Nadal vence a Soderling y gana su quinto título en el Abierto de Francia

PARÍS (Reuters) — El tenista español Rafael Nadal se adjudicó su quinto título del Abierto de Francia en seis años al vencer el domingo por 6-4, 6-2 y 6-4 en la final al sueco Robin Soderling.

Nadal, quien había perdido su reinado en el polvo de ladrillo de Roland Garros justamente ante Soderling en la cuarta ronda el año pasado, logró el triunfo en un total de dos horas y 18 minutos en el estadio Philippe Chatrier.

De ese modo, el jugador mallorquín se llevó el título del segundo torneo del Grand Slam del año sin haber perdido un solo set.

Nadal, de 24 años, no tenía buenos antecedentes frente al hombre que le provocó su única caída en Roland Garros, aunque esta vez Soderling estuvo lejos de su mejor nivel.

El sueco, finalista también en el 2009, no pudo encontrar la manera de superar la defensa de Nadal y una vez que perdió su servicio en el quinto juego del set inicial, la caída se hizo inminente.

Nadal, quien ya suma siete títulos de eventos del Grand Slam, se llevó la victoria cuando Soderling dejó un revés en la red, tras lo cual el español estalló en llanto y se desplomó de espaldas en el polvo de ladrillo de París, su superficie favorita.

China’s Gigantic, Kitschy Future: Inside the Shanghai World Expo

By Juha Saarinen

SHANGHAI, China — Billed as bigger than the Beijing Olympics, the latest and largest world’s fair doesn’t disappoint when it comes to scale, in every mind-boggling respect.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010, which opened May 1, cost an estimated $55 billion (some sources say up to $95 billion) to get off the ground. It sits on 2 square miles of prime Shanghai real estate, straddling the Huangpu River, making it the biggest world’s fair in the 159-year history of such events.

More than 18,000 families and 270 factories were moved to make room for the expo, the construction of which stretched over seven years — all for an event lasting six months.

Organizers estimate that it will be visited by 70 to 100 million people before it closes Oct. 31, with daily crowds of 400,000 or more.

That’s an enormous number of people, and you notice it instantly, from the queues to get into the expo to the crowds on the concourses and pavilions inside. Getting inside the popular European and American pavilions means waiting for an hour or longer outside in 80- to 90-degree heat and high humidity. The dominating $220 million Chinese pavilion is already fully booked for the months of May and June, so unless you’re a VIP with special reservation, you can’t get in at all.

In the past, there would’ve been no question as to whether queuing up for hours was worth it. That’s because what was there would change the future: Fax machines, microscopes, industrial processes, and even the superhighway system all made their first public appearances at world’s fairs.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 comes up short in that respect. Apart from stunning architectural spaces, there’s nothing new, exciting, or controversial on display — a far cry from say, the 1939 world’s fair.

This expo isn’t so much a world’s fair as a China one, with other countries and global corporations exhibiting as curiosities for the people of a rapidly developing country to see. Only an estimated 5 percent of visitors will be from overseas. For millions of Chinese visitors, the event is a first real contact with the outside world.

For them, the expo is meant to be picture of their future.

If so, it’s an ambitious one.

Niger signs judicial cooperation deal with Libya

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger, a northwest African country ruled by a military junta, has signed a judicial cooperation deal with Libya, where 12 of its citizens await execution, the junta said at the weekend.

Under the agreement the two desert states, Libya exporting oil and Niger uranium, will help each other gather evidence from those accused, witnesses and experts.

"The council of ministers has examined and approved by decree a judicial convention covering criminal law between Niger and Libya," said a statement broadcast on national television.

Niger hopes its citizens who have been convicted and sentenced to death in Libya will be spared execution.

"Our foreign minister is working on the matter, and I am sure we will find a solution, because human life is sacred," said Morou Amadou, president of Niger's national consultative council.

The council is working with the junta on organising the country's transition to civilian government, which Niger's military rulers have said they want to be complete by next February, a year after they ousted then President Mamadou Tandja, though they have not set an election date.

Israel says activists prepared for fight on ship

By JOSEF FEDERMAN (AP)

JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister claimed Sunday that the Turkish activists who battled Israeli naval commandos in a deadly clash last week had prepared for the fight ahead of time — boarding the ship separately from other passengers after they organized and equipped themselves.

The comments from Benjamin Netanyahu were the latest in an Israeli campaign to defend its crackdown on Monday that killed nine activists on a flotilla headed to the blockaded Gaza Strip with hundreds of activists and humanitarian supplies on board. The operation has drawn fierce international condemnation, seriously damaged Israeli ties with Turkey, and brought heavy pressure to lift the 3-year-old closure of Gaza.

Netanyahu told his Cabinet that "dozens of thugs" from "an extremist, terrorism-supporting" organization had readied themselves for the arrival of the naval commandos.

