Us Aircraft Carrier That Buried Osama Turned Into Basketball Arena For Veteran's Day

WASHINGTON: The US Navy warship that carried the body of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to his burial at sea, has been transformed into a basket ball court to host the first college game on Veteran's Day.

President Barack Obama and over 7,000 fans will board USS Carl Vinson to see the first match between Michigan State and North Carolina.

If it rains, an alternate playing area has been constructed on the hangar deck, the Daily Mail reports.

Michigan coach Tom Izzo said he was 'blown away' when boarding the nuclear-powered carrier, which stretches 1,092 feet, weighs 95,000 tons and has four steam catapults that can accelerate a jet fighter from 0 to 165 mph in just more than two seconds.

The game, a rematch of the 2009 national championship game won by North Carolina, was conceived to celebrate Veterans Day and salute active-duty military personnel.

"My first impression when I walked in far superseded whatever I thought it could be, and we've been talking about this for seven or eight years," the paper quoted him, as saying.

North Carolina's No 1 Roy Williams said that he is very excited for playing the match on the carrier.

"This is a celebration. The basketball game, from the tipoff till the final horn, we're going to be working our tails off about the game," the paper quoted Williams, as saying.

"But every single second prior to it and as soon as the game's final horn is over with, we're thinking about hopefully putting a smile on some people's faces who represent our country and serve our country," he added.

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Berlusconi To Resign After Parliament Adopts Reforms

ROME: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was set to resign today after 17 years at the top of Italian political life, as lawmakers prepared to give final approval to a package of key economic reforms.

Berlusconi has said he will step down once the measures he promised to the European Union are adopted in a session starting at 1700 IST, after market turmoil raised fears that Italy could drag Europe into an unprecedented crisis.

A cabinet meeting at which Berlusconi could announce the resignation is scheduled for 1230 IST after the parliament votes. The prime minister would then have to formally submit his resignation to Italy's head of state.

There is little grief among ordinary Italians over the demise of Berlusconi, with latest polls giving him an approval rating of just 22 per cent, but he did earn at least one tribute from counterpart and friend Vladimir Putin.

The Russian prime minister and likely future president saluted Berlusconi as "one of Europe's greatest politicians", referring to him as "one of the last Mohicans.

"That he was in power was an undoubted good for Italy," he added.

But many in the international community disagree and will be glad to see the back of the scandal-tainted premier who increasingly became the object of criticism from Italian companies who said he had turned the country into a joke.

The latest cover of The Economist, a news weekly that has had a long-running feud with Berlusconi since declaring him "unfit to lead Italy" in 2001, carried a photo of Berlusconi preening himself with the headline: "That's all, folks."

His most likely replacement is former EU commissioner Mario Monti, a 68-year-old economist who built a formidable reputation as a trust-busting bureaucrat in Brussels, but has no experience in political office.

Monti is expected to be nominated by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano to form a new government after Berlusconi's resignation.

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Clashes And Protests In Yemen For Second Day

SANAA: Fierce clashes erupted in Yemen's second city on Saturday as protesters in the capital Sanaa condemned international silence in the face of a government crackdown that left more than 15 dead on Friday.

"Oh world, the children and women of Taez are being killed...where is your conscience?" chanted tens of thousands of protesters in Sanaa who for 10 months now have been calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

"To the world and the (UN) Security Council, don't you see Saleh is shelling Taez?" they chanted.

On Friday, government forces shelled a protest site in the flashpoint city of Taez, south of the capital, killing 15 civilians, including at least three women and three children, medics said.

Friday's violence, which also left at least 40 people wounded, erupted when security forces loyal to Saleh began shelling areas around Freedom Square, the epicentre of the protest movement in Taez.

Witnesses blamed the violence on the Republican Guard, an elite unit commanded by Saleh's son Ahmed, accusing it of firing tank and artillery rounds into a crowd of protesting civilians.

The violence continued on Saturday as armed tribesmen who have thrown their support behind the protest movement clashed with government troops in the Hassab district of Taez, witnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Youth activists called for a general strike in the city as thousands took to the streets to condemn Friday's bloodshed. Residents said most businesses were closed.

The escalation of violence came as UN envoy Jamal Benomar returned to Yemen for a new push to end the 10-month crisis.

Benomar arrived in Sanaa on Thursday and began meeting with government and opposition officials to discuss a roadmap for implementing a Gulf peace plan which would see Saleh step down in return for a promise of immunity from prosecution for himself and his family.

Saleh, who has been in power in Sanaa for 33 years, has so far failed to sign up to the blueprint despite repeated promises that he would.

On Saturday, an opposition spokesman said the assault on Taez is "proof" he has no intention to resign.

"Saleh totally rejects the initiative... and proof of this is what is happening to the peaceful protesters in Taez," said Mohammed Qahtan, spokesman for the Common Forum parliamentary opposition bloc.

The government's crackdown left hundreds dead and thousands wounded since January.

