Floods force mass evacuations in Australia
Flood waters rose Monday in parts of Queensland but residents of a threatened town in the Australian state were thrown a lifeline with news that the levee on a swollen river might hold.
Thousands of Australians have been forced to abandon their homes as a record deluge sweeps through areas still reeling from last year s devastating flooding, with St George, in Queensland s south, under most threat Monday.
Many of its residents fled Sunday evening to evacuation centres in nearby Darby or the state capital Brisbane, although some 400 stayed to help limit the damage despite a mandatory evacuation order.
Local mayor Donna Stewart said the Balonne River in St George, flooding for the third time in less than two years, had reached 13.48 metres (44 feet) and was expected to keep rising until at least Tuesday night.
Forecasters earlier estimated it could top 15 metres, breaching the town s 14.5-metre levee, but they have now revised down the predicted peak to just over 14 metres, making it touch and go whether the levee will hold.
“It s not out of the question it ll go above the 14.5 level but it s more likely not to,” said Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Chris Leahy as authorities dumped mountains of dirt around town to shore up its defences.
State Premier Anna Bligh said it had been the largest ever evacuation of a town in Queensland. “The heartbreaking job of calculating the loss is still in its early stages,” she said.
Reports said about 30 houses and businesses had been inundated so far.
“There will be more planes and we expect to take about another 400 (residents) out today, so in a town of just under 3,000 people we don t expect to see very many people stay,” added Bligh.
While most residents have fled, Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said officers would stay to prevent looting. “We are going to do everything we can to make sure people s homes are safe,” he told reporters.
Federal politician Barnaby Joyce, who lives in the town, said watching the flood crisis unfold was “a little bit scary” with the river raging near his home.
“There is something that sounds a little bit like the sea but it is not actually the sea, it s a river and it is just outside the back door,” he told ABC radio.
St George has seen major flooding twice in the past two years, once in March 2010 and again last year during Queensland s flooding disaster, which claimed 35 lives and swamped vast tracts of farmland and tens of thousands of homes.
Flooding has been hitting parts of Queensland and New South Wales over the past week but has claimed just one life, a woman whose car was swept from a roadway in Roma, further north of St George.
In that town and nearby Mitchell, a mopping up operation has begun with state Police Minister Neil Roberts saying the scale of the damage was slowly emerging.
“Preliminary assessments show that in Mitchell 280 homes or more have been damaged with water above the floor boards,” he told reporters.
“In Roma, it s at least over 400. That s very significant damage and a very significant dislocation for those individuals.”
T20 behind India collapse: Imran Khan
Pakistan cricket legend Imran Khan has blamed the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League for India s recent dismal Test showing, saying the focus should be on the game s longer format.
India were humiliated 4-0 in the recent series away to Michael Clarke s Australians to record eight successive overseas Test defeats following a similar hammering in England last year.
“I can only use one word to describe India s form… consistent. To lose eight Test matches in a row overseas is an achievement,” Imran, the former Pakistan captain, said in the first annual Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture in Kolkata on Monday night.
“It s a wake-up call for Indian cricket. A team that won the World Cup and was number one in Tests a few months back is in the doldrums.
“If you want to be the leaders you can t keep losing. If you pay so much emphasis on Twenty20 cricket, you ve got to pay hugely.”
The annual IPL tournament revolutionised cricket when it burst on to the scene in 2008 with a high-octane blend of international star players, short matches and Bollywood glamour.
Imran, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph in 1992, said Test cricket should always be the top priority, as it is the greatest examination of players temperament and technique.
“India has to decide soon whether it prefers glamour, Bollywood and money to Test cricket,” he said. “In my 20 years of cricket, I never made so much money as a mediocre player in T20 does today.
“The connoisseurs will rate a player by his Test record and not what he s done in T20s. Test cricket is the ultimate test of a player and that s the reason Test records carry value.
“Talent can excel in one-dayers, but in Test cricket, your temperament and technique is tested besides the talent.”
Imran also said India needed to overhaul their domestic cricket to make it more competitive.
“In India and Pakistan, there s a huge jump from first-class cricket to international cricket,” he said.
