth time he had lost since the end of civil war in 1992.

UPDATE 1-Ivorian PM Soro, government resign

Wasif Chudhary





ABIDJAN, March 8 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's prime minister Guillaume Soro and his cabinet resigned on Thursday, paving the way for the formation of a broader coalition government after parliamentary elections late last year.

"My election as member of parliament does not allow me to continue in the executive. After some reflection, I have decided to hand in my resignation and that of my government," Soro, surrounded by his ministers, told President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.

Soro's departure was expected and will allow Ouattara to keep his campaign promise of appointing a prime minister from the PDCI party of Henri Konan Bedie, which backed him in the second round of the 2010 presidential election.

Ouattara's election victory was disputed by Laurent Gbagbo, his rival who had been president since 2000 and was unwilling to surrender power.

The power struggle triggered a bloody four-month conflict which ended in April of last year with Gbagbo's capture. Soro's Forces Nouvelles rebel group and former president Bedie backed Ouattara in the standoff.

Gbagbo is currently in jail awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague where he faces war crimes charges.

Soro, 39, has held the position of prime minister for five years, initially under a unity government that was headed by Gbagbo.

He is expected to take the helm of the national assembly - the second most powerful position in the country after the president - following his election as a member of parliament in December. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Bate Felix and David Lewis; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Italy says British, Italian hostages killed by captors in Nigeria after failed attempt to free them by British, Nigerian forces

Wasif Chudhary




Italy says British, Italian hostages killed by captors in Nigeria after failed attempt to free them by British, Nigerian forces

Morgan Stanley Broker Put on Leave Amid NY Madam Probe Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/03/08/morgan-stanley-puts-broker-on-leave-amid-investigation-into-ny-prostitution/#ixzz1oYCQhPMe

Wasif Chudhary





Morgan Stanley (MS: 18.25, +0.37, +2.07%) has placed on administrative leave a broker whom law enforcement authorities say may have ties to a Manhattan woman at the center of an alleged prostitution ring, the FOX Business Network has learned.
The broker, David Walker, spoke with officials at Morgan Stanley yesterday and characterized his relationship with alleged “Upper East Side madam” Anna Gristina as “social” and said the two were “friends,” according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The FOX Business Network first reported Walker's identity Wednesday.
Gristina was arrested and charged by the Manhattan district attorney’s office with running a high-end prostitution ring from her apartment on the Upper East side of Manhattan. Law enforcement officials are investigating Walker’s ties to Grsitina including whether he was working with her to create an online dating service that was part of the alleged prostitution ring.
Attorneys for Gristina have said the online dating service was legal and Walker yesterday told Morgan Stanley officials that he had no business ties to Gristina, these people say.
But Morgan Stanley legal officials decided to put Walker on administrative leave until the Manhattan district attorney’s office concludes its investigation.
A Morgan Stanley spokesman declined to comment; Walker did not return telephone calls for comment.
Walker has been a broker since 1988, working at a variety of top Wall Street firms, and joined Morgan Stanley after its purchase of the Smith Barney brokerage firm from Citigroup in 2009. His brokerage record shows only one customer complaint during that time, which the company denied.
Walker worked out of the firm's midtown Manhattan office, and person who knows Walker described his production as “above average.”
This person also said that Gristina did not have a brokerage account with Walker.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Toyota recalls over 681,000 vehicles in U.S. market

Wasif Chudhary




(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Wednesday it is recalling more than 681,000 cars and trucks in the U.S. market to address potential problems.

The Japanese automaker said it will recall about 495,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from model years 2005 to 2009 to replace a part in the steering wheel. It is also recalling about 70,500 Camry mid-sized cars and 116,000 Venza crossover vehicles from model years 2009 to 2011 to replace a stop lamp switch.

Toyota said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries in either case.

For the Tacoma, Toyota will replace the steering wheel spiral cable assembly because friction may occur over time involving that part, which may result in the driver's side airbag being deactivated and not deploying in an accident.

For the Camry and Venza, silicon grease during assembly may lead to increased electrical resistance that can cause the vehicle not to start or the shift lever not to move from the "park" position, Toyota said.

Both fixes will take about 30 minutes, the company said. Owners of the affected Tacomas will be notified in early April, while the others will be alerted as soon as Toyota has the necessary replacement parts.

Huge Solar Flare's Magnetic Storm May Disrupt Satellites, Power Grids

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A massive solar flare that erupted from the sun late Tuesday (March 6) is unleashing one of the most powerful solar storms in more than five years, a solar tempest that may potentially interfere with satellites in orbit and power grids when it reaches Earth.

"Space weather has gotten very interesting over the last 24 hours," Joseph Kunches, a space weather scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told reporters today (March 7). "This was quite the Super Tuesday — you bet."

Several NASA spacecraft caught videos of the solar flare as it hurled a wave of solar plasma and charged particles, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), into space. The CME is not expected to hit Earth directly, but the cloud of charged particles could deliver a glancing blow to the planet.

Early predictions estimate that the CME will reach Earth tomorrow (March 8) at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT), with the effects likely lasting for 24 hours, and possibly lingering into Friday, Kunches said.

