Singapore Navy takes part in RIMPAC off coast of Hawaii - Channel NewsAsia
Singapore Navy takes part in RIMPAC off coast of Hawaii
By Claire Huang | Posted: 15 July 2012 2105 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is taking part in a multilateral exercise off the coast of Hawaii. The maritime exercise called Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) started in late June and is expected to end in August.
The RSN sent its frigate, the RSS Formidable.
Hosted by the United States Navy, the exercise has two phases. One is a shore planning phase and the other is a 24-day sea phase.
22 countries are taking part in the exercise, involving 40 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.
In the exercise, RSS Formidable commands a task unit, comprising four other warships from Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, to conduct combined anti-submarine and air defence missions, among others.
The Republic's warship also carried out simultaneous live-firing of two Harpoon Surface-to-Surface missiles.
Commanding Officer of the RSS Formidable, Lieutenant-Colonel Ong Chee Wei, said: "Exercise RIMPAC is a good opportunity for the RSN to train with other established navies to perform complex maritime operations in a high intensity environment.
"This year, the RSN is commanding a multinational task unit and this has allowed the RSN to enhance our engagements with other navies, strengthen professional understanding and interoperability with them."
This year's Exercise RIMPAC also involves maritime forces from countries such as Australia, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
-CNA/ac
SPL clubs examine Rangers fallout - Football
Published: 15 Jul 2012 - 17:47:02
Scottish Premier League clubs meet on Monday to discuss their reaction to the decision to place the Rangers newco in the Third Division amid warnings that up to five of them could follow the Ibrox club into administration.
St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour revealed his own club were among those battling to stay solvent after Scottish Football League clubs rejected a plan to place the relaunched club in the First Division.
Gilmour's comments - accusing SFL clubs of damaging Scottish football - betrayed an expectation that the lower-league clubs would accept the reconstruction deal that accompanied the plan. The scheme was formulated by executives of both leagues along with SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, whose position has come under scrutiny.
Queen of the South, one of the few clubs who voted for the First Division plan, have hit out at Regan and SPL counterpart Neil Doncaster.
The Dumfries club said they only voted for the First Division plan because they believe it is inevitable the new Rangers will end up in the second tier, and wanted to ensure reform such as top-flight play-offs came with it.
A statement read: "We have been incredibly disappointed and angry at the actions and leadership of the senior members of the SFA and SPL throughout this whole saga. There have been statements, both public and private, that have amounted to little more than threats.
"The dialogue has been negative, focusing on and exaggerating the possible 'Armageddon' rather than rallying and actively trying to find solutions that all clubs and, more importantly, supporters would feel comfortable supporting. Instead we were presented with a set of proposals that no one was happy with.
"More importantly, the message from the governing bodies was that, even with a 'no' vote, they would continue to pursue the newco Rangers playing in one of the top two tiers next season. There has been a lot of talk about how this is not possible under the current rules, but as the saying goes 'where there's a will there's a way'."
There remains scepticism among many SFL clubs that the Ibrox club will start off in the bottom tier following Regan's earlier comments that he could not allow the game to suffer a "slow, lingering death" that such a scenario would, in his opinion, prompt.
Clyde hinted that Ibrox chief executive Charles Green had been promised by Regan that such an outcome could not come about amid warnings of an SPL2 breakaway. The SFA have said little since Friday's vote and are still to decide on Sevco's application to assume Rangers' membership of the association, and what sanctions might come with it.
Related Rangers News
Taliban blamed for suicide bombing at Afghan wedding - CBC
An initial investigation into a bloody weekend suicide bombing at a wedding suggests Taliban militants were responsible, Afghanistan's interior minister said Sunday.
A suicide bomber drew close to a warlord-turned-legislator at his daughter's wedding on Saturday, then blew himself up, killing the father of the bride and 22 others.
The Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the attack, nor have they denied that they carried it out.
Bismullah Khan Mohammadi, Afghanistan's interior minister, says preliminary evidence points to Taliban involvement in Saturday's blast. 'We are hopeful that we will be able to capture the perpetrators of this attack,' he says. (Sam Dillon/U.S. army via Getty)The grisly attack showed again how militants still have the capability of causing havoc in Afghanistan, despite a decade-long U.S.-led military campaign there.
Interior Minister Bismullah Khan Mohammadi was in Samangan province in northern Afghanistan on Sunday to attend the funeral of Afghan National Police Gen. Sayed Ahmad Sameh, the commander for the western region, who was killed in the attack.
The apparent target of the blast in the provincial capital of Aybak was Ahmad Khan Samangani, a well-known ethnic Uzbek who commanded forces fighting the Soviets in the 1980s and later became a member of parliament.
