Italy and New Zealand finished 1-1 in Nelspruit as the champions

Italy and New Zealand finished 1-1 in Nelspruit as the champions were held by the minnows. Shane Smeltz opened the scoring early on, but Vincenzo Iaquinta responded from the spot for the Italians. Both still have the chance of advancing to Round of 16.

Interestingly, both coaches Marcello Lippi and Ricki Herbert did not make any changes to their outfield starting XI from the first matches in Group F. Although, the champions did switch from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a more comfortable 4-4-2 and Federico Marchetti replaced the injured Gianluigi Buffon as goalkeeper.

New Zealand remarkably took the lead on seven minutes. A set piece was floated in by Simon Elliott and Smeltz pounced from close range after Fabio Cannavaro failed to clear the ball. There was potentially an offside, as Winston Reid had flicked on the free-kick, but the goal stood after the ball came off the Italian captain.

Rory Fallon picked up an early booking after tangling with Cannavaro and putting a hand in his face, soon after Giorgio Chiellini missed his side's first real chance prodding well wide from a good position.

It was Gianluca Zambrotta who then tested his luck from long range and wasn't far away from finding the top corner with 20 minutes gone. The Azzurri were growing in confidence and Riccardo Montolivo's low drive from 25 yards hit the post.

Tommy Smith tried to defend Daniele De Rossi in the area, getting a hold of his jersey, and the Roma star went to ground easily to earn a spot-kick, which Iaquinta converted leaving goalkeeper Mark Paston with no chance.

Towards the end of the half, the Azzurri had plenty of possession and were patient when trying to carve out chances, but New Zealand continues to sit deep and hold them at bay as the initial 45 minutes ended 1-1, although Paston had to get a hand to De Rossi's powerful effort.

Lippi made two changes to start the second-half in order to add some bit to their attack, Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi entered for Gilardino and Simone Pepe. It was Serie A's top-scorer this past season that made an immediate impact, as his volley from a tight angle was saved by the goalkeeper.

Herbert's men were pinned back futher and further, but held their shape well as they looked to keep out the Europeans, who struggled to find a breakthrough by the hour mark. So Lippi made his final substitution, bringing on Giampaolo Pazzini for his World Cup debut and Claudio Marchisio made way. On the opposite side, teenager Chris Wood replaced the ineffective Fallon.

On a rare opportunity for New Zealand, midfielder Ivan Vicelich hit a vicious strike from just outside the area, but it whizzed just wide of the post. Montolivo responded with a dipping effort, but Paston made a fantastic stop to keep out the Italians with 20 minutes left.

La Nazionale went on a swift counter, but Nelsen cleared the ball from inside the six yard box as his side went closer to a precious point against the 2006 World Cup winners. Waves of attack came from the four-time champions, but Di Natale's shot did not trouble the 'keeper once he escaped the intentions of the opponent's defence.

Italian supporters had their head in hands as Wood's shot flashed across the face of goal and missed by inches as space began to open up for them on the counter.

Camoranesi hit a brilliant shot from 30 yards, but Paston once again provided the crucial save with just minutes remaining.

The final whistle blew with Italy and New Zelaand both on two points and a win for either side would guarantee them passage into knock-out stages on the final match-day of the group stage.

Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay:

Paraguay have moved temporarily top of Group F and appear well on course for World Cup progression after beating Slovakia 2-0.

The opening half was controlled impressively by the Albirroja, though only Enrique Vera could find the net. Half-time seemed to half the South Americans’ momentum, but Slovakia barely stretched their opponents. Cristian Riveros secured the victory with five minutes remaining.

Having done well to pick up a point against Italy in their opening game, Paraguay showed plenty of early intent. In the opening couple of minutes the South Americans twice threatened, with a ball whizzed across goal by Lucas Barrios and then a deflected Roque Santa Cruz shot that Jan Mucha had to tip away from his top corner.

Slovakia were showing very little attacking intent, but their defence was standing pretty firm, allowing the Paraguayans only fleeting glimpses of goal. Paulo da Silva nearly got his head decisively to a wicked free kick before Martin Skrtel sacrificed possession in a bad area, beginning a sequence of events that ended with Riveros driving straight at Mucha.

Barrios and Nelson Valdez both shot off-target as la Albirroja increased their pressure.

Before the half-hour mark, the South Americans would deservedly grab the lead. Barrios linked superbly with his team-mates at times, but his deft pass to Vera was met by an equally astute finish from the midfielder, who timed his run superbly before bending the ball round Mucha with the outside of his boot under intense pressure.

After breaking the deadlock, the Paraguayan defence started having to work. Marek Hamsik nearly found Stanislav Sestak through on goal, and moments before Robert Vittek had just failed to connect with an early centre.

Santa Cruz replied at the other end of the field, though his chance largely came about due to sloppy Slovak play. A quick free kick yards outside of their own penalty box was taken short to Zdeno Strba, who quickly coughed up possession to Vera. The midfielder released the Manchester City player, who failed to beat Mucha.

There was a shift of emphasis on the Slovakian game after the interval. With only Italy left to play in this section, three points were vital in this game and their more attacking second half stance reflected this. Coach Vladimir Weiss was still somewhat loathed to commit his side in a gung-ho fashion, so the early stage of the second period were largely played in the centre of the field.

Indeed, neither goalkeeper was remotely threatened in the opening 15 minutes of the second period as the Europeans were pressing their opponents far more effectively, causing disrupting in the centre of the park.

The first real chance of a stodgy second half didn’t arrive until the 71st minute. A neat one-touch interchange down the Paraguayan left resulted in Santa Cruz galloping down the left touchline, from where he centred to Vera. Seeking his second goal, the midfielder headed downwards just painfully past the left hand post of Mucha’s goal.

Substitute Aureliano Torres chanced his arm from distance, but his shot rose a foot too high as the game started to petered out in a tame fashion.

With five minutes remaining, Paraguay locked down the three points. A free kick to the back post left the Slovakia defence scrambling, and when the ball broke to Riveros at the edge of the box, he drove firmly home.

In stoppage time, Justo Villar turned over a strong Vittek drive, leaving the Repre needing an unlikely victory over Italy in their final group game in order to have hope of progression.

