UK’s top spy boss makes first public speech
October 28, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
LONDON: Britain’s top spy, making the first public speech by a serving espionage chief, said on Thursday an inquiry into intelligence failings on Iraq showed sources of information had to be rigorously evaluated.
Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) chief John Sawers, addressing academics, officials and editors in a live televised appearance, said he was confident his service would take steps to ensure its recommendations were implemented.
Improving intelligence collection, coordination and analysis has been a major focus for Western governments since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the 2003 Iraq invasion, events involving profound faults in intelligence collection and analysis.
A British inquiry in 2004 by a former top civil servant, Lord Butler, said it was a “serious weakness” that caveats from intelligence chiefs were not spelt out in a September 2002 dossier
UK’s top spy boss makes first public speech
October 28, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
LONDON: Britain’s top spy, making the first public speech by a serving espionage chief, said on Thursday an inquiry into intelligence failings on Iraq showed sources of information had to be rigorously evaluated.
Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) chief John Sawers, addressing academics, officials and editors in a live televised appearance, said he was confident his service would take steps to ensure its recommendations were implemented.
Improving intelligence collection, coordination and analysis has been a major focus for Western governments since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the 2003 Iraq invasion, events involving profound faults in intelligence collection and analysis.
A British inquiry in 2004 by a former top civil servant, Lord Butler, said it was a “serious weakness” that caveats from intelligence chiefs were not spelt out in a September 2002 dossier
New central contracts for NZ cricketers
WELLINGTON: Four new players were added Tuesday to New Zealand”s elite group of 20 contracted cricketers who will form the basis of Black Caps squads over the next year.
Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, B.J. Watling and Kane Williamson have replaced Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Daniel Flynn and James Franklin.
Allrounder Scott Styris also returns after missing a contract last year and replaces the now retired Shane Bond while Daryl Tuffey remained on the list after being reinstated following Iain O”Brien”s mid-season retirement.
New Zealand players are ranked by the selectors against set criteria in respect of Test cricket, one-day and Twenty20 internationals and the top 20 are offered contracts.
Greatbatch said players who missed out on contracts can still play their way into the New Zealand side through their performances in the domestic cricket competition.
Contracted players: Brent Arnel, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
Umar leads Pakistan recovery against South Africa
GROS ISLET: Umar Akmal struck 51 from 33 balls as Pakistan recovered from a poor start to make 148 for seven after captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in their World Twenty20 game on Monday.
On a slow track, Pakistan struggled throughout the ”power play” overs stumbling to 19 for three at the end of the six overs of field restrictions.
Umar and his brother Kamran Akmal (32) then put on a 51-run partnership that got Pakistan”s momentum going.
After Kamran departed, skipper Shahid Afridi (30 from 18) contributed to a 61-run partnership in just 5.3 overs.
For South Africa, Charl Langeveldt made the important breakthroughs taking 4-19 from his four overs.
The defending champions made one change from the side beaten by one run by New Zealand in Barbados on Saturday, with spin-bowling all-rounder Khalid Latif replacing fast bowler Mohammad Sami.
South Africa, who lost by 39 runs to England in Barbados on Saturday, also made one change with left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe replacing fast bowler Morne Morkel.
Pakistan have lost their opening two games in the three-match Super Eight stage while South Africa have one victory giving them two points and a chance to make the
semi-finals with a win.
Pakistan had to win this match to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals, although they also needed England beat New Zealand in the final Group E match later here on Monday.
Victory for South Africa would guarantee England”s place in the semi-finals but leave the Proteas needing England to beat New Zealand to advance into the last four.
If New Zealand win, South Africa would most likely be out, unless they beat Pakistan by a huge margin and New Zealand only win narrowly.
Teams
Pakistan:Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (captain), Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Khalid Latif Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher (wkt), Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Roelof van der Merwe, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt.
Pakistan knock Proteas out of World T20
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Defending champions Pakistan knocked South Africa out of the World Twenty20 with an 11-run Super Eights win at the Beausejour Stadium here on Monday.
The victory kept Pakistan’s own qualification hopes alive. The result meant England, who have won both opening Super Eight games, would qualify for the semi-finals regardless of the outcome of their final match against New Zealand later here on
Monday.
But, in order for Pakistan to progress to the last four, they have to hope England beat New Zealand by a sufficiently wide margin to go through on net run-rate.
New Zealand, also on two points, will go through with a win over England. Their victory would send them into the knockout stages.
Pakistan and South Africa both have two points from three matches but Pakistan have a superior run-rate.
Umar Akmal struck 51 from 33 balls as Pakistan recovered from a poor start to make 148 for seven.
In reply, South Africa were only 56 for three after 10 overs but a spirited 53 off 41 balls from AB de Villiers gave them a fighting chance which they were unable to make the most of as Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal took four wickets.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 148-7, 20 overs (U Akmal 51; C Langeveldt 4-19)
South Africa 137-7, 20 overs (AB de Villiers 53; S Ajmal 4-26)
Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs.
New Zealand win toss and bat against England
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat against England in a World Twenty20 Super Eights match at the Beuasejour Stadium here on Monday.
England, already through to the semi-finals regardless of this result following champions Pakistan”s 11-run win over South Africa, made one change to the side that beat the Proteas by 39 runs in Barbados on Saturday.
Ravi Bopara replaced Kevin Pietersen after the in-form batsman returned to London to attend the birth of his first child.
New Zealand also made one change to the team that beat Pakistan by one run in Barbados last weekend.
With the side struggling for top order runs, Aaron Redmond came in for fellow batsman Martin Guptill.