Samangani was welcoming guests to the wedding when the blast ripped through the building.
Also killed were Mohammad Khan, the intelligence chief in the province, and Mohammadullah, an Afghan National Army division commander who uses only one name.
About 60 other people, including government officials, were wounded in the explosion.
Arrests hoped for
The interior minister said a government-appointed delegation was still investigating, but evidence already collected indicates the Taliban orchestrated the bombing with some other militants.
"They came yesterday and they have started their work to investigate this incident," Mohammadi said.
"Our police and the provincial governor of Samangan told me that some evidence has surfaced that indicates that Taliban and terrorists were involved," he said. "Since this incident just happened, they are continuing their work, and we are hopeful that we will be able to capture the perpetrators of this attack."
Also Sunday, a vehicle in a convoy transporting Afghan Higher Education Minister Obaidullah Obaid hit a roadside bomb during a trip between Baghlan and Kunduz provinces. The minister was not riding in the car that hit the bomb and was not injured. Two of his bodyguards were slightly wounded, according to Abdul Majid, the governor of Baghlan, who was in the motorcade.
RSS rallies to protest saffron terror tag - Deccan Herald
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has decided to stage a national-wide dharna on November 10 to protest what it termed attempts by the Congress to ''malign'' its image by ''falsely linking'' it to terror activities.
Addressing reporters on Saturday, RSS National Executive member Ram Madhav said a peaceful dharna will be held for two hours at all district headquarters. RSS functionaries will submit a memorandum to the Governor in this regard after holding the dharna in front of Town Hall in Bangalore, he added.
The Congress has unleashed a campaign to defame the RSS by falsely implicating its functionaries to some bomb blasts in the country, he claimed. “It is an irony that the victims of terror (RSS functionaries) are being portrayed as perpetrators of terror by self-seeking politicians. It is a deep-rooted conspiracy to silence patriotic and nationalist voices,” he alleged.
Senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar has been charge-sheeted by the Rajasthan ATS without any evidence. “We have decided enough is enough. We want to register our protest against the vindictive attitude of the Congress,” Madhav stated, adding that the RSS will continue its cooperation in investigating all cases.
Rally for Ram temple
Madhav said the RSS will also hold public rallies from national level to block level in December in support of the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. “The rallies will be in support of the spirit of Allahabad High Court on the issue. It will be the manifestation of people’s will in favour of the temple,” he stated.
Silent on corruption
The RSS tried to distance itself from a slew of corruption charges against the BJP Government. To a question whether the corruption charges and the recent political developments have dented the image of the BJP and the RSS, he only said: “You are the better judge.”
Asian shares extend rally on China relief, Bernanke next focus - Reuters
TOKYO |
TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares extended their rally on Monday as fears of an economic hard landing in China subsided, with last week's softer growth data within expectations and Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday raising the prospects of more policy stimulus if needed.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS inched up 0.3 percent after jumping 1 percent on Friday. But the index marked its steepest weekly loss in two months, slumping to its lowest level for July on worries about decelerating global growth.
Japanese markets are closed on Monday for a public holiday.
China's growth rate slowed for a sixth successive quarter to its slackest pace in more than three years, underscoring the need for more policy action even as signs emerged that Beijing's steps taken so far were underpinning the economy.
China's Wen said efforts to stabilize the economy are working and the government will beef up steps in the second half of 2012 to boost policy effectiveness and foresight, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
Its year-on-year 7.6 percent growth in the second quarter fell largely within expectations, spurring relief across asset classes, lifting European shares to their highest close in more than a week on Friday and U.S. stocks to snap a six-day losing streak.
U.S. shares were also buoyed by earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) that eased fears about the long-term impact of trading losses that cost the bank $5.8 billion for the year. A bleak outlook for second-quarter corporate earnings has also been weighing on sentiment as a protracted euro zone debt crisis helped deepen global economic conditions to deteriorate further.
"Expectations have been beaten down quite a bit, displayed by the strong rebound triggered by China's in-line growth data, so there likely won't be any large scale disappointments from sluggish earnings this week," said Jeon Jong-kyu, an analyst at Samsung Securities, about the Korean equities market.
Commodities-linked currencies such as the Australian dollar, which typically are used as a gauge for risk appetite, steadied while the euro nudged up from its two-year low of $1.2162 hit on Friday, trading at $1.2246 on Monday.