Rescuer was woman's last hope in Haiti: 'We told her we won't leave'

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- A sweet sadness blankets Hector Mendez's face, appropriate, perhaps, for a middle-age man who has seen suffering and miracles at once.

Many other rescuers have left the Haitian capital, no hope left in their hearts 15 long days after the massive earthquake that ravaged this country and entombed so many in the rubble.

But not Mendez.

Every day for more than a week, he has stepped down into the dark crevices of a destroyed building to look for two people: Daniel Varese and his 4-year-old son Mateo.

Mateo's mother, Marylinda Gonzalez Davi, a United Nations employee from Guatemala who has been living in Haiti for four years, was at work when the earth shook violently on January 12. Rescuers pulled her 1-year-old daughter Fabiana alive from the rubble, but there was no sign of her husband and son. She refused to believe they were dead.

Word of her plight reached Mendez, who had arrived in Port-au-Prince with a team of 25 Mexican rescue workers.

"We told her we won't leave. We will stay by her side," Mendez said. He has a grandchild the same age as Mateo.

His orange jumpsuit dulled by dust, Mendez and his crew made camp adjacent to the rubble of the landmark Hotel Montana. They slept out in the open, with Gonzalez and her friend. They took short naps to re-energize. Then they went back in to search.

Each day, they pulled things from the place that Gonzalez called home: a stuffed animal, her husband's computer, a piece of carpet. It helped Mendez to know what room of the apartment they had entered.

He kept moving, deeper and deeper. In search of smell. In search of the slightest sound. Of an infant's whimper, a man's weak cry for help.

Mendez became convinced father and son might be alive. He knows well the science of rescue after doing it for a quarter century.

"There is no smell," he said. And that could mean they were alive.

Even two weeks after the earth shook, people were being rescued. Each gave Gonzalez hope. And that propelled Mendez.

He believes in the power of love. The strong bonds between a man and his child, trapped together. That link, he thought, could be enough to sustain them.

A veteran of many disasters

After a killer earthquake struck his hometown of Mexico City in 1985, Mendez, 46, felt a need to give back the humanitarian gestures extended to his own people. He joined a team called the Topos, or moles, named so because the rescuers wriggled through the deepest darkest corners in search of life.

He volunteered to rush to disasters: to Indonesian quakes, five times; to Latin American countries; to Iran, Turkey, India and Egypt; to New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina and to New York after the 2001 terror attacks.

Haiti, he said, is one of the worst situations he has seen. "People are very, very poor here." Much of the infrastructure and construction was so shoddy. This was the first time government officials paid for his flight. Usually, he finds his own way.

And that has left him penniless and jobless.

"Who will hire this old man now?" he asked. "People tell me I am mad."

He does the work because he loves to help people. "It's worth it to find one person alive."

Behind him, the incessant sound of a jackhammer deafened the ear. Above him, the roar of jets taking off from the airport. But it was below where Mendez belonged.

Time was ticking.

Sometimes, in the darkness, when he was crawling like a mole, the earth trembled. "Replica! Replica!" some of his men shouted. There was always the fear that whatever was left standing would tumble in the many aftershocks this city has felt.

"We laugh," he said. "We don't scream like ladies. There is nothing you can do inside. You only die once. It would be an honor to die in the rubble."

From other people, the statement might seem trite. But Mendez's eyes make you believe. He is called Chino because people say he looks Chinese. He says he has the look of a fierce Mexican Indian.

After so many days, Mendez was running on two hours sleep -- and hope. But late Wednesday his search finally ended. His men found two bodies buried deep in the apartment.

Mateo was in his father's arms.

In Haiti, Mendez had hoped for a miracle. Instead, he saw more suffering. This, too, will define the curves of his face.

Questions swirl about Jackson and medication

Questions swirled Friday about the possible role prescription medications may have played in the death Thursday of pop idol Michael Jackson, people close to him said.
The cause of pop star Michael Jackson's death has not been determined after Friday's autopsy.

The cause of pop star Michael Jackson's death has not been determined after Friday's autopsy.

His autopsy was completed, but further tests must be carried out before the cause of death can be determined, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner said.

Craig Harvey said the tests would take four to six weeks, after which "we anticipate being able to close the case and issuing a final cause of death." Among the tests to be carried out, he said, are neuropathology (brain) and pulmonary (lung) tests.

Harvey added, "We know that he was taking some prescription medications," but said he was not able to divulge what.

The possibility that Jackson may have been taking medication that could have contributed to his death at the age of 50 weighed heavily Friday on a number of people close to the star. Video Watch coroner's office discuss Jackson's death. »

In 2005, after he was cleared on charges of child molestation, Jackson spent a week at a center run by Dr. Deepak Chopra, a physician who focuses on spirituality and the mind-body connection.

During that week, Jackson asked Chopra for a prescription for a narcotic, the doctor told CNN. "I said, 'What the heck do you want a narcotic prescription for?' And it suddenly dawned on me that he was probably taking these and that he had probably a number of doctors who were giving him these prescriptions, so I confronted him with that. At first, he denied it. Then, he said he was in a lot of pain."

Chopra said he responded to Jackson that there were plenty of other ways for him to handle his pain, but that the arguments were not persuasive. Video Watch CNN's Sanjay Gupta discuss Jackson's death »

"For a while, I lost him," he said. "I have had that happen with me with other celebrities in Hollywood. There's a plethora of doctors in Hollywood, they're drug peddlers, they're drug pushers, they just happen to be having a medical license and I hope that this episode today, this tragic death of a great human being, will bring to light the huge problem we have in Hollywood with some of the medical establishment, the celebrity doctors, who not only initiate people into the drug experience, but then they perpetuate it so that people become dependent on them."

Chopra said Jackson had recently gone on a diet to prepare for his planned comeback tour, which was to have begun next month in England, and was excited about his planned resumption of his performing career.

"He was practicing, he was fasting, and yet he wasn't physically in the condition to do this, and he was not confronting his drug addiction, which is the big problem," Chopra said.

He blamed Jackson's death on drug abuse, though he offered no direct evidence. "When you have enough drugs in your system, your heart goes into an arrhythmia and your respiration stops," he said. "I think the drugs killed him."

