Are you ready? Pakistan vs India

WikiLeaks newsworthiness

The top Yemeni general backing pro-democracy protesters is, like Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a crafty survivor who has wielded power for his own benefit, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks. General Ali Mohsen, a powerful figure close to Saleh, threw his support behind the democracy movement earlier this week and sent in troops to protect protesters in the capital of Sanaa, where they have gathered in the tens of thousands to pressure Saleh into giving up his grip on power after 32 years. Yet as far back as 2005, Thomas Krajeski, then the U.S. ambassador in Sanaa, painted a picture in diplomatic cables of a brutal military commander likely to back a more radical Islamic political agenda and draw little public support. "Ali Mohsen's name is mentioned in hushed tones among most Yemenis, and he rarely appears in public," Krajeski wrote in a cable obtained by Reuters. "Ali Mohsen... is generally perceived to be the second most powerful man in Yemen. Those that know him say he is charming and gregarious." Noting Mohsen's role in ruling Yemen with an "iron fist," the cable said he controls at least half of Yemen's military. Despite its detail and strong opinions, other parts of the cable contained key inaccuracies, such as Mohsen's estimated age as well as the region he commands. The United States and Saudi Arabia have long relied on Saleh to try and stop al Qaeda from using Yemen as a base to plot attacks on both countries. The impoverished Arabian Peninsula country is deeply divided, and was already on the brink of becoming a failed state before protests erupted in January, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. After Mohsen's defection on March 21, Saleh reacted by warning against a "coup" that would lead to civil war and beefed up his personal security for fear of an assassination attempt. Days later, Mohsen told Reuters that he had no desire to take power or hold office, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in "tranquility, peace and relaxation far from the problems of politics and the demands of the job." The diplomatic cable also indicates that Mohsen would be viewed by the public as an unpalatable successor to Saleh. "Ali Mohsen would likely face domestic as well as international opposition if he sought the presidency... Yemenis generally view him as cynical and self-interested." One reason, according to the U.S. ambassador at the time, was because of his side business in smuggling. "A major beneficiary of diesel smuggling in recent years, he also appears to have amassed a fortune in the smuggling of arms, food staples, and consumer products," his cable said. Although the opposition welcomed Mohsen's support earlier this week, they are also wary of his loyalties, which fall along the country's tribal and ideological fault lines. Northern Shi'ite rebels see Mohsen as a ruthless military leader who led the military campaign against them in a bloody civil war. Leftists and southerners worry that their goals for democracy will be overtaken in a military power struggle, while the Islamist opposition is thought to view Mohsen more favorably.More than likely, Krajeski wrote in the cable, Mohsen would try and orchestrate a transition where he could anoint Saleh's successor: "If he holds true to form, Mohsen would likely prefer to play kingmaker, choosing another loyal military officer to hold the presidency."

The desecration of the Holy Quran "an abhorrent act”

As the US State Department condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in Florida, one of the two controversial pastors responsible for this act said on Friday he would now visit America’s largest mosque to protest against ‘radical’ Islam. Pastors Terry Jones and Wayne Sapp, who run a fringe church in Florida with less than a dozen followers, have stirred an international controversy by burning a copy of the holy book inside their establishment on March 20. Sate Department’s deputy spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing in Washington that the Obama administration strongly condemned the burning. Speaking at a press conference on the situation in Libya, the US official termed the burning of the Holy Quran an “abhorrent act”. Pastor Jones, who created a similar controversy in September last year but later rescinded his plans to burn the book, apparently is enjoying the notoriety the burning has brought to him and his small religious outfit. On Friday, he said he would visit the Islamic Centre of America, in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 22. The centre is one of the largest mosques in North America and services much of Dearborn’s large Muslim population. He said he would protest outside the mosque “against Shariah laws and radical Islam”. “It is necessary that we set very clear lines for Muslims that are here in America,” Pastor Jones said in a written statement. “They are welcome to be here. They are welcome to worship. They are welcome to build mosques. But we do expect them to honour and obey our Constitution. “If they desire to change our Constitution, in other words to institute Shariah, then these Muslims are no longer welcome in our country. Now is the time that we make a very, very clear statement to radical Islam.”

Worldnews (Canada's conservative government, Obama, Cherry Blossom Festival, Fresh revelations by Wikileaks & Japan)

Canada's conservative government is toppled by the opposition with accusations of mismanagement. This now sets the scene for a May general election -- the fourth in less than seven years. The leader of the main opposition party said enough was enough. Opposition legislators reacted with delight at the vote result, 156 -145. But opinion polls indicate the conservatives are well ahead of the main opposition Liberal Party. Canada s Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he did not believe people wanted another election. The election is likely to be fought on two main themes, ethics and economy.

