International one-day cricket’s top ranked bowler, Kyle Mills, believes that if New Zealand wins more of its matches in all forms of the game and wins something big, more of its players will feature actively in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).
“If we win more and win something big, I think more New Zealand players [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Mills’
If Kiwis win big and more, their IPL role will increase: Mills
October 15th, 2009 |
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Australia beat NZ to lift Champions Trophy
October 6th, 2009 |
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Australia crowned the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy winner after Shane Watson’s unbeaten century guided the defending champions to a six-wicket victory over a depleted New Zealand in the low-scoring final match in Centurion last night.
Watson hit an unbeaten 129-ball 105 (10X4, 4X6) and starred in a 128-run stand with Cameron White (62) under tremendous [...]
‘Berlusconi will have to resign if immunity law overturned’
September 18th, 2009 |
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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would be forced to resign if laws providing him immunity are overturned by the Constitutional Court next month, his lawyers have admitted.
“If the Constitutional Court, which begins its deliberations on October 6, overturns the law there would be damage to the functions of an elected official, which could not be [...]
Tendulkar returns to top 10 of Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings
September 15th, 2009 |
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Indian opening bat Sachin Tendulkar has returned to the top 10 of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in 10 months after scoring his 44th one-day century for India.
The century earned his team a 46-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final of the Compaq tri-series in Colombo [...]
Legal spanner thrown in US plan
September 12th, 2009 |
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LAHORE – A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the Americans from getting further 18 acres of land over and above the 38 acres already acquired by them, for expansion of the US Embassy in Islamabad.
The petitioners, Watan Party and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, have also urged the Apex Court to prevent the Americans from hiring as many as 250 offices in Islamabad and that no diplomatic mission may be allowed to get on lease or through sale land more than the requirement of the diplomatic mission. It has also been sought that the Pakistan government be asked to fulfil their responsibility towards providing security to the diplomatic missions as per international law. The petitioners have further urged the court for directing the government that surveillance of all communications and monitoring of all kind of telecommunication services may be stopped forthwith.
The petitioners argue that contrary to the trend, set by the age of communication, of cutting down the staff, America is extraordinarily enhancing the presence of its staff in Islamabad, which may also include 1000 marines with latest equipment, which may be a means to ‘bring us down on our knees’ and to ‘capture our nuclear facility’ so that Pakistan could get the same treatment America meted out to South Korea, Taiwan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The petitioners say America claims Pakistan was given $12 billion in the war on terror while Pakistan lost about $40 billion in the same war, besides the lives of thousands of its citizens. “As a nation we do not need their (American) money and presence of Marines and Blackwater and other unidentified US personnel in Islamabad or anywhere else in the country and they are not only a security risk for the whole of Pakistan and their immediate target could (also) be Dr Qadeer Khan,” the petitioners fear, claiming that America wishes to establish a base in this part of the world.
Opposing the alleged lease of extra land and hiring of houses by America in Islamabad, they said if it were allowed, it would amount to occupation of the whole nation. To support this point the petitioners have reminded that in 2005 America had disallowed drilling contract to a Chinese company on grounds of national security. Similarly sale of more land and hiring of houses for accommodation of Marines and Blackwater would be security risk to Pakistan, they allege.
The petitioners have also opposed lease of almost 88 thousand acres of land to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states for agricultural purposes, stating it would pave the way for ‘neo-colonialismÂ’ which stands for tapping resources of other countries for the personal benefits. By giving this land to local cultivators, it can be brought to the best use, the petitioners say, whole expressing a fear that the lease of land may present a similar picture to the one in the case of privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills – behind which the actual faces were not those who were in the front. All this, they say, amounts to selling out sovereignty of state in violation of the ‘UN resolution on permanent sovereignty over natural resources.Â’
The petitioners have also alleged that on the insistence of the Americans, the government has decided to monitor all telecommunication traffic in the country terming it a new strategy.
