World To Us http://WorldToUs.com World News, Markets, Religions, Populations, Sports, Business, Breaking News updates and lots more… en-us Copyright 2007, World To Us team. 240 No charges against Pakistan players: cricket chief http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=96564 Wed, 8 Sep 2010 18:25 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=96564 No charges against Pakistan players: cricket chiefPakistan's cricket chief stressed Wednesday that British police had yet to charge any of the three players accused of spot-fixing and said there was "zero tolerance" against corruption.

Under-pressure Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt returned home to protests and calls for his resignation over the claims, which refuse to go away. British newspaper the News of the World caused a major scandal by claiming it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros, 230,000 dollars) for advance knowledge of no-balls in last month's final Test against England, which could then be bet upon.

That prompted the International Cricket Council to suspend Test captain Salman Butt, 25, rising 18-year-old bowling star Mohammad Aamer plus another bowler, Mohammad Asif, 27, pending a decision on the allegations. British police raided the Pakistan team hotel and are further investigating the matter. "Investigations are under way and police has yet to charge any player," Butt told the media.

Butt said team manager Yawar Saeed informed him about the matter. "The police interrogated our players for nine hours last Friday, but there have been no charges levelled against them," he said.

Butt refused to discuss previous cases of match-fixing against Pakistani players.
"I don't want to go back in the past, let this inquiry be finished," he said. "We are very concerned over the allegations and since we too have zero tolerance against corruption, we also want this to finish soon.""We are really worried about the matter and if any player is found responsible then we will take strict action," he added.

]]> Aisam, Bopana in US Open pre-quarters http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=96387 Tue, 7 Sep 2010 08:43 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=96387 Aisamul-Haq Qureshi, the first Pakistani ever to be seeded at a grand slam tennis tournament, has made it through to the pre-quarter final round of the US Open in New York. With his partner Rohan Bopanna, Aisam overcame Finland’s Jarko Nieminen and Germany’s Michael Kohlmann 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

The first set saw Aisam and Bopanna break Kohlmann’s serve to take a 3-2 lead. They consolidated lead to 4-2. After serving out their own game to make it 3-4, Nieminen and Kohlmann were able to break serve in the next game, levelling the set at 4-4. Another break of serve followed, with Aisam and Bopanna now with a chance to serve out the set at 5-4. This they did, and won the first set 6 -4.

]]> Scotland Yard releases Pakistan's tainted trio without charge http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95946 Sat, 4 Sep 2010 06:11 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95946 The tainted Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, which is at the centre of a 'spot-fixing' scandal' that has rocked world cricket, was released without charge after being questioned by the Scotland Yard in London. Officers of the Scotland Yard questionedTest captainButt and pace bowlers Aamir and Asif, who were suspended by the International Cricket Council yesterday and charged with offences under its anti-corruption code for "alleged irregular behaviour" during last week's Lord's Test.

]]> Pakistan match-fixing claims: cricketer Mohammad Amir questioned http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95865 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 11:18 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95865 The teenage bowler, who is regarded as one of the game's most exciting talents, attended Kilburn police station in north London by appointment at 10.30am. The 18-year-old, wearing a black shirt and jeans, arrived in a black Mercedes people carrier and was greeted by officers but not arrested. He is being interviewed under caution, in the presence of his solicitor, about an alleged conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Amir is the first player to be questioned over claims that no-balls were deliberately bowled during the Fourth Test match at Lord's on the orders of alleged match-fixer, Mazhar Majeed, as part of an alleged spot-fixing scam.
Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, and Mohammed Asif, another bowler, will be questioned after Amir, throughout the course of the day. Mr Majeed, 35, was arrested and bailed earlier this week pending further inquiries by Scotland Yard.

]]> US Warns Citizens Of Terror Strike During CWG http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95728 Thu, 2 Sep 2010 06:23 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95728 The US has warned its citizens travelling to or residing in India during the upcoming Commonwealth Games of a threat of "terrorist action and violence" and asked them to "take care when travelling within Delhi". "The US mission in India alerts US citizens travelling to or residing in India to safety and security issues related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in New Delhi," a statement by the US state department said on Wednesday.

The Games will be held Oct 3-14 in Delhi. The statement warned of a "worldwide caution" regarding the threat of terrorist actions and violence against US citizens and interests. It, however, stated that the US government has no information on any specific threat of attack that any individual or group is planning to coincide with the Games.

]]> PCB's Inquiry Meeting With Tainted Trio Put Back http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95556 Wed, 1 Sep 2010 06:28 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95556 PCB's Inquiry Meeting With Tainted Trio Put Back: The meeting of Pakistan's tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir with Pakistan Cricket Board and High Commission officials here has been put back, reports said on Wednesday.

'Sky News' and 'The Guardian' claimed the trio will now miss Pakistan's practice match against Somerset starting on Thursday as that will clash with their meeting with PCB and High Commission officials at the High Commission here.

]]> World Bank announces $900 mn for Pakistan floods http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95020 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:41 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=95020 The World Bank has announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction work following the floods in Pakistan that have cost the nation around Rs.250 billion, a media report said on Friday. Pakistan is grappling with its worst ever floods that have left over 1,600 people dead and affected over 14 million people.

A report in the Dawn put the total economic loss due to floods at around Rs.250 billion.  The World Bank's Pakistan Director Rachid Benmessaoud met with Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday and announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction.

]]> Cameron and Zardari to hold talks ‎ http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=94454 Fri, 6 Aug 2010 12:14 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=94454 Pakistan’s President Zardari meets British PM David Cameron today at Cameron’s official country residence, Chequers. The meeting comes in the wake of a diplomatic spat between the two countries prompted by comments made by the British PM about Pakistan promoting the export of terror. The fight against terrorism, aid for flood victims and economic relations are due to be on the agenda.

Moscow smog - Just when things couldn’t get any worse for Muscovites, temperatures are set to reach 40 C on Friday with heavy smog set to descend upon the city. Smoke from forest and peat fires, mixed with general city pollution means that the smog has turned toxic, raising health fears for the city’s population.

]]> World Cup 2010: Octopus Paul Is Not For Sale http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=93358 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:47 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=93358 According to reports in the Telegraph, the oracle Paul the Octopus is not for sale. Despite Paul retiring from his match tipping days, Madrid Zoo had made a financial offer to Oberhausen Zoo to take him to Spain. After petitions from all over Spain to acquire the Paul, who correctly predicted Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup 2010 final, a spokesperson in Oberhausen said, "We are not in contact with Madrid Zoo. And we know nothing about swapping Paul for another animal or him going to Madrid Zoo for a transfer sum."

Officials in Spain are willing to up any offer on the table with some businessmen willing to fork out the money. One town in Spain has already made Paul an honoury citizen and the Octopus is also due to receive his own minature World Cup in his tank.

]]> South Africa nurses World Cup hangover http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=93082 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:12 GMT http://WorldToUs.com/article.asp?articleid=93082 South Africa nurses World Cup hangoverJust a week ago, Mary Muthui was selling dozens of football scarves, beanie hats and vuvuzelas every day from her stall at the Rosebank Mall crafts market in northern Johannesburg. But on Tuesday – just two days after the end of South Africa’s World Cup – the 28-year-old was struggling to sell anything at all and her prices had been steeply reduced.

The standard vuvuzela – a plastic flute painted in South African colours – could be bought for only R60, less than half than it would have cost when the cup competition was in full fling. “They were very popular,” explained Ms Muthui. “I got them from the Ethiopian traders in town and they brought them in from China.”

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