Rain delays start to unusual Test

KINGSTOWN: Rain has delayed the start of the eagerly-awaited opening Test between West Indies and Bangladesh at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex here on Thursday.

There is great interest in the Test from around the Caribbean after it appeared to be in serious doubt only 48 hours earlier.

The West Indies Cricket Board were forced into assembling a new-look side, after a contract dispute with players led to a boycott by the 13-member squad which was announced on Monday.

The 13 players, including regular captain Chris Gayle, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin, top batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, as well as key fast bowler Jerome Taylor are protesting outstanding payments and other issues.

But the WICB has been successful in finding 15 players willing to don the maroon cap, and have named a replacement squad to be captained by long-standing Barbadian left-handed batsman Floyd Reifer.

Darren Sammy has been named vice-captain, and is the only player that has commanded a regular place in the full-strength West Indies side over the last year.

Alongside Reifer and Sammy, fast bowler Tino Best, who earns a recall after four years in the cricket wilderness, and all-rounder Dave Bernard Jr, who featured in the recent home One-day International series against India, are the only other players to have played a Test.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, who has appeared in two ODIs and one Twenty20 International, is also in the squad, as well as fellow fast bowler Nelon Pascal and opening batsman Dale Richards.

Pascal and Richards made the recent trip to England, but failed to break into either the Test or ODI sides.

The rest of the side is a hodge-podge of Test newcomers with varying levels of experience in West Indies domestic competitions which also includes schoolboy opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who will become the youngest West Indies Test player at the age of 16 years.

West Indies gear up for opening Test

KINGSTOWN: A replacement West Indies squad was on the ground and training ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh starting today at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

This follows the selected players deciding to boycott the match due to a contract dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Though the WICB has not officially released the names as yet, sources in St Vincent have indicated to CMC that Ryan Austin, Tino Best, Kevin McClean, Travis Dowlin, Nelon Pascal, Omar Phillips, Floyd Reifer, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy and Chadwick Walton are in the island and trained at the venue on Wednesday.

Four others, including Under-19 players, Kraigg Brathwaite and Andre Creary, were expected to join them later today.

The West Indies selectors, last night, named the following 15-man squad for the first Digicel Test match against Bangladesh at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent, July 9-13:

Floyd Reifer (captain), Darren Sammy (vice-captain), Ryan Austin, Tino Best, David Bernard, Kraigg Brathwaite, Andre Creary, Travis Dowlin, Nikita Miller, Kevin McClean, Nelon Pascal, Omar Phillips, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Chadwick Walton.

T20 World Cup 2010 qualifiers in October

ABU DHABI: The qualifying round of ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 will be held in October in UAE.

The finalists of qualifying round will take part in T20 World Cup held in West Indies next year. Twelve teams will participate in the event. Zimbabwe along with nine Test playing teams will be part of the tournament whereas two teams will be picked from qualifying round.

Eight teams UAE, US, Ireland, Kenya, Canada, Holland, Scotland and Afghanistan would take part in the qualifying round.

England reach 194 for 3 at tea in 1st Ashes test

CARDIFF: A century stand by Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood helped England fight back from losing three early wickets as it reached 194 for three at tea on day one of the first Ashes test against Australia on Wednesday.

England got through the afternoon session without losing a wicket as batting conditions became easier than in the morning, when the pitch was quicker and bouncier. Pietersen was 52 not out and Collingwood was on 50.

The duo batted patiently after the loss of Alastair Cook for 10, Andrew Strauss (30) and Ravi Bopara (35) before lunch when England had slumped to 90 for three. Collingwood required 125 balls to reach his half-century.

This was evident in the way Collingwood's cut for four against off-spinner Nathan Hauritz was the team's first boundary for 20 overs, as they had instead ran regular ones and twos. Their stand was worth 104 at the interval.

Pietersen appeared to temper his natural aggressive play and his off-drive for four 20 minutes before tea was his first boundary for 24 overs. He reached his half-century from 95 balls.

Earlier, Ben Hilfenhaus struck the first blow when a short delivery wide of off stump was steered by Cook towards the gully, where Mike Hussey hung on to a catch after diving to his right. The score was then 21 for one.

Next over, Bopara was given an aggressive introduction to Ashes play when struck on the grille of his helmet with his second ball, from a Peter Siddle bouncer. He was hit again on the shoulder later in his innings.

Australia's short-pitched tactics paid off when a Mitchell Johnson bouncer to captain Strauss was gloved to first slip. Bopara was then defeated by a Johnson slower ball that he mishit to point.

Australia is seeking to retain the Ashes after thrashing England 5-0 in the 2006-07 series, following England's 2-1 win in 2005.

Michael Jackson's body full of needle marks

LOS ANGELES: Michael's body was filled with injection marks at the time of his death. It is speculated that the singer may have had an injection of the drug Propofol, a powerful anesthesia.