They say it is responsibility of the state to protect the life and liberty of the people and sovereignty of the state, but they would all now be jeopardized in the event of lease of land to the foreign missions.
Politicians, relatives own 50pc of countryÂ’s sugar factories
August 22nd, 2009 |
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ISLAMABAD – It is ironic that people are expecting the ongoing sugar crisis to be resolved by the politicians who themselves are said to be the beneficiaries of this situation since many of them own more than 50 per cent sugar mills of the country.
TheNation has reliably learnt that there were a total of 78 sugar mills in the country and the political leaders or their relatives or partners owned more than 50 per cent of these sugar mills.
“Would the politicians give favour to the masses on the cost of their profits?” is a question being frequently asked by different quarters.
The mills said to be owned by President Asif Ali ZardariÂ’s family and PPP leaders are Ansari Sugar Mills, Mirza Sugar Mills, Pangrio Sugar Mills, Sakrand Sugar Mills and Kiran Sugar Mills. Ashraf Sugar mills is owned by PPP leader and incumbent ZTBL President Ch Zaka Ashraf.
The mills owned by Nawaz family and relatives are Abdullah Sugar Mills, Brother Sugar Mills, Channar Sugar Mills, Chaudhry Sugar Mills, Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills, Ittefaq Sugar Mills, Kashmir Sugar Mills, Ramzan Sugar Mills and Yousaf Sugar Mills.
Kamalia Sugar Mills and Layyah Sugar Mills are also owned by PML-N leaders. Former minister Abbas Sarfaraz is the owner of five out of six sugar mills in the NWFP. Nasrullah Khan Dareshak owns Indus Sugar Mills while Jahangir Khan Tareen has two sugar mills; JDW Sugar Mills and United Sugar Mills. PML-Q leader Anwar Cheema owns National Sugar Mills while Chaudhrys family is or was the owner of Pahrianwali Sugar Mills as it is being heard that they have sold the said mills. Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan owns Tandianwala Sugar Mills while Pattoki Sugar Mills is owned by Mian Mohammad Azhar, former Governor Punjab.
PML-F leader Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood owns Jamaldin Wali Sugar Mills. Ch Muneer owns two mills in Rahimyar Khan district and Ch Pervaiz Elahi and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khusro Bakhtiar have shares in these mills.
The sources said it would be unwise to expect a right decision from these politicians cum mills owners with regard to slashing of sugar prices in the market.
“When the government says that it will catch the culprits and provide sugar to the masses on affordable rates, it is like throwing dust in the eyes of masses”, the sources further said.
Many among the bureaucrats believe that Mian Shahbaz Sharif is a good leader but if he wanted to maintain his reputation, he should sell out his sugar mills. An official said, “One’s personal business always leaves impact on one’s decisions”.
“After all who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the meetings held between sugar mills owners and the government?” they asked. “The answer to the question is the sugar mills mafia,” they observed. The sources said that in the end the millers got what they wanted and now they were authorized to sell sugar at more than Rs 55 per kilogram and that is the price prevailing in the international market.
Dizzee Rascal threatened to punch Prince Harry in face
August 7th, 2009 |
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Brit rapper Dizzee Rascal, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, has revealed that he threatened to punch Prince Harry in the face after his performance at Hyde Park’s Wireless Festival.
Rascal, 23, said that the incident took place after the Prince and his three friends made their entrance while performing boxing moves, and giving “street handshakes†on [...]
Players may choose cash over country: Vettori
July 26th, 2009 |
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New Zealand’s top cricketers may choose to play in the Indian Premier League rather than for their country if cricket’s international calendar continues to create conflict between the two, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said Sunday.
Vettori told the Herald on Sunday newspaper that players may be forced to choose cash over country in future and [...]
Six NZ players to forgo IPL cash
July 24th, 2009 |
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New Zealand Cricket has persuaded its six Indian Premier League players to agree contracts with the board and forgo "significant sums of money".
The move avoids a possible rift caused by a scheduling clash with Australia’s tour to its Oceania neighbour in March.
Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor had all been granted extra time to confirm their deals.
NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said: "This is an admirable decision."
Vaughan added: "Each of these individuals should be applauded for it. By signing their contracts, they are sacrificing significant sums of money.
"Their decision helps to reinforce international cricket as the pinnacle of our sport, and clearly shows that representing New Zealand remains the biggest motivating factor for our leading players."
Meanwhile, Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association in England, believes the age of the mercenary cricketer could be around the corner.
"I can see the day of the freelance cricketer with players turning down England contracts," Morris told the Daily Telegraph. "That’s the way the market will go and it’s very dangerous.
606: DEBATEHave your say on cricket issues
"Andrew Flintoff has already made the choice to concentrate on one-day cricket and others will make similar decisions earlier and earlier in their careers. That does not bode well for the ECB, the PCA or anybody. We all want the best players to appear in Test cricket."
Calls by Morris and others for the IPL to be granted a window in the international are schedule are growing – but they are not being heeded.
"I’ve seen the ICC’s Future Tours Programme from 2012-2020," Morris said. "It’s unbelievable. The players won’t be able to do it. England will need two squads picked on a rotation basis. Fast bowlers in particular are going to be broken. Players will be drained mentally as well as physically.
"Everyone wants to see the best cricketers play because of TV and sponsorship, but it’s not going to happen, something has to give. I believe the answer is less cricket and with proper windows created for events such as the IPL. This will allow the players to earn the money without cutting across their England commitments."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Christina Patterson: Why I love self-help books (even though they don’t work)
July 18th, 2009 |
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When I was 14, my mother bought me a book called A Year of Beauty and Health. Boy, did she regret it. That year, no…
Richard Chin: “Comprehensive Global Health Strategy”
July 14th, 2009 |
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“We will fight — we will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won’t confront illnesses in isolation — we will invest in public health systems…
Obama speaks of hopes for Africa
July 11th, 2009 |
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Barack Obama is making his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, visiting a nation chosen for its democratic record, Ghana.
The US president will deliver a speech outlining his hope that good governance can flourish across the continent.
He will also visit a historic slave castle alongside his wife Michelle, a descendant of African slaves.
People have poured into the capital, Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana.
Mr Obama arrived in the capital late on Friday, fresh from a G8 summit in Italy where the world’s eight most powerful nations agreed on a $20bn (£12.3bn) fund to bolster agriculture – the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans.
Just before leaving for the Ghanian capital, Accra, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food".
He said Ghana had been chosen for the visit because of its strong track record of democracy and stability.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with President John Atta Mills.
"Part of the reason that we’re travelling to Ghana is because you’ve got there a functioning democracy, a president who’s serious about reducing corruption and you’ve seen significant economic growth."
The BBC’s Will Ross says President Obama will find it a challenge in the current economic climate to match some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, when it comes to health care in Africa, especially in the fight against HIV.
The visit to the slave fort at Cape Coast Castle will be a poignant moment for the country’s first African-American president and for his wife Michelle, whose ancestors are believed to have come from West Africa, our correspondent says.
Tight security
Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama are to be seen everywhere in Accra, where their arrival was eagerly awaited.
The White House reported that over 5,000 Africans had sent text message to the US president ahead of the visit.
ANALYSISMartin Plaut, BBC News
For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama’s first real African destination since assuming office.
Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar’Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama’s father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity.
Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage.
So Ghana ticks Mr Obama’s boxes – a suitable stage on which to launch the president’s Africa policy on the continent itself. Obama brings hope amid dark memories
On arrival, President Obama and his family were met by President Atta Mills, and treated to a colourful welcome featuring drummers and traditional dancers.
Ghanaian musicians have written songs to mark the visit and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, our correspondent says.
However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay.
When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians.
But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes.
Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya – his father’s homeland – in August 2006. Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama’s impending visit to its old slave fort.
