Five-Set Win Puts Roger Federer Into Quarterfinals
It was hard to tell who was more in shock, the crowd or Roger Federer. Right out of the gate Igor Andreev, the No. 23 seed from Russia, had the five-time US Open champion back on his heels. However, Federer showed why his is Federer, taking Andreev to five sets and earning a spot in the quarterfinals for the sixth straight year with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win. As he went up 3-0 in the first se..
Google Looks to Enter the Crowed Web Browser Market Taking on Microsoft IE8
Google Inc. is releasing its own Web browser in a long-anticipated move aimed at countering the dominance of Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer and ensuring easy access to its market—leading search engine. The California-based company took the unusual step of announcing its latest product on the Labor Day holiday after it prematurely sent out a comic book drawn up to herald the new browser’s arr..
At ceremony for Baghdad victims, Ban renews pledge to protect UN staff worldwide
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his pledge to protect United Nations staff around the world, as he met in Geneva with the families of the victims and survivors of the deadly 2003 terrorist attack on the world body's headquarters in Iraq. The 19 August bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad claimed the lives of 22 staff, including the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mel..
Haiti: UN agencies working to meet urgent needs of Hurricane Gustav victims
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are teaming up to bring life-saving assistance to thousands of people living in temporary shelters in Haiti, after deadly Hurricane Gustav struck the country last week. The two agencies, along with local authorities and partners, are providing potable water, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets, high-energy bisc..
In Ethiopia, top UN relief official assesses drought-stricken areas
The top United Nations humanitarian official has begun his three-day visit to Ethiopia, where he is holding talks with Government officials, relief groups and individuals affected by the country's drought and food crisis. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, travelled to Ethiopia's Konso Special Woreda in Southern Nations N..
Greater efforts needed to provide safe water for more than 1 billion people, says Ban
More than one billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said today, calling for greater efforts to achieve the water and sanitation targets set by world leaders in 2000. As part of the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), countries pledged to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water by ..
Google to Release New Web Browser Google Chrome Today
The Google Blog yesterday accidentally announced their new web browser - Google Chrome - which is scheduled for a 2nd September 2008 release. Google Chrome promises to add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web. The browser promises to have all the features existing browsers provide plus enhancing it with Google Gears and Webkit that will support the development of..
UN provides emergency aid to Afghans affected by recent military operations
A United Nations team has delivered emergency relief assistance to some 900 people in the country's western Herat province who were affected the recent military operations which the world body said resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including many children. Last week the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that an investigation by its human rights team found th..
Mines and unexploded ordnance taking heavy toll on Chad's children, says UN
Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) are taking a heavy toll on Chadian civilians, particularly children who make up the majority of the victims of the deadly scourge in the African nation, according to the United Nations. Some 95 people have been killed by mines and UXO this year in Chad, of whom 17 were killed and 78 injured, the majority of them children. In the most recent incident on 28 ..
Zimbabwe's lifting of aid agency restrictions 'positive' development, says Ban
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Zimbabwe's announcement on lifting the suspension of field operations of aid agencies, which have a vital role in the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the southern African nation. “This positive development will help ensure that neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance is provided to the people of Zimbabwe,” Mr. Ban's spokesperso..
US Open 2008 - Roger Federer Serves His Way Into Round of 16
The last time Roger Federer met Radek Stepanek, it was on clay in Rome, a match Stepanek won in two tiebreak sets. This time, with the stakes higher in the year’s final Grand Slam, it was different result. Federer, the No. 2 seed, served well, returned well and hit key shots as he downed No. 28 Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium for his 30th straight US Open win and put him into t..
US Open 2008: With Fan Support Soaring, Querrey Faces Rafael Nadal
With the line for a Sam Querry autograph stretching across the courtyard out at the National Tennis Center this afternoon, it was clear that Querrey’s popularity and fan recognition has taken off here at the Open. It’s not just that he toppled the No. 14 seed Ivo Karlovic on Saturday to reach his first Round of 16 at a Grand Slam, or that he’s a 20-year-old, up-and-coming American star and one ..
Prime Minister Addresses Students and Faculty of IIT, Guwahati
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh visited TCS Centre and addressed the students and faculty members of IIT Guwahati in Assam today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion : I believe it was Sir Winston Churchill who once said that empires of the future are going to be the empires of the mind. And whenever I visit the institutions of higher level such as the I..
Country Shocked as Maoists Kill Hindu Sages in Orissa
<b>L.K. Advani:</b> I am shocked to know that Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a revered Hindu religious leader working for the welfare of tribals in Orissa, and four others, including a woman sanyasin, were killed last night at a village in Kandmahal district. I share the outrage of the people of Orissa over this dastardly crime. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was a selfless Hindu seer wh..
UN calls for probe into reports of Afghan civilian casualties in military operation
23 August 2008 – The top United Nations official in Afghanistan today called for a thorough investigation of reports that large numbers of civilians were killed during an international military operation in the far west of the country. Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, issued a statement in which he said he had learned late last night that civilians may have been ki..