Chopra said he had known Jackson to take the opium-derived painkiller OxyContin at one time, as well as injections of the narcotic pain reliever Demerol "and other narcotics, and I was really desperate to try to help him, but you know you can't help somebody who would go into denial." Video Watch crowds gather at the hospital. »

Jackson typically would refuse to call Chopra for several weeks at a time, the doctor said. "Then he would call me two or three weeks later and say he was sorry, that he had been busy and it wasn't the drugs -- but it was the drugs."

Chopra, who said he knew Jackson for more than two decades, described him as "my little brother -- I feel very bad for him."

Brian Oxman, a former attorney for the Jackson family who was with the family in the hospital emergency room on Thursday, also expressed concern about medications the pop star was taking.

"I talked to his family about it, I warned them -- I said that Michael is overmedicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop," Oxman told CNN's "American Morning" on Friday.

He referred to Anna Nicole Smith, the former model and reality TV show star who died of an overdose in 2007.

"I said, 'If that's what's going to happen to Michael, it's all going to break our hearts.' And my worst fears are here."

Oxman emphasized that he did not know what killed Jackson, and was not making accusations against any individual.

Jackson's ex-wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said in an online blog posted Friday that she was not surprised by Thursday's news.

She said she divorced him in January 1996, after less than two years of marriage, because she was "in over my head in trying" to save Jackson "from the inevitable, which is what has just happened."

Jackson talked with her about his death during "a deep conversation" 14 years ago about "the circumstances of my father's death," she wrote, referring to Elvis Presley. The singer collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis, Tennessee, mansion -- Graceland -- on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat, the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem.

The similarity to the "King of Rock" apparently resonated with the "King of Pop." "At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did,' " Presley said. Video Watch crowds gather at the hospital. »

"I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that."

That conversation haunted Presley as she watched television coverage of Jackson's death Thursday, she said.

"I am sitting here watching on the news [as] an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears," she wrote.

"A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened."

Her blog can be found online at http://blogs.myspace.com/lisamariepresley

CNN is seeking response from the family.

Meanwhile, police -- who had spoken Thursday with Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he died -- were trying to reach him again Friday.

A car that Murray had parked at Jackson's home was impounded and may contain medications pertinent to the investigation, said Detective Agustin Villanueva of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Public records show the impounded car was registered to a Texas woman who is an associate of the cardiologist, who is licensed in California and Texas and also has an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CNN's calls to Murray's office were not returned Friday.

AEG Live, the promoter of Jackson's planned tour, said their deal with the singer included a dedicated private physician of his choosing and that Jackson chose Murray, his physician of three years.

A source close to the family said Murray spent much of the last two months with Jackson, as he prepared for his upcoming concert series. The doctor is said to be cooperating with officials.

Jackson was in cardiac arrest when paramedics took him Thursday from his home to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where the music idol was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. (5:26 p.m. ET). Video Listen to the 911 call »

He had been preparing for a comeback tour -- aimed at extending his legendary career and helping him to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

Jackson began his professional work at age 5, singing with his brothers, before shooting to superstardom as a solo singer. He had numerous No. 1 hits -- the best known being "Thriller," the best-selling album of all time, at an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.

After dominating the popular music scene for years, Jackson became reclusive and mired in scandals that included child molestation charges. He reached a settlement with one accuser and was acquitted in another case after a highly publicized trial in Santa Maria, California, in June 2005.

Jackson is survived by his three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II.

Condolences and appreciations continued to pour in Thursday from around the world. President Obama said he considered Jackson a "spectacular performer" and expressed his condolences to the Jackson family, the White House said Friday.

At a briefing with reporters, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he spoke with the president Friday morning about the death of the pop superstar.

"He said to me that, obviously, Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer, a music icon. I think everybody remembers hearing his songs, watching him moonwalk on television during Motown's 25th anniversary."

But Gibbs said the president also noted that "aspects of his life were sad and tragic. His condolences went out to the Jackson family and to fans that mourned his loss."

In a written statement, Jackson's second ex-wife, Debbie Rowe Jackson, said, "Though Michael is now at peace, the world has lost a beautiful and loving soul. I appreciate the outpouring of support and prayer for Michael, all of his family, me and our children, and hope our privacy can be respected at this difficult time."


by cnn

Presley: Jackson knew his fate

Michael Jackson knew "exactly how his fate would be played out" and feared his death would echo that of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley wrote in an online blog posted Friday morning.
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. Presley says, "I loved him very much" and believes he loved her.

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. Presley says, "I loved him very much" and believes he loved her.

Presley -- the daughter of Elvis, the "King of Rock," and the ex-wife of Jackson, the "King of Pop" -- wrote on her MySpace page that she wanted "to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once." Her publicist confirmed Presley wrote the blog.

She said her short marriage to Jackson -- from May 1994 until January 1996 -- "was not 'a sham' as is being reported in the press," but she divorced him because she was "in over my head in trying" to save Jackson "from the inevitable, which is what has just happened."

Jackson talked with her about his death during "a deep conversation" 14 years ago about "the circumstances of my father's death."

"At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did,' " Presley wrote.

"I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that."

That conversation haunted Presley as she watched television coverage of Jackson's death Thursday, she said.

"I am sitting here watching on the news [as] an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears," she wrote.

"A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened."

Elvis Presley collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis, Tennessee, mansion -- Graceland -- on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat, the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem.

"As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play the exact scenario I saw happen on August 16, 1977, happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted," she wrote.

"I wanted to 'save him'," she wrote. "I wanted to save him from the inevitable, which is what has just happened."

"The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow," Presley wrote.

Their marriage, which some suggested was only to help Jackson's image, was real, she said.

"It was an unusual relationship, yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a 'normal life' found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part," she wrote. "Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much."

Presley called Jackson "an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated."

"When he used it for something good, it was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad," she wrote.

Presley's blog entry ended with a thank you to those who would read it.

"I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening."


by CNN

Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him

How many people does it take to break the Internet? On June 25, we found out it's just one -- if that one is Michael Jackson.
Raul Orozco's portrayal of Michael Jackson as the Twitter fail whale

Jackson's death caused Twitter outages, as portrayed by Raul Orozco in this take on Twitter's fail whale

The biggest showbiz story of the year saw the troubled star take a good slice of the Internet with him, as the ripples caused by the news of his death swept around the globe.