The dangerous medication was found in MJ's house after his death, and various medical experts have said there is absolutely no medical justification for Michael to have had this drug in his home. It is used to put people under before surgery and is administered through an IV.

It seems Michael wanted to use the drug to cure his insomnia -- and that he had been a bit of an anesthesia junkie. Sources say the LAPD has asked the DEA to assist them in its investigation into multiple doctors who may have treated Michael and prescribed Propofol.

And, if it is found that a shot of the drug is what caused Michael to go into cardiac arrest and die, serious criminal charges could be filed against the doctor who gave it to him.

Taliban’s resistance getting stronger: Mullen

WASHINGTON: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that the U.S. needs to turn around the conflict in Afghanistan within the next year and a half.

Admiral Michael Mullen, speaking at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, said that while he can't yet be sure how much longer U.S. troops will be needed in the war torn country, the time frame to see success of President Barack Obama's new strategy is fairly short.

"I believe we have to start to turn the tide with respect to the Taliban in the next 12 to 18 months," he said.

And although U.S. enemies in Afghanistan, including al Qaeda, have grown increasingly sophisticated, Mullen said he was confident that U.S. forces would meet that goal.

"The forces that we have, the strategy that we have and the approach that we have will allow us to do that," he said.

One of the key differences, Mullen said, is that commanders on the ground now have the full support and resources they need to do the job. His remarks come almost a week after thousands of Marines launched a new offensive in Taliban-controlled southern Afghanistan.

"In Afghanistan, while we have been there since 2001, it's been an under-sourced effort for a significant period of time," he said. "Now with what we've learned, particularly with counterinsurgency and what it takes, what we've learned in Iraq, we apply those lessons in Afghanistan."

He added, "We are now resourcing it to the needs of the commander on the ground. We just hadn't done that. We're really just starting to do that this year."

Mullen said that U.S. troops were focused on providing security to the Afghan people, with an additional emphasis on development by the increased civilian presence in the country as well.

An added regional emphasis, recognizing that the situation in Afghanistan is tied closely with Pakistan is another encouraging change, Mullen said.

However the U.S. has to walk a fine line in terms of the number of troops it deploys to the country.

"All of us are concerned about having the right level footprint but not getting to the point where it looks like we're an occupying force," he said. "If we get to that point it isn't going to work."

The task of defeating the Taliban won't come easily or without cost though, Mullen warned, as the enemy is using increasingly sophisticated tactics for their attacks with improved improvised explosive devices.

"This is an enemy that's very adaptive and very capable," he said. "Particularly in Helmand Province where 4,000 [Marines] launched an operation just a few days ago, that's going to be a very tough fight."

US to host March nuclear security summit: WH

L'AQUILA: US President Barack Obama will invite leaders from 25-30 countries to a March 2010 global summit on securing nuclear materials and battling atomic smuggling, the White House said Wednesday.

Obama is hosting the gathering because he "believes nuclear terrorism is the most immediate and extreme threat to global security," Mark Lippert, chief of staff of the US National Security Council, told reporters on a conference call.

The summit's key goals will be securing vulnerable stockpiles of nuclear materials from theft and boosting global cooperation to combat the trafficking of atomic materials and know-how, said Lippert.

Obama, in this Italian town for the annual Group of Eight summit, floated the idea on Monday during talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and suggested "the strong possibility" that Moscow would host a follow-up summit.

"We think this is another important piece of the non-proliferation agenda that the president has put forward," the US official said, adding that the gathering aimed to broaden Washington's "robust" bilateral arrangements on that front to a more multi-nation approach.

Rape linked to manhood in South Africa

MULDERSDRIFT: Dumisani Rebombo had not been circumcised, did house chores considered girls' work and was sick of being taunted for not being a man. So he took the only other course considered ``manly'' in his rural South African village: He raped a girl.

He was 15, the victim younger. Twenty years later he searched for the woman to beg her forgiveness — a rarity in a nation where a culture of sexual violence is deeply embedded in society.

Rebombo agreed to share his story with The Associated Press as researchers presented findings Thursday at an international conference outside Johannesburg that more than one in four South African men surveyed admitted to committing rape.

South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape anywhere. Police reports show some 36,000 women were raped in 2007 — nearly 100 per day. But many attacks go unreported because of the stigma and trauma.

``Rape is an expression of male sexual entitlement,'' said Rachel Jewkes, chief researcher of the survey. ``South Africa is an immensely patriarchal society. The history of the country has shaped the dominant forms of South Africa's racially defined masculinities.''

Preliminary findings of the report, carried out by the respected government-funded Medical Research Council and released last month, were met with horror. But many gender and human rights activists were not surprised.

``This tells the story of many boys, of many men,'' said Rebombo, now a 48-year-old divorced father of three.