Top UN envoy concludes latest visit to Myanmar
23 August 2008 – The senior United Nations envoy to Myanmar today wrapped up his six-day visit to the Asian country by meeting with senior members of the Government and the diplomatic corps. Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Myanmar, held open and extensive meetings with Prime Minister Thein Sein, according to a statement issued in Yangon, the country's bigge..
Somalia: UN envoy condemns deadly violence in port city
23 August 2008 – The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today deplored this week's outbreak of deadly violence that has engulfed the southern port city of Kismayo and displaced thousands of people from the area. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia, said in a statement that the fighting in Kismayo – which has led to the deaths of many civilians – was aimed at c..
Deadly flooding in southern Chadian town prompts UN aid assistance
23 August 2008 – United Nations officials are working alongside local authorities in southern Chad to provide humanitarian assistance after flooding in and around the town of Sarh has left more than 10,000 people homeless. Three people are reportedly dead after their homes collapsed and an estimated 30,000 others have been affected by the floods, which followed nearly a month of torrential rain..
Top UN official calls for greater effort to end contemporary forms of slavery
Marking the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) chief today appealed to Member States to renew efforts to end all forms of oppression. “While we should never forget the atrocities committed in the past, we should be equally vigilant in seeking to abolish the contemporary forms of s..
Five years after Baghdad attack, UN remembers some of its ‘best and bravest’
The United Nations today honoured those killed and injured in the terrorist attack on the world body’s headquarters in Baghdad five years ago, at a solemn ceremony in New York that included a classical music piece composed in memory of the fallen. The bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 claimed the lives of 22, including the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and ..
Deadly Algerian bombing sparks outrage from Security Council
The Security Council has strongly condemned today’s suicide bombing at a gendarmerie training academy in Algeria that has left dozens of people dead and injured many more. Offering their condolences to the victims “of this heinous act of terrorism,” Council members issued a presidential statement stressing the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the bombing to justice. ..
Georgian peace accord must be fully implemented, Security Council hears
The full implementation of the principles enshrined in last week’s peace plan that ended fighting in Georgia remains the best way to defuse tensions, find a lasting solution to the conflict and allow humanitarian assistance to those in need, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today. Briefing Council members at an open meeting, B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-Gen..
Security Council lauds Timor-Leste's response to assassination attempts
The Security Council today commended Timor-Leste’s Government and public institutions for their quick and effective response in the wake of the February attempts on the lives of the leaders of the tiny nation that the United Nations helped shepherd to independence in 2002. In a statement read out by Ambassador Jan Grauls of Belgium, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, the 15..
Haiti: UN mission alarmed as another child kidnapping victim is killed
Officials with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti have voiced alarm at the continuing spate of kidnappings of children in the impoverished country, days after abductors killed a boy apparently because his family could not pay the ransom. The body of the 12-year-old boy was found in Grande Ravine on Saturday, four days after he had been kidnapped, the mission (known as MINUSTAH) re..
Arundhati Roy: "Kashmir should be free, India must be broken up"
“India needs azadi from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs azadi from India.” were the words of an award winning author. She was admired by an entire nation, we loved her, we wished her well and we cherished her success. She was one of us, until Monday the 18th of August 2008. She went over to Srinagar. Protested and waved Pakistani flags. Supported those who butchered 15,000 Indian Kashmiri Pand..
Hypocritical Hurriyat Calls for Western Forces to Occupy Kashmir
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the pro terrorists, pro jihad faction of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, on Tuesday demanded the immediate occupation of Kashmir Valley by Western Forces. Addressing a gathering of people at Srinagar's Tourists Reception Centre Grounds along with fellow leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabbir Shah and Yasin Malik, Geelani laid down three immediate demands: ..
Wind Energy Potential in India 45000MW; Only 19.5 per cent Harnessed
The wind-power potential in the country is 45000MW. The present production is 8760MW where as the Government has decided the target for 11th plan at 10500 MW. The Government has initiated new scheme of Generation Based Initiative (GBI) scheme for wind power generation. The objective of the scheme is to attract new and large independent power producers to wind sector. The GBI would be paid only ..
Men's 1500m Freestyle: Mellouli gold shatters Hackett dream
Australian Grant Hackett's bid for a record third consecutive Olympic title in the Men's 1500m Freestyle fell apart as Tunisian Oussama Mellouli proved faster than the Australian on Sunday, at the National Aquatics Center. Mellouli's time for the gold medal of 14:40.84 was an African record. Against the expectations of many, he stuck with the two fastest qualifiers, Hackett an..
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay: Australia smashes world record for gold
The Australian Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay team made up for some disappointing performances on the last few days of competition at the National Aquatics Center to break the world record and take the gold medal on Sunday, the final day of swimming competition. As the defending Olympic champions, world champions, world record holders and fastest qualifiers for the final they proved their c..
Michael Phelps Wins 8 Gold Medals - U.S. Takes Gold in Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay
U.S. takes gold in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay giving Michael Phelps his 8th Gold Medal at Olympics 2008 making him undoubtedly the greatest Olympian of all time and the best swimmers in history as he broke the three decade old Spitz record. Phelps now has 14 Olympic Golds, the highest ever. Needless to say, the World Record was broken. During the relay the American team took the ea..