"We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana’s central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
‘Tyranny and corruption must end’
July 11th, 2009 |
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US president praises host Ghana as model for prosperity and says continent’s era of corrupt ‘strongman’ governments must end
In his first visit to Africa since taking office, Barack Obama said today that the continent of his ancestors must overcome tyranny and corruption if it is to flourish.
Speaking in Ghana’s parliament, Obama said the key to Africa’s future prosperity was democratic and accountable government.
“Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential,” he said.
In an tough speech aimed at politicians across the continent, he gave an unsentimental account of squandered opportunities since the end of colonial rule. “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers,” he said.
“No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20% off the top … No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.
“Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.”
Obama conceded that colonialism had left a legacy of conflicts and arbitrary borders. “But the west is not to blame for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants.
“Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war,” he said. “But for far too many Africans conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.”
Earlier, after meeting Ghana’s president, John Atta Mills, Obama praised the country’s record of democracy and economic growth as a rare success in a continent beset by corruption and poor governance.
“We think that Ghana can be an extraordinary model for success throughout the continent.”
This morning, Obama was given a hero’s welcome in the country’s capital, Accra. Thousands of people wearing Obama T-shirts thronged the streets, cheering and waving as his motorcade swept past.
Walls and utility poles were plastered with posters of Obama and Mills, as well as the word “change” – the mantra of Obama’s presidential election campaign. Other posters showed the president and his wife, Michelle, with the greeting “Ghana loves you”.
Obama and his family arrived late last night from the G8 summit in Italy, where the world’s richest nations agreed on a $20bn (£12.4bn) food security plan to help poor nations feed themselves during the global recession.
Speaking in Italy before he left, Obama said: “There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food.”
The Obamas will visit Gold Coast Castle, a former British slave trading post. Michelle Obama is a great-great granddaughter of slaves.
The visit comes as the US plans a much more assertive policy in Africa, using both diplomacy and the threat of force to end the protracted conflicts in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria, which are seen as two of the main obstacles to the continent’s progress.
“This is both a special and an important visit for him personally as president, but also for our country to articulate a vision for Africa,” said Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman.
Despite the enthusiastic reception from ordinary Ghanians, no major public events have been planned during Obama’s 21-hour visit, for fear it could cause a celebratory stampede, as almost happened during a 1998 stop by Bill Clinton.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Obama In Ghana: ‘Africa Not Separate From World Affairs’
July 11th, 2009 |
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ACCRA, Ghana — An American president who has “the blood of Africa within me” praised and scolded the continent of his ancestors Saturday, asserting forces of tyranny and corruption must yield if Africa is to achieve its promise.
“Yes yo…
Historic African trip for Obama
July 11th, 2009 |
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Barack Obama, the first African-American president, is due in Ghana shortly on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as US leader.
Ghana was chosen because of its democratic track record and Mr Obama is expected to use the trip to promote democracy across the continent.
He is due to visit a former slave fort as part of the 24-hour visit.
Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama dot the capital, Accra, where their arrival is eagerly awaited.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him"
Ama Benyiwaa Doe
Ghanaian minister, explaining suspension of funerals in Cape Coast
Musicians have written songs to mark the event and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, the BBC’s Will Ross reports from the city.
However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay.
When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians.
But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes.
Key rings and umbrellas
Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya – his father’s homeland – in August 2006.
ANALYSISMartin Plaut, BBC News
For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama’s first real African destination since assuming office.
Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar’Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama’s father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity.
Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage.
So Ghana ticks Mr Obama’s boxes – a suitable stage on which to launch the president’s Africa policy on the continent itself.
Mr Obama’s official business on Saturday includes talks with Ghana’s president and a speech to parliament.
With the US president due to touch down late on Friday, people were already out celebrating, dancing and drumming in the seaside city’s streets.
Memorabilia being sold by vendors ranged from key rings and coffee mugs to handkerchiefs and umbrellas bearing portraits of Mr Obama and Ghana’s President John Atta-Mills.
