21:40
Karthick Dharman
Posted in: Spain ActressesFriday, 18 November 2011
Nadal Aims To End On A High In Tour Finals
LONDON: Rafael Nadal has vowed to finish a frustrating campaign on a high as the world's top players gather in London for the ATP Tour Finals.
Although world number two Nadal claimed a sixth French Open crown this year, his campaign has been marred by Novak Djokovic's remarkable ability to defeat him time and again at the final hurdle.
The Spaniard lost six successive finals to Djokovic, including at Wimbledon and the US Open, and surrendered his spot on top of the world rankings to the Serb as a result.
Nadal has been open about the psychological impact those defeats have had, but he is eager to stress beating Djokovic is not in any way an obsession.
"I'm not working every day thinking about Novak, I'm working every day thinking what I need to do to be a better player, and that's what I need to keep doing," Nadal said.
"Novak had an unbelievable year. Novak is not going to be at this level all his career and other people will have chances. He's played a very high level, the highest level I have ever seen."
Nadal opted to take a month off after disappointing defeats against Andy Murray and Florian Mayer in Asia after the US Open, meaning he will head into the end of season showpiece in London short on match action but still with a positive mindset.
"I went to Tokyo and I played a good tournament. In the last set against Andy I played bad but he played fantastic," Nadal said.
"The loss in Shanghai was difficult for me because I felt I was in a positive moment and I had an opportunity to play a good tournament and I had a bad loss against Mayer.
"That hurt me a little bit and I felt I needed to stop, to practise a little bit and to recover physically and mentally."
Nadal, Djokovic and the other six players in the world rankings have arrived at London's 02 Arena for the last event of the year, which starts on Sunday.
Nadal opens against American Mardy Fish, competing in the tournament for the first time, while Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also in the group.
Federer starts his bid to win a record sixth World Tour Finals crown against France's Tsonga, who came back from two sets down to shock the Swiss star at Wimbledon this year.
That defeat was typical of Federer's erratic season, which will end without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2002 and has prompted many pundits to suggest he is past his best.
The 30-year-old, who has slipped to fourth in the rankings, remains calm about the perceived crisis and, after winning his last two tournaments in Basle and Paris, sees signs he is finally back to his best.
"I'm not questioning myself because I feel I've found what it is that made the one per cent difference in winning all those matches or not," Federer said.
"I was so close to having another terrific year. If I had won three or four matches more at important stages of the tournaments this year, things would have looked completely different.
"It would be amazing to win the Tour Finals for the sixth time. There's always pressure as defending champion but I'm used to it. I've done it so many times."
The other group features Djokovic, Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych.
For Djokovic the prospect of ending his fairytale year with one more title might be enough to force his weary limbs into action again.
Djokovic has enjoyed one of the best seasons in tennis history after victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as five Masters titles and an incredible run of just four losses in 73 matches.
"This year was success after success, grand slam after Grand Slam, it was coming up all the time," he said.
"It is because I was thankful to have the opportunity and I stayed with both feet on the ground but always wanting more."
Although world number two Nadal claimed a sixth French Open crown this year, his campaign has been marred by Novak Djokovic's remarkable ability to defeat him time and again at the final hurdle.
The Spaniard lost six successive finals to Djokovic, including at Wimbledon and the US Open, and surrendered his spot on top of the world rankings to the Serb as a result.
Nadal has been open about the psychological impact those defeats have had, but he is eager to stress beating Djokovic is not in any way an obsession.
"I'm not working every day thinking about Novak, I'm working every day thinking what I need to do to be a better player, and that's what I need to keep doing," Nadal said.
"Novak had an unbelievable year. Novak is not going to be at this level all his career and other people will have chances. He's played a very high level, the highest level I have ever seen."
Nadal opted to take a month off after disappointing defeats against Andy Murray and Florian Mayer in Asia after the US Open, meaning he will head into the end of season showpiece in London short on match action but still with a positive mindset.
"I went to Tokyo and I played a good tournament. In the last set against Andy I played bad but he played fantastic," Nadal said.
"The loss in Shanghai was difficult for me because I felt I was in a positive moment and I had an opportunity to play a good tournament and I had a bad loss against Mayer.
"That hurt me a little bit and I felt I needed to stop, to practise a little bit and to recover physically and mentally."
Nadal, Djokovic and the other six players in the world rankings have arrived at London's 02 Arena for the last event of the year, which starts on Sunday.
Nadal opens against American Mardy Fish, competing in the tournament for the first time, while Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also in the group.
Federer starts his bid to win a record sixth World Tour Finals crown against France's Tsonga, who came back from two sets down to shock the Swiss star at Wimbledon this year.
That defeat was typical of Federer's erratic season, which will end without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2002 and has prompted many pundits to suggest he is past his best.
The 30-year-old, who has slipped to fourth in the rankings, remains calm about the perceived crisis and, after winning his last two tournaments in Basle and Paris, sees signs he is finally back to his best.
"I'm not questioning myself because I feel I've found what it is that made the one per cent difference in winning all those matches or not," Federer said.
"I was so close to having another terrific year. If I had won three or four matches more at important stages of the tournaments this year, things would have looked completely different.
"It would be amazing to win the Tour Finals for the sixth time. There's always pressure as defending champion but I'm used to it. I've done it so many times."
The other group features Djokovic, Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych.