Victory for New Zealand in this final Group E fixture would see them into the semi-finals but a defeat would likely see them lose out to Pakistan on net run-rate.
Teams
England: Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood (captain), Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Michael Yardy, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Daniel Vettori (captain), Ian Butler, Nathan McCullum, Shane Bond, Kyle Mills
Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Simon Taufel (AUS), TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL).
Pak, SAfrica, NZ to test T20 luck today
ST. LUCIA: Two important matches are scheduled today in Super Eight phase of Twenty20 World Cup to be played at the Beausejour Cricket Ground at Gros Islet, St Lucia, as Pakistan and South Africa will clash in the first face-off and England will play New Zealand in the other tug of war.
Pakistan take on South Africa in an important game for both sides. South Africa need to win the match to make it to the semifinals. However, if they lose they will most likely be out due to a poor net run rate.
Two back-to-back defeats in the Super Eight have left defending champions Pakistan with only a slim mathematical chance of making the semis of the World Twenty20. When they face South Africa in their last Group Eight match here Monday, Pakistan will not only be hoping for a big victory, but will also have a prayer on their lips.
On Saturday, Pakistan lost their thrilling Super Eight match to New Zealand by just one run at the Kensington Oval. When they take the field Monday, Pakistan will not only have to win by a big margin but also hope that New Zealand convincingly beat England in the other Group E match.
If New Zealand beat England and South Africa lose then New Zealand are through and if New Zealand lose and South Africa lose too, then Pakistan go through.
South Africa will look to thrash Pakistan to better their net run rate and make sure that they don”t just have to depend on England beating New Zealand to qualify.
South Africa’s Dale Steyn, who had been impressive in the tournament had a rare bad match on Saturday going for a lot of runs against England.
He will have to improve the performance to make sure South Africa restrict Pakistan, whose batting looks really vunerable. Their middle-order is shaky.
In another match, New Zealand will look to seal a spot in the semifinals when they take on England on Monday.
That Kevin Pitersen will miss out as he flies to England to be with his wife during delivery will be advantageous for the Kiwis. However, they will be up against a team that has plenty of other good players and is looking unstoppable.
England’s bowling attack looks sorted out what with Ryan Sidebottom, Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad combining into an effective pace trio, one that has not just throttled runs but also picked regular wickets.
Sidebottom was particularly good against the South Africans picking three wickets. Graeme Swann has bowled his off-spinnners quite effectively.
In the batting department, Craig Kieswetter has been quite a revelation, stocking up a few runs at the top.
New Zealand, despite the loss to South Africa, have had a good tournament thus far. Their bowling, led by Kyle Mills and Shane Bond has looked venomous and Ian Butler has been a good change bowler.
kentucky oaks
April 30, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Well, we off to the Kentucky Oaks this morning….maybe hoping to see some celebs but mainly just have a great time! I decided not to wear my Amy Butler dress but just some black slacks….boring, I know! But looking at my legs they look horrible, so I decided against it. I will still have to show some photos of the dress on here though! Have a great Friday!
plane crash
April 13, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
A Navy training jet crashed in a north Georgia forest on Monday, the T-39N Plane Crash killed three people aboard and setting more than 10 acres of woodland ablaze. The T-39N took off from Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, about 400 miles south of Morganton, The cause of the crash is still under investigation.A Navy training jet crashed in a north Georgia forest on Monday, the T-39N Plane Crash killed three people aboard and setting more than 10 acres of woodland ablaze. The T-39N took off from Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, about 400 miles south of Morganton, The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
brad brownell
April 13, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Brad Brownell of Wright State was hired Tuesday as the basketball coach at Clemson, which is turning to another coach from a mid-major school in Ohio.
Brownell succeeds Oliver Purnell, who was hired in 2003 from Dayton and led Clemson to the past three NCAA tournaments. Purnell surprised Clemson last week when he left to coach DePaul.
Clemson said Brownell was to be introduced Tuesday at an afternoon news conference, where terms of the agreement were to be discussed.
“Brad Brownell is an unbelievable coach,” Butler coach Brad Stevens said. “He has been a winner everywhere he has been. I am happy to see Brad go to a great school and a great program like Clemson.”
Brownell went 84-45 in four years at Wright State. He led the Raiders to a 20-12 record last year, including 12-6 in the Horizon League. Wright State lost to NCAA tournament runner-up Butler in the conference championship game.
Before arriving at Wright State, Brownell coached UNC-Wilmington and went 83-40 in four seasons.
At Clemson, Purnell was 138-88, including three straight first-round losses in the NCAA tournament. Purnell took a school that was near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference and built it into a contender, although his teams tended to fade down the stretch.
Clemson had only once before made the NCAA tournament in three straight seasons. The Tigers, however, lost each time as the higher-seeded team. Last month, they were beaten by Missouri.
Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips learned of Purnell’s departure last Tuesday. Phillips spent the week vetting candidates that included former Boston College coach Al Skinner, Wofford coach Mike Young and Tigers interim coach Ron Bradley.
The most serious appeared to be Rick Stansbury of Mississippi State. He said Monday he and his wife met with Phillips and considered jumping from the Southeastern Conference before deciding to remain with the Bulldogs. That left Phillips targeting Brownell, who has won 20 games in each of his past six seasons.
Brownell inherits an inexperienced corps of players, and some challenges. Devin Booker, the brother of star Trevor Booker, has talked about leaving. The family of Tiger signee Marcus Thornton had asked the school for a release from his letter of intent after Purnell’s departure.
