Confirming that hosting of 2010 World Cup hockey tournament in New Delhi in February will be a FIH-Indian Hockey Confederation joint venture, the world body on Thursday said the event would be managed by a governing body of eight persons appointed by them.
This is the first time that the World body has not allowed a national federation total command to organise a major event like World Cup on its own.
The IHC had earlier hosted succesfully men's Champions Trophy twice in Chennai (1995 and 2005).
In a press release, the International Hockey Federation said 'the organising committee will be responsible for the day to day organisation and conduct of the event while the governing body will have the overall responsibility for organising the event. The Chairperson of the Organising Committee will also be a member of the Governing Body'.
FIH's decision to involve itself in the running of the event assumes importance since the world body insisted IHC late last year to restructure it's functioning.
In fact, Jacques Roggee, IOC President, and Els Van Breda Vriesman, FIH President, visited India this April and held discussions with IHC and also the Indian Olympic Association in regard to re- structuring of the IHC and proper promotion of the game.
FIH also said that it was influenced by the success of its project 'Promoting Indian Hockey' in alloting the 2010 World Cup to New Delhi.
For the first time in hockey history, FIH Executive Board will meet in India during November this year to review the progress of preparation for the Cup.
Friday 8 June 2007
Ferrari to fight back in Canada
Ferrari expect Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to be fighting for victory in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix despite McLaren's recent dominance.
"We believe we will have a strong package for this event," said sporting director Stefano Domenicali on the team's website (www.ferrari.com).
"There is no reason why we should not be able to fight for the win in Montreal after a weekend in Monaco where our performance did not accurately reflect our potential."
McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso and rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton lead the standings with 38 points each after five races, with Massa third on 33 and Raikkonen another 10 points back.
While the McLaren drivers lapped everyone but Massa in Monaco 10 days ago before a row over so-called 'team orders' overshadowed their success, they cannot expect such an advantage in North America.
Ferrari have by far the best record at a circuit named after their late great Gilles Villeneuve, with 10 wins there since 1978. McLaren have just half that tally.
"Monaco is just a distant memory. Now everything is changed for Canada," said Raikkonen, who finished eighth in the Mediterranean principality, on his website (www.kimiraikkonen.com).
"One thing is for sure, McLaren will not be one minute ahead of us like they were in Monaco.
"The gap is not that big and my position is not that miserable," he added. "A couple of good races for us and a couple of bad ones for the competitors and the whole situation would look totally different."
Alonso won in Canada with Renault last year in a race that marked a breakthrough for him in North America.
The 25-year-old had never previously stood on the podium in Canada but that win also proved to be a turning point, with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher fighting back from 25 points down to take the overall lead with two races remaining.
"We have a great momentum in the team right now," said Alonso in a team preview. "We have some new packages on the car for Montreal. We are all pushing hard to attack and fight for more race victories."
Unlike Monaco, Hamilton will feel free to race his illustrious team mate as he aims for a sixth podium finish in six races. The 22-year-old, runner-up in his last four starts, is making his Montreal debut.
"I cannot wait to get back on track and continue to focus on racing," he said.
"We believe we will have a strong package for this event," said sporting director Stefano Domenicali on the team's website (www.ferrari.com).
"There is no reason why we should not be able to fight for the win in Montreal after a weekend in Monaco where our performance did not accurately reflect our potential."
McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso and rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton lead the standings with 38 points each after five races, with Massa third on 33 and Raikkonen another 10 points back.
While the McLaren drivers lapped everyone but Massa in Monaco 10 days ago before a row over so-called 'team orders' overshadowed their success, they cannot expect such an advantage in North America.
Ferrari have by far the best record at a circuit named after their late great Gilles Villeneuve, with 10 wins there since 1978. McLaren have just half that tally.
"Monaco is just a distant memory. Now everything is changed for Canada," said Raikkonen, who finished eighth in the Mediterranean principality, on his website (www.kimiraikkonen.com).
"One thing is for sure, McLaren will not be one minute ahead of us like they were in Monaco.
"The gap is not that big and my position is not that miserable," he added. "A couple of good races for us and a couple of bad ones for the competitors and the whole situation would look totally different."