For Djokovic the prospect of ending his fairytale year with one more title might be enough to force his weary limbs into action again.
Djokovic has enjoyed one of the best seasons in tennis history after victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as five Masters titles and an incredible run of just four losses in 73 matches.
"This year was success after success, grand slam after Grand Slam, it was coming up all the time," he said.
"It is because I was thankful to have the opportunity and I stayed with both feet on the ground but always wanting more."
Posted in: Day To Day Sports News
Australia Lead Despite South African Fightback
JOHANNESBURG: Australia took a 30-run first innings lead despite a strong South African fightback on the second day of the second and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
Scorecard
Australia were bowled out for 296, losing all their wickets for 122 runs after an opening partnership of 174 between Shane Watson and Phil Hughes. Only four balls were bowled at the start of South Africa's second innings, with no runs scored, before bad light ended play.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four for 64 and leg-spinner Imran Tahir ripped out the tail to take three for 55, his first wickets in Test cricket.
Watson and Hughes both scored 88. The openers scored 169 in an extended morning's play, racing along at more than five runs an over, to put their side in a strong position to press for a series-levelling win.
But the run feast stopped when Hughes was caught at first slip by AB de Villiers off Vernon Philander in the fourth over after lunch.
Watson, Ricky Ponting and captain Michael Clarke all followed Hughes to the dressing room as only 51 runs were scored for four wickets in 25 overs between lunch and tea.
Watson, who had scored 76 off 99 balls before lunch, laboured for another 41 balls to add 12 more runs before pulling Jacques Kallis to deep midwicket where Imran Tahir took a diving catch. It added to a history of Watson falling short of a century. It was his 18th score of 50 or more but he has only converted two of those innings into centuries.
Ponting fell for his second successive duck when he shuffled across his stumps and was leg before to Dale Steyn in the next over - the third time in as many innings that he has fallen in the same way.
Clarke did not look comfortable as he made 11 before edging Morne Morkel to De Villiers at first slip.
It did not get much better for the tourists after tea, with Steyn dismissing the last two specialist batsmen, Usman Khawaja and Mike Hussey in successive overs.
Mitchell Johnson hit 38 not out to steer Australia into the lead.
Watson, showing no sign of the hamstring injury which kept him off the field for more than two hours on the first day, played some crunching drives before lunch, while Hughes was strong square of the wicket as he made 85 not out.
The host nation missed an opportunity to claim Hughes' wicket when the batsman got a thin edge to a ball from Kallis which then went on to his pad and through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. The South Africans appealed and Hughes, on 38, was given not out by umpire Ian Gould. The South Africans did not seek a television review.
Hughes earlier gave a sharp chance to Hashim Amla at backward short leg off Morkel when he was on 30 and the total was 65.
Hughes faced 111 balls and hit 14 boundaries, while Watson faced 140 deliveries, hitting 14 fours and two sixes.
Scorecard
Australia were bowled out for 296, losing all their wickets for 122 runs after an opening partnership of 174 between Shane Watson and Phil Hughes. Only four balls were bowled at the start of South Africa's second innings, with no runs scored, before bad light ended play.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four for 64 and leg-spinner Imran Tahir ripped out the tail to take three for 55, his first wickets in Test cricket.
Watson and Hughes both scored 88. The openers scored 169 in an extended morning's play, racing along at more than five runs an over, to put their side in a strong position to press for a series-levelling win.
But the run feast stopped when Hughes was caught at first slip by AB de Villiers off Vernon Philander in the fourth over after lunch.
Watson, Ricky Ponting and captain Michael Clarke all followed Hughes to the dressing room as only 51 runs were scored for four wickets in 25 overs between lunch and tea.
Watson, who had scored 76 off 99 balls before lunch, laboured for another 41 balls to add 12 more runs before pulling Jacques Kallis to deep midwicket where Imran Tahir took a diving catch. It added to a history of Watson falling short of a century. It was his 18th score of 50 or more but he has only converted two of those innings into centuries.
Ponting fell for his second successive duck when he shuffled across his stumps and was leg before to Dale Steyn in the next over - the third time in as many innings that he has fallen in the same way.
Clarke did not look comfortable as he made 11 before edging Morne Morkel to De Villiers at first slip.
It did not get much better for the tourists after tea, with Steyn dismissing the last two specialist batsmen, Usman Khawaja and Mike Hussey in successive overs.
Mitchell Johnson hit 38 not out to steer Australia into the lead.
Watson, showing no sign of the hamstring injury which kept him off the field for more than two hours on the first day, played some crunching drives before lunch, while Hughes was strong square of the wicket as he made 85 not out.
The host nation missed an opportunity to claim Hughes' wicket when the batsman got a thin edge to a ball from Kallis which then went on to his pad and through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. The South Africans appealed and Hughes, on 38, was given not out by umpire Ian Gould. The South Africans did not seek a television review.
Hughes earlier gave a sharp chance to Hashim Amla at backward short leg off Morkel when he was on 30 and the total was 65.
Hughes faced 111 balls and hit 14 boundaries, while Watson faced 140 deliveries, hitting 14 fours and two sixes.
Posted in: Day To Day Sports News
Mature Rohit Sharma Hopes For Test Debut
MUMBAI: The stage was set for Rohit Sharma to make his Test debut against South Africa in 2010. But a freak injury on the morning of the match robbed the talented Mumbai middle-order batsman that opportunity.
