BlackBerry App World Off to Slow Start

NEW YORK I'm typing this in between perusing Facebook, trying (and failing) to master a guitar-simulation game and listening to Internet radio on my smart phone.And no, I'm not using an iPhone. I'm using a BlackBerry Curve 8900 to try out the recently rolled out BlackBerry App World.Lately, any smartphone maker worth its salt is operating or about to launch an application store that corrals all kinds of free and paid software you can download straight to your handset.Apple Inc. started the trend with July's release of its App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.Google Inc. runs one for phones that support its Android operating system — currently just the T-Mobile G1, though more are expected — and Nokia Corp. runs several it plans to consolidate into one. Palm Inc. is developing the Palm App Catalog for its upcoming Pre handset, while Microsoft Corp. is making one for phones that use its Windows Mobile OS. Not wanting to be left in the dust, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. unveiled App World early this month, marking a major change from the past, when third-party programs were available for BlackBerrys but not in one convenient spot.

Chargers crush under performing Riders

Deccan Chargers beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets to win the fourth match of the second edition of the Indian Premier League at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.RP Singh was adjudged the Man of the Match for taking 4 wickets. Riding on unbeaten knocks by Herschelle Gibbs and Rohit Sharma, Deccan Chargers chased down the victory target of 102 runs in just 13.1 overs. Gibbs's knock of 43 came off 26 deliveries and was studded with 5 fours and a six, while Rohit hit 2 sixes and 3 fours in his 36-run knock that came off 32 deliveries. Deccan Chargers lost captain Adam Gilchrist and former captain VVS Laxman in quick succession but with an unbeaten partnership of 69 runs, Gibbs and Rohit thwarted the Riders' plan of a fightback by taking some easy singles and punishing the bad balls. Ashok Dinda got his team the first breakthrough when Gilchrist edged high up in the air for Moises Henriques takes a well judged catch at square leg. The former Aussie opener hit 2 fours in his 13-run knock off 11 balls. Laxman hit a splendid six off Ishant Sharma over the mid-wicket fence and followed it with a sweetly timed boundary through the covers but then got run out needlessly. Laxman (10) tapped to backward point and went for a single, was sent back by Herschelle Gibbs, but was too slow to turn around and beat the throw from Laxmi Ratan Shukla into the hands of Brendon McCullum to run out the Hyderabadi. The fall of these two wickets in quick succession gave the Riders some hope of a fightback but Gibbs and Rohit Sharma have so far thwarted their plans by taking some easy singles and punishing the bad balls. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders were bowled out for 101 runs in 19.4 overs. 

Vettori stars as Daredevils win in style

A superb spell of bowling from Daniel Vettori was the main factor for the Daredevils to secure a 10 wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab in a rain affected match at Newlands.The revised target meant that Delhi Daredevils need 30 runs to win off 25 balls at 7.20 runs per over. Delhi Daredevils were 24/0 in 1.5 overs in pursuit of 105 when rain stopped play. Delhi Daredevils were off to a good start with captain Virender Sehwag hitting a six and 2 fours in his 14-run knock that came off 5 balls, while his opening partner Gautam Gambhir smashed 2 fours to score 8 runs off 6 balls. Earlier, Kings XI Punjab scored 104/7 in their 12 overs after put in to bat by Sehwag. Kings XI Punjab got off to a flying start with Karan Goel and Ravi Bopara going all guns blazing till Daniel Vettori was introduced in the attack. Vettori took 3 wickets as Kings XI Punjab lost their way in the middle of their innings. Vettori trapped Bopara plumb in front of the wicket by his very first delivery, there was no turn in the delivery but Vettori gave it enough air to decieve Bopara who hit 2 sixes in his 22-run knock that came off 16 balls. Vettori then struck in his next over when he had Kumar Sangakkara (8) caught by Dirk Nannes at short fine leg. Yuvraj Singh (16) was run out in Vettori's next over. Yuvraj tried to sweep, did not connect, Mahela Jayawardene called him for a quick single, wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik's throw went straight into the hands of Vettori who removed the bails. Two deliveries later, Jayawardene (6) hit to long off for Tillakaratne Dilshan to take the catch. On the very next delivery, Irfan Pathan tapped to the covers for a quick single, Manoj Tiwary charged in, picked and threw in one swift action to run out Piyush Chawla (0) with a direct hit to reduce Kings XI Punjab to 98/6 in 11 overs. Aavishkar Salvi took the last Punjab wicket when Pathan (6) hit to long on for Dilshan to take the catch on the last delivery. Earlier, Goel gave Kings XI Punjab a flying start before he was dismissed to leave his team at 67/1 in 6 overs. Goel's 38-run knock came off just 21 balls and was studded with 3 sixes and 3 fours. His dismissal came when he hit a slower delivery from Yo Mahesh to mid-off for Vettori to take the catch. After a delay of an hour and 40 minutes due to rain, play finally started after Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to bowl first. The match was first reduced to 14 overs and then to 12 overs. 

