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Monday, June 1, 2009

Shock loss for Nadal at French Open

The defending champions of the French Open are both out.In surprise results Rafael Nadal's unbeaten run at Roland Garros came to an end and the defending women's champion Ana Ivanovic also crashed out, losing to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.Nadal, the four-time defending champion lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the fourth round, ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros.Soderling, seeded 23rd at this year's tournament, ran Nadal ragged on centre court with his hard serve and booming forehand.

Four Killed in bomb blast at bus terminal


A bomb device went off at Tirah Bazaar bus stand in Kohat, Pakistan in which at least Four persons were killed. (Zaviews Breaking NeWs)

Forces 'close to Swat victory'

Pakistani secretary of defence Syed Athar Ali said that remaining Taliban militants could be cleared "within two to three days" from the war-torn Swat valley, where violence has displaced about 2.4 million people, according to the government.Pakistani forces battled militants in South Waziristan on the Afghan border on Sunday as a government official said an offensive in the Swat valley could be over in two or three days.Pakistani forces have undertaken their most concerted offensive against an expanding Taliban insurgency that has raised fears for the nuclear-armed U.S. ally’s stability and the safety of its nuclear arsenal.The focus of the fighting has been the former tourist destination of Swat, 120 km (80 miles) northwest of Islamabad, which the Taliban virtually took as the government alternated between inconclusive military action and peace pacts.But tension has also been rising in South Waziristan, an al Qaeda and Taliban stronghold, with military officials saying an offensive was likely there after Swat is secured.The United States and the Afghan government have long been pressing Pakistan to root militants out of South Waziristan and other enclaves on the Afghan border, from where the Taliban direct their Afghan war.Militants attacked a paramilitary force camp in Jandola, 80 km (50 miles) east of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, late on Saturday, security officials said.“Militants came in force and attacked a paramilitary camp and fighting lasted for eight hours. At least 40 militants were killed while four soldiers died,” said an intelligence official in the region who declined to be identified.A military spokesman said the militants had been pushed back after a heavy exchange of fire. Up to 15 militants and three soldiers were killed, he said.There was no independent confirmation of the casualty estimates.Militant violence in Pakistan has surged since mid-2007, with attacks on the security forces, as well as on government and Western targets.There have been eight bomb attacks in various towns and cities since the offensive in Swat and neighbouring districts began in late April and the Taliban have threatened more.

N. Korea Prepares Missile, Defenses

North Korea is bolstering its coastal defenses and preparing to launch another long-range missile, believed to be capable of reaching Alaska, from a new base on its west coast, reports said Monday.South Korean news reports said North Korea has transported its most advanced missile, which is believed to be able to reach Alaska or Guam, to a newly completed launchpad on its western coast near China.According to Yonhap news agency, South Korea is also scrutinizing an intelligence report that the North has ordered troops in charge of the disputed western sea border and along the west coast to double their stocks of ammunition.Yonhap cited an unnamed government official as saying that the activity of vehicles to and from military bases along the coast has increased. The Defense Ministry declined to confirm the report.South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, hosting a conference of Southeast Asian leaders on the southern island of Jeju, warned North Korea against any provocation."If North Korea turns its back on dialogue and peace and dare to carry out military threats and provocations, the Republic of Korea will never tolerate that," Lee said in his regular radio address. "I want to make clear that there won't be any compromise on things that threaten our nation's security."

Armed groups 'threaten all Somalia'

Somalia's new foreign minister has warned that the al-Shabab group is controlling the fighting in the capital, Mogadishu, and poses a threat to the entire country.Mohamed Abullahi Omaar told reporters on Friday that Somalia lacks proper resources to tackle the group, noting that it would not be so hard to defeat if the government had access to the necessary technology and supplies."We have the men. We have the intelligence. We have the knowledge. We know the terrain. We know the politics. We know the clans. We know the leaders," Omaar said."What we need are the resources."Al-Shabab, in alliance with the Hizbul Islam group, has vowed to topple the government of Sharif Ahmed, the president, and has stepped up attacks in recent weeks.