Alonso won in Canada with Renault last year in a race that marked a breakthrough for him in North America.
The 25-year-old had never previously stood on the podium in Canada but that win also proved to be a turning point, with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher fighting back from 25 points down to take the overall lead with two races remaining.
"We have a great momentum in the team right now," said Alonso in a team preview. "We have some new packages on the car for Montreal. We are all pushing hard to attack and fight for more race victories."
Unlike Monaco, Hamilton will feel free to race his illustrious team mate as he aims for a sixth podium finish in six races. The 22-year-old, runner-up in his last four starts, is making his Montreal debut.
"I cannot wait to get back on track and continue to focus on racing," he said.
'Woolmer died of heart attack'
Three concurring pathology reports, done with the help of modern forensic science expertise, have confirmed that Bob Woolmer died from natural causes and the Jamaican police would announce it formally next week, a newspaper claimed on Friday.
Exclusive tests on the broken hyoid bone in Woolmer's neck, based on which the Jamaican pathologist Ere Seshaiah had concluded that the Pakistan cricket coach was strangulated, has helped pathologists conclude that the Pakistan cricket coach died from heart attack, according to The Times.
"Mark Shields, the Deputy Police Commissioner, instructed that the bone should be removed from the body for further examination. It was photographed and X-rayed, helping pathologists to reach their conclusion," the British daily reported.
The paper said that the three pathologists - of the British Home Office, Ontario and South Africa - disagreed with the original report that Woolmer died of "asphyxia due to strangulation".
"Lucius Thomas, the head of the Jamaican police force, will announce next week that Woolmer was not poisoned. Toxicology reports show that there was nothing in Woolmer's body that could have killed or incapacitated him," The Times said.
Exclusive tests on the broken hyoid bone in Woolmer's neck, based on which the Jamaican pathologist Ere Seshaiah had concluded that the Pakistan cricket coach was strangulated, has helped pathologists conclude that the Pakistan cricket coach died from heart attack, according to The Times.
"Mark Shields, the Deputy Police Commissioner, instructed that the bone should be removed from the body for further examination. It was photographed and X-rayed, helping pathologists to reach their conclusion," the British daily reported.
The paper said that the three pathologists - of the British Home Office, Ontario and South Africa - disagreed with the original report that Woolmer died of "asphyxia due to strangulation".
"Lucius Thomas, the head of the Jamaican police force, will announce next week that Woolmer was not poisoned. Toxicology reports show that there was nothing in Woolmer's body that could have killed or incapacitated him," The Times said.
AP bars propagating other faiths near shrines
In a significant move, the Andhra Pradesh government on Friday issued a notification prohibiting the propagation of other religions in notified places of worship.
The notification was issued after Governor Rameshwar Thakur promulgated the A P Propagation of Other Religions in the Places of Worship or Prayer (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2007.
A bill to this effect will be introduced in the next session of the assembly, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy told media persons in Hyderabad.
"This ordinance empowers the government to prohibit the propagation of religions other than the one that is traditionally practiced at the notified place," Reddy said.
The move comes against the backdrop of allegations over the growing activity of Christian missionaries in and around Tirumala, the popular hill shrine in the state.
Along with the notification, the state government issued a GO notifying Tirumala as a place of worship under section 2 of the ordinance.
The notification covers the 'Tirumala Divya Kshetram,' comprising all seven hills and 10 'Theerthas' falling under the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's limits.
"Our government is committed to protecting the religious sentiments of people and sanctity of their shrines," the chief minister said.
The state cabinet had on April 27 decided to promulgate the ordinance that contains punitive measures for violators, including prison terms of up to three years and imposition of fines of up to Rs 5,000 or both.
With a view to maintain public order, tranquility and serenity at a place of worship, it is prohibited to propagate a religion other than the one 'traditionally practiced at such place, by words, either spoken or written, or signs or by visible representation or distribution of any printed material or other forms of religious literature,' the ordinance states.
The government will notify such places from time to time where the ban will be made applicable.
Taking note of instances of religious propagation, an official statement said: 'Such incidents were reported from the world renowned ancient temple of Tirumala and there were strong protests. The government perceives them as unwarranted intrusions into one religious group's domain, which could potentially disturb public order. The ordinance was aimed at ensuring that religious sentiments were not hurt and public order was not disturbed.'