Vettel gives Red Bull their wings

German Sebastian Vettel gave Red Bull their first Formula One win at a Chinese Grand Prix that was like "driving in a river".The 21-year-old claimed the second victory of his career with Australian teammate Mark Webber taking his own best result in a Red Bull one-two on a track that resembled a skidpan for much of the race."Getting the top two for Red Bull is incredible, I'm extremely happy," said Vettel, who took nearly two hours to complete the 56 laps."It was extremely challenging, there was a lot of aquaplaning ... really hard to keep the car on the track, sometimes it was like there was a river running down the track."Webber, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said the race had been "right on the edge in terms of safety"."Very tough race, very difficult conditions but a very rewarding result," said the 32-year-old, whose previous best result was third.Briton Jenson Button, who won the first two races of the season, finished third to extend his championship lead to six points over Brawn GP team mate Rubens Barrichello, who was fourth."It's a great result for me," said Button, who now has 21 points."The problem is you can't see the car in front or the car behind, it's really quite dangerous."McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was fifth to get his season going at last after failing to finish a lap in the previous two races, while world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton finished sixth after a late spin robbed him of a better result.

Rafael Nadal wins fifth straight title at Monte Carlo Masters

Spaniard Rafael Nadal clinched his fifth successive title at the Monte-Carlo Masters with a 6-3 2-6 6-1 victory over Serb Novak Djokovic. He is the first man to win the claycourt tournament five times in a row.Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-6 6-1 in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday to become the first man to win the claycourt tournament five times in succession.The Spanish world number one struggled with his serve in the beginning but recovered from 3-1 down to win five games in a row and clinch the opening set.Djokovic had his back massaged before the start of the second set but the inconvenience did not prevent him from pocketing the first two games, then opening a 5-1 lead.The third-seeded Serb levelled the match with an ace but it turned Nadal's way again after a 14-minute tussle in the first game of the deciding set.The four-times French Open champion saved three break points before holding serve and breaking his opponent, who found just enough strength to break back for 2-1.But it got too much for Djokovic, who lost the next four games as Nadal wrapped up the win when the Serb netted a backhand.

Everton knock Man Utd out of cup

Manchester United will not be taking five trophies home at the end of the season after losing their English FA Cup semi-final to Everton.The Toffees beat United 4-2 on penalties to reach the final after the match ended 0-0 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.Everton will face Chelsea back at Wembley on May 30 after the west Londoners beat Arsenal 2-1 in Saturday's first semi-final.Defender Phil Jagielka scored the winning penalty, blasting the ball past United goalkeeper Ben Foster.Former United goalkeeper Tim Howard played his part, saving the first two penalties from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand.The defeat ended United's hopes of winning an unprecedented quintuple of major trophies this season.

US carmakers fight for Chinese market

This week's Shanghai's motor show will see crisis-hit US carmakers General Motors and Ford battle Chinese manufacturers for sales on the Chinese market, which has been the world's largest for three months now.Troubled US auto giants will square off against Chinese newcomers in Shanghai this week as they try to pull ahead in what has suddenly become the world's number one car market.Despite seeking government life support at home, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corp had banner months in China, which has overtaken the United States to be the world's largest auto market for three months running.But Chinese manufacturers such as Geely and Chery also had strong months and, sensing blood in the water, they see a chance to break out as global names."The economic slowdown offers real opportunities for Chinese domestic car makers," said Klaus Paur, automotive director for research firm TNS China, ahead of Monday's start of the Shanghai international auto show.Government incentives, such as tax rebates on smaller engine cars, helped drive China's auto sales to a monthly record of 1.08 million units in March.Vehicle sales in the first quarter rose almost six percent from a year earlier to 2.64 million units, according to official figures.Despite strong first quarter sales, 45 percent of prospective car buyers in China postponed purchases due to concerns over the economy, and a quarter have cut their budget, according to a TNS survey of more 1,000 mainland consumers.These factors favour Chinese carmakers, who typically make cheaper vehicles than their foreign competitors, according to Paur.