His experience underscores the deep cultural roots of the problem in a country blighted by violent crime and the devastating emotional, social and economic legacy of apartheid's brutal racial segregation.

When Rebombo was a teen, he was cruelly taunted for not being ``a man.''

Circumcision is considered a rite of passage in some tribes — but his father had almost been killed in the often unsanitary and brutal operation, and swore his son would not be abused that way. So Rebombo was subjected to daily, constant jeering. ``I was viewed as not man enough,'' said the large, soft-spoken man.

One way to prove manhood was rape. Other boys pressured Rebombo to ``teach a lesson'' to one girl who did not want to go out with them. He resisted, fearful of his religious parents and their good standing in the community. Then he relented and a date was set. That Saturday, Rebombo was plied with beer and marijuana to overcome his trembling.

``I had difficulty breathing ... I had never had sex before. I was terrified.''

The girl was brought to a field and Rebombo and another boy were left with her.

``He started raping her. She fought him. I was just there, dizzy with all the stuff. He just stood up and said: 'Your turn.' I was there on top of her,'' he said, making a rocking motion with one hand.

Afterward, ``she just ran home,'' said Rebombo. He said he could not even recall after the rape if he had had an erection.

Guilty, and fearful she would tell, he avoided her and a year later moved to another village.

In Johannesburg in 1996, working for a faith-based organization involved with unemployed mothers, he was struck by the women's tales of abuse and bruises testifying to it. He started working with men to help stop the violence.

``That forced me to do my own introspection,'' he said. ``I felt I needed to go find her and apologize.''

So he went back to his village and tracked the woman down. ``I told her what I did those years back was wrong and I am here to ask for forgiveness.''

Through sobs, she told Rebombo she had since been raped by two other men. Married with children, she kept the assaults secret, but sometimes cringed when her husband touched her. Her life had never been the same, she said.

But she accepted Rebombo's apology and forgave him, saying it was difficult.

She also left him a task. ``She told me: 'Maybe you could teach other men out there not to do the same thing.'''

Today, Rebombo works for the Olive Leaf Foundation, helping parents and children deal with challenges including HIV/AIDS, abuse and sexual violence.

``If more men would stand up and say 'This is wrong,' the better we can fight this carnage,'' he said.

Rape in South Africa is ``deeply embedded in ideas about manhood,'' according to the study presented at the conference outside Johannesburg.

Researchers at this week's conference acknowledged the sexism inherent in most cultures but highlighted the strong patriarchal nature of African culture.

In South Africa, many blame the rape statistics on the violence, repression, poverty and psychological degradations of the white supremacist, apartheid regime that ended 15 years ago.

``Apartheid made violence an instrument of control and violence became the norm,'' said gender rights activist Mbuyiselo Botha. ``Men would feel emasculated.'' Angry and humiliated, they took out their frustrations then — and still today — on the weakest victims, women and children, activists say.

Some 5.2 million of South Africa's 50 million people are infected with the AIDS virus — the highest rate in the world.

Despite one of the world's most advanced constitutions on human rights, traditional attitudes demeaning women persist and are perpetuated by the words and actions of leading figures in South Africa.

President Jacob Zuma, a proud polygamist with three wives, was acquitted of rape in 2006, but only after he acknowledged having unprotected sex with the HIV-positive daughter of a family friend.

Zuma's remarks about women, sex and Zulu culture caused major controversy and there were ugly scenes outside the courtroom with his supporters burning pictures of the woman.

While Zuma now speaks against violence against women, the trial did ``tremendous damage'' to efforts to encourage more modern attitudes toward women, Botha said.

``Fifteen years into democracy one had begun to think that life had started to normalize. This was a wake-up call.''

Chief researcher Jewkes said rape in South Africa was ``significantly associated'' with childhood trauma and ``abnormal'' family structures caused by one or the other of the parents being forced to leave the household to seek work.

``Apartheid really destroyed South African families,'' she told AP.

Only a third of the men in their sample said their fathers were often or always at home while two-thirds said their mothers were.

``We know that if children are being raised by relatives they are much more vulnerable to being abused,'' Jewkes said, adding that 60 percent of women who report rape are assaulted by someone they know — with children this figure goes as high as 80 percent.

Researchers, who gave no margin of error, interviewed men from some 1,700 households from a representative cross-section of the population in rural areas in South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Daily headlines of rapes point to botched investigations and more humiliation for women.

On Monday, the daily newspaper The Star carried a front-page story about a convicted rapist given a four-year jail sentence.

The judge said he was being lenient because the perpetrator was ``well-educated'' and his victim was ``a grown-up woman'' who had been hitchhiking.

Pakistan displaced 'can go home'

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called on people displaced by fighting against the Taliban in the north-west of the country to go home.

He said that the first phase of a four-part programme to return them would begin on 13 July.