The recognition of individual freedom and spirit of mutual respect and co-existence among various religious denominations is the bedrock of the country's ideological framework enshrined in the Constitution, the statement said.
The ban comes against the backdrop of a furore over growing missionary activity in and around Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, with Sangh Parivar organisations and Hindu scholars demanding a ban on the propagation of non-Hindu religions and stringent action against those who resort to conversions through inducements.
The notification was issued after Governor Rameshwar Thakur promulgated the A P Propagation of Other Religions in the Places of Worship or Prayer (Prohibition) Ordinance, 2007.
A bill to this effect will be introduced in the next session of the assembly, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy told media persons in Hyderabad.
"This ordinance empowers the government to prohibit the propagation of religions other than the one that is traditionally practiced at the notified place," Reddy said.
The move comes against the backdrop of allegations over the growing activity of Christian missionaries in and around Tirumala, the popular hill shrine in the state.
Along with the notification, the state government issued a GO notifying Tirumala as a place of worship under section 2 of the ordinance.
The notification covers the 'Tirumala Divya Kshetram,' comprising all seven hills and 10 'Theerthas' falling under the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's limits.
"Our government is committed to protecting the religious sentiments of people and sanctity of their shrines," the chief minister said.
The state cabinet had on April 27 decided to promulgate the ordinance that contains punitive measures for violators, including prison terms of up to three years and imposition of fines of up to Rs 5,000 or both.
With a view to maintain public order, tranquility and serenity at a place of worship, it is prohibited to propagate a religion other than the one 'traditionally practiced at such place, by words, either spoken or written, or signs or by visible representation or distribution of any printed material or other forms of religious literature,' the ordinance states.
The government will notify such places from time to time where the ban will be made applicable.
Taking note of instances of religious propagation, an official statement said: 'Such incidents were reported from the world renowned ancient temple of Tirumala and there were strong protests. The government perceives them as unwarranted intrusions into one religious group's domain, which could potentially disturb public order. The ordinance was aimed at ensuring that religious sentiments were not hurt and public order was not disturbed.'
The recognition of individual freedom and spirit of mutual respect and co-existence among various religious denominations is the bedrock of the country's ideological framework enshrined in the Constitution, the statement said.
The ban comes against the backdrop of a furore over growing missionary activity in and around Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, with Sangh Parivar organisations and Hindu scholars demanding a ban on the propagation of non-Hindu religions and stringent action against those who resort to conversions through inducements.
Al Qaeda announces jihad against India
A written statement and video compact disc that was delivered to a local news agency on Friday afternoon by 'Al-Qaeda India' has announced waging of a 'Jihad' (Holy war) against India.
A masked person shown in the compact disc claimed to be Abu Abrahim Al Asim who read the statement on behalf of Abu Abdul Rehman Al Ansari, chief of the Al-Qaeda in India.
Quoting verses from the Holy Quran, the speaker said, 'America was trying to equip India with sophisticated arms and nuclear capability and Allah had already warned the Muslims against this unholy nexus among the infidels against the Muslims.
'America, Israel and other western nations in collaboration with India were trying to divide Kashmir to gain hegemony in the region and set up military bases in this region. We declare Jihad against India. Jammu and Kashmir shall be the gateway for such a Jihad.'
The speaker saluted holy warriors who he claimed had taken the Muslims out of the depths of deprivation and depression by waging Allah's war to dissolve the global borders in order to establish Allah's domain in the entire world.
'The Prophet of Islam was sent to spread Islam in the World even if the infidels were angered by it. We desire so passionately to die in Allah's way as the infidels and idolaters want to live a life of comfort and luxury,' he said.
Interestingly, the CD showed inset pictures of senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat and also those of Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, labeling them all as 'traitors of Islam.'
The speaker also lambasted Syed Sallah-ud-Din, the supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the head of the Muzaffarabad based United Jihad Council for trying to 'protect and support the Kashmiri All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders.
'Today's declaration is also the sounding of the death knell against all these persons,' the disc claimed.
It must be recalled that a statement released in Srinagar last year on July 13 had claimed Al-Qaeda's presence in Kashmir under the command of Abu Abdul Rehman Al Ansari and had said, 'the objectives of the outfit would be announced shortly.'