New iPad unveiled! Details on Apple’s new tablet

Wasif Chudhary




The new iPad is here. Apple unveiled a new version of its hit tablet on Wednesday, adding more power, an optional 4G internet connection, and a supersharp HD display, but keeping the overall look and feel of the previous model.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and other company execs showed the device at a media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Calif.
High-Resolution Retina Display
As expected, the new iPad features a screen with roughly twice the resolution of the iPad 2. The Retina display, as Apple calls it, first debuted in the iPhone 4 and quickly drew raves for its crisp, detailed images. The iPad's 2048x1536 display makes it the first Apple tablet able to show movies in full HD.
More Powerful Processor
The new device also has an A5X processor with quad-core graphics.
Speedy 4G Internet Connection
Apple is offering a 4G connection through both AT&T and Verizon on its new iPad. It's the first Apple device to feature the fast wireless radio.
Battery Life
The new device can run for 10 hours, said Apple Vice President Phil Schiller. It will last nine hours when on 4G.
Pricing
The new iPad is available in several models. A basic 16GB model costs $499. 32GB is $599 and 64GB is $699. Models with 4G connections cost $629, $729 and $829, respectively.
The demonstration is still underway, but so check back shortly for more key features of the new iPad. (Check Apple's stock price here.)
Apple TV Upgrade Also Unveiled
Apple also showed off a new version of its Apple TV device, which lets users stream audio and video from iTunes. The new device has an improved interface and supports 1080p resolution for full HD video. The price remained the same at $99.
Tablet Competition Heating up
The iPad dominates the hot tablet market, but it's facing increased competition. A report by Forrester Research estimated the iPad had 73 percent of the tablet market as of last September. But that was before Amazon's hot-selling $199 Kindle Fire debuted. The market research firm iSuppli estimates Amazon shipped 3.9 million Kindle Fires in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 15.4 million iPads shipped by Apple.
There are other challengers, too. Microsoft is preparing a touchscreen-friendly new version of Windows that will further blur the lines between a tablet and traditional computer. And Samsung, Asus, Toshiba, and others continue to improve tablets running the Android operating system, though none of the devices has caught fire the way the iPad has.
With a gorgeous new display and other improvements, the new iPad may be enough to keep Apple's hot streak alive.

Hamas denies it will attack Israel in any war with Iran

Wasif Chudhary




Leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, say they will not help Iran militarily in any conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic.

There is speculation in Israel that if it attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, it could face rocket fire from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Both are long-time allies of Iran.

But Mahmoud Zahhar, a senior leader of Hamas in Gaza, denied the group would get involved and told the BBC: "We are not part of any political axis."

"If Israel attacks us we will respond. If they don't, we will not get involved in any other regional conflict," he added.

Mr Zahhar questioned Hamas's ability to offer support from the Palestinian territory to the south of Israel, even if it wanted to.

"Don't exaggerate our power. We are still suffering from the occupation, the siege and two wars in recent years," he said.

Israel tightened its blockade of Gaza in 2007 after Hamas seized control of the territory from forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement.

Ideological differences
Another senior Hamas official in Gaza, who did not want to be named, also insisted that Hamas would stay out of any conflict between Israel and Iran.

"What could we realistically do anyway? If we were to attack Israel, the response would be much stronger," he said.

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

I don't like the Iranians and the way they try to use their influence in the Arab world”

Unnamed Hamas official
Hamas has long relied on Iran for funding. It is estimated that tens of millions of dollars are transferred to Gaza every year.

However, the same Hamas official suggested they were not strongly aligned in their beliefs.

"Iran has been very generous with its money, but ideologically we have little in common," he said.

Although both Hamas and Iran are hostile towards Israel, which regards the Palestinian group as a terrorist organisation, Hamas supporters are Sunni Muslims while Iran has Shia Muslim majority.

This makes it much closer to Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist movement which operates in southern Lebanon.

"I don't like the Iranians and the way they try to use their influence in the Arab world," commented the Hamas official to whom I spoke.

Syria backlash
In recent months, the uprising in Syria has created tensions between Hamas and the Iranian leadership.


Hamas and its political leader, Khaled Meshaal, were based in Syria until recently
While Iran continues to back the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, last month for the first time, Hamas publicly criticised the government in Damascus.

Speaking in Cairo, Hamas's Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, also commended "the brave Syrian people that are moving toward democracy and reform".

Hamas has pulled all its leadership out of Damascus, including the head of its political bureau, Khaled Meshaal.

The movement is looking for a new base.

Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Turkey are all possibilities.

Signs of spring
"Hamas's relationship with Iran has always been one of necessity not choice," says Nasser Abdul Karim, a political economist at Birzeit University in the West Bank.

He believes the Arab Spring and the recent tremendous upheaval in the Middle East have led Hamas to rethink.

It has close links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has become a powerful political force in post-revolutionary Egypt, controlling almost half of the seats in parliament.

Mr Abdul Karim suggests that Hamas will now look to consolidate its relationships with Egypt, Turkey and Qatar.

Qatar, one of the richest countries in the Arab world, could be a main source of revenue.

The Gulf nation has recently been pushing for a reconciliation deal between Hamas and its long-time rival faction, Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority and is in power in the West Bank.

Although the figures have not been confirmed, Mr Abdul Karim claims Qatar offered up to $2bn (£1.27bn) in aid to Hamas and the PA in order to try and push the deal through.

Elizabeth Berkley

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The "Showgirls" star is expecting her first child with husband Greg Lauren, an artist and clothing designer. The 39-year-old "Saved by the Bell" alum tweeted to her fans , "In life there are moments you cherish forever and this is one of them," adding, "Greg and I are so excited to be expecting our 1st child this summer."