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Mayawati Slams Rahul, Plays Brahmin And Development Cards

LUCKNOW: UP chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Saturday slammed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for his remark that "a deep sense of anguish overtakes him when he sees corruption, poverty and exploitation of people in Uttar Pradesh (UP)."

"Why does Congress' 'yuvraj' (prince) not feel angry over a series of scams that took place under the Congress led UPA government and the spiralling inflation under its rule, attacks on people of UP and atrocities against Dalits in the Congress ruled Maharashta," Mayawati asked sarcastically. She did not mention Rahul's name but addressed him as Congress party's 'yuvraj' in a bid to highlight the 'dynastic and feudal structure' of the party.

The chief minister's rejoinder to Rahul's remarks came at the inauguration of Dr Shakuntala Devi Mishra University for Rehabilitation and Education of Disabled. She said that being a Member of Parliament (MP) from UP, the 'yuvraj' should pressurise his government at the centre to release funds for development.

"The Congress led UPA government at the centre is not releasing development funds but it is criticising my government for not taking adequate steps for development," she added. Mayawati said that the Congress party was only playing politics for electoral gains and was not serious about development of the state.

Interestingly, though the university was inaugurated on Saturday, but it has been working for last two years. Also, the inauguration of the university was an official function organised by Mayawati's government. On the occasion, Mayawati also laid foundation for welfare schemes and projects worth over Rs 16,140 crore. However, the official event was converted into a BSP function with hundreds of party workers and leaders raising slogans in favour of Mayawati and denouncing opposition parties. They claimed that the BSP would win the coming assembly elections (due in next four months) and conquer New Delhi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Using the official platform to launch her party campaigning for the assembly elections, Mayawati said that though she was a Dalit (Schedule Caste) herself but still got a university constructed in the name of a Brahmin (upper caste) woman. She said that the university was named after social worker Dr Shakuntala Devi Mishra, mother of BJP(Bhartiya Janta Party) general secretary SC Mishra and the university had now become a symbol of upper-lower castes unity.

Mayawati said that this demonstrated that her government believed in equality and not in caste divisions. She said that she was dedicating the university to her grandfather Mangal Sen who had raised and supported his family despite losing his vision. Mayawati recalled that it was because of her grandfather that she got an opportunity to pursue higher education.

The chief minister reiterated that law and order in UP under previous governments of Samata Party (SP), BJP and Congress was worst. "Under my rule, even ministers and MLAs of my party have been sent to jail when found indulging in corruption and guilty of criminal activities whereas in previous regimes no action was taken against any influential person," she added.

Mayawati pointed out that the Congress had ruled UP for over 50 years without bringing any development to the state. "Whereas all round development has taken place during five years of BSP's rule.

Mayawati on the occasion laid foundation stones for construction and repair of 23 state highways, 20 bridges, a power generation plant and several water treatment plants among other things. She inaugurated four bridges and three power projects. The chief minister also announced extension of several social welfare schemes for Dalits and backward classes.

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Kingfisher: Mallya Questions Duty To Fly Unprofitable Routes

MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya, whose cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines canceled scores of flights this week, drawing the ire of the government and travellers and spooking investors, questioned on Saturday whether it was the carrier's duty to fly loss-making routes.

He tweeted late on Friday night: "Every Government has gone out of the way to support Airlines and connectivity. In India Airlines are over taxed and over charged Wonder why?"

Shares in Kingfisher, the country's second-largest airline by market share, fell as much as 18 per cent to an all-time low on Friday as investors fretted about the viability of the carrier, which acknowledged it had been late in paying salaries in recent months.

In another post, the Kingfisher Airlines chairman said, "Is it Kingfishers duty 2 fly on loss making routes when State Governments tax heavily? Or should v be financially prudent n fly profitably?"

Late on Friday, Kingfisher said it was dropping unprofitable routes and speeding up a fleet reconfiguration, which would see its daily schedule of flights drop to 300 from 340. It recently said it was exiting the low-fare segment of the business, Reuters reported.

The carrier, whose share price has dropped 70 per cent in 2011, bringing its market capitalisation below $200 million, also said on Friday it "does not see any risk to its future or long-term viability".

Aviation minister Vayalar Ravi said he would approach the finance minister to seek emergency bank assistance for troubled airlines.

Kingfisher said it had not sought a government bailout. India's mostly loss-making airlines are struggling amid fierce competition and high sales taxes on aviation fuel despite passenger growth of about 19 per cent this year.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has forecast a record $2.5 billion to $3 billion loss for Indian airlines for the year ending March 2012, with state-run Air India alone likely to account for more than half of it.

On Friday, private carrier Jet Airways and budget airline SpiceJet reported losses for the September quarter, compared with profits in the year-earlier period. Kingfisher has never made a profit.

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Mercury Dips, Himachal Lakes Begin To Freeze

SHIMLA: Most of the natural lakes in Himachal Pradesh's higher reaches have started freezing as snowfall in the past few days has brought down the temperatures, the weather department said here Saturday.

In the interiors of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kullu districts, the night temperatures have been below the freezing point, a met official said.

The Chandertal, Surajtal, Prashar and Manimahesh lakes have started freezing.