Imran — now an increasingly influential politician in Pakistan — also paid glowing tribute to former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who died in September of a lung infection aged 70.
Nicknamed “The Tiger” for his brilliant fielding, Pataudi quit Tests in 1975 with 2,793 runs in 46 matches and six centuries despite losing the sight in his right eye in a car accident in England.
“If Tiger hadn t lost an eye, he would have broken all records,” said Imran. “His quality of strokes was amazing. Mere mortals couldn t play them.”
Sarah Palin won’t run for president in 2012
On Wednesday, the former vice-presidential candidate and the acknowledged star of the Republican Party Sarah Palin finally announced that she is not going to run for the presidency in 2012. A day before that another Republican hopeful, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also announced his decision not to run.
The former Alaska governor’s supporters founded a group called Organize4Palin to build a grassroots network and essentially campaign for her: go to county meetings, stump for Palin with politically connected Iowans, and form a loose campaign structure for what they saw as an inevitable Palin campaign. It turned out not to be.
Sarah Palin made her decision known Wednesday releasing a statement to ABC News and telling radio host Mark Levin that she will not enter the presidential race. Wednesday evening she told Greta Van Susteren on Fox News that she “apologize(s) to those disappointed” with her decision saying that she had heard from them over the last few hours and hopes they understand “you don’t need a title to make a difference in this country.”
As the news broke that she would not run those supporters that were the most invested said they were “disappointed,” but had “no regrets.”
What is questionable, though, is whether the Republicans will be able to come up with an electable candidate. Until recently there seemed to be only too viable contenders – Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, with chances for Chris Christie to intervene and change the scene. After Christie’s decision not to run, one would suppose that the field has narrowed to two candidates. But then unexpectedly businessman and columnist, former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza Herman Cain made a strong showing at some Republican caucuses, and now he is considered to be on equals if not ahead of Rick Perry whose support has faltered.
The problem is that Republican primaries starting next January and the general elections in November are very different. And the candidate most liked by the party and Republican-leaning independents might not be as welcomed by the majority of general voters. Therefore, winning the party nomination may play a trick on the frontrunner preventing him from winning the votes of the center, which will inevitably determine the general outcome.
Perry, who has dropped in the polls recently following unimpressive debate performances, issued a statement calling Palin “a good friend, a great American and a true patriot. I respect her decision and know she will continue to be a strong voice for conservative values and needed change in Washington.”
The man who picked her as his running mate in 2008, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said on Twitter that Palin will “continue to play an important role in our party and for our nation.”
Later, the former Alaska governor told Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren, “You don’t need a title to make a difference in this country.”
Palin urged voters not to wait for perfection from the current Republican field of contenders.
“There is no one perfect candidate, and I want people to keep that in mind and not be extremely disappointed in a politician,” she said.
Statement released by Palin on her decision.
October 5, 2011
Wasilla, Alaska
After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.
My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.
From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.
I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.
Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.
In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.
Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!
God bless America.
– Sarah Palin
arizona
April 26, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer needs lesson in patriotism after defending new immigration law They came out of the rain and up the steps of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard, into this magnificent church on 14th St., with its huge, beautiful murals hanging behind the altar. So many coming to the 9 o’clock Mass in Spanish were of Mexican descent, arriving as they do every Sunday from all parts of the city, and as far away as New Jersey.
On this morning many carried small umbrellas they dropped in a small box in the lobby. There were young couples with baby strollers, a girl in a pink slicker holding on to her mother’s hand, and small, old women in black raincoats, all happy to be in this place, in New York. It means a long way from Arizona, where they could all be questioned now by police for the crime of being brown, the suspicion of being illegal.
The governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, signed a bill into law the other day that makes it a crime in her state if you can’t produce proof of citizenship or legal status. And if you can’t, Brewer’s cops can arrest you and fine you and throw you in jail.
You can only imagine what a bonanza, then, a church like this could be in Tucson or Phoenix.