Oil extended gains after settling up more than $1 on Friday, with Brent crude up 0.5 percent at $102.89 a barrel and U.S. crude steady at $87.08 a barrel on Monday. <O/R>
BERNANKE, EUROPE EYED
Markets will seek clues from the Federal Reserve this week on its stance over a stronger monetary policy to support the U.S. recovery, after central banks from Europe, China and Brazil earlier this month cut interest rates to bolster fragile growth.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to repeat that the Fed will take further easing measures only if necessary, when he faces semi-annual testimony to the U.S. Congress on the economy on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Market may find it disappointing and is likely to be USD-supportive," analysts at Barclays Capital said in a client note.
Investors will also keep monitoring whether borrowing costs in highly-indebted Spain and Italy would start to climb again.
Italian banks shrugged off Moody's downgrade of Italy's credit rating to near-junk status and helped Rome sell the maximum amount of bonds it was targeting at an auction on Friday, lowering three-year bond yields to their lowest since May. But 10-year yields rose to near 6 percent.
Reflecting investor jitters over the euro, currency speculators raised their bets in favor of the U.S. dollar in the latest week, while boosting their positions against the euro to their highest in a month, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday. <IMM/FX>
Ahead of a meeting of euro zone finance ministers later this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday she was confident that a majority of German lawmakers would back aid for Spain's ailing banking sector at a special sitting of the lower house Bundestag set for Thursday.
Euro zone finance ministers agreed earlier this month on a rescue package of up to 100 billion euros for ailing Spanish banks, but the German government needs a parliamentary approval before it can commit to pay its share of the bailout at the euro zone meeting, set for this Friday.
(Additional reporting by Ian Chua in Sydney and Joonhee Yu in Seoul; Editing by Michael Perry)
Warren blows Scottish Open chance as Singh wins - ESPN.co.uk
Marc Warren threw away the chance to book his place at next week's Open Championship on Sunday, losing his nerve when in possession of a three-stroke lead at the Scottish Open, which was won by Jeev Milkha Singh.
Warren, born in Rutherglen, led a talented field on the final day as he moved to a seemingly winning score of 20-under. However, the 31-year-old will have to wait for the chance to end his five-year spell without a European Tour title, after he lost his nerve over the concluding four holes to finish on 16-under, one stroke off the top score.
Warren had started the final round two strokes behind the leader, but five unanswered birdies through the opening 12 holes propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. With four left to play the Scot found himself defending his own two-shot advantage, which was wiped out when his putter completely failed him for a double-bogey at 15.
He was handed a lifeline when the man with whom he shared his lead, Francesco Molinari, himself bogeyed 15 to once again give Warren the edge. However, further bogeys at 16 and 17 ruined the Scot's bid, leaving him to sign for a one-under 71, which opened the door for Molinari to force a play-off.
With Singh already in the clubhouse on 17-under, Molinari entered the final hole knowing a birdie would secure him victory. As he approached the green he faced a tricky putt for par, which he drained to force the play-off, but Singh claimed the title - and a spot at The Open - by winning the first play-off hole.
Warren was left to settle for a tie for third alongside Alex Noren.
Matthew Baldwin was the highest finishing Englishman, finishing with a five-under 67 to complete on 15-under. Baldwin produced his second flawless round of the competition to sign off on an excellent week's work.
The big names failed to fire in round four, with Phil Mickelson particularly disappointing after he had played his way into contention. The American had moved to within three strokes of the third-round leader, but his challenge capitulated when he posted four bogeys between seven and 14 on Sunday.
Mickelson eventually signed for a two-over 74, leaving him on an overall score of 12-under. That left him level with world No. 1 and defending champion Luke Donald, who also failed to break par as he ended with a 73.
Padraig Harrington was another to settle for a 12-under score, with former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer further back on 10-under. All four players will acknowledge the need for improvement heading into The Open.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
Clarke leads Warwickshire to the top of the table - ESPN.co.uk
Rikki Clarke scored a run-a-ball century as Warwickshire charged to the top of the LV= County Championship by taking maximum bonus points from their rain-ravaged draw with Sussex at Edgbaston.
Clarke's unbeaten 110, coupled with a season's best 81 from a resurgent Jim Troughton, took the title contenders to a declaration at 400 for eight. Yet even they must have been mildly surprised by the way Sussex collapsed for 191 in less than half a day with New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel taking five for 77.
Clarke was again at the forefront for Warwickshire with three for 19 and Patel preyed on Sussex's vulnerability in an unchanged spell of 18.1 overs, which included the wicket of Matt Prior when the England wicketkeeper clipped to mid-on.
All this added up to a near-perfect day for the barnstorming home side. Five points for batting, three for bowling and three for a draw put them one ahead of overnight leaders Nottinghamshire with a game in hand.