It is the first time the PM has made such a call since the army offensive against the Taliban began in April.

The army, meanwhile, says that its operation in Malakand has entered its final phase.

Mr Gilani said that militants had already been "cleared" from Swat, Buner and part of Upper Dir.

Several hundred families from those areas have already begun to return to their homes, officials say.

'No return'

"The electricity has been restored, the gas has been restored, the gas stations have been restored and even the banks have been restored," Mr Gilani said in a news conference.

"I congratulate the nation that from 13 July the displaced people will start returning to their homes," he said.

He said that the army would remain in the valley to ensure the Taliban did not return.

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that about two million people have been officially displaced since fighting resumed in April, with as many as 500,000 more who are not officially registered or are without proper identification.

Plans drawn up by the army's Special Support Group envisage the first batch of displaced people - those living in camps - will return on 13 July.

They will then be followed by those living in government buildings - including schools - and then by those living with friends and relations. The final group of people scheduled to return are those who have moved away from north-west Pakistan.

Our correspondent says that the overwhelming majority of displaced people either live in government buildings or schools, or are being looked after by what are called "host families" in Swabi and Mardan.

The army says that it it continuing to inflict heavy casualties on the Taliban in the north-west. On Wednesday it said that senior Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah had been wounded in the fighting.

On Thursday it said that another Taliban leader, Omar Zadah, had been killed.

Venezuela Halts Oil Flow to Honduras

Venezuela’s oil minister, Rafael Ramírez, confirmed Wednesday that his country had halted oil exports to Honduras. Mr. Ramírez said shipments of oil, which Venezuela has sold to Honduras at preferential prices, would not resume until that country’s ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, was reinstated. Mr. Zelaya is an ally of President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. Venezuela sends about 20,000 barrels of oil a day to Honduras; the cutoff is expected to raise fuel costs in Honduras.

England win toss and bat against Australia

CARDIFF: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens here Wednesday.

Geo Super will telecast the match live from Cardiff.

England left out seamer Graham Onions and batsman Ian Bell from their squad of 13 and opted to play both spinners in Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar on a Cardiff pitch expected to take turn.

They welcomed back Andrew Flintoff for his first Test of the season after a knee injury saw him miss the home series against the West Indies.

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee's withdrawal on Monday because of a rib muscle injury meant they went into this match with none of their attack having played a Test in Britain before.

They selected both swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Hauritz, even though the off-spinner's two wickets on tour so far had cost 260 runs.

Experienced seam bowler Stuart Clark was omitted from the side and named as 12th man.

Australia hold the Ashes after whitewashing England 5-0 on home soil in 2006/07. But when the Ashes were last played in England, in 2005, England won the five-Test series 2-1.

This match was the first Test ever to be played in Cardiff although one-day internationals have been staged here before, notably in 2005 when Bangladesh, in one of cricket's greatest upsets, beat Australia.

Ganguly may try to become BCCI chief in 2014

KOLKATA: Eight months after he retired from international cricket, Sourav Ganguly is all set to launch a new innings that could well see him anointed the BCCI president in five year's time.

Please don't dismiss this as a mere birthday wish of a left-handed stylist, who is celebrating his 37th birthday on Wednesday.

This is a realistic possibility that no one is prepared to rule out. In fact, many in the BCCI are open to the idea of Sourav becoming the BCCI president in 2014 when it is East Zone's turn to put up a candidate for the top job, for it would necessarily mean the end of the Jagmohan Dalmiya era.

Of course, conditions do apply and the odds against him are tall, but when has that bothered the bespectacled leader who has made a career out of proving critics wrong? Sourav, for one, has made up his mind to enter the domain of cricket administration.

"I am convinced that I can play a positive role," Sourav told TOI in course of an exclusive interview at his Behala residence. "Having played the game at the highest level and being part of the system, I know what it takes to make a difference," he added.

The entry point for Sourav has to be the CAB, his home association that is in a state of rut under the once powerful Dalmiya. Rumours are rife that Dalmiya's rivals have all but convinced Sourav to contest the CAB polls later this month. However, Sourav is not prepared to rush into it.

"At some point, I will find a way to get into the CAB where people have known me since I was a kid. I have respect for them and I am sure they will appreciate my concern for Bengal cricket and the difference I can make. I am in no hurry," Sourav said.

To get into the CAB, of course, he has to beat Dalmiya at his own game. Sourav is well aware that it took Dalmiya's foes in the BCCI close to 15 years to throw him out. Sourav's supporters reckon that under Dada's leadership, the task of capturing the CAB can be achieved in a much smaller time frame.

Unless he is convinced about the numbers on his side in a 121-strong vote bank, Sourav will not jump into the poll fray this time around. He would rather wait and watch for another year. It suits him because it still leaves him with enough time to meet all the criteria to contest for BCCI's top post.