Maybe somebody could make a big TV series out of this for a zealot on immigration like Lou Dobbs, who once referred to Mexican immigrants as an “army of invaders.” Dobbs could jump out at people on the steps, backed by Maricopa County (Ariz.) deputies. He could call the show “To Catch an Illegal.”
“Maybe they could have a field day like that somewhere else,” Father Kevin Nelan, the pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, said. “But not in New York.”
In the lobby of his church on Sunday morning, a young man named Anastacio waited for Mass to begin. He wore a black windbreaker and said he came on Sundays from Corona, Queens. He spoke spare, halting English, and would occasionally ask his friend to translate for him.
He said he was 31 years old and had a construction job.
Asked if he was a citizen, he smiled, shook his head, no.
He was asked why he had come here from Mexico and he said, “Why always we do. A better life.”
He was asked if he knew about the new law in Arizona. He looked at his friend, who spoke quickly to him in Spanish.
The young guy from Corona, with a job in America in construction, said, “So people who look like me should be very afraid there.”
The governor of Arizona says that nobody who is legal should be afraid, that she is protecting her constituents, and her borders, just another politician, about as white as you can be, who loves her country.
Taxmen in India widen IPL probe
NEW DELHI: Income tax authorities swooped Wednesday on companies associated with the Indian Premier League as the government widened its probe of the cash-rich cricket tournament.
Tax raids were conducted on the Mumbai offices of Multi Screen Media and World Sports Group, the two companies handling the IPL”s television rights, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Premises of the Cricket Association of Bengal at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata were also searched “for IPL-related papers”, the news agency added.
The Directorate of Enforcement, an investigative wing of the finance ministry, has registered a case against the IPL for possible violations of foreign exchange rules and regulations.
The income tax department has summoned IPL officials on Friday to hand over all tournament paperwork, including details on television rights, sponsorships and deals with franchises and players.
The tax investigation began after a government minister was forced to resign on IPL-related corruption allegations and claims from the political opposition that the league was a front for money laundering and illegal betting.
Angry officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have blamed IPL chief Lalit Modi for the controversy and sought his removal.
Modi is the driving force behind the success of the IPL, which has seen its brand value surge to 4.1 billion dollars in just three short years.
The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world”s top cricketers playing a shortened format of the game known as Twenty20. There are eight franchises owned by India”s wealthy businessmen and film stars.
Two more franchises will be added from the 2011 season.
Modi brought down junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor by revealing on Twitter the ownership structure of a new IPL franchise from his home state of Kerala that showed a free stake had been gifted to a woman identified by Indian media as the politician”s girlfriend.
Tharoor, a former top UN diplomat, was forced to resign on Sunday over allegations — which he strongly denied — that the stake was a kickback for his help in putting together the consortium that bought the franchise.
The furore led the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to demand an investigation into the IPL, which it labelled “the Corruption Premier League”.
Taxmen in India widen IPL probe
NEW DELHI: Income tax authorities swooped Wednesday on companies associated with the Indian Premier League as the government widened its probe of the cash-rich cricket tournament.
Tax raids were conducted on the Mumbai offices of Multi Screen Media and World Sports Group, the two companies handling the IPL”s television rights, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Premises of the Cricket Association of Bengal at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata were also searched “for IPL-related papers”, the news agency added.
The Directorate of Enforcement, an investigative wing of the finance ministry, has registered a case against the IPL for possible violations of foreign exchange rules and regulations.
The income tax department has summoned IPL officials on Friday to hand over all tournament paperwork, including details on television rights, sponsorships and deals with franchises and players.
The tax investigation began after a government minister was forced to resign on IPL-related corruption allegations and claims from the political opposition that the league was a front for money laundering and illegal betting.
Angry officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have blamed IPL chief Lalit Modi for the controversy and sought his removal.
Modi is the driving force behind the success of the IPL, which has seen its brand value surge to 4.1 billion dollars in just three short years.
The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world”s top cricketers playing a shortened format of the game known as Twenty20. There are eight franchises owned by India”s wealthy businessmen and film stars.
Two more franchises will be added from the 2011 season.