"Between approximately 2:40 p.m. PDT and 3:15 p.m. PDT today, some Google News users experienced difficulty accessing search results for queries related to Michael Jackson," a Google spokesman told CNET, which also reported that Google News users complained that the service was inaccessible for a time. At its peak, Google Trends rated the Jackson story as "volcanic."

As sites fell, users raced to other sites: TechCrunch reported that TMZ, which broke the story, had several outages; users then switched to Perez Hilton's blog, which also struggled to deal with the requests it received.

CNN reported a fivefold rise in traffic and visitors in just over an hour, receiving 20 million page views in the hour the story broke.

Twitter crashed as users saw multiple "fail whales" -- the illustrations the site uses as error messages -- user FoieGrasie posting, "Irony: The protesters in Iran using Twitter as com are unable to get online because of all the posts of 'Michael Jackson RIP.' Well done." The site's status blog said that Twitter had had to temporarily disable its search results, saved searches and trend topics.

Wikipedia saw a flurry of activity, with close to 500 edits made to Jackson's entry in less than 24 hours. CNET reported that by 3:15 p.m. PT, Wikipedia seemed to be "temporarily overloaded."

The Los Angeles Times, the first news organization to confirm Jackson's death, suffered outages. The site also reported that AOL's instant messenger service had been hit, quoting an AOL statement that said, "AIM was down for approximately 40 minutes this afternoon." The statement said, "Today was a seminal moment in Internet history. We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."

That was backed up by AOL consumer adviser Regina Lewis, who said that, although the numbers weren't in yet, the day should prove a historic milestone for mobile Internet traffic.

"It could go down as the biggest mobile event in history," Lewis said. She felt that was in part because people were checking news headlines from work. "People wanted to keep tabs on this story, but if you're an accountant you're supposed to be working on your spreadsheet. So they were using their personal cell phones to do so," she explained. Video Watch Lewis explain the overload »

While the scale of response to Jackson's death might be unprecedented, the pattern of it was not, Lewis added.

"With the advent of social networking, we saw a sequence that we traditionally see around the death of celebrities," she said.

"One, people clamor for the latest news; two, they share it; three, they react; and then the next stage, which we're seeing alive and well on video sites ... are tributes. In the case of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett, [people have] a lot to work with in terms of images and video," she said.

By Friday morning, news sites seemed to be coping with traffic, but Jackson fan site mjfanclub.net was still performing sluggishly. Mashable.com reported that tributes to, and remarks upon, Michael Jackson's death were responsible for 30 percent of tweets.

As with any breaking piece of news on the Web, the reports of Jackson's death sparked something of a feeding frenzy -- and with that came rumors that dragged in other celebrities completely unconnected to the "King of Pop's" death.

One Wikipedia prankster wrote that Jackson had been "savagely murdered" by his brother Tito, who had strangled him "with a microphone cord."

Soon rumors spread online that movie star Jeff Goldblum had fallen from the Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand while filming his latest movie. On several search engines, "Jeff Goldblum" soon became the only non-Jackson-related term to crop up in the top 10.

The rumors forced Goldblum's publicist to issue a statement to media outlets, saying: "Reports that Jeff Goldblum has passed away are completely untrue. He is fine and in Los Angeles."

At the same time, Harrison Ford was also rumored to have fallen from a yacht off the south of France.

Web site snopes.com, which shoots down rumors, gossip and urban legends -- and how they originated -- said the likely culprit was a Web site that allows users to input celebrity names -- and then inserts them into fake templated stories (a further variant has stars dying in a plane crash).

In a sense the feeding frenzy was understandable -- Jackson's death, coming only hours after that of 1970s icon Farah Fawcett, left many Web users shocked by the news and asking what would happen next. In this febrile climate, any rumor runs the risk of being seized on, believed and treated with more credulity than usual.

The need of the professional media to be first with the news -- many did for a short time report the Goldblum rumor as fact -- adds further veracity. And, of course, the whole process is speeded up by the Web.

There is also, of course, the old adage that celebrities die in threes, with the deaths of Gianni Versace, Princess Diana and Mother Teresa in 1997 frequently held up as an example of this.
advertisement

But while Diana and Teresa passed away within seven days of each other in August and September, Versace was killed in early July. Their deaths were most keenly mourned by the same broad sections of the public -- and hence were inextricably interlinked.

The Web can disseminate news -- but like any form of communication it can also help us create what we expect to see next.


by CNN

Stories on Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson: The world pays tribute to King of Pop

From street corners, buses and subways to phone calls, e-mails, text messages, online posts and tweets, people around the world commented, pondered, and paid tribute to pop legend Michael Jackson, who died Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.
VideoPhotos
updated 4 hours, 51 minutes ago
Jackson's death raises questions about drug interactions

As friends of pop star Michael Jackson discuss the role prescription drugs may have played in his Thursday death, the serious health problems that can be triggered by drug interactions are again in the spotlight.
updated 5 hours, 3 minutes ago
Questions swirl about Jackson and medication

Questions swirled Friday about the possible role prescription medications may have played in the death Thursday of pop idol Michael Jackson, people close to him said.
Video
updated 7 hours, 44 minutes ago
People.com: Debbie Rowe: I'm the Legal Parent of Two of Michael Jackson's Kids

She is "inconsolable," says her lawyer, but hasn't revealed her plans for the children
updated 7 hours, 44 minutes ago
People.com: Joe Jackson: How Did My Son Die?

With an autopsy inconclusive, Michael Jackson's father tells PEOPLE the family "is trying to find out" what happened
updated 7 hours, 44 minutes ago
People.com: Jackson Family Gathers at Parents' House

Sister Janet arrives at the family home, as Michael's children play outside
updated 7 hours, 44 minutes ago
People.com: Michael Jackson 911 Call: 'He's Not Breathing!'

A doctor is "pumping his chest and he's not responding," says the caller from Jackson's house
updated 7 hours, 44 minutes ago
People.com: Death Prompts Surge in Jackson Sales

The singer's passing proves a bonus for retailers all around the world
updated 8 hours, 15 minutes ago
Inside studio and out, Jackson stayed in the news

Legal, medical and financial troubles kept pop superstar Michael Jackson in the news even as his record sales dropped.
Video

Jackson's body moved from coroner's office

Michael Jackson's body was moved from a Los Angeles, California, coroner's office to a mortuary Friday evening, a coroner said.
Michael Jackson's body was taken to an undisclosed mortuary late Friday.