Now, with a string of good scores in the national championships for cricket, Sharma has re-earned the selectors' faith and got a call-up for the third Test against West Indies to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from Tuesday.
And Sharma, who came in for Yuvraj Singh, seems extremely excited with the prospect of a possible Test debut at home.
"It would be great to make a Test debut at home," Sharma said and added: "I am excited at the thought of getting a Test cap and to be able to get one in front of the home crowd would be special."
Sharma however, will have to compete with Virat Kohli for a place in the playing XI. For, Kohli has been a consistent performer for India in recent times and is a top contender to replace Yuvraj in the playing XI. But with the series already in the bag, India may decide to rest one of the seniors and perhaps give Sharma a chance to make his Test debut.
But Sharma is elated just by the fact that he is part of India's Test squad.
"I am extremely happy to be part of the Indian squad again. I have had a few good games where I scored runs and the selection also tells me that my runs and efforts are being recognised by the selectors," he said.
Sharma was termed as future prospect very early in his career. But as days passed in his international career, questions about his dedication towards the game have been raised time and again. In fact, he also missed out on India's World Cup winning campaign early this year.
Exclusion from the World Cup squad was a big wake up call for Sharma. And in the company of good friend Abhishek Nayar, he started resurrecting his career.
He concentrated on his fitness and shed those few extra pounds to be supremely fit.
Hard work and discipline that he put off the field, soon started reflecting in his game. Clearly, Sharma had matured. He had learnt from his past mistakes and was doing only the right things.
"The best way to learn and understand things is through understanding the mistakes you have made. I have been able to do that and that has made me a better cricketer and a person," he said.
"Earlier, I used to get out cheaply but now I understand my game better. I am converting the 20s and 30s into big scores now. I have made changes to my game and have started scoring big runs consistently," he said.
Now, with a string of good scores in the national championships for cricket, Sharma has re-earned the selectors' faith and got a call-up for the third Test against West Indies to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from Tuesday.
And Sharma, who came in for Yuvraj Singh, seems extremely excited with the prospect of a possible Test debut at home.
"It would be great to make a Test debut at home," Sharma said and added: "I am excited at the thought of getting a Test cap and to be able to get one in front of the home crowd would be special."
Sharma however, will have to compete with Virat Kohli for a place in the playing XI. For, Kohli has been a consistent performer for India in recent times and is a top contender to replace Yuvraj in the playing XI. But with the series already in the bag, India may decide to rest one of the seniors and perhaps give Sharma a chance to make his Test debut.
But Sharma is elated just by the fact that he is part of India's Test squad.
"I am extremely happy to be part of the Indian squad again. I have had a few good games where I scored runs and the selection also tells me that my runs and efforts are being recognised by the selectors," he said.
Sharma was termed as future prospect very early in his career. But as days passed in his international career, questions about his dedication towards the game have been raised time and again. In fact, he also missed out on India's World Cup winning campaign early this year.
Exclusion from the World Cup squad was a big wake up call for Sharma. And in the company of good friend Abhishek Nayar, he started resurrecting his career.
He concentrated on his fitness and shed those few extra pounds to be supremely fit.
Hard work and discipline that he put off the field, soon started reflecting in his game. Clearly, Sharma had matured. He had learnt from his past mistakes and was doing only the right things.
"The best way to learn and understand things is through understanding the mistakes you have made. I have been able to do that and that has made me a better cricketer and a person," he said.
"Earlier, I used to get out cheaply but now I understand my game better. I am converting the 20s and 30s into big scores now. I have made changes to my game and have started scoring big runs consistently," he said.
Posted in: Day To Day Sports News
Time For Azharuddin To Take A Stance And Clear His Name: Ganguly
NEW DELHI: Mohammad Azharuddin should take a strong stance following the claims made against him by Vinod Kambli and put an end to all the "whispers" surrounding the former skipper's name, says Sourav Ganguly.
"Azhar should take a stance. It's upto him how he deals with it. But the time has come for Azhar to clear his name. There are too many whispers going around," Ganguly said when asked about Kambli's claims that the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka could have been fixed.
Ganguly also rubbished Kambli's claim that the match at the Eden Gardens ruined his career.
"His (Kambli's) claim that his career was finished because of that game is rubbish. How can that game ruin his career, he was not out then," Ganguly told Headlines Today.
Ganguly said the decision to field could have been the result of Sri Lanka's earlier league match against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla here, where Sri Lanka chased down 270-odd runs with ease.
"I can sympathise with Azhar. I can understand the reasons of putting Sri Lanka in. If you remember Srio Lanka chased 270-odd runs in Delhi in an earlier match."
Ganguly further hoped that Kambli has his facts right. Meanwhile 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev asked if Kabmli was sleeping all these 15 years.
The media should not give credence to all this statements, Kapil felt.
Kambli, a former Indian cricketer who has often been embroiled in controversies both on and off the field, on Thursday raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka and said he found "something amiss" in the game.
"Azhar should take a stance. It's upto him how he deals with it. But the time has come for Azhar to clear his name. There are too many whispers going around," Ganguly said when asked about Kambli's claims that the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka could have been fixed.
Ganguly also rubbished Kambli's claim that the match at the Eden Gardens ruined his career.