While the oval-shaped Manimahesh lake is located in Chamba district, Chandertal or moon lake and Surajtal or sun lake are in Lahaul and Spiti district. The Prashar lake is situated at a height of 9,000 ft in Mandi district.

Reports said the 475-km-long Manali-Leh highway remained blocked for several hours in Lahaul and Spiti district Friday after heavy spells of snow.

The Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) and the Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft) located on the highway experienced fresh spells of snowfall.

Traffic on the Saach Pass, located at an altitude of 14,500 ft in Chamba district, was restored Saturday after a day's closure due to snowfall.

Kalpa, the picturesque town some 250 km from Shimla, Saturday recorded a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 3.8 degrees in Manali and 13.3 degrees in Dharamsala.

However, Shimla and its surrounding areas have been experiencing sunny days even as the nights are cool. The town recorded a low of 10.3 degrees.

The Met office predicts mainly clear weather across the state till Monday.

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Team Anna Member Denies Rift Between Kejriwal, Bedi

NEW DELHI/GHAZIABAD: Even as differences between Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were aired publicly, another Team Anna member Manish Sisodia on Saturday said it should not be seen as a divide.

Sisodia dubbed it as information gap and said there was no difference of opinion.

"I think the information about Kejriwalji's interview must have reached Kiranji in a very brief manner. It should not be seen as there is any difference of view between the two," Sisodia told reporters in Ghaziabad.

"Though I have not talked to either of them... perhaps Kiranji did not have some information, or Kejriwal did not have some information. I don't think there is any need to give it an interpretation," he added.

Kejriwal said in an interview on Friday that Bedi should not have inflated her air ticket bills. The former police officer hit back on Saturday, saying he did not understand the issue.

"The problem is that perhaps he does not understand the issue. Perhaps if Arvindji had a little more understanding of this issue, his answer would have been different," Bedi told reporters.

She had submitted inflated air ticket bills to NGOs reimbursing her travel expenses.

"I have given a whole interview on this, if he (Kejriwal) sees it he will get the answers," Bedi said.

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Shoes Hurled At Cavalcade Of Varun Gandhi

BAREILLY (UP): Agitated BJP workers hurled shoes at the cavalcade of party MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday after he allegedly refused to attend a function in Nawabganj tehsil here.

The BJP MP was scheduled to dedicate to the public Guru Govind Singh park and Naagpanchami mela chowk, for which preparations were made by Nawabganj Nagar Palika Parishad, party sources said here.

Though Gandhi reached Nawabganj he allegedly refused to attend the pre-scheduled programme, which irked the party workers, they said.

The workers showed black flags to the MP and hurled shoes on his cavalcade, sources said.

Organiser of the programme and chairman of the Parishad Kunwar Ravindra Singh Rathore said the programme was fixed by BJP and the workers got agitated due to Gandhi's "refusal"

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Taj Mahal Will Turn Blue On Sunday Night

NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry and anti-diabetes activists have managed to convince the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to give permission to light up the Taj Mahal to spread awareness against a disease that affects nearly 51 million Indians.

The ASI has cleared a proposal to illuminate the Taj Mahal in blue on November 13, the eve of the World Diabetes Day. While a red ribbon is symbolic of HIV, a blue circle is the universal symbol of diabetes.

The ASI has also allowed two other world heritage sites - Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri - to be draped in blue. Indudhar Dwivedi, superintendent archeologist of ASI, Agra, said, "This is the first time the ASI has shown such a gesture to light up these three world heritage sites. We wanted to support the drive to raise awareness against diabetes that affects so many of us."

Dr Anoop Misra from Fortis Hospitals, which is part of the Diabetes Blue Fortnight programme being supported by the health ministry, Heal Foundation, Project Hope, N DOC and WHO, said, "Taj Mahal draped in blue will spread awareness about diabetes. The world's most recognized monument to be lit in blue will send a global message. It will help multiply preventive efforts several times."

Several other monuments will be lit up in blue to commemorate the World Diabetes Day. These include Old Fort, Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun Tomb in the national Capital; Imambada in Lucknow; Manek Chowk and City Palace Ground in Udaipur; Sidhivinayak Mandir and CST Station in Mumbai; Sahniwada Fort in Pune, 13 Gates of Ahmedabad; Konark Temple in Orissa and Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

Globally, several other iconic monuments will be lit in blue, including the Inverness Castle in the UK; Fountain Teatro Valli and Reggio Emilia in Italy; Bomb monument in Hiroshima; Union Square in San Francisco and CN Tower and Niagara Falls in Canada. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) said last year, over 900 monuments and buildings in 84 countries were lit up in blue on the World Diabetes Day (November 14).

Diabetes was recognized as a serious threat in 2006, and in a landmark resolution passed by the UN General Assembly it became the first non-communicable disease to be recognized as a global threat back then. Till then, only communicable diseases had captured the world's attention despite non-communicable diseases accounting for over 60% of morbidity and mortality in the world.

For the first time, the UN also asked all member states to establish national policies on the treatment, prevention and care of diabetes.

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