Greeks are voting in the second round of local elections that are widely seen as a referendum on the government’s tough austerity program.
The ruling socialists emerged ahead in a majority of regions after last Sunday’s ballot but only with a wafer-thin lead, in a poll marred by abstentions.
ISAMABAD – Troika of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met at Presidency on Friday to review the last round of Strategic Dialogue with US at Washington.
According to an official handout, the meeting wherein Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present deliberated on matters relating to the recently concluded third round of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue and overall regional situation.
Meanwhile, sources in the Presidency told TheNation that the meeting weighed latest demands of the strategic partner US with regards to the ongoing war against terrorism. The troika also underlined the internal law and order situation viz-a-viz the war on terror. The President was informed about the latest commitments the US side had made during the last round of the dialogue.
Online adds: Expressing their satisfaction over the 3rd round of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue, President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan itself will decide on Army offensive in North Waziristan keeping in view the ground realities, adding that it will not accept any pressure in this regard.
The affirmation to this affect was made in a high-level meeting presided over by President Zardari in which matters related to security of the country and Army offensive in North Wazirastan were discussed.
According to presidential spokesman, during the meeting the outcome of 3rd round of Pak-US Strategic Dialogue, which was held in Washington was reviewed and regional situation was discussed at length.
Official sources told Online that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and COAS Gen Kayani told President and Prime Minister that important headway was made in the Strategic Dialogue and Pakistan succeeded in getting more US aid in defence, social and economic sector.
President and Prime Minister expressed their satisfaction over the outcome of the dialogue and vowed that Pakistan would promote durable and long-lasting relations with US while keeping in view its sovereignty, honour and respect.
They said Pakistan was fighting against terrorism and extremism to the best of its capabilities and decision on operation in Waziristan would be made by itself taking into account the ground realities. It would not accept any pressure in this regard, they said.
Sources further said COAS informed the participants that in North Waziristan more than 70,000 troops were present, conducting targeted operations against the terrorists. However, due to US drone attacks hatred and anger was spreading in the tribal areas, he added.
Serbian champions Partizan FC on Wednesday moved to the third round of qualifications for Europe’s top club football competition, the UEFA Champions League. The team played the second game of the round away in Yerevan, Armenia, and defeated home side Pyunik 1-0 (1-0).
Hungarian voters will cast their ballots in the second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday. Hungary’s center-right Fidesz party is looking to secure a two-thirds majority in the parliament.
India’s Arvind Bhat and Trupti Murgunde crashed out of the singles event on the opening day of the main draw of Badminton Asia Championships here Wednesday.
Bhat, seeded 16th, lost to Ji Hoon Hong of Korea 15-21, 21-13, 6-21 in the second round. The Indian had defeated Nepalese Bikash Shrestha 21-14, 21-11 in his first match [...]
Nearly nine months into fatherhood, Roger Federer is proving that despite family responsibilities, his tennis remains as strong as it has ever been.
The top seed made that clear Thursday, two days before his start in the second round at the Miami Masters, as he ticked off his last year’s accomplishments, the year that wife Mirka [...]
India’s Somdev Devvarman went down to 85th-ranked Ukrainian and third seed Illya Marchenko in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open tennis qualifiers here.
Somdev, ranked 120, lost 4-6, 3-6 Tuesday. The Indian had defeated Frenchman David Guez in the first round.
India’s teenage sensation Yuki Bhambri had already lost in the first round of qualifiers [...]
India’s Sania Mirza and Leander Paes advanced with their respective partners in the while Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj were shown the door in the doubles at the Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park here Friday.
The 10th-seeded pair of Sania and Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual battled past Swiss Timea Bacsinszky and Italian Tathiana Garbin 7-6(3), [...]
Presidential elections are being held on Sunday in Croatia, in which there are about 4.5 million registered voters. If none of the 12 candidates take over 50 percent of the popular vote in the first round, a second round of elections will be held two weeks later on January 10.
Pre-election silence has begun in Croatia ahead of the first round of presidential elections to be held on Sunday. Public opinion polls show that none of the 12 candidates will be able to win 50 percent of the vote; therefore, a second round is expected to be held.