Rob Newton and David Sales both scored centuries as Northamptonshire's batsmen dominated the second day of their match against Glamorgan at Wantage Road. After being made to bat, Northamptonshire closed on 336 for five with Newton smashing a career-best 117 off 113 balls - his sensational knock including 14 fours and three sixes. Sales' innings was not quite as spectacular, but brilliant nonetheless as he made an unbeaten 129 off 277 deliveries with 16 fours.
Nottinghamshire ended Surrey's unbeaten run in the Clydesdale Bank 40 by winning a one-sided contest at Guildford with 57 balls and five wickets to spare. With Harry Gurney taking four for 22 and Darren Pattinson three for 27, the Outlaws required 124 for victory, which was never seriously in doubt after James Taylor - who made an unbeaten 41 off 57 balls - and Samit Patel had seized the initiative with a third-wicket stand of 57 in 14 overs.
Craig Kieswetter's 47-ball half-century was enough to guide Somerset to their first CB40 win of the season, a 60-run success over Scotland at sunny Taunton. The England one-day wicketkeeper hit eight fours and a six in his 56 to help the hosts to 206 all out after winning the toss, Jos Buttler making 32.
In reply Scotland were soon 31 for four as Alfonso Thomas and Jamie Overton grabbed two wickets each with the new ball. They were eventually bowled out for 146, Richie Berrington top scoring with 40 and Craig Meschede taking four for 27.
Australia's Usman Khawaja scored his maiden one-day century for Derbyshire as they recorded a CB40 double over the Unicorns with a 35-run victory at Chesterfield. Khawaja made 104 from 109 balls and shared a century opening stand with Chesney Hughes who made 66 out of the Falcons' 235 for seven. Luis Reece led the chase with 59 from 63 balls but his dismissal in the 35th over ended the Unicorns' slim hopes and they were bowled out for 200, with Mark Turner taking four for 54.
Simon Katich guided Hampshire to a comfortable four-wicket win over Durham at the Ageas Bowl with a perfectly-judged half century. Katich struck three sixes and a four in his 59 not out as Hampshire got home with 10 balls to spare. Durham, put in on a slow wicket, managed 200 for seven from their 40 overs and Hampshire reached 201 for six as Kabir Ali gleaned the winning single off Mitchell Claydon.
Gloucestershire's game with Essex at Cheltenham was abandoned without a ball bowled. Gloucestershire have now lost three out of five days at this year's Cheltenham Festival to the weather and will be hoping for better luck with Tuesday's Clydesdale Bank 40 match with Worcestershire.
Middlesex's clash with Leicestershire at Uxbridge was also abandoned an hour before the scheduled start at 1.45pm. Both teams take one point from the no result, leaving Middlesex, who are second in Group A, on eight points from seven games, three points behind leaders Holland. Leicestershire, with six points now from eight matches, remain second from bottom in the table and are already out of the running for a semi-final place.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
Blatter to strip Havelange role - Football
Published: 15 Jul 2012 - 19:17:05
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has confirmed his intention to rally for the removal of the organisation's disgraced honorary president Joao Havelange.
Havelange, the 96-year-old former FIFA president, and his former son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira were named in court documents last week as having received millions of pounds in bribes from collapsed marketing company ISL during the 1990s. And despite initially claiming he was powerless to act, current president Blatter will now look to strip Havelange of the title.
He told Swiss paper SonntagsBlick: "He (Havelange) is a multi-millionaire. That he received bribes beggars belief for me. He does not need it."
He added: "I will suggest to the (executive) committee that the issue be dealt with at our next congress. He has got to go. He cannot remain honorary president after these events."
Neither Havelange nor former executive committee member Teixeira ever faced disciplinary action from FIFA.
Instead, the world governing body agreed to pay a Swiss court 2.5million Swiss francs (£1.64m) in compensation - but only on the condition that criminal proceedings against Havelange and Teixeira were dropped. The court report states Havelange was paid at least CHF1.5m (£1m), Teixeira at least CHF12.74m (£8.37m) and the pair may have received as much as CHF21.9m (£14.4m).
Blatter also revealed a high-ranking football official tried to bribe him to ensure his country qualified for the World Cup in 1986.
He said: "While I was general secretary, a football association president from one county came to me. It was a decisive game with the winner qualifying for the World Cup in 1986. He was here in FIFA HQ. As he was leaving, he came to me and said 'it would be good if the referees were on our side'. Then he put an envelope in my coat.
"I went back into my office and opened the envelope. There were 50,000 dollars inside. I took the money to our accountant and he suggested we should open an account in the man's name and pay it in. I told this to him and, 14 days later, he picked the money up. Since then, nobody has tried to bribe me.
"Back then we did not have an ethics committee - he gave me the money, I gave it back and that was it."
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