US President Barack Obama said Saturday the international mission in Libya was clear and focused, and succeeding by saving countless innocents from a “bloodbath” threatened by Muammar Qadhafi. Under increasing pressure to explain his strategy to Americans, Obama gave his most detailed review of the conflict so far, and insisted American national interests were behind his decision to order US forces into UN-mandated combat. “Make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians —innocent men, women and children —have been saved,” Obama said in his radio and online address. The president said a week into the operation that when innocent people were brutalized, by a leader like Qadhafi threatening a “bloodbath” and when nations were prepared to respond together “it’s in our national interest to act.” “And it’s our responsibility. This is one of those times,” Obama said. “Every American can be proud of the lives we’ve saved in Libya,” he said. The president has faced criticism that the mission to set up a no-fly zone is ill-conceived and has no clear end date or exit strategy, but he previewed arguments he is likely to muster in a national televised address on Monday. “Our military mission in Libya is clear and focused,” Obama said, noting the no-fly zone was mandated by the UN Security Council and that an international coalition was protecting Libyans to prevent “further atrocities.” “We’re succeeding in our mission. We’ve taken out Libya’s air defenses. Qadhafi’s forces are no longer advancing across Libya. “In places like Benghazi, a city of some 700,000 that Qadhafi threatened to show ‘no mercy’ his forces have been pushed back,” Obama said. Obama made clear to Americans wary of yet another foreign military adventure however that the goals of the mission were limited and that “responsibility for this operation” would be transferred to US allies and Nato partners.

The two week National Cherry Blossom Festival opens in Washington on Saturday. This cherry blossom event begins with donation and solemn DC tribute to Japan. The flowering trees that symbolize friendship between the United States and Japan are blooming for the 99th time in Washington in the wake of one of the world s worst natural disasters. Before the opening of the festival, organizers held a fundraising walk and vigil on Thursday among the trees for victims of Japan s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Several hundred people gathered at the Washington Monument to donate money, with some holding Japanese flags or signs of support. The donation will be used by American Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan. Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki attended the donation ceremony and gave a speech, expressing his appreciation of the support from the American people. The festival director Diana Mayhew said, "Tonight, two days before the festival starts, we are just gathering people, inviting people for moment of reflection here at the Washington Monument and then walk the Tidal Basin in the spirit of hoping rebuilding for Japan." This event has also attracted people from all walks of lives, including John R. Malott, president and CEO of Japan America Society of Washington. "I think at this time the Japanese people need encouragement from us, they need to know that all of the friends overseas, whether in China or the United States, are thinking about them. And we all want to do anything we can to help them recover and rebuild their nation," he said.

India's ruling Congress party on Saturday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party for denying revelations India s ruling Congress party on Saturday slammed the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for denying the fresh revelations by Wikileaks that one of their leaders said that Hindu nationalism was an opportunistic issue for the party. The latest Wikileaks expose published by a national newspaper said BJP leader Arun Jaitley in May 2005 spoke to an American diplomat and expressed his view saying Hindu nationalism was an opportunistic issue for the party. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Shakeel Ahmed, spokesperson of India s ruling Congress party said parties like BJP and Hindu ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers Corps) have always used religion for their own selfish means. Ahmed also said BJP and RSS have again proved that they make comments to suit their needs. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the party only disagreed to the word  opportunistic  being used and that the party did not take an opportunistic stand. BJP had been demanding the Congress party to clarify its stand on the cash-for-vote scandal, wherein the federal government was accused of buying lawmakers in 2004 to win their confidence in the Indo-U.S nuclear deal, as revealed by Wikileaks. But the Congress, siting an Indian magazine, said, the cash-for-scam was engineered by the BJP in collusion with a television news channel.

Japan's government has revealed a series of missteps by the operator of a radiation-leaking nuclear plant, including sending workers in without protective footwear in its faltering efforts to control a monumental crisis. The US Navy, meanwhile, rushed to deliver fresh water to replace corrosive saltwater now being used in a desperate bid to cool the plant's overheated reactors. Government spokesman Yukio Edano urged Tokyo Electric Power Co to be more transparent, two days after two workers at the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi plant suffered skin burns when they stepped in water that was 10,000 times more radioactive than levels normally found near the reactors. "We strongly urge TEPCO to provide information to the government more promptly," Edano said. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, or NISA, said TEPCO was aware there was high radiation in the air at one of the plant's six units several days before the accident. And the two workers injured were wearing boots that only came up to their ankles - hardly high enough to protect their legs, agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said.

Sri Lanka thump sorry England, enter World Cup semis

Sri Lanka ended England’s gruelling five-month global getaway with a comprehensive 10-wicket triumph on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final showdown against New Zealand. Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan, with 108 not out, and Upul Tharanga who hit an unbeaten 102, enjoyed their second 200-plus partnership of the tournament, wrapping up victory in Colombo in the 40th over. The win also allowed Muttiah Muralitharan, the most successful bowler in history, to extend his 19-year career by at least three more days with Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, facing the Kiwis in Colombo on Tuesday. England, who have been on the road virtually non-stop since embarking on their successful Ashes tour in October, made a dogged 229 for six in their 50 overs. Jonathan Trott (86) and Eoin Morgan (50), who was dropped three times, provided much-needed backbone on a slow, flat R. Premadasa stadium pitch. Patience was the key word for Trott, who hit his fourth half-century of the tournament, as he negotiated the four-pronged Sri Lankan spin attack. But he was unable to lift the innings in the final overs as England managed just 23 in the batting power-play. Trott fell in the 49th over, caught off Muralitharan who finished with 2-54, after a 115-ball innings which featured just two boundaries.