Suggest that to Sourav, and he laughs. "It's a possibility, but right now I am not looking that far ahead. I intend to take it step by step. Five years is a long time...," sighed the man who could well be the most powerful man in world cricket by the time he celebrates his 40th birthday.

Ricky Ponting still has hunger for Ashes battle, says Richard Hobson

Ponting said he was as excited about this series as he had been about any other. What did you make of that?

It was interesting to hear him saying that. Michael Clarke, the vice-captain, said much the same thing of his captain yesterday, which leads you to believe that what he is saying is probably true. This could be Ponting's last Ashes tour and if he was to lose a second on the spin in England it would leave an awful stain on what has been a tremendous career. He will be desperate to avoid that.

He seemed in a very relaxed mood throughout the press conference. Did that surprise you?

I thought he was extremely impressive actually. He was totally unfazed by it all. When you listen to the Australian players talking about the Ashes and what it means to them it can seem that the whole thing means more to them than the England players. Maybe that's slightly unfair. You really get the impression they know the importance of playing for Australia and beating England in the Ashes. For instance, we heard that in team meetings over the past month or so, each of the players has either spoken of his favourite memories of the Ashes when growing up or as a player. Ponting revealed his own recollections to his team this morning. It is touches like that, that make this Australian side one to fear.

He made a point of talking up the ability of his side. Is that just a captain building his players up or does he really believe what he is saying?

I can't believe that Ricky Ponting thinks that this Australia side is anywhere near the best he has played in. But we must remember this is a team that beat South Africa in South Africa in the winter. He didn't attempt to hide the loss of Brett Lee, he admitted that was a big blow but he did speak of his confidence in this squad. He didn't go as far as making predictions, but he was clearly keen to give his players a lift before tomorrow.

Are Australia better prepared than England?

They could well be. The warm-up matches Australia had against Sussex at Hove and against the England Lions were played at small grounds, not used to hosting Test matches. They were played in front of biggish crowds and both sides really came at them. England on the other hand played Warwickshire at Edgbaston where they were stuck out on a strip way out on one side of the square and played in front of a small crowd. So in some senses Australia are slightly more battle hardened and that could give them an edge tomorrow.

Maybe in the future that is something England need to look at, possibly lining up matches against England Lions where the embarrassment factor could really motivate the England players.

Ponting said this side would not make the same mistakes they did in 2005. What did he mean by that?

He said Australia had lost the key moments in 2005, but in many minds the turning point of that series came when Glen McGrath turned his ankle before the Edgbaston Test. I know the Australians have been working hard on both playing and bowling reverse swing, which was certainly an area they lost out in 2005.

Did Ponting try to imply that Australia's lack of stars means they are more of a team this time around?

It is possible that could be the case. In 2005 they did have a few off the field problems and people like Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Jason Gillespie just failed to perform. This time round they have a number of strong, functional cricketers who may not quite have the outrageous talent, but may be more consistent performers. I would put Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Peter Siddle and Brad Haddin in that group. It all makes for a fascinating battle.

Sri Lanka makes dramatic victory vs Pakistan

Galle: Sri Lanka Rangana Herath skittled Pakistan with his left-arm spin to hand Sri Lanka a dramatic 50-run victory in the first Test on Tuesday.

Herath grabbed 4-15 as Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 168, collapsed from a seemingly impregnable 71-2 to 117 all out in their second innings before lunch on the fourth day.

Fast bowler Thilan Thushara and spinner Ajantha Mendis chipped in with two wickets each as a jittery Pakistan lost their last eight batsmen for 46 runs at the Galle International Stadium.

Pakistan: Taliban buying children for suicide attacks

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A top Taliban leader in Pakistan is buying and selling children for suicide bombings, Pakistani and U.S. officials said.

Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud has been increasingly using the children in attacks, the officials said. A video released by Pakistan's military shows the children training for the task.

In the video of a training camp, children can be seen killing and going through exercises.

Mehsud has been selling the children, once trained, to other Taliban officials for $6,000 to $12,000, Pakistani military officials said.

Some of the children are as young as 11, the officials said.

"He has been been admitting he holds a training center for young boys, for preparing them for suicide bombing. So he is on record saying all this, accepting these crimes," said Major General Akhtar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistani army.

The young suicide bombers may be able to reach targets unnoticed, the military said.

"If he is approaching on foot, there is a possibility he will bypass security," Abbas said.

"In certain areas, there is a possibility in the population centers everyone can not be checked physically, so he can create havoc there."

Pakistan has launched an offensive against the Taliban, started in the Swat region of the North West Frontier Province. The Taliban have countered with a spate of suicide bombings, including a July 2 attack in Rawalpindi, in which a suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck a Pakistani Defense Ministry bus. At least one person was killed and 29 others were wounded.