Police had then denied any Al-Qaeda presence in Jammu and Kashmir.
A masked person shown in the compact disc claimed to be Abu Abrahim Al Asim who read the statement on behalf of Abu Abdul Rehman Al Ansari, chief of the Al-Qaeda in India.
Quoting verses from the Holy Quran, the speaker said, 'America was trying to equip India with sophisticated arms and nuclear capability and Allah had already warned the Muslims against this unholy nexus among the infidels against the Muslims.
'America, Israel and other western nations in collaboration with India were trying to divide Kashmir to gain hegemony in the region and set up military bases in this region. We declare Jihad against India. Jammu and Kashmir shall be the gateway for such a Jihad.'
The speaker saluted holy warriors who he claimed had taken the Muslims out of the depths of deprivation and depression by waging Allah's war to dissolve the global borders in order to establish Allah's domain in the entire world.
'The Prophet of Islam was sent to spread Islam in the World even if the infidels were angered by it. We desire so passionately to die in Allah's way as the infidels and idolaters want to live a life of comfort and luxury,' he said.
Interestingly, the CD showed inset pictures of senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat and also those of Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, labeling them all as 'traitors of Islam.'
The speaker also lambasted Syed Sallah-ud-Din, the supreme commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the head of the Muzaffarabad based United Jihad Council for trying to 'protect and support the Kashmiri All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders.
'Today's declaration is also the sounding of the death knell against all these persons,' the disc claimed.
It must be recalled that a statement released in Srinagar last year on July 13 had claimed Al-Qaeda's presence in Kashmir under the command of Abu Abdul Rehman Al Ansari and had said, 'the objectives of the outfit would be announced shortly.'
Police had then denied any Al-Qaeda presence in Jammu and Kashmir.
The man who wants to shut down Orkut.com
The voice over the phone greets you with a deep and loud voice, Jai Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena's greeting.
When you enter his office, your name has to be registered mandatorily in Marathi as English is not allowed in the Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party's headquaters in Dadar, central Mumbai.
As you enter the cabin of the bearded Abhijit Panse, president of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, the Shiv Sena's student wing, he is with his friends discussing how to tackle the 'menace of Orkut,' the networking site.
Panse was among the Shiv Sena members who ransacked cybercaf�s in Kalyan, outside Mumbai, for allowing browsers to access Orkut.com.
Behind him is a huge frame of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Shiv Sena's icon. Apart from this, the room is modestly furnished. What incenses Panse and other student leaders of BVS is the fact that groups have been formed on Orkut to spread hatred among Indians, in particular spewing venom about Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
"It is not only Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and our leader Balasaheb Thackeray but leaders like Indira Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar too. Some mischief-mongers have also started 'I hate India' campaign on Orkut and they want to disturb the communal harmony in our country," says Panse.
"We have time and again raised this issue but nothing is being done about it so we feel the best solution would be to ban Orkut.com in India," he adds.
The issue has incensed him enough to lead a pack of Shiv Sainiks to meet Google officials and ask them to apprehend the culprits but was not met with success.
Orkut.com blocked the 'I hate India' pages but they resurfaced once again in another form with a different identity, Panse says.
He then went ahead and requested various Internet Service Providers to block Orkut, but again could not meet with success.
When that too did not work he sent letters to cyber cafes asking them to ban Orkut.com in Mumbai and all over India. It was part of this campaign that his men trashed cybercaf�s in Kalyan this week.
Asked what cybercafe owners can do when people themselves want to log on to Orkut, Panse gives his own example, "You see, if X person is running hotel and Y person brings a prostitute to that hotel, don't you think it is the responsibility of X to stop this immoral act. In the same way, we feel cybercafes should be responsible and ban Orkut.com. After all, we are Indians and we should not allow sites that are against our country to run."
When pointed out that the Internet was a free medium and there was no way to prevent someone sitting in, say, Australia to post anti-India messages, he said, "I know this. Our software engineers are working on this front and we will track down such people. If that person is sitting even in America we will go and thrash that person for his act. We want to catch hold of such culprits who do such acts and thrash them."