"His (Kambli's) claim that his career was finished because of that game is rubbish. How can that game ruin his career, he was not out then," Ganguly told Headlines Today.
Ganguly said the decision to field could have been the result of Sri Lanka's earlier league match against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla here, where Sri Lanka chased down 270-odd runs with ease.
"I can sympathise with Azhar. I can understand the reasons of putting Sri Lanka in. If you remember Srio Lanka chased 270-odd runs in Delhi in an earlier match."
Ganguly further hoped that Kambli has his facts right. Meanwhile 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev asked if Kabmli was sleeping all these 15 years.
The media should not give credence to all this statements, Kapil felt.
Kambli, a former Indian cricketer who has often been embroiled in controversies both on and off the field, on Thursday raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka and said he found "something amiss" in the game.
Posted in: Day To Day Sports News
Us-China Tensions Spill Over Into Asia Summit
NUSA DUA, Indonesia: Tensions between the United States and China spilled over into meetings of Asia-Pacific leaders on Friday as the two countries jostled over how to handle competing claims to the South China Sea.
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao demanded that "outside forces" had no excuse to get involved in the complex maritime dispute, a veiled warning to the United States and other countries to keep out of the sensitive issue.
"It ought to be resolved through friendly consultations and discussions by countries directly involved. Outside forces should not, under any pretext, get involved," Wen told a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, several of whose countries claim sovereignty to parts of the South China Sea.
The comments were carried on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
The remark is the latest barb between the two countries in recent weeks when President Barack Obama has sought to reassert US presence in the Asia-Pacific region to counter the growing influence of China, its biggest economic rival.
Obama said in Australia on Thursday, on his last stop before jetting to the Asia meetings in neighbouring Indonesia, that the US military would expand its Asia-Pacific role despite budget cuts, declaring America was "here to stay" as a Pacific power.
Days earlier, as host of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation forum in Hawaii, Obama had voiced growing frustration at China's trade practices and he pushed for a new Asia-Pacific trade deal with some of Beijing's neighbours.
The moves are seen as an attempt to reassert US leadership to counter China's growing influence around the Pacific Rim and reassure allies such as South Korea and Japan that it would remain a strong counterweight.
The United States wants the dispute over the South China Sea discussed on the Indonesian resort island of Bali at meetings of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight regional powers, including the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
Bilateral meetings are being held on Friday before a full East Asia summit on Saturday.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are the other claimants to parts of the South China Sea, a major route for some $5 trillion in trade each year and potentially rich in resources.
The Southeast Asian countries along with the United States and Japan, are pressuring Beijing to try and seek some way forward on the knotty issue of sovereignty, which has flared up again this year with often tense maritime stand-offs.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged claimants earlier this week not to resort to intimidation to push their cause, itself an indirect reference to China, which lays claim to large swathes of the sea.
In bilateral meetings on Friday, Obama said the dispute should be discussed by the regional leaders at the talks, known as the East Asia Summit, which could embolden some Southeast Asian countries with claims.
Japan added its voice to the call, saying those with claims should "seek a peaceful resolution in a transparent matter based on international law."
China though is adamant it does not want such talks to take place and that the issue should be resolved via bilateral negotiations. Raising the issue in multilateral summit talks would not help foster East Asian co-operation, it argues.
"On the contrary, this could open up a Pandora's Box and inflame regional tensions," the overseas edition of the People's Daily, the official paper of the ruling Communist Party, said on Friday in a front page commentary.
The People's Daily generally reflects official thinking, and the small-circulation overseas edition often states views more bluntly than the bigger domestic edition.
VITAL ECONOMIC INTEREST
Obama has said the increased focus on the Asia-Pacific region was essential for America's economic future, a point he emphasized on Friday as executives from Boeing Co and Indonesia's Lion Air signed an agreement for the low cost carrier to buy $21.7 billion worth of US planes.
"This is a remarkable example of the trade, investment and commercial opportunities that exist in the Asia-Pacific region," he said of Boeing's biggest commercial order.
"This is an example of a win-win situation where people in the region are going to be able to benefit from outstanding airlines, and our workers back home are going to be able to have job security."
A first step in extending the US military reach into Southeast Asia will see US Marines, naval ships and aircraft deployed to northern Australia from 2012.
That deployment to Australia, which by 2016 will reach a taskforce of 2,500 US troops, is small compared with the 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea and 50,000 in Japan.
But the de facto base in Darwin, only 820 km (500 miles) from Indonesia, expands the direct US military presence in Asia beyond South Korea and Japan and into Southeast Asia, an area where China has growing economic and strategic interests.
It will also put more US troops, ships and aircraft much closer to the South China Sea and will allow the United States to quickly reach into Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Obama on Thursday acknowledged China's unease at what it sees as attempts by Washington to encircle it, pledging to seek greater cooperation with Beijing.
China has questioned the new US deployment, with a foreign ministry spokesman raising doubts about whether strengthening such alliances helped the region pull together at a time of economic gloom.
From the APEC meeting last week to the president's sweep through Asia, Obama has used some of his strongest language against China, which some analysts suggest is largely focused on the US domestic audience ahead of elections next year.
Last week in Hawaii, he demanded that China stop "gaming" the international system. He said China, which often presents itself as a developing country, is now "grown up" and should act that way in internatonal affairs.