Voting is under way in Romania in the second round of the country’s presidential election. Centre-right President Traian Basescu ended the first round narrowly ahead of the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Mircea Geoana.
Doctors and nurses battle round the clock to save lives in Pakistan’s war against the Taliban, threatened with death and struggling to treat horrific injuries at a colonial-era hospital. “We’re under severe psychological pressure. How long will we get bodies of men, women and children,
Four-time world champion M C Mary Kom led the charge as three Indian woman boxers advanced to the finals with contrasting wins in the third Asian Indoor Games in hanoi on Monday.
Khel Ratna awardee Mary Kom defeated Josie Gabuco of Philippines in the 46kg semifinals.
The Indian took a narrow 2-1 lead in the opening round [...]
At this juncture when the decision on new Af-Pak strategy that is to be unveiled by US to move forward towards war on terrorism, depends upon the transition of political situation in Af, the US is making efforts to resolve the controversy that stuck the country for more than 2 months now.
The United States will [...]
The counting of votes for the October 13 polls to the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the 90 member Haryana Assembly and for 57 seats in Arunachal Pradesh being held on Thursday.
The Election Commission issued new directives where counting of votes in each round will only take place after results of the previous round are made [...]
The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro, putting the coveted games in South America for the first time in history.
It was a surprise victory for the nation, who beat out finalist Madrid in the final round of voting.
In one of the most shocking defeats ever handed down by the International Olympic Committee, [...]
FINAL LEADERBOARD: (US unless stated)
-20 T Woods -17 J Senden (Aus), G Chalmers (Aus), R Thatcher -16 YE Lang (Kor), M Letzig Selected others: -13 J Leonard -11 J Furyk -11 G Owen (Eng)
Tiger Woods produced an unblemished round to win his third Buick Open title by three shots at Warwick Hills.
Starting the last round one shot clear, Woods birdied the fourth, seventh and 16th holes and parred the rest for a three-under 69 to end on 20 under.
Roland Thatcher notched eight birdies in a 64 to jump into a tie for second with Australians Greg Chalmers (68) and John Senden (70) on 17 under.
Michael Letzig, who began the day one shot behind Woods, fell away with a 73.
The victory was Woods’ 69th on the PGA Tour – only Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73) have won more – and it never looked in doubt after he birdied the fourth and seventh to turn in 34.
There was a brief moment of concern when the 33-year-old dumped his ball in the green-protecting lake on the 13th when he over-cooked an ambitious attempt to cut his ball round a tree.
However, it was a par five and the world number one flipped a wedge to within four feet to save his par.
Letzig, playing with Woods, birdied the 13th, but his challenge had already faded with a double bogey at the par-three eighth and he dropped a shot at the last to finish on 15 under par.
Senden enjoyed a run of three successive birdies midway through his back nine but he will be cursing three dropped shots in the first 11 holes.
Victory for Woods will go some way towards making up for the disappointment of missing the cut – only the second time he has done so at a major – at the Open two weeks ago.</p
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MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Justin Timberlake celebrated the opening of his renovated, environmentally friendly golf course in style on the 10th tee – by smacking his drive 291 yards.