Michael Jackson's body was taken to an undisclosed mortuary late Friday.

The body was moved in a van about 9:30 p.m. PT (12:30 a.m. Saturday ET), but Jackson's family asked that the location not be made public, said Ed Winter, assistant chief coroner of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

"We ask that you respect the family wishes," Winter told reporters. "They are all grieving in their different ways."

Earlier on Friday, Craig Harvey, a spokesman for the coroner's office, said Jackson's autopsy was completed, but more testing was needed to pinpoint the cause of death. Harvey said the tests would take four to six weeks.
Harvey did say there were no signs of foul play or trauma.

Jackson was in cardiac arrest when paramedics took him Thursday from his home to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where the music idol was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. (5:26 p.m. ET).

In a 911 call released Friday, an unidentified caller told a dispatcher to send help. He told the dispatcher that Jackson was not breathing and Jackson's doctor was performing CPR on a bed. Video Listen to the 911 call »
advertisement

Jackson had been preparing for a comeback tour -- aimed at extending his legendary career and helping him to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

Jackson is survived by his three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II.


by CNN

Leahy wants to probe 'chain of command' on torture

An independent commission is needed to determine who authorized the use of abusive interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists, a leading advocate of such a panel said Sunday.

"I want to know who was it who made the decisions that we will violate our own laws; we'll violate our own treaties; we will even violate our own Constitution," Sen. Patrick Leahy told CBS' "Face the Nation."

"That we don't know," said Leahy, D-Vermont, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "We don't know what that chain of command was."

Former President George Bush repeatedly denied that his administration authorized the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody. But a set of legal opinions released earlier in this month documented the Bush administration's justification for coercive interrogation techniques including waterboarding, which has been considered torture since the Spanish Inquisition.

A Senate Armed Services Committee report released last week showed that top Bush administration officials gave the CIA approval to use waterboarding as early as 2002. And in 2003, a meeting that included then-Vice President Dick Cheney, CIA Director George Tenet, Attorney General John Ashcroft and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed the use of coercive tactics, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The releases have fueled calls for investigations of former administration and led to arguments from Bush's defenders -- including Cheney -- that the tactics produced information that saved American lives.

Leahy first proposed the idea of a nonpartisan "commission of inquiry" in March. He said Sunday that he was not "out for some kind of vengeance," but added, "I'd like to read the page before we turn it."

"I want to know why they did that; what kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall; and to make sure it never happens again. That's why I want it."

Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain said any talk of prosecution was about "settling old political scores." McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, fought for limits on U.S. interrogation practices during the Bush administration, but the Arizona senator said the United States needs "to put this behind us."

"We've made a commitment that we will never do this again," McCain told CBS. "No administration, I believe, would ever do this again. And it's time to fight the wars that we're in."

President Barack Obama has said his administration is not interested in prosecuting CIA officers who relied on legal advice from the administration. Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said last week that the administration would not pursue officials who authorized coercive interrogations, either.

But Obama appeared to back Leahy's idea last week, when he suggested that having a panel "above reproach" look into the issue would be "a more sensible approach to take." However, his spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said Sunday that a review already under way by the Senate Intelligence Committee "is the appropriate place for that."

"I think the president had great fears that the debate that you've seen happen in this town on each side of this issue, at the extremes, that's taken place, would be what would envelop any commission that looked backward," Gibbs told NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Democratic leaders of Congress have split over Leahy's "Truth Commission" proposal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports it, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he prefers any inquiry be handled through the Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the head of the Intelligence Committee, told CNN's "State of the Union" that the committee's probe will take six to eight months.

"My hope is that the public debate quells, that we have an opportunity to do our work," said Feinstein, D-California. "The committee will consider it and then we will release, most likely, findings and recommendations."

Connecticut Independent Joseph Lieberman told CNN that an investigative commission would "poison the water here in Washington. It will achieve nothing. ... So let the Intelligence Committee do its work. That should be the end of it."

Lieberman and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, criticized the release of the Bush administration memos, which came in response to a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.

"I think it was a mistake to release the techniques that we're talking about and inform our enemy as to what may come their way," Graham said.

Graham, a lawyer in the Air Force Reserve, said the use of abusive interrogations may have produced some information, "but also to say that it's been a net positive is wrong."

"There's a way to get good information in an aggressive manner to protect this nation without having to go into the Inquisition era," he said. "I believe you can do both."

Iraqi leader: U.S. raid that killed 2 breached accord

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is accusing U.S. troops of violating the security agreement between the two countries after a raid in Wasit province Sunday that left two people dead, Iraqi State TV reported.

U.S. troops raided a house in the city of Kut and arrested six suspected members of so-called "special groups" -- groups that are funded, armed and trained by Iran, according to the U.S. military.

During the operation, which the military said was "fully coordinated and approved by the Iraqi government," a man and a woman were killed by U.S. troops, the military said.

Al-Maliki's accusation that the United States violated the security pact is the first time the Iraqi government has claimed a breach in the deal that governs the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. It was reached last November and implemented in January.

Under the agreement, the U.S. military cannot carry out raids without Iraqi permission and warrants. And Iraq has primary jurisdiction over members of the U.S. military who commit "grave premeditated felonies" outside of certain geographical boundaries and when they are off duty.

Al-Maliki has asked Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to release the suspects detained in the raid, and to hand over "those who committed the crime" -- or U.S. troops -- to the Iraqi judiciary, state television reported.

The U.S. military statement said when troops approached the residence, "an individual with a weapon came out of the home. Forces assessed him to be hostile, and they engaged the man, killing him," the U.S. military statement said.

A woman who "moved into the line of fire" was also killed in the shooting, the U.S. military said.

An Interior Ministry official told CNN the raid was on the home of a tribal leader, and said U.S. forces killed the leader's wife and brother and detained a number of family members.

Speaking on Iraqi State TV, the deputy governor of Wasit province called the killings "cold-blooded murder."

The U.S. military said there was a warrant issued for the arrest of the targeted individual -- "a network financier, who is also responsible for smuggling weapons into the country to support JAM Special Groups and Promise Day Brigade," a U.S. military statement said.