"According to the information currently in our possession, this group boarded separately in a different city, organized separately, equipped itself separately and went on deck under different procedures," he said. "The clear intent of this hostile group was to initiate a violent clash with IDF (Israeli) soldiers".

Netanyahu did not say where the information came from. But Israeli military officials have claimed there is strong evidence that the men who fought the soldiers were hired mercenaries.

The organizers deny the allegations.

Are you ready for the big internet crunch?

By Matt Ford, for CNN

(CNN) -- The internet as we know it is reaching its limits.

Within 18 months it is estimated that the number of new devices able to connect to the world wide web will plummet as we run out of "IP addresses" -- the unique codes that provide access to the internet for everything from PCs to smart phones.

"The internet as we know it will no longer be able to grow," Daniel Karrenberg, chief scientist at RIPE NCC, the organization that issues IP addresses in Europe, told CNN.

"That doesn't mean it will cease to function, but entry could be limited to new devices".

Some estimate that by September 2011 the last large batches of addresses will be issued, meaning that months after that date there will be no new addresses available.

But while this sounds like a complete disaster -- another Millennium Bug -- it need not be, and there is a solution, if we all act quickly enough.

DR.Congo police chief admits role in murder: source

KINSHASA — A police colonel in the Democratic Republic of Congo has blamed the killing of a top human rights campaigner on the country's police chief, who has been suspended, a source close to the presidency said Sunday.

The source said Colonel Daniel Mukalay, head of the police special service, had been arrested and confessed to a role in the murder of Floribert Chebeya but pointed the finger at national police chief John Numbi who was put under house arrest.

Earlier Interior Minister Adolphe Lumanu announced on national television that Numbi had been suspended and several police officers arrested in the probe into Chebeya's death.

Reading out a communique Lumanu said President Joseph Kabila was "determined that all light be shed" on the murder.

He said that "to allow the enquiry to be conducted smoothly, the national defence council decided as a precaution to suspend inspector general John Numbi," at an extraordinary meeting on Saturday night.

Actor Don Cheadle named goodwill ambassador for UN

KIGALI, Rwanda — Actor Don Cheadle has become a spokesman for the United Nations environment program.

He was appointed Saturday in Rwanda's capital as a U.N. Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador and vowed to fight climate change and promote environment conservation.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner announced the appointment, saying that Cheadle would help raise green awareness among millions of people around the globe.

Cheadle also named a baby gorilla Zoya, a name chosen by internet users as part of a UNEP awareness program.

In 2004, Cheadle starred in the film "Hotel Rwanda" which told the world about the Rwandan genocide in 1994 that claimed the lives of more than 500,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Rwandan government, however, was critical of the film.

Motorcyclists rescued from deep snow in Otago

More than 20 motorcyclists became trapped in snow after ignoring road closed signs and bypassing a locked gate on the Danseys Pass road in Central Otago.

Sergeant Ian Kerrisk of Alexandra police says they were left shaking their heads in disbelief and the decision to travel past warning signs and locked gates was foolish to say the least.

The group whose ages ranged from the early 20's to mid 70's had intended travelling over the pass to a motor cycle event in Central Otago.

They became trapped just below the summit and had spent seven hours trying to walk to safety before they were rescued.

The rescue operation involved Police, ambulance, Search and Rescue volunteers, the local four wheel drive club, a commercial grader and a local farmer with a large tractor.

Hayabusa prepares to touch down in SA

An unmanned spacecraft set to become the first to bring material from an asteroid to earth is expected to touch down in South Australia's remote outback in one week.

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa, which has been in space for seven years, is expected to land in the Woomera Prohibited Area in far northern South Australia late next Sunday night, local time.

A spokesman for the Department of Defence said a 60km stretch of the Stuart Highway between Coober Pedy and Glendambo is expected to be closed for two hours from 10pm that night.

Jessica Watson thanks Coast fans

Anne-Louise Brown

OUR girl is back and the screams of young fans made every one know it.

Buderim’s own around-the-world sailor, 17-year-old Jessica Watson, sailed up the Mooloolah River to a hero’s welcome this afternoon.

From Caloundra to Alexandra Headland tens of thousands of Jess’s fans turned out to cheer Jess home, transforming the foreshore into a line of pink.

Premier Anna Bligh, dressed in pink, and mayor Bob Abbot, wearing pink braces, were on hand to officially welcome Jessica back to the yacht club at Mooloolaba Marina.

Many onlookers questioned why Ms Bligh was soaking up the Jessica glory when she had expressed the view that Jessica should not go ahead with the voyage.

Two brothers charged under new gang laws

By Brian McDonald

TWO members of a Galway family were yesterday charged with directing a criminal organisation.

This is the first case of its kind to come before the courts as a result of new anti-gangland legislation that was introduced last year.

Brothers Michael and Eddie O'Loughlin were taken under heavy armed guard to a special sitting of Galway District Court yesterday.