The singer and actor smiled Saturday after the tee-off…
Live scoring console from opengolf.com (external site)
LATEST ACTION (all times BST)
To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)
By Sam Lyon
0727: Ross Fisher, one under at the start of play, pings his three iron comfortably onto the fairway – he again is paired with Mike Weir and Ben Curtis, and this threesome were the lowest-scoring group of Thursday after Weir ended three under and Curtis five under. The Canadian and American follow Fisher’s lead and a fair few folks will be following this group today, for sure.0722: Ever wondered what it’s like to cover an event like the Open Check out our sport editor’s blog with Philip Bernie, who admits"the Open is one of the most complicated outside broadcasts we do at the BBC",and you also have your chance to have your say.From Anon via text on 81111: "Re: 0647 – Here’s something to tell the grandchildren – it didn’t used to be unusual to see Tom Watson at five under after the first round of the Open." 0717: Nice reception for three-time Open champion Nick Faldo as he gets his round going with a tee shot straight down the middle of the fairway at the first.From GDW via text on 81111: "Sam, looking at the leaderboard, who is Kuboya and where did he appear from with -5 Did he play in the dark All the women in my life still asleep. Magic." From Chris in Norfolk via text on 81111: "You’re right Sam, I am wiping the sleep from my eyes. Although I’m now on my way for 36 holes on my day off! Good stuff."0706: The weather might not be as sedate as yesterday, but that is not stopping the birdies roll in this morning. Ireland’s David Higgins and Welshman Rhys Davies both pick up a shot at the opening hole, as does James Driscoll. However, Damien McGrane, Daniel Gaunt, Matt Kuchar and"jobbing builder"Jeremy Kavanagh have all dropped a shot – as if anybody needed reminding that this Turnberry course can bite you on the backside if you take liberties.0701: I can also report, via Twitter, that Ian Poulter did not hit "one shot I was happy with","drama queen"Colin Montgomerie refused to give interviews, and Paul Casey finished his day with a "fantastic banoffee pie", recommended to him by Colombian Camillo Villegas. Any of you lot on Twitter I must say I’ve joined, but find updating strangers on the banality of my life rather pointless and depressing. Perhaps I’m not embracing it enough!0659: A quick summation ofyesterday’s playfor those that missed it, then. Five-time Open champion Tom Watson fired a sensational 65 and looked like being the oldest leader of this Championship after the first round ever at the age of 59 for much of the day until Miguel Angel Jimenez sunk a 65-footer at the last to complete a 64. Elsewhere, 2003 champion Ben Curtis and Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya – the latter courtesy of three birdies and an eagle in his final four holes – sit alongside Watson, with Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Anthony Wall, Graeme McDowell and David Howell leading the British challenge on two under.BBC Sport’s Ken Brown on Twitter: "If Thursday is anything to go by, the most difficult hole on the course is the par four 16th, with the easiest being the par five 7th. Watch out for those holes today."0651: A steady enough start for the opening group of the day, with Damien McGrane and Matt Kuchar bagging pars at the first and Tim Stewart taking a birdie three.0647: Oh and, forgive me, I forgot to remind you to get involved via your mobile telephone devices using the SMS function to 81111. I realise that at this hour you’re possibly wiping the sleep out of your eyes, your children’s porridge off your tie and the smell of the bus or train out of your hair, but why not brighten your Friday morning by getting published on the BBC Sport website. It’ll be something to tell the grandchildren, right0642: A few players to keep an eye on before our TV coverage kicks off on BBC Two, the Red Button and this website (UK users only) at 0900 BST – Sandy Lyle will take time out fromhis spat with Colin Montgomerieto get his second round going at 0703, Open legend Nick Faldo is off at 0714, Ben Curtis, alongside English hope Ross Fisher, is the first of those at the top of the leaderboard to get started at 0725 and all eyes will also be on Rory McIlroy’s group, which includes Retief Goosen and Anthony Kim, when they tee off at 0820. And that’s just a sample. What a field this is.
0631: Ireland’s Damien McGrane, American Matt Kuchar and Tim Stewart of Australia get the second round under way – and let me tell you, the bright, windless conditions of yesterday are long gone already. The rain has stopped momentarily, but it’s going to get worse apparently. Expect plenty of glances skyward today.BBC Five Live’s Jay Townsend on Twitter: "It is a rainy morning here at the Open, doing the Breakfast show and then out with Padraig Harrington this morning. Waterproofs are a MUST today."0625: "The lady was defenceless, but she’s going to bare her teeth." That was the assessment oflong-time first-round leader Tom Watsonon this Turnberry course on Thursday, and it makes you think ‘how many players are going to rue not taking advantage of conditions more benign than a kitten wrapped in cotton wool in that first round’Miguel Angel Jimenez leads the Open,a lot of the pre-tournament favourites are yet to make their move, and the weather is forecast to turn more uncomfortable than a dinner for two between Monty and Sandy – a truly fascinating day’s play in round two lay in store…
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