Thousands of police have been deployed for the visit and a number of city roads were closed on Friday.
Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama’s impending visit to its old slave fort.
"We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana’s central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him."
Squeeze on aid
Across the African continent, people are pinning a lot of hope on Barack Obama partly because of his African roots but also because of his election slogan, Yes We Can, our correspondent reports.
He arrives in Ghana hours after leaders of the G8 industrialised countries pledged billions of dollars to boost agriculture – the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans.
But in Africa it will not be easy for Mr Obama to live up to some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, Will Ross adds.
The financial climate is different now and American-funded programmes, such as the provision of medicine for people living with HIV, are facing new challenges. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Cynthia Gordy: Will Obama Set a New Tone in Africa?
July 11th, 2009 |
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Amid the anticipated media narrative, of Ghana excitedly welcoming the first Black President on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa, many are also wondering about the substance.
I apologise for Berlusconi
July 10th, 2009 |
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I’m sorry for our prime minister’s predictable reaction to a story about G8 summit preparations, please keep the spotlight on Italy
As a member of the Italian parliament and former magistrate who ensured that many corrupt politicians and businessmen were brought to justice in the 1990s, I wish to apologise to the editor and staff of the Guardian newspaper for the utterly predictable reaction of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and our foreign minister, Franco Frattini.
The Guardian does its best to keep the public informed. In Italy this government is not accustomed to free debate, or to hearing the truth being told. While sections of the article dealing with preparations for the G8 summit may be debatable, the rest of it contains little that can be refuted.
However, there is one classification missing from the list in the article, one published by Freedom House, which puts Italy 73rd place for freedom of the press. The real problem in our country is that information is firmly in the grip of one individual, namely our prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi – which must be one of the worst cases of conflict of interest ever recorded in any country in the western world.
Berlusconi’s control over the media is exercised via his ownership of the largest Italian publishing house, Mondadori, as well as via the country’s six television networks: three private Mediaset channels owned by Berlusconi himself and three channels of the public broadcaster RAI which Berlusconi indirectly controls and influences, with very rare exceptions I might add, through managerial staff appointments.
His virtually total control of the media allows him to maintain a dominant position and provides an endless source of revenue that helps to consolidate his position within the institutions via a wide-ranging system of patronage. In the past, these revenues were made possible by the tacit approval of previous governments that refused to address the issue of obvious conflicts of interest. Currently Berlusconi pays the Italian government a mere 1% of turnover in return for the television broadcasting frequencies conceded to him and now used for Mediaset transmissions. Since the centre-right coalition government came to power, a number of major parastatal companies have diverted their advertising expenditure from the RAI public television networks to the private networks belonging to the prime minister.
In addition to the media issue, there is now also another, namely the scourge of the “unconstitutional” government reforms. The first of these was a law known as the Alfano bill, which was ordered by Silvio Berlusconi himself as his first act after coming to power, which prohibits the prosecution of himself and the incumbents in three other senior government posts.
The provisions of this law mean Berlusconi did not have to appear in a trial in which he was facing charges of bribing a witness. David Mills, his lawyer and former husband of Blair government minister Tessa Jowell, has been sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for accepting a bribe. On 6 October, the constitutional court is due to issue a ruling regarding the constitutionality of the Alfano bill and, should the court rule that it is indeed unconstitutional, then Berlusconi will be obliged to stand trial for allegedly bribing Mills.
I would like to conclude by appealing to the Guardian and the other foreign press not to allow the spotlight to move away from Italy and to continue to perform the same vitally important task that they have always performed in the past, namely the task of informing the public, a role that most of our media have abdicated from because they are no longer being allowed to do their job.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Heather Mills denies controversial comments about cancer
Heather Mills has denied making controversial comments about cancer while holding a British newspaper responsible for cooking up quotes under her name in a recent interview.
Sir Paul McCartney’’s ex-wife was previously alleged to have said that she was convinced certain journalists who had written lies about her in the past would get their comeuppance by [...]