China's official reaction has been restrained, with an impending leadership succession preoccupying the Communist Party and leaving Beijing anxious to avoid diplomatic fireworks.
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao demanded that "outside forces" had no excuse to get involved in the complex maritime dispute, a veiled warning to the United States and other countries to keep out of the sensitive issue.
"It ought to be resolved through friendly consultations and discussions by countries directly involved. Outside forces should not, under any pretext, get involved," Wen told a meeting with Southeast Asian leaders, several of whose countries claim sovereignty to parts of the South China Sea.
The comments were carried on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
The remark is the latest barb between the two countries in recent weeks when President Barack Obama has sought to reassert US presence in the Asia-Pacific region to counter the growing influence of China, its biggest economic rival.
Obama said in Australia on Thursday, on his last stop before jetting to the Asia meetings in neighbouring Indonesia, that the US military would expand its Asia-Pacific role despite budget cuts, declaring America was "here to stay" as a Pacific power.
Days earlier, as host of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation forum in Hawaii, Obama had voiced growing frustration at China's trade practices and he pushed for a new Asia-Pacific trade deal with some of Beijing's neighbours.
The moves are seen as an attempt to reassert US leadership to counter China's growing influence around the Pacific Rim and reassure allies such as South Korea and Japan that it would remain a strong counterweight.
The United States wants the dispute over the South China Sea discussed on the Indonesian resort island of Bali at meetings of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight regional powers, including the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
Bilateral meetings are being held on Friday before a full East Asia summit on Saturday.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are the other claimants to parts of the South China Sea, a major route for some $5 trillion in trade each year and potentially rich in resources.
The Southeast Asian countries along with the United States and Japan, are pressuring Beijing to try and seek some way forward on the knotty issue of sovereignty, which has flared up again this year with often tense maritime stand-offs.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged claimants earlier this week not to resort to intimidation to push their cause, itself an indirect reference to China, which lays claim to large swathes of the sea.
In bilateral meetings on Friday, Obama said the dispute should be discussed by the regional leaders at the talks, known as the East Asia Summit, which could embolden some Southeast Asian countries with claims.
Japan added its voice to the call, saying those with claims should "seek a peaceful resolution in a transparent matter based on international law."
China though is adamant it does not want such talks to take place and that the issue should be resolved via bilateral negotiations. Raising the issue in multilateral summit talks would not help foster East Asian co-operation, it argues.
"On the contrary, this could open up a Pandora's Box and inflame regional tensions," the overseas edition of the People's Daily, the official paper of the ruling Communist Party, said on Friday in a front page commentary.
The People's Daily generally reflects official thinking, and the small-circulation overseas edition often states views more bluntly than the bigger domestic edition.
VITAL ECONOMIC INTEREST
Obama has said the increased focus on the Asia-Pacific region was essential for America's economic future, a point he emphasized on Friday as executives from Boeing Co and Indonesia's Lion Air signed an agreement for the low cost carrier to buy $21.7 billion worth of US planes.
"This is a remarkable example of the trade, investment and commercial opportunities that exist in the Asia-Pacific region," he said of Boeing's biggest commercial order.
"This is an example of a win-win situation where people in the region are going to be able to benefit from outstanding airlines, and our workers back home are going to be able to have job security."
A first step in extending the US military reach into Southeast Asia will see US Marines, naval ships and aircraft deployed to northern Australia from 2012.
That deployment to Australia, which by 2016 will reach a taskforce of 2,500 US troops, is small compared with the 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea and 50,000 in Japan.
But the de facto base in Darwin, only 820 km (500 miles) from Indonesia, expands the direct US military presence in Asia beyond South Korea and Japan and into Southeast Asia, an area where China has growing economic and strategic interests.
It will also put more US troops, ships and aircraft much closer to the South China Sea and will allow the United States to quickly reach into Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Obama on Thursday acknowledged China's unease at what it sees as attempts by Washington to encircle it, pledging to seek greater cooperation with Beijing.
China has questioned the new US deployment, with a foreign ministry spokesman raising doubts about whether strengthening such alliances helped the region pull together at a time of economic gloom.
From the APEC meeting last week to the president's sweep through Asia, Obama has used some of his strongest language against China, which some analysts suggest is largely focused on the US domestic audience ahead of elections next year.
Last week in Hawaii, he demanded that China stop "gaming" the international system. He said China, which often presents itself as a developing country, is now "grown up" and should act that way in internatonal affairs.
China's official reaction has been restrained, with an impending leadership succession preoccupying the Communist Party and leaving Beijing anxious to avoid diplomatic fireworks.
Posted in: Day To Day World News
Indian Americans Grow To 3.2m, Top In Income
WASHINGTON: Some 3.2 million Indian Americans, including Asian Indians of mixed race, lived in the United States in 2010 as South Asians led all Asian groups in population growth in the last decade. They led all Asian American households with highest media household income.
At 3,183,063, Indian American made up 18 percent of the Asian American population in 2010, up from 16 percent in 2000, according to a new compilation of 2010 census data.
According to 2007 to 2009 data, Indian Americans led all Asian American groups in the country in median household income at $86,660. The next highest total was $77,596 for Taiwanese households.
Taiwanese and Indians also led in per capita income among Asian American groups, with $38,312 and $36,533, respectively, followed by Malaysians ($33,264) and Sri Lankans ($32,480).
