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India face tough tour opener

India face tough tour opener Fast bowler Umar Gul was named in a 12-member Pakistan 'A' team to face India in the three-day tour opener at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium in Lahore from January 7 to 9. Gul, whose last international appearance was also against India, at Lahore last year when he took six wickets in the first Test to guide the hosts to a nine-wicket victory, has regained complete fitness from the back injury that sidelined him for more than 20 months. He took 20 wickets in the just concluded domestic Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and picked five wickets in two games so far in

Prime minister disbands parliament, calls election

Prime minister disbands parliament, calls election Thailand's embattled prime minister dissolved parliament Friday -- a move forcing national elections three years early and guaranteeing a showdown with political opponents who have accused him of corruption. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's decision means he must face an election battle just one year after winning a second term in a landslide victory. His announcement came two days before a rally expected to draw thousands of his opponents. ``I have decided to dissolve the parliament,'' Shinawatra told reporters after meeting with the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej and winning the monarch's consent for elections. The ballot for

Asia-Pacific countries call for strengthening cooperation to face common challenges

Asia-Pacific countries call for strengthening cooperation to face common challenges Ministers from Asia and the Pacificcountries here on Friday called for strengthening regional cooperation to face common challenges to achieve food and livelihood security and rural development. Anton Apriantono, Chairman of the 28th Regional Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for Asia and the Pacific Region, told a joint press conference that the challenges could be countered by addressing issues such as food vulnerability, transboundary animal diseases and regional vulnerability towards natural disaster. Anton, who is also Indonesian Minister

More Australians face execution in Asia

More Australians face execution in Asia Three more Australians are reported to be on death row in Asia following the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van in Singapore on Friday. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper says Mai Cong Thanh, 46, from Melbourne, and Nguyen Van Chinh, 45, from NSW, are facing death in Vietnam after being convicted of conspiring to smuggle heroin into Australia. It says they lost their appeals against the death sentence earlier this year, and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is supporting calls for clemency. The paper says that in the past Vietnam has commuted the death sentences of several Australians after pleas by

Second Zim Asia officer to face charges

Second Zim Asia officer to face charges The police's National Fraud Squad wrapped up its investigation Tuesday into a September collision between the Israeli Zim Asia cargo ship and a Japanese fishing boat in which seven Japanese fishermen were killed. Police recommended indicting the ship's second officer - Pilastro Zdrako - a Serbian national with negligent homicide and the violation of Port Authority regulations. In the case of the ship's captain, Moshe Ben David, police said they found deficiencies in his performance but refrained from issuing a recommendation on whether he should be indicted. Police passed his file to the prosecution,