Iraqi State TV reported that Iraq's defense ministry ordered the arrest of two Iraqi commanders in Kut who apparently allowed the U.S. military to carry out the raid.

April 26, 2009 -- Updated 1406 GMT (2206 HKT) * Share this on: Mixx Digg Facebook delicious reddit StumbleUpon MySpace Share

Sri Lankan officials rejected a proposed cease-fire from the Tamil Tiger rebels Sunday, warning instead that government troops intended to continue a new offensive until the group surrenders, a senior government official said.
Tamil demonstrators

"The government is firm that (the rebels) lay down their arms and surrender. We do not recognize this so-called offer," said Lakshman Hulugalle, director of Sri Lanka's Media Center for National Security.

The proposed cease-fire came six days after the Sri Lankan army launched a new offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in the country's northern area. Government troops made significant advances into rebel-held territory on Friday and Saturday, according to Sri Lankan Army sources.

A government-imposed deadline for the Tigers to surrender passed last Tuesday. Tens of thousands of displaced civilians currently remain wedged in a dwindling swath of territory controlled by the Tigers along the country's northeastern coast.

Government troops say they have rescued 39,000 civilians trapped in the area, but a U.N. refugee agency said Friday that a wave of "fresh displacement" has now exceeded 100,000 individuals.

"In the face of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and in response to the calls made by the U.N., EU, the governments of the USA, India and others, the (LTTE) has announced an unilateral cease-fire. All of LTTE's offensive military operations will cease with immediate effect," the rebel leaders said in a written statement issued earlier Sunday.

"We welcome the attempts by the U.N. and its agencies to assist the civilian population and are ready to engage and cooperate with them to address the humanitarian needs of the population. ... We are in full agreement that the humanitarian crisis can only be overcome by declaration of an immediate cease-fire."

The Tiger leadership asked the international community to "pressure the Sri Lankan government to reciprocate" on the cease-fire offer.

The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in Sri Lanka's northeast since 1983. As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began, and the group has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

we have made history

President Rafael Correa of Ecuador claimed re-election victory Sunday minutes after the polls closed, calling his apparent win "a day of joy" in which "we have made history."

Officials results were not expected until later Sunday night.

"We are here for the poor," Correa said in concluding a news conference. "We will never fail you. We will never fail you."

Exit polls broadcast by CNN affiliate Ecuavisa TV showed Correa with more than 50 percent of the vote, leading former President Lucio Gutierrez by nearly 30 percentage points and banana magnate Alvaro Noboa by more than 40 percentage points.

In order to avoid a runoff, a presidential candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote, or take more than 40 percent of the ballots while beating the second-place finisher by 10 points.

Early results were not available in elections for the 124-seat National Congress, where Correa's Alianza Pais party was expected to do well and could win enough votes to control the legislative assembly.

Gutierrez, who served as president from January 2003 until fleeing the country amid a scandal in April 2005, declined to concede defeat and accused Correa of fraud.

"The whole country said, 'With Lucio we were better and with Correa we are worse,' " Gutierrez said.

He also indicated during a boisterous news conference he may run for president again in four years.

"We must keep fighting for Ecuadorians who want liberty," Gutierrez said. "I am going to continue fighting because we can't let our guard down."

U.S. prepares for possible swine flu epidemic as global cases rise

The United States stepped up preparations for a possible swine flu epidemic, and Canada confirmed its first cases on Sunday as researchers worked to determine how contagious the virus could be.

Keiji Fukuda, the assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, called the outbreak "serious" on Sunday. Researchers are still trying to determine how easily the virus is transmitted person to person and it's too early to predict whether there will be a mild or serious pandemic, said Fukuda.

Dr. Alejandro Macias, an epidemiologist and adviser to the federal Ministry of Health, told CNN en Español that the official death toll was at 86. Macias said five more deaths in Mexico City had been reported to federal authorities by local authorities in the city.

Earlier, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said 81 deaths were suspected to be from the outbreak and 374 people remained hospitalized. Another 929 people have been examined and sent home, he said.

"These people have shown up at some medical institution in the country with respiratory symptoms that required to be studied and diagnosed," he said.

Mexico City closed all of its schools and universities until further notice because of the virus, and troops passed out filter masks outside the National Cathedral on Sunday morning. No masses were scheduled at the cathedral, but dozens of worshippers put on masks and went inside the church to pray on their own.
Public Health Emergency
According to the World Health Organization, a public health emergency is an occurence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

At a White House news conference Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the emergency declaration is standard procedure -- citing that one was declared for the inauguration and for recent flooding.

Mexican Finance Minister Augustin Carstens said Sunday that the World Bank was lending Mexico $205 million to deal with the outbreak. "We are getting an immediate loan of $25 million for the requisition of medicines, medical equipment and epidemiological equipment and in addition, $180 million to build up strategic operational and institutional capacities to deal with this issue," he said.

Russia announced it is banning meat imports from Mexico and the southern United States due to the outbreak of swine flu, the Interfax news agency reported. Passengers arriving in Russia from Mexico and the United States also will be screened for swine flu, the news agency reported, by having their temperatures taken upon arrival.

Canada confirmed six cases of mild illnesses on Sunday, and the United States reported 20. Meanwhile, Spain, Israel and New Zealand were investigating possible but unconfirmed cases.

In Washington, the head of the Centers for Disease Control said 20 cases had been confirmed in five U.S. states by noon Sunday. The largest number of cases was in New York, where the CDC confirmed cases in eight students at a preparatory school in that city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sunday.

Another seven cases have been confirmed in California, two each in Kansas and Texas and one in Ohio, said Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC's acting director. Only one person has had to be hospitalized, but Besser said authorities are likely to see "a broader spectrum of disease" in the days ahead.

"Given the reports out of Mexico, I would expect that over time we're going to see more severe disease in this country," he said.

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones said the symptoms seen there -- headaches, fevers, coughs and muscle aches -- were mild by the standards of serious flu cases. But he added, "It's still pretty miserable."

The U.S. government declared a public health emergency -- a step Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said "sounds more severe than really it is."

"This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation," she said.

The outbreak "is of great concern to the White House," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, but, he added, "It's certainly not a time to panic."