Bangladeshi Americans had the biggest percentage increase over the decade, skyrocketing 157 percent, according to the study, "A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans in the United States, 2011," by the Asian Pacific American Legal Centre and the Asian American Justice Centre.
The Pakistani population had the second highest population bump with a 100 percent rise. The Sri Lankan and Indian American populations increased 85 percent and 68 percent, respectively.
Among the South Asian groups, Pakistanis had the highest rate of naturalization at 57 percent, while just 50 percent of Bangladeshi Americans, 47 percent of Indian Americans and 43 percent of Sri Lankan Americans were naturalised.
About 200,000 Indian legal permanent residents were eligible to become citizens in 2008.
The leading six Asian countries for immigrant visas issued from 2001-2010 were: Philippines, 350,694; China, 286,008; India, 267,403; Vietnam, 193,049; Bangladesh, 84,643; Pakistan, 69,202.
The report estimated that in 2010 there were about one million undocumented immigrants from Asia in the US About 280,000 were from the Philippines, 200,000 from India, 170,000 from Korea and 130,000 from China. India's total was down from an estimate of over 275,000 in 2005.
From 2005-09, Hindi speakers in the US were estimated at 527,481. Numbers of speakers of other South Asian languages were: Urdu, 326,310; Gujarati, 304,102; Punjabi, 209,835; Bengali, 188,452; Telugu, 171,015; Tamil, 132,573; Malayalam, 116,486; Marathi, 53,436; Kannada, 37,377; Nepali, 37,240; and Sinhalese, 22,336.
Only 22 percent of Indian Americans five years of age and older from 2007-09 were limited English proficient, compared to 46 percent for Bangladeshis and 28 percent for Pakistanis.
Taiwanese and Indian Americans led all Asian groups in higher educational attainment, with 73 percent to 68 percent, respectively, having a bachelor's degree or higher.
The percentage of Indian Americans living in poverty was 8 percent in the 2007-09 time period.
Both Indians and Pakistanis in the US had 9 percent of the seniors ages 64 or above living in poverty. In the Bangladeshi community that figure was 16 percent.
At 3,183,063, Indian American made up 18 percent of the Asian American population in 2010, up from 16 percent in 2000, according to a new compilation of 2010 census data.
According to 2007 to 2009 data, Indian Americans led all Asian American groups in the country in median household income at $86,660. The next highest total was $77,596 for Taiwanese households.
Taiwanese and Indians also led in per capita income among Asian American groups, with $38,312 and $36,533, respectively, followed by Malaysians ($33,264) and Sri Lankans ($32,480).
Bangladeshi Americans had the biggest percentage increase over the decade, skyrocketing 157 percent, according to the study, "A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans in the United States, 2011," by the Asian Pacific American Legal Centre and the Asian American Justice Centre.
The Pakistani population had the second highest population bump with a 100 percent rise. The Sri Lankan and Indian American populations increased 85 percent and 68 percent, respectively.
Among the South Asian groups, Pakistanis had the highest rate of naturalization at 57 percent, while just 50 percent of Bangladeshi Americans, 47 percent of Indian Americans and 43 percent of Sri Lankan Americans were naturalised.
About 200,000 Indian legal permanent residents were eligible to become citizens in 2008.
The leading six Asian countries for immigrant visas issued from 2001-2010 were: Philippines, 350,694; China, 286,008; India, 267,403; Vietnam, 193,049; Bangladesh, 84,643; Pakistan, 69,202.
The report estimated that in 2010 there were about one million undocumented immigrants from Asia in the US About 280,000 were from the Philippines, 200,000 from India, 170,000 from Korea and 130,000 from China. India's total was down from an estimate of over 275,000 in 2005.
From 2005-09, Hindi speakers in the US were estimated at 527,481. Numbers of speakers of other South Asian languages were: Urdu, 326,310; Gujarati, 304,102; Punjabi, 209,835; Bengali, 188,452; Telugu, 171,015; Tamil, 132,573; Malayalam, 116,486; Marathi, 53,436; Kannada, 37,377; Nepali, 37,240; and Sinhalese, 22,336.
Only 22 percent of Indian Americans five years of age and older from 2007-09 were limited English proficient, compared to 46 percent for Bangladeshis and 28 percent for Pakistanis.
Taiwanese and Indian Americans led all Asian groups in higher educational attainment, with 73 percent to 68 percent, respectively, having a bachelor's degree or higher.
The percentage of Indian Americans living in poverty was 8 percent in the 2007-09 time period.
Both Indians and Pakistanis in the US had 9 percent of the seniors ages 64 or above living in poverty. In the Bangladeshi community that figure was 16 percent.
Posted in: Day To Day World News
Uk Police Charge Four With Terrorism Offences
LONDON: British police charged four men from the central English city of Birmingham on Friday with terrorism offences linked to Pakistan.
The men were arrested on Tuesday as part of a police counter-terrorism investigation in which eight others have also been charged.
West Midlands Police said in a statement the four men would appear in court in London on Saturday.
They face charges of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism, travelling to Pakistan for training and travelling abroad to commit acts of terrorism.
Police named the four as Khobaib Hussain, Ishaaq Hussain and Shahid Kasam Khan, all 19 years old, and Naweed Mahmood Ali, aged 24.