Pakistan's army said it is hunting Mehsud in the hopes that the supply of suicide bombers will dry up after the Taliban leader is captured.

Meanwhile, a suspected U.S. drone attack killed at least 12 people and wounded five others in northwest Pakistan Tuesday, Pakistani officials said.

The missile strikes in South Waziristan targeted a suspected Taliban hideout at a madrassa, or Muslim school, in Zangarah, according to intelligence officials.

The attack near the border with Afghanistan involved a pair of missiles shot from an unmanned drone, local resident Janbaz Mehsud told CNN. He said all the dead and wounded were Taliban.

A local government official, who asked not to be named, said the madrassa was a training center for the Taliban and belongs to Baitullah Mehsud. That official put the death toll at 14, but said the number of dead could rise.

The U.S. military routinely offers no comment on reported drone attacks. However, the United States is the only country operating in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

'No green light for Israel to attack Iran'

Washington - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the United States had "absolutely not" given Israel a green light to attack Iran over its nuclear program, but he said Washington cannot "dictate to other countries what their security interests are."

"It is the policy of the United States to try to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities in a peaceful way through diplomatic channels," Obama told CNN in an interview during his trip to Russia.

Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC's "This Week" program on Sunday that Israel had a sovereign right to decide what is in its best interest in dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions, a comment seen by some as giving Israel a green light to attack.

Asked if that was the intent of his administration, Obama said: "Absolutely not."

"I think Vice-President Biden stated a categorical fact which is we can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are," Obama said.

"We have said directly to the Israelis that it is important to try and solve this in an international setting in a way that does not create major conflict in the Middle East," he said.

Obama came into office earlier this year hoping to engage Iran in a dialogue to ease tensions between the two longtime rivals, but his efforts have made little progress so far.

The United States views Iran's nuclear enrichment program as a step toward production of atomic weapons, but Tehran insists it is for peaceful energy production.

Israel has said a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to its existence, noting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

The UN Security Council has imposed three sets of sanctions on Tehran for defying its demand to suspend uranium enrichment.

The United States has joined Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain in inviting Iran to talks to resolve the nuclear dispute.

Mystery surrounds Michael Jackson burial location

THE location of Michael Jackson's final resting place remains shrouded in mystery hours after a glittering public memorial to the King of Pop.

Jackson's family had surprised mourners after deciding to put the singer's gold-plated coffin on view at the Staples Centre memorial after a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn mortuary.

However as Jackson's family headed to a five-star Beverly Hills hotel to gather for a post-memorial lunch, the destination of the singer's lavish casket and when, or if, it would be interred was unclear.

A spokeswoman for the family declined to comment as local media reports said the coffin was being taken to an unknown location and would not return to the cemetery in the Hollywood Hills where it had started the day.

More on the Michael Jackson memorial service.

The uncertainty over Jackson's burial plans is likely to fuel speculation that the singer may yet be laid to rest at his beloved Neverland Ranch in the secluded California wine country northwest of Los Angeles.

Although the Jackson family last week quashed plans to hold a public viewing of Jackson's body at the estate, family members remain keen on the idea of Neverland becoming the star's permanent home.

In an interview with NBC television, Jermaine Jackson said Neverland would be a fitting final resting place for the pop star.

"This is his home, he created this. Why wouldn't he be here?" Jackson said.

"I feel his presence. And I love that, and I want my mother to come back here and feel what I feel.

He built this place with love and you can see it and feel it."

One million Facebook members watch live Michael Jackson memorial

ABOUT one million Facebook members worldwide weighed in online with Michael Jackson comments while watching live online video of the revered King of Pop's memorial in Los Angeles.

Facebook "update" messages were fired off at feverish rates, with comments tied to CNN Live video feeds peaking at 6000 per minute, the social networking website said.

"The 6000 is just for CNN Live," said Facebook marketing directory Randi Zuckerberg.

"It is significantly higher than that when you factor in E! Online, ABC, and MTV which each have their own Facebook Connect implementations."

More on the Michael Jackson memorial service.

Facebook users worldwide were sharing updates and thoughts while watching free streaming video of the memorial at CNN Live, ABC, and E! Online websites.

Facebook reported that 759,000 Facebook users watched the memorial event online at CNN Live, with 87,000 others opting for E! Online and 97,000 viewing video feeds at ABC websites. Approximately 21,000 Facebook members watched the memorial online at MTV, according to the popular California-based online social-networking service.

"The most interesting thing is how many people are writing in internationally," Mr Zuckerberg said, referring to Facebook updates from Switzerland, Israel, Britain and Barbados.

"The inauguration was certainly a US-centred event, and the Jackson memorial seems to have a huge international presence."

Facebook posts during the memorial included a user identified as Elycia Cook of Japan saying, "I am at work in my MJ T-shirt trying to get something done between the tears and popping in and off of CNN".