"If you're sick, stay home, get treatment, go see a doctor," Gibbs told reporters. "The government is taking all the steps it needs to and must do to take the precautions to deal with whatever size and scope we may be facing," he said.


Link by CNN

Bailout package for recession-hit next week

Export-oriented industries to get Tk 2,500-3,000cr in cash subsidy, says minister

The government may allocate Tk 2,500-3,000 crore cash subsidy to affected export-oriented industries in the recession package it is going to announce next week to tackle the fallout of global meltdown.

"Only the affected exporters will be given bailout assistance from the package, and it may be Tk 2,500 crore to Tk 3,000 crore'" Commerce Minister Faruk Khan told reporters at his office yesterday.

And Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on the day the recession package would be announced before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina goes abroad.

Hasina is scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on April 22 on an official visit.

Components of the package were already made public earlier, Muhith said while talking to journalists at his office after a meeting with representatives of the Association of Development Agencies Bangladesh.

Finance ministry sources said the sectors to get cash subsidy include jute and jute goods, leather, frozen foods, garments, textile etc. There would be a committee to recommend cash subsidy.

Additional cash subsidy would be given in the next fiscal year, the sources added.

Meanwhile, many export-oriented sectors now get cash incentive, and Tk 1,050 crore has been allocated for this in the present budget. Of the amount, Tk 243 crore was released early this month.

The recession package would consist of bank facilities as well as tax and other facilities apart from cash subsidy.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) had earlier issued directives to the commercial banks in this regard at a meeting of their chief executives.

The bank facilities consist mainly of loan rescheduling without down payment and lower interest rate. Six sectors will get this rescheduling for six months.

The central bank recently told the commercial banks that they would not be allowed to charge interest higher than 13 per cent.

In a related development, the World Bank (WB) last week cautioned the government about the demands for bailout. This might not benefit the poor, the WB said.

And the government does not have adequate fiscal space to finance large bailout packages, it noted.

link by thedailystar

HSC, equivalent exams begin

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations began across the country today with a total of 618,308 candidates from 7,237 educational institutions registered for the examinations.

The HSC and HSC-equivalent exams are being held in 1919 centers under eight general education boards, one technical and one Madrasha education boards.

The highest 153,398 students appeared at the examination from Dhaka Board while the lowest 18,340 from Sylhet Board.

A total of 59,354 examinees are sitting for the examination under Madrasha Board while 64,121 from Technical Education Board.

Some 170 students sat for the examination from five overseas centres in Jeddah, Riyadh, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Tripoli.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed restrictions on movements of all, except examinees, in a radius of 200 yards around the examination centres.

DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque said the ban was imposed under section 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance “to ensure peaceful atmosphere in all the examination centres in the metropolitan area”.

The restrictions will remain effective till May 28, said a DMP release.

According to the ministry of education, similar strict security measures have also been taken for other exam centres across the country.

Of the total candidates, 55.17 percent are boys and 44.83 percent girls.

link by thedaily star

India kicks off marathon elections

Indian voters queue to cast their vote in Varanasi on April 16, 2009. India kicked off month-long elections, with all signs pointing to a splintered result and government by an unsteady coalition that would struggle to see out a full term.

India kicked off month-long elections today, with all signs pointing to a splintered result and government by an unsteady coalition that would struggle to see out a full term.

Neither of India's two main national parties -- the incumbent Congress and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- is seen as capable of securing an absolute majority in the five-stage elections.

In an early indication that voting could be tainted by violence, Maoist rebels in the eastern state of Jharkhand killed six soldiers who were on duty to protect polling stations.

With a slew of regional and local parties expected to grab up to 50 percent of the 543 parliamentary seats on offer, the final result will kick off an intense period of horse-trading as the big players rush to form a viable coalition.

The prospect of a patchwork government with no united policy is a bleak one, with India facing a sharp economic downturn and increasing domestic and regional security concerns.

"What we need is a government which will pull India through these difficult times," said political analyst Rasheed Kidwai.

"The tragedy is that the influence of the main national parties has shrunk so much. The regional parties which are on the rise, are without the national outlook needed at this stage," Kidwai said.

More than 700 million Indians are eligible to vote in the world's largest democratic exercise, with around 143 million registered for the first phase alone.

Thursday's ballot will take in large swathes of northern and eastern India, including areas beset by a range of violent insurgencies involving tribal rebels, Maoist guerrillas and Muslim militants.

In order to increase voter safety, more than two million security personnel will be rotated around the country over the five phases of balloting that end on May 13. Final results are to be announced on May 16.

The leading candidates for prime minister are both veterans. The incumbent, Manmohan Singh of the Congress Party, is 76, while his main challenger, the BJP's LK Advani, is even older at 81.

The only viable alternative to a Congress- or BJP-led coalition is provided by a loose alliance of left-leaning and regional parties called the "Third Front."

Negotiations are ongoing, but the alliance may join forces with Mayawati Kumari -- the self-styled champion of the lower castes who has made no secret of her ambition to become India's first "untouchable" prime minister.

Yashwant Deshmukh, who heads a public polling agency, warned that a shaky coalition would be unable to implement tough economic reforms for fear of losing support.

"If you have an unstable government, chances are that the decisions it takes will be populist and protectionist in nature, and that will impact adversely on market reforms," Deshmukh said.

"Still, whatever government emerges is not going to last more than two years," he added.

Many voters are expected to make their choices along religious and caste lines or on the basis of strictly regional issues that impact their daily lives.

Any new government's room to fix problems will be sharply curbed by lavish spending in the past on a national jobs scheme, farm loan waivers, civil service wages hikes, tax cuts to spur growth and other steps.

India's fiscal deficit for the last financial year was six percent of GDP -- more than double the target -- and 11 percent if the states' deficits are included.

The campaign has become heated at times, causing the Election Commission to condemn unnamed party leaders for speeches "inciting communal hatred."

One high-profile candidate, Varun Gandhi -- a black sheep of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty -- was jailed after threatening to cut off the hands of anyone who dared harm India's majority Hindus.

Rival party leaders traded last-minute barbs on Wednesday, with Advani labelling Singh "a puppet" of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, to which Gandhi responded that Advani was "a slave" to right-wing Hindu organisations.

The regions voting on Thursday include sensitive areas of Kashmir near the Pakistan border and northeastern states on the frontier with Bangladesh.