Detective Garda Shaun Durkin gave evidence of arresting and charging Eddie O'Loughlin, 26, of Rockfield Park, Rahoon, Galway at Galway garda station. He had made no reply to the charge.

He is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between February and June of this year.

Cumbria shootings: communities remember Derrick Bird's victims

Worshippers devastated by the murder of a parochial council secretary joined together today to begin dealing with their "community wound"

Jennifer Jackson, 68, and her husband, James, 67, were two of the 12 people shot dead on Wednesday by crazed Derrick Bird as he drove through the quiet village of Wilton in Cumbria.

Mrs Jackson would normally have been taking communion today in the stone-walls of Haile Parish Church where she played a key role and was immensely popular for her kindness and beautiful floral displays.

Instead, before the 9.30am service began, the Rev Barbara Jeapes stood welcoming parishioners with a hug or a kiss and playing over in her mind how different the service would be.

"We thought we were battered before but we realise that we now have a new dimension," she said, referring to an awful year for the county - devastated by the floods and heartbroken by the deaths of two pupils and a pensioner in a horrific road crash last week.

"This is a community wound, not an individual wound," Mrs Jeapes told the assembled 41 parishioners.

Air India, Jet Airways deny reports of 'averted collision'

Air India and Jet Airways officials on Sunday denied there was a possibility of a mid-air collision near Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. Pilots of their aircraft took evasive steps soon after the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) siren was sounded in the planes, the airlines said.

Spokespersons of both airlines separately said that claims that a mid-air collision was averted between Air India and Jet Airways aircraft flying out of and to Chennai were false media reports. 

"The TCAS alarm went off and as per instructions given to the pilots they acted... There was no chance of a collision to say it was averted," Air India spokesperson Chandra Kumar told IANS. 

"Reporters who had absolutely no idea of TCAS have made these reports. None of the airlines can be blamed in this case," he added. 

Shruti: Need some praise?

Shruti Seth’s show may not have caught the audiences attention, but the actress is mighty pleased with the audiences’ reaction to her performance in Raajneeti. 

She says, “Prakash Jha did praise me and I am overjoyed because the film had such great actors and for me to have been noticed by all and for Prakashji to praise me gives me ten fold happiness.” Well now if only the TV audiences had such praiseworthy things to say about Shruti’s shows!

India may see flight of capital in next six months: FICCI

NEW DELHI: India is likely to see flight of capital from its equity and debt markets in the next six months as global investors hesitate to pour money outside the US because of the European debt crisis, a FICCI survey said on Sunday. 

"With deleveraging (belt-tightening) expected to continue in the global markets, there is likely to be flight of capital from equity markets in emerging economies, including India," the chamber said, quoting the views of economists. It said debt flows could also be impacted. 

The unfolding events on the global economic landscape, particularly in Europe, would also result in a tight liquidity position in the coming months, it said. 

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is attending the G-20 ministerial meeting in South Korea, had said that if the recovery in Europe and the eurozone is retarded, it may have an adverse impact on India. 

Karzai orders freeing of inmates held without grounds

By Sardar Ahmad (AFP)

KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered a review on Sunday of the cases of Taliban-linked prisoners and other militants and said those held without grounds should be released.

Following up on a "peace jirga" held in Kabul last week, Karzai's office said the justice minister would head a committee to oversee investigation of cases of "persons in detention for links with the armed opposition.

"The committee shall conduct a comprehensive review of the cases and release those held without legally binding evidence of conviction, and report back to the president," the statement said.

However it did not specify if the review covered inmates at US-run detention facilities. Presidential spokesman Hamid Elmi told AFP the committee would start its work with Afghan-run prisons.

The Afghan leader hosted a gathering of around 1,600 delegates in a tent in Kabul last week hailed by the West as a sign of the country's growing political maturity, despite a rocket attack on the event.

The closing resolution included a call for the release of prisoners detained without evidence of their links to insurgents.

Jagan defies Congress, to go ahead with yatra

Indo-Asian News Service

Continuing to defy the Congress party leaders, former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's son YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday said he would go ahead with his Odarpur yatra.

"Who told you that yatra would not continue?" he shot back when reporters in Anantapur sought to know if he has called off his yatra. 

The Kadapa MP was asked to comment on reports that he decided to call off his controversial tour in different parts of Andhra Pradesh following a directive from the central leadership. 

By repeatedly asking the same question to reporters, Jagan has virtually made it clear that he would go ahead with his yatra in Srikakulam district from June 8. 

The yatra is aimed at consoling the family members of those who either committed suicide or died of shock following the death of his father, popularly known as YSR, in a helicopter crash last year. 

Jagan's attempt to defy the high command and take out the yatra in Warangal district of Telangana region on May 28 had triggered violence. The young MP was arrested on his way to Mahabubabad town in the district but firing by gunmen of his two loyal legislators in the town injured nine pro-Telangana activists, who were opposing his tour.