Their arrests were pre-planned and not made in response to any immediate threat to public safety, police said on Tuesday.
The men were arrested on Tuesday as part of a police counter-terrorism investigation in which eight others have also been charged.
West Midlands Police said in a statement the four men would appear in court in London on Saturday.
They face charges of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism, travelling to Pakistan for training and travelling abroad to commit acts of terrorism.
Police named the four as Khobaib Hussain, Ishaaq Hussain and Shahid Kasam Khan, all 19 years old, and Naweed Mahmood Ali, aged 24.
Their arrests were pre-planned and not made in response to any immediate threat to public safety, police said on Tuesday.
Posted in: Day To Day World News
Obama Opens Door To New Us Ties With Myanmar
President Barack Obama said on Friday he saw "flickers of progress" in Myanmar, dispatching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a historic visit that could draw the country out of half a century of global isolation.
Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more US engagement with the country also known as Burma.
In another indication of change in Myanmar, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, re-registered on Friday to contest a series of by-elections for vacant parliamentary seats. This follows amendments to electoral laws and brings Suu Kyi a step closer to returning to politics.
Obama said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in recent weeks were "the most important steps toward reform in Burma that we've seen in years."
Clinton's two-day visit from December 1 would be the first by a US Secretary of State since a 1962 military coup ushered in 50 years of unbroken military rule that ended in March when a nominally civilian parliament was established.
Since then, the new government has called for peace with ethnic minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and reached out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.
"We want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said.
However, he cited stubborn US concerns over Myanmar's stance with North Korea, human rights, treatment of ethnic minorities and the continued detention of political prisoners. US officials have said these issues must be addressed before Washington can consider ending economic sanctions.
"If Burma fails to move down the path of reform, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But if it seizes this moment, then reconciliation can prevail," Obama said.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Many Western governments have expressed caution that more must be done for Myanmar's reforms to be considered credible. As early as October 17, for instance, Derek Mitchell, special US envoy for Myanmar, said there were "credible reports" of continuing human rights abuses against women and children.
Clinton is scheduled to meet Suu Kyi and visit Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw. She will "explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma and begin a new chapter between our countries," Obama said.
Myanmar welcomed the visit.
"It's a very good sign," Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to Myanmar's president, told Reuters. "I think it is a significant turn in US policy toward Myanmar ... people in Myanmar will welcome, cheer Hillary Clinton because for a time in history, they have never seen a secretary of state."
With sanctions blocking Western investments, China has emerged as Myanmar's biggest ally, investing in infrastructure, hydropower dams and twin oil-and-gas pipelines to help feed southern China's growing energy needs.
Bilateral trade rose more than half last year to $4.4 billion, and China's investment in Myanmar reached $12.3 billion in 2010, according to Chinese figures, with a strong focus on natural resources and energy.
But the relationship has been strained, with a long history of resentment of China among the Burmese population and fierce public opposition to a Chinese-built dam at Myitsone that prompted Myanmar President Thein Sein to shelve the project last month, a move that stunned Beijing.
A US official said the Obama administration "fully expects" China to welcome US engagement with Myanmar and the United States would consult China closely on its engagement with the Southeast Asian country.
China is wary of greater US influence in the region, especially in countries on its border, as Myanmar is, but the US decision to engage with Myanmar should not be seen as an attempt to contain China, the US official said, adding that a stable Myanmar was in China's interests.
"It's about Burma, not about China," the official said.
When Obama took office in 2009, he made reaching out to American adversaries a signature part of his foreign policy approach. That included an effort early to engage with Iran.
But the administration took a cautious approach on Myanmar because of its human rights record. Obama requested a policy review on Myanmar, paving the way for the recent diplomacy.
US officials said that Obama spoke to Suu Kyi during his flight on Thursday from Australia to Bali.
The 20-minute call was the first time they had talked and he told her he had long admired her democratic struggle. They described it as a meaningful but friendly conversation in which Suu Kyi also asked about Obama's family dog.
He asked for her ideas on how to approach her country.
"She encouraged the president to make clear to Burma's leaders that the US will be willing to work with them if they are in fact demonstrating that they are willing to work with the world and her," one US official said.
Obama is not scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Thein Sein but will see him in Bali at a East Asia Summit.
Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the
country can stick to reforms begun this year. The United States respected that decision, a US official said.
Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more US engagement with the country also known as Burma.
In another indication of change in Myanmar, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, re-registered on Friday to contest a series of by-elections for vacant parliamentary seats. This follows amendments to electoral laws and brings Suu Kyi a step closer to returning to politics.
Obama said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in recent weeks were "the most important steps toward reform in Burma that we've seen in years."
Clinton's two-day visit from December 1 would be the first by a US Secretary of State since a 1962 military coup ushered in 50 years of unbroken military rule that ended in March when a nominally civilian parliament was established.
Since then, the new government has called for peace with ethnic minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and reached out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.
"We want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said.
However, he cited stubborn US concerns over Myanmar's stance with North Korea, human rights, treatment of ethnic minorities and the continued detention of political prisoners. US officials have said these issues must be addressed before Washington can consider ending economic sanctions.
"If Burma fails to move down the path of reform, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But if it seizes this moment, then reconciliation can prevail," Obama said.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Many Western governments have expressed caution that more must be done for Myanmar's reforms to be considered credible. As early as October 17, for instance, Derek Mitchell, special US envoy for Myanmar, said there were "credible reports" of continuing human rights abuses against women and children.