Pointed out that Orkut had plenty of anti-America messages, including its politicians but it doesn't seem to disturb them, Panse says, "It can be their culture to criticise their leaders but it is not our culture to disrespect our idol, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is like God to us. We cannot tolerate insults on him or Balasaheb Thackeray."
Panse, however, regrets that cyberlaws in India are not stringent and anybody in far-off states can spread all kinds of malicious messages.
On June 7 he also faxed a letter to President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam requesting him to take up the Orkut matter on an urgent basis.
"I have also formed my own online community whose members track down such groups. I am doing my best to find a permanent solution to this problem. I am not going to sit and let some people freely insult our leaders and attack our culture," vows Panse.
On a concluding note, when asked what freedom of expression means to him, he says, "It means that one has a right to think and express his opinions freely but not hurt the sentiments of others. This is where Orkut.com fails, as mischief-mongers are misusing freedom of expression on the web site by humiliating our leaders and spreading enmity among Indians. Orkut may be an American company but they have to follow Indian laws if they want to operate in India."
When you enter his office, your name has to be registered mandatorily in Marathi as English is not allowed in the Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party's headquaters in Dadar, central Mumbai.
As you enter the cabin of the bearded Abhijit Panse, president of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, the Shiv Sena's student wing, he is with his friends discussing how to tackle the 'menace of Orkut,' the networking site.
Panse was among the Shiv Sena members who ransacked cybercaf�s in Kalyan, outside Mumbai, for allowing browsers to access Orkut.com.
Behind him is a huge frame of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Shiv Sena's icon. Apart from this, the room is modestly furnished. What incenses Panse and other student leaders of BVS is the fact that groups have been formed on Orkut to spread hatred among Indians, in particular spewing venom about Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
"It is not only Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and our leader Balasaheb Thackeray but leaders like Indira Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar too. Some mischief-mongers have also started 'I hate India' campaign on Orkut and they want to disturb the communal harmony in our country," says Panse.
"We have time and again raised this issue but nothing is being done about it so we feel the best solution would be to ban Orkut.com in India," he adds.
The issue has incensed him enough to lead a pack of Shiv Sainiks to meet Google officials and ask them to apprehend the culprits but was not met with success.
Orkut.com blocked the 'I hate India' pages but they resurfaced once again in another form with a different identity, Panse says.
He then went ahead and requested various Internet Service Providers to block Orkut, but again could not meet with success.
When that too did not work he sent letters to cyber cafes asking them to ban Orkut.com in Mumbai and all over India. It was part of this campaign that his men trashed cybercaf�s in Kalyan this week.
Asked what cybercafe owners can do when people themselves want to log on to Orkut, Panse gives his own example, "You see, if X person is running hotel and Y person brings a prostitute to that hotel, don't you think it is the responsibility of X to stop this immoral act. In the same way, we feel cybercafes should be responsible and ban Orkut.com. After all, we are Indians and we should not allow sites that are against our country to run."
When pointed out that the Internet was a free medium and there was no way to prevent someone sitting in, say, Australia to post anti-India messages, he said, "I know this. Our software engineers are working on this front and we will track down such people. If that person is sitting even in America we will go and thrash that person for his act. We want to catch hold of such culprits who do such acts and thrash them."
Pointed out that Orkut had plenty of anti-America messages, including its politicians but it doesn't seem to disturb them, Panse says, "It can be their culture to criticise their leaders but it is not our culture to disrespect our idol, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is like God to us. We cannot tolerate insults on him or Balasaheb Thackeray."
Panse, however, regrets that cyberlaws in India are not stringent and anybody in far-off states can spread all kinds of malicious messages.
On June 7 he also faxed a letter to President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam requesting him to take up the Orkut matter on an urgent basis.
"I have also formed my own online community whose members track down such groups. I am doing my best to find a permanent solution to this problem. I am not going to sit and let some people freely insult our leaders and attack our culture," vows Panse.
On a concluding note, when asked what freedom of expression means to him, he says, "It means that one has a right to think and express his opinions freely but not hurt the sentiments of others. This is where Orkut.com fails, as mischief-mongers are misusing freedom of expression on the web site by humiliating our leaders and spreading enmity among Indians. Orkut may be an American company but they have to follow Indian laws if they want to operate in India."
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