"We have heightened our vigilance along the borders. Infiltration attempts are a serious matter," said the head of the paramilitary Border Security Force, ML Kumawat.

Photo:AFP

AFP, New Delhi

SC grants two-week parole to Varun Gandhi

The Supreme Court has granted two-week parole to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi.

The apex court has asked Varun to give a new undertaking to the Superintendent of Police at Etah.

The Supreme Court was slated to decide on the leader's release from Etah jail on Thursday. Varun had challenged his detention under National Security Act (NSA) by Mayawati government for his hate speeches.

During the last hearing, the Supreme Court had indicated that his detention was harsh and said Varun can be released if he gives an undertaking that he will not make such provocative speeches in future.

The court also asked the Uttar Pradesh government whether such undertaking is acceptable to them. Vaun has given his undertaking to the District Magistrate, Philibit, which had been sent to the government.

"If he gives an undertaking that he will not make any such provocative speeches, then his plea could be considered," a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan had said, posting the matter for further hearing for April 16.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the BJP candidate from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, had said his client was ready to accept any condition as time was running out for the campaigning and he has to file the nomination papers which was starting on April 17.

link by NDTV

Naxals strike as voting begins for Lok Sabha polls

Polling for the first phase of elections to Lok Sabha began on a violent note with Naxals striking in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and

Voters line up to cast their votes as security personnel stand guard at a polling booth in Madangundi village, about 150 km from Ranchi. (Reuters Photo) More Pictures

Bihar killing nine people even as voters trickled in at ballot booths across 17 states and union territories.

As soon as the polling began in Jharkhand, Naxals struck a BSF bus, killing seven persons, including five BSF personnel, in Latehar district. ( Watch )

A helper and the civilian driver of the bus were among those killed in the landmine blast in the area, about 125 kms from Ranchi, according to deputy commissioner Sarvendu Tathagat.

The bus ferrying the BSF personnel from Ladhup to Arah was blown by the landmine blast triggered by the Maoists at around 7.30 am killing five BSF personnel, one helper and the civilian driver, the DC said.

The BSF personnel were returning after patrolling. A helicopter has flown to the spot for rescue operation, he said, adding an encounter is going on.

A homeguard and a police personnel on poll duty was shot dead and another injured by Naxals in Singhpur village under Banke Bazaar police station in Gaya district, police said. Two other police personnel were missing.

Naxalites also attacked polling booths in Dantewada and Narainpur regions in Chhattisgarh, triggering IED blasts and exchanging fire with security forces as polling began in the state. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The Naxals struck at Maroki, Mangnar and Jangampal in Dantewada area, about 350 kms from Raipur and in Nernar, Sonapal and Karmari in Narainpur region, around 250 kms from the Chhattisgarh capital, police officials said.

They said polling parties were safe.

Naxalites opened fire at two polling booths - Marokhi and Mangnar in Maoist-hit Dantewada Lok Sabha constituency, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma told PTI.

Security forces deployed at the polling booths have retaliated and the exchange of fire is still on, he said.

In Narainpur area, the Naxalites exploded IEDs in Sonapal and Kokaneta regions but there was no danger to the polling officials, Superintendent of Police, Narainpur, Ambresh Mishra said.

Additional security forces have been rushed to the affected areas.

Voting began on a moderate note in 124 constituencies spread across 15 states and two union territories during which the fate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha and TRS president K Chandrasekar Rao will be decided.

the times of india

In-form Arsenal too strong for Villarreal * Story Highlights * Arsenal through to semifinals of Champions League after 3-0 win over Villarre

Arsenal continued their impressive run of form with a 3-0 home victory over Villarreal to reach the Champions League semifinals 4-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Theo Walcott is congratulated by team-mates after scoring Arsenal's opening goal against Villarreal.

The Gunners, who are unbeaten in the Premier League since last November, will now face rivals Manchester United in the last four after goals from Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie proved enough to see off their Spanish opponents at the Emirates Stadium.

Walcott opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Cesc Fabregas' flick-on deceived the Villarreal defense and the England winger burst through to superb chip the ball over the head of goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Villarreal went close in first-half stoppage time when Diego Godin headed over the crossbar, but Arsenal made sure of a semifinal place when, on the hour, Van Persie released Adebayor to net his fourth goal in as many games.

Nine minutes later, the Yellow Submarines were finally sunk when Dutchman Van Persie converted a penalty after a foul on Walcott.

The decision enraged Villarreal to such an extent that Sebastian Eguren was sent off after he was shown a second yellow card for dissent.

With Villarreal down to 10 men, Arsenal took their foot off the gas and were able to conserve energy ahead of their FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea at Wembley this Saturday.

"It was really important that we scored early on," captain Fabregas told Sky Sports. "We wanted to keep the pressure on them and scoring early helped us do that.

"At the end, I think 3-0 is quite a fair result, we could have scored a few more but let's not be greedy and we are happy with the win.

"Facing Manchester United is unbelievable for us. To be in the semifinals of the Champions League against maybe the best team in Europe, and the world, we will take it for sure."

Link by CNN

Indians begin voting in epic elections

India begins voting Thursday to choose a new government in a mammoth exercise covering more than three million square kilometers of the planet in scattered polling until next month.

Indian election officials check electronic voting machines prior to Wednesday's vote.

India currently has 714 million registered voters, up 43 million from the last vote. That election, in 2004, brought the Congress party of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to power as head of a coalition backed by the communists.

More than 1,700 candidates will be in the fray for the first phase of voting Thursday, in 124 of the 543 boroughs, for the Lok Sabha, or the lower house of the Indian parliament, according to the country's election commission.

Two million security personnel are to guard the entire voting process, the commission said.

Political analysts expect post-poll agreements among various groups from the right, left and center -- rather than national divisions over any particular issues -- to determine the shape and make up of the next governing coalition. Watch the logisitics of campaigning in India »

The Congress party, which currently leads the United Progressive Alliance government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeks to retain the power it won in 2004. But some allies of the United Progressive Alliance have already reached a pre-poll agreement, to the exclusion of Congress.

A general election is held every five years in India. The vote count, which will be carried out electronically in a single day, is scheduled for May 16, three days after the last round of polling. The nation of one billion-plus people will vote in five phases.

link by CNN