Clinton is scheduled to meet Suu Kyi and visit Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw. She will "explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma and begin a new chapter between our countries," Obama said.
Myanmar welcomed the visit.
"It's a very good sign," Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to Myanmar's president, told Reuters. "I think it is a significant turn in US policy toward Myanmar ... people in Myanmar will welcome, cheer Hillary Clinton because for a time in history, they have never seen a secretary of state."
With sanctions blocking Western investments, China has emerged as Myanmar's biggest ally, investing in infrastructure, hydropower dams and twin oil-and-gas pipelines to help feed southern China's growing energy needs.
Bilateral trade rose more than half last year to $4.4 billion, and China's investment in Myanmar reached $12.3 billion in 2010, according to Chinese figures, with a strong focus on natural resources and energy.
But the relationship has been strained, with a long history of resentment of China among the Burmese population and fierce public opposition to a Chinese-built dam at Myitsone that prompted Myanmar President Thein Sein to shelve the project last month, a move that stunned Beijing.
A US official said the Obama administration "fully expects" China to welcome US engagement with Myanmar and the United States would consult China closely on its engagement with the Southeast Asian country.
China is wary of greater US influence in the region, especially in countries on its border, as Myanmar is, but the US decision to engage with Myanmar should not be seen as an attempt to contain China, the US official said, adding that a stable Myanmar was in China's interests.
"It's about Burma, not about China," the official said.
When Obama took office in 2009, he made reaching out to American adversaries a signature part of his foreign policy approach. That included an effort early to engage with Iran.
But the administration took a cautious approach on Myanmar because of its human rights record. Obama requested a policy review on Myanmar, paving the way for the recent diplomacy.
US officials said that Obama spoke to Suu Kyi during his flight on Thursday from Australia to Bali.
The 20-minute call was the first time they had talked and he told her he had long admired her democratic struggle. They described it as a meaningful but friendly conversation in which Suu Kyi also asked about Obama's family dog.
He asked for her ideas on how to approach her country.
"She encouraged the president to make clear to Burma's leaders that the US will be willing to work with them if they are in fact demonstrating that they are willing to work with the world and her," one US official said.
Obama is not scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Thein Sein but will see him in Bali at a East Asia Summit.
Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the
country can stick to reforms begun this year. The United States respected that decision, a US official said.
Posted in: Day To Day World News
New Dawn: Suu Kyi To Run In Myanmar Polls
BALI: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's most prominent democracy campaigner, announced on Friday she would rejoin the political system of the military-backed government that persecuted her for more than two decades.
Her announcement came shortly after president Obama disclosed that he was sending secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton on a visit there in December, the first by a secretary of state in more than 50 years.
The twin events underscored the remarkable and sudden pace of change in Myanmar, which has stunned observers inside and outside the country.
The reentry of Suu Kyi and her party into formal politics was seen as a milestone in reconciliation efforts between military leadership and the country's democracy movement. The party's decision was unanimous.
"For decades Americans have been deeply concerned about the denial of basic human rights for the Burmese people," Obama said. "The persecution of democratic reformers, the brutality shown toward ethnic minorities and the concentration of power in the hands of a few military leaders has challenged our conscience and isolated Burma from the United States and much of the world."
But he added that "after years of darkness, we've seen flickers of progress in these last several weeks" as the president and parliament in Myanmar have taken steps toward reform. "Of course there's far more to be done," Obama said.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, her announcement on Friday was greeted by cheers.
"Mother Suu, we support you!" the crowd chanted, using the party leader's nickname , according to a witness. Others depicted her decision as portentous.
"The pace of political change in Burma has exceeded all expectations," Thant Myint-U , a historian and former United Nations official. "We're on the verge of a historic compromise."
Obama will see president U Thein Sein of Myanmar at Friday's broader meeting of Pacific Rim leaders but will not have a one-on-one encounter.
Her announcement came shortly after president Obama disclosed that he was sending secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton on a visit there in December, the first by a secretary of state in more than 50 years.
The twin events underscored the remarkable and sudden pace of change in Myanmar, which has stunned observers inside and outside the country.
The reentry of Suu Kyi and her party into formal politics was seen as a milestone in reconciliation efforts between military leadership and the country's democracy movement. The party's decision was unanimous.
"For decades Americans have been deeply concerned about the denial of basic human rights for the Burmese people," Obama said. "The persecution of democratic reformers, the brutality shown toward ethnic minorities and the concentration of power in the hands of a few military leaders has challenged our conscience and isolated Burma from the United States and much of the world."
But he added that "after years of darkness, we've seen flickers of progress in these last several weeks" as the president and parliament in Myanmar have taken steps toward reform. "Of course there's far more to be done," Obama said.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, her announcement on Friday was greeted by cheers.
"Mother Suu, we support you!" the crowd chanted, using the party leader's nickname , according to a witness. Others depicted her decision as portentous.
"The pace of political change in Burma has exceeded all expectations," Thant Myint-U , a historian and former United Nations official. "We're on the verge of a historic compromise."
Obama will see president U Thein Sein of Myanmar at Friday's broader meeting of Pacific Rim leaders but will not have a one-on-one encounter.
Posted in: Day To Day World News