Another Facebook user theorised that in many parts of the world, "nothing will be getting done right now".

Facebook rival MySpace also streamed the memorial event online, but viewer figures were not immediately available.

'Four million watchers a minute'

Online video news traffic in the United States, Europe, and other places around the globe surged above normal during the memorial, according to Akamai Technologies which specialises in delivering data online. At times nearly four million people per minute were watching the event streamed online, Akamai said in postings at Twitter.

"We expected it to be a large global event online and planned accordingly," said Akamai spokeswoman Helen Yang.

Facebook status updates, essentially brief posted thoughts at given moments, related to the Barack Obama inauguration peaked at 8000 per minute at the start of his swearing-in ceremony. A total of 1.8 million Facebook status updates containing the word "Obama" were sent on the day he was inaugurated, according to Facebook.

Michael Jackson Memorial

July 7, 2009 - Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah and others close to Michael Jackson attended the late King of Pop's much-publicized memorial service in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday.

The event, broadcast live to the world via television and streaming internet video, was neither the mob scene authorities were expecting nor the bizarre gathering most anticipated, given the 20,000 people gathered inside the Staples Center.

The Associated Press reports that the ceremony was equal parts celebration and mourning, songs and tears. Michael Jackson's memorial was a somber, spiritual ceremony that reached back for the essence of the man.

Jackson's daughter, Paris-Michael, was moved to tears when she took the stage.

One of the more memorable moments was when Jackson's daughter, Paris-Michael, 11, took to the stage and made her first public statement regarding her father's passing.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," she said, dissolving into tears and turning to lean on her aunt, Janet Jackson. "And I just wanted to say I love him — so much."

More than 3,000 police officers massed downtown to keep the ticketless at bay. The atmosphere inside the arena was very somber, almost churchlike, with the help of a large video screen projecting the image of a stained-glass window behind the stage.

The ceremony began with Smokey Robinson reading statements from Jackson's close friend Diana Ross — "Michael was part of the fabric of my life" — and then Nelson Mandela — "Be strong."

Kobe Bryant, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Lou Ferrigno, Don King, the Kardashian sisters, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields and Larry King were also on hand for the memorial.

Taliban infiltrate once-peaceful Afghan north

The northern Afghan province of Kunduz is renowned for its mouth-watering melons, rice and almonds.

Kunduzis are likely to remember their province as "the bread basket of Afghanistan" - it was the country's main source of cotton and fruit exports in more peaceful times.

But those memories might be fading fast. A recent spate of attacks by the Taliban and al-Qaeda has altered the face of Kunduz beyond all recognition.
"The Taliban have closed girls' schools in the districts. They collect taxes from people and they have their own courts. The governor was attacked and the Taliban are in the villages. All because Kunduz is ignored by our president and ministers in Kabul," said a group of elders over endless cups of green tea in the provincial capital.

As you drive from Kabul into Kunduz city, it is not long before motorists come across a colourful billboard with a powerful message:

"Last year explosives killed 1,700 and injured more than 2,393 people. That is enough."

In this way, one fact becomes immediately clear to all those entering Kunduz: security is the most pressing concern in this far-flung northern province.

A senior interior ministry official in Kabul agrees the situation is volatile but rejects any accusations that the central government has turned a blind eye towards Kunduz.

"We know that the enemy is there in big numbers and there are also al-Qaeda fighters. We conducted a big operation in Goar Tepa and we will continue to kill and capture them. But we are waiting for people to collect their harvests," said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.

In recent months, Kunduz has felt the consequences of the Taliban presence - a senior Afghan government official was shot dead while driving to the Tajikistan border and four US soldiers were recently killed by a roadside bomb.

Under surveillance

The Taliban have also built a shadowy network of control and influence in the province's villages and districts.

Take for example the strategic district of Char Dara, 30km (18 miles) west of the provincial capital, where the writ of the central government does not extend beyond the district headquarters.

The BBC was recently approached by a local tribal elder from Char Dara district, who made it clear that he wanted the plight of Kunduzis to be known to the world, and offered to take me on a tour of his district.

"We are stuck between the government and the Taliban. Kunduz shouldn't have been left to fend for itself," says the elder, angrily.

We left Kunduz city before dawn, winding our way through a series of dirt trails and bumpy roads. As the sun rose, it revealed our surroundings: unkempt farms stretched into the distance, and we passed several farmers working doggedly in fields of wheat, rice and cotton, their foreheads drenched in sweat.

During our three-hour drive through many of Char Dara district's villages, signs of Afghan government influence were few and far between.

Instead we consistently encountered motorcycle-borne Taliban fighters openly surveying the operations of the district's villages throughout the day.

It was during our first such encounter that my host broke the drive's long silence: "Taliban fighters," he said, indicating with his eyes.