Modi brought down junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor by revealing on Twitter the ownership structure of a new IPL franchise from his home state of Kerala that showed a free stake had been gifted to a woman identified by Indian media as the politician”s girlfriend.
Tharoor, a former top UN diplomat, was forced to resign on Sunday over allegations — which he strongly denied — that the stake was a kickback for his help in putting together the consortium that bought the franchise.
The furore led the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to demand an investigation into the IPL, which it labelled “the Corruption Premier League”.
Tony Blair”s memoir to be published in September
April 6, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
LONDON: The memoirs of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be published in September, it was announced today by Gail Rebuck, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Random House Group. Tony Blair: The Journey will be published in the UK by Hutchinson and simultaneously in the United States by Knopf and Canada by Knopf Canada.
In 1997, Tony Blair won the biggest Labour victory in history to sweep the party to power and end 18 years of Conservative government. He has been one of the most dynamic leaders of modern times; few British prime ministers have shaped the nation”s course as profoundly as Tony Blair did, during his ten years in power. His achievements and his legacy will be debated for years to come. His memoirs reveal in intimate detail this unique political and personal journey and provide an insight into the man, the politician and the statesman, charting successes, controversies and disappointments with an extraordinary candour. They will prove essential and compulsive reading for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of our global world.
“Tony Blair”s The Journey will break new ground in prime ministerial memoirs just as Blair himself broke the mould of British politics,” said Rebuck. “His book is frank, open, revealing and written in an intimate and accessible style. As an account of the nature and uses of power, it will have a readership that extends well beyond politics, to all those who want to understand the challenge of leadership in today’s world.”
Tony Blair says: “I have really enjoyed the writing of the book. I have tried to write a book which describes the human as much as the political dimensions of life as Prime Minister. Though necessarily retrospective, it is an attempt to inform and shape current and future thinking as much as an historical account of the past. Most of all I want readers to have as much pleasure reading it as I had writing it.”
“Tony Blair is an extremely popular figure in North America,” said Sonny Mehta, his US publisher. “His memoir is refreshing, both for its candour and vivid portrayal of political life. We all knew Blair was an extraordinary statesman and gifted thinker. We can now add exceptional writer to that list.”
Hutchinson will publish Tony Blair: The Journey in hardback, priced £25.00 with a simultaneous edition available as an eBook and in audio, read by Mr Blair. Knopf and Knopf Canada will publish their hardcover editions of Tony Blair: The Journey simultaneously with Hutchinson. Knopf will also publish an eBook and audio read by the author. Translation rights have been sold in twelve territories worldwide and Mr Blair will embark on a national and international author tour immediately upon release of the book.
Hutchinson is an imprint of The Random House Group in the UK; Alfred A. Knopf is one of the flagship imprints of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. in the US.; Knopf Canada is an imprint of Random House of Canada. Random House is owned by Bertelsmann AG, the international media company.
First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims Returns
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan news: The first batch of 340 Hajj pilgrims returned to Islamabad from Jeddah by a PIA flight.
The relatives of the pilgrims and PIA officials received the pilgrims from PIA flight PK-742 at Islamabad airport.
PIA had transported 127,379 pilgrims to the holy land through 293 hajj flights and regular scheduled flights.
The security arrangements for return of the Hajj pilgrims have been completed at Islamabad airport.
First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims Returns was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 2:33 pm.
Suicide Bomber kills Politician in Swat
PESHAWAR , Pakistan News: A suicide bomber on Tuesday killed a member of Pakistan’s northwest provincial assembly and his brother in Swat valley.
The bomber, who was on foot, targeted a guest house owned by Shamsher Ali Khan, a member of the Awami National Party (ANP), which dominates the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) assembly.
“Dr Shamsher Ali Khan and his brother were killed in the suicide attack,” Swat police chief Qazi Ghulam Farooq told.
Spin Zada, a doctor at a local government hospital, confirmed that two bodies including that of Khan were brought to the hospital, and said 11 people were also wounded in the blast.
It hit in Kanju town, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of Swat’s main hub Mingora.
Suicide Bomber kills Politician in Swat was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 3:20 pm.