Afghanistan to boost police force

Afghanistan plans to recruit and train 15,000 new police officers in time for the country's presidential election in August, the interior minister says.Hanif Atmar said the Afghan authorities had asked international donors to approve a "strategic increase" in the size of the force.The full scope of the increase would be announced in June, he said.While the increase was temporary, he said, officials were studying how much bigger the force should be permanently.The country's police force currently has around 82,000 staff."Our request was a strategic increase of the numbers of the police in Afghanistan, and two: an interim increase until we are able to basically implement the strategic increase," Reuters quoted the minister as saying."Initially we thought that the Afghanistan police size needs to be doubled in order to meet the requirements," he said."We will have to do a deeper study to establish and determine the needs, and the response to the needs."Last month US President Barack Obama announced a US review of strategy in the region.He proposed a big spending programme on infrastructure projects, and said 4,000 extra troops would be sent to Afghanistan to train security forces.

No room for democracy in Islam: TNSM Chief

People listen to their religious spiritual leader Sufi Muhammad in

 Mingora capital of Swat on Sunday, April 19, 2009

MINGORA While addressing a large rally here on Sunday, Chief of the Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat, Maulana Sufi Mohammed said that the movement for the implementation of Sharia began in 1994.‘The fifteen year struggle of the TNSM for the implementation of Sharia in Malakand is now bearing results,’ the Chief of the Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat said.He said the democratic system is an un-Islamic one and the judicial system of Pakistan should be according to the Sharia.‘Now any appeal against the Qazi courts’ decisions can be made only through the Darul Qaza,’ he added. ‘There is no room for democracy in Islam.’In line with these statements, Sufi has demanded the abolition of all judges in Malakand, giving April 23 as a deadline for the establishment of Darul Qaza.Sufi wants Qazis appointed in all the districts within one month and also said that the government should start giving decisions in criminal and other cases according to the Sharia.

Italy accepts stranded migrants

Italy has agreed to allow a Turkish cargo vessel with around 140 would-be illegal immigrants to land on its territories for humanitarian reasons after Malta's continued insistence that it would not take them in.Italy's foreign ministry said on Sunday the decision was made after Malta refused to accept them despite renewed negotiations.The migrants had been waiting in international waters, about 40km southwest of the Italian island of Lampedusa, for three days before the decision was made to rescue them.They were initially picked up by the Turkish cargo ship Pinar on Thursday, after the two boats they were travelling on started sinking.Major Clinton O'Neill, the spokesman for the Maltese army rescue co-ordination centre, told  on Sunday that the Pinar was diverted to make the rescue after it was identified as the nearest vessel."We then instructed the ship to proceed to the nearest safe haven. It was Lampedusa," he said.Italy had insisted that the Pinar was in Malta's search and rescue area, arguing that Malta should have accepted the migrants. But Malta repeatedly refused."I've asked and continue to ask Malta to accept its responsibilities which it undertook according to international treaties," Roberto Maroni, the Italian interior minister, was quoted by state news agency ANSA as saying on Friday.Malta has argued that under international conventions, the nearest port of call, in this case Lampedusa, should be obliged to accept the rescued migrants.

Ahmadinejad calls for fair treatment for US-Iranian journalist

Hours after US President Barack Obama condemned Iran's jailing of American-Iranian reporter Roxana Saberi on charges of spying, Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked the Tehran prosecutor to treat Saberi fairly and secure justice.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Sunday for fair treatment of US reporter Roxana Saberi, who was sentenced to eight years in jail as a US spy, the state news agency IRNA reported.In a rare intervention in judicial proceedings, Ahmadinejad said the Tehran prosecutor should examine the case against both Saberi and Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian-Canadian blogger who has been behind bars since November, IRNA said."At the president's insistence, you must do what is needed to secure justice ... in examining these people's charges," said a letter from Ahmadinejad's chief of staff Abdolreza Sheikholeslami to Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi."Take care that the defendants have all the legal freedoms and rights to defend themselves against the charges," the letter said.Saberi, 31, a former US beauty queen, was convicted of spying for the United States during a closed-door trial and sentenced to eight years in jail, in a verdict unveiled on Saturday.US President Barack Obama, who has called for dialogue with Iran since he took office in January, was "deeply disappointed" at the sentence, according to his spokesman.The State Department branded the espionage charges as "baseless," while Saberi's father has said his daughter was "tricked" into confessing by being told she would be released.