"They are patrolling, but will not stop anyone unless they have intelligence on them."

We drove onwards, passing a gaggle of young boys walking along the roadside towards their school. There was no sign, though, of the district's young girls.

"The Taliban have closed down all the girls schools in the district. They have warned people not to educate their daughters," my host informed me.

A short while later, we stopped in the village of Basoas and I was shown the local girl's school, which was shuttered and padlocked.

Taliban tax

We met 13-year-old Zarmina with her father.

"I work in the fields with my father because our school was closed. I want to be an educated woman but I don't know how I can read and write because my parents are illiterate," said Zarmina with a determined look on her face.

After several hours of driving we arrived at another remote village and local farmers informed the tribal chief that the province was expecting one of its best harvests.

But, they complained, they were being forced to pay the Taliban a 10% usher (religious tax).

"The Taliban come and take our 10% in exchange for resolving our disputes. People don't go to the government because the Taliban control the area," wheat farmer Mohammed Nabi said.

Several farmers went as far as providing me with the documentation and taxation papers to prove this claim.

The governor of Kunduz is open about the Afghan government's failure in his province.

"We don't have enough police to guard the people of our districts. The Taliban are well-resourced.

"They have funding from abroad and though drug-deals. They are able to intimidate people into accepting high rates of taxation and close down schools in places where we don't have any physical presence," he said.

But the governor of the province, Engineer Omar, is confident about the government's preparation.

"We have asked for more police from Kabul and the only reason why we are not going against Taliban is because it's the harvest time and we don't want our people to lose their harvests and this is exactly what the Taliban wants us to do."

Obama tells Russia to move from old ways of thinking

BARACK OBAMA set out his vision for a new post-cold war world yesterday, urging Russia not to interfere in neighbouring states and to move on “from old ways of thinking”.

On his first trip to Russia as US president, Mr Obama called on Moscow to stop viewing the US as an adversary. The assumption that Russia and the US were eternal antagonists was a “20th-century view” rooted in the past, he said.

He delivered a tough, though implicit, critique of Kremlin foreign policy, rejecting the claim that it had “privileged interests” in post-Soviet countries. He said the 19th-century doctrine of spheres of influence and “great powers forging competing blocs” was finished.

“In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonising other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chessboard are over,” he told graduates from Moscow’s New Economic School.

“As I said in Cairo, given our interdependence, any world order that tries to elevate one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. That is why I have called for a ‘reset’ in relations between the United States and Russia. America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia.”

Mr Obama acknowledged the US needed to play its part in bringing about a fresh start with Russia – a “great power”.

He paid tribute to the achievements of Russian writers and scientists, even quoting Pushkin when he told the students: “Inspiration is needed in geometry just as much as in poetry.”

Crucially, though, he indicated Washington would not tolerate another Russian invasion of Georgia. Russia has been staging full-scale military exercises next to the Georgian border amid ominous predictions that a second conflict in the Caucasus could erupt this summer.

On Monday, Mr Obama reaffirmed Georgia’s sovereignty – severely undermined by last year’s war and Moscow’s subsequent unilateral recognition of rebel-held Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Yesterday, Mr Obama defended “state sovereignty”, describing it as “a cornerstone of international order”.

He also said Georgia and Ukraine had a right to choose their own foreign policy and leaders, and could join Nato if they wanted.

Russia is opposed to Ukraine’s and Georgia’s accession and wants the White House to rule out their future membership.

Yesterday Mr Obama responded by saying Nato sought collaboration with Russia, not confrontation.

Earlier, Mr Obama had breakfast with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, who many regard as Russia’s real ruler.

Last week, Mr Obama described Mr Putin as having “one foot in the past”. But yesterday he talked to him for 2½ hours – longer than planned and an admission of Mr Putin’s continuing importance.

The meeting, their first, had been “excellent”, Mr Obama said.

However, during his speech, Mr Obama delivered a withering assessment of Putinism. Without mentioning Russia by name, Mr Obama spelled out the US’s commitment to “universal values”.

These included the rule of law, the equal administration of justice, and competitive elections – all missing from Mr Putin’s vertically managed authoritarian state. Mr Obama also stressed the importance of “independent media in exposing corruption at all levels of business and government”.

Russia’s state-controlled television has largely snubbed Mr Obama’s first trip to Moscow, apparently on Kremlin orders.

On Monday, Mr Obama and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev agreed a framework document that would see both sides cut their nuclear arsenals by up to a third.

Yesterday Mr Obama warned again of the dangers of nuclear proliferation and urged Moscow to join with the US to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and to end North Korea’s nuclear efforts.

He reaffirmed that the US would only go ahead with its planned missile defence shield in Europe – opposed by the Kremlin – if there was an Iranian nuclear “threat”.

Later, Mr Obama met former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. – (Guardian service)