Two Koreas agree to meeting

South Korea has accepted a North Korean proposal to discuss a joint industrial park, setting up the first high-level meeting between the two nation for a year.The meeting, which was announced on Sunday, comes amid tensions over Pyongyang's decision to expel nuclear inspectors and restart the Yongbyon reactor.Lee Jong-joo, South Korea's unification ministry spokeswoman, said officials were planning to meet in Kaesong, an industrial complex north of the demiltarised zone which divides the two Koreas, on Tuesday."Our priorities are the security of South Koreans and development of the Kaesong industrial town," she said.Relations between the two countries over the joint development have soured since Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean Korean president, came to office in February 2008.In December, Pyongyang restricted border crossings and expelled hundreds of South Korean managers from the park, which was once hailed as a model for economic co-operation between the neighbours.

Americas rivals see signs of hope

A summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders has ended with no agreement on a joint declaration.Regional heads of state had talks over three days, but several remained in dispute with US on issues including Cuba's exclusion from the summit.US President Barack Obama said he saw positive signs from Cuba and Venezuela, and that the summit marked a new start in US relations with its neighbours.The leaders of Brazil and Venezuela also said they hoped for better ties.Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva agreed he saw "potential positive signs" between the US and Cuba and Venezuela.Communist Cuba has been subject to a US embargo since 1960, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was an implacable foe of former US President George W Bush.

New pirate attack thwarted in Gulf of Aden

NATO forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden foiled a pirate attack on a Norwegian tanker this weekend, a NATO spokesman said.Pirates attempted to capture the MV Front Ardennes at 6 p.m. Saturday and were apprehended seven hours later, Commander Chris Davies.A NATO-supported Canadian navy ship, the HMCS Winnipeg, was returning from escorting a World Food Program vessel in the gulf when it saw the Norwegian ship under attack, Davies said. A British Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, the Wave Knight, was also in the area.The pirates were captured at 1 a.m. Sunday after they threw weapons, ladders and scaling equipment overboard, Davies said. Several rounds of ammunition were found on the pirates' boat.The pirates were detained, but allowed to go free after questioning.There is currently no formal procedure for NATO personnel to follow once they have apprehended pirates, Davies noted. Their weapons are confiscated and they are then typically given provisions and released.

Aid workers abducted in Somalia

Armed men have kidnapped two foreigners working for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in central Somalia, a local elder and an aid worker have said.The two - believed to be Belgian and Danish - were seized along with their Somali bodyguards by around 25 armed men on Sunday."Unidentified armed men kidnapped two MSG-Belgium aid workers in Bakol region," Hassan Maalin, a local elder, told Reuters by phone from the area."They were heading to Hudur, the capital of Bakol, when gunmen took them away in their vehicle," another relief worker said.The Somali staff travelling along with the two foreigners were later released.For the last 18 years Somalia has been ridden with conflict.More than 3 million Somalis - nearly half the population - currently depend on emergency food aid.Aid workers and journalists have often been held hostage, making it one of the world's most dangerous countries.Generally, hostages are treated well and eventually released once a ransom has been paid.Attacks such as Sunday's are often attributed to Islamist rebels and other militias. The attacks have limited the ability of relief agencies to respond to one of Africa's longest humanitarian crisis.

Mandela magic at final ANC rally

Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, has made a surprise appearance at the final election rally of the African National Congress,(ANC), urging his countrymen to return the ruling party to power in upcoming polls.A deafening roar from the crowd echoed around the Ellis Park stadium in the Soweto stadium outside the city of Johannesburg on Sunday as Mandela arrived, accompanied by Jacob Zuma, the ANC 's presidential candidate."The ANC has the historical responsibility to lead our nation and help build a united non-racial society," Mandela said in a brief pre-recorded message played as he sat on the stage."As we strive to secure a decisive victory for our organisation in the upcoming elections, we must remember our primary task. It is to eradicate poverty and ensure a better life for all," the 90-year-old ex-president said.It was only the second campaign appearance for  Mandela, who wore a shirt in the governing party's green, gold and black colours emblazoned with the campaign slogan "Together we can do more".