Venus Williams reached the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Championships on Friday with a little help from Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Jelena Jankovic also advanced by routing a tired Caroline Wozniacki.
Kuznetsova beat Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2 in their last round-robin match, which secured the American’s passage into the knockout round.
Dementieva would have advanced with a win but was dominated by her fellow Russian, less than 24 hours after a straight-set loss to Serena Williams on Thursday.
Venus, Kuznetsova and Dementieva all finished with one win and two losses in the Maroon Group, but the American won more sets. Serena won all three of her matches.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Former umpire Shepherd dies aged 68
Former Test match umpire and Gloucestershire cricketer David Shepherd has died from cancer at the age of 68, the Englishman's former county announced Wednesday.
Shepherd, widely regarded as one of the best umpires of his generation, stood in 92 Tests and 172 One-Day Internationals, including three World Cup finals, between 1983 and 2005.
He was perhaps best known to cricket fans around the world for his superstitious habit of standing on one leg when the score reached 'Nelson', England's supposedly 'unlucky' number of 111 or multiples such as 222.
Shepherd, widely regarded as one of the best umpires of his generation, stood in 92 Tests and 172 One-Day Internationals, including three World Cup finals, between 1983 and 2005.
He was perhaps best known to cricket fans around the world for his superstitious habit of standing on one leg when the score reached 'Nelson', England's supposedly 'unlucky' number of 111 or multiples such as 222.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Australia wins a thriller to go one up
The crowds beseeched the gods. The miracle however never happened as the aggressive duo of Harbhajan Singh (49) and Praveen Kumar (40 n.o.) suffered a heart-break as Australia snatched a four-run victory against India in the first match of the Hero Honda Cup One-Day International series at the Reliance Stadium here on Sunday.
Australia leads the seven-match series 1-0, but the victory was registered amidst frayed nerves and chewed up nails. Harbhajan (49, 31b, 4x4, 3x6) and Praveen (40 n.o., 32b, 5x4, 1x6) through their 84-run eighth-wicket partnership off 57 balls nearly upset Ricky Ponting’s plan.
However, in the end, chasing Australia’s 292 for eight in 50 overs proved to be a tough task for India after openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were dismissed cheaply though Gautam Gambhir briefly offered hope through his dogged 68 (85b, 6x4, 1x6). India was eventually restricted to 288 for eight in 50 overs
Australia leads the seven-match series 1-0, but the victory was registered amidst frayed nerves and chewed up nails. Harbhajan (49, 31b, 4x4, 3x6) and Praveen (40 n.o., 32b, 5x4, 1x6) through their 84-run eighth-wicket partnership off 57 balls nearly upset Ricky Ponting’s plan.
However, in the end, chasing Australia’s 292 for eight in 50 overs proved to be a tough task for India after openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were dismissed cheaply though Gautam Gambhir briefly offered hope through his dogged 68 (85b, 6x4, 1x6). India was eventually restricted to 288 for eight in 50 overs
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Write in English, read in Hindi
If you are to spy on the thousands of messages darting across Indian mobile networks at any given point of time, you may find some interesting linguistic patterns.
Indic Language computing enthusiasts believe — and are willing to bet on it — that the predominant SMS lingo of the average Indian is the local language. Then why must one be forced to SMS in English?
Tachyon Technologies, a Bangalore company, has released a midlet (a mobile application) ‘Quillpad’ that allows you to ‘transliterate’ or key in your thoughts (phonetically) in English and watch it being delivered in Hindi (Devanagari script). While online transliteration services have been around for some time now — with several home-grown companies and large email, chat and blogging services offering it for free — this is the first of its kind application on the mobile platform.
Quillpad’s web avatar, which (in 2006) preceded Google’s now popular transliteration tools by a year, registered no less than 1.16 lakh unique users in September. What makes it click? For starters, Quillpad’s predictive engine is far more intuitive (in interpreting the phonetics), offers more options and is more powerful than most home-grown technologies that clutter the Indi-webspace.
In its beta mobile release, Quillpad is a light-weight 355 KB application file that can be downloaded from the web site (or transferred through Bluetooth). Once installed, it offers a text-input mechanism — you can toggle between English, Hindi and numbers — and a full-fledged messaging menu. On typing the word phonetically in English, it offers multiple spelling options much like (and as powerful as) its online widget. It then encodes this into Unicode, connects to the phone and sends the message.
Indic Language computing enthusiasts believe — and are willing to bet on it — that the predominant SMS lingo of the average Indian is the local language. Then why must one be forced to SMS in English?
Tachyon Technologies, a Bangalore company, has released a midlet (a mobile application) ‘Quillpad’ that allows you to ‘transliterate’ or key in your thoughts (phonetically) in English and watch it being delivered in Hindi (Devanagari script). While online transliteration services have been around for some time now — with several home-grown companies and large email, chat and blogging services offering it for free — this is the first of its kind application on the mobile platform.
Quillpad’s web avatar, which (in 2006) preceded Google’s now popular transliteration tools by a year, registered no less than 1.16 lakh unique users in September. What makes it click? For starters, Quillpad’s predictive engine is far more intuitive (in interpreting the phonetics), offers more options and is more powerful than most home-grown technologies that clutter the Indi-webspace.
In its beta mobile release, Quillpad is a light-weight 355 KB application file that can be downloaded from the web site (or transferred through Bluetooth). Once installed, it offers a text-input mechanism — you can toggle between English, Hindi and numbers — and a full-fledged messaging menu. On typing the word phonetically in English, it offers multiple spelling options much like (and as powerful as) its online widget. It then encodes this into Unicode, connects to the phone and sends the message.
Friday, October 23, 2009
NSW Blues has the last laugh
Brett Lee could not have timed his allround performance better. Thanks to his brilliance, New South Wales Blues was crowned champion of the inaugural Airtel-Champions League Twenty20 championship with a clinical display to notch up a 41-run win over the crowd favourite Trinidad & Tobago in the final at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday night.
There was an air of excitement in the stands when Kieron Pollard walked to the middle with his team reeling at 68 for five in 10 overs. Clearly, Trinidad needed another special effort from the dazzling stroke-maker.
And, Pollard definitely looked ominous pulling Doug Bollinger into the stands and later hitting off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for two more sixes which had the crowd on its feet. But, in his attempt for the third one in the 15th over, he ended up giving a skier to Brett Lee who judged well in the deep to the delight of his team-mates for they knew the value of that wicket
There was an air of excitement in the stands when Kieron Pollard walked to the middle with his team reeling at 68 for five in 10 overs. Clearly, Trinidad needed another special effort from the dazzling stroke-maker.
And, Pollard definitely looked ominous pulling Doug Bollinger into the stands and later hitting off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for two more sixes which had the crowd on its feet. But, in his attempt for the third one in the 15th over, he ended up giving a skier to Brett Lee who judged well in the deep to the delight of his team-mates for they knew the value of that wicket
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Three new species of legless amphibians found in northeast
Three new species of legless amphibians have been discovered from forests in Manipur and Nagaland by researchers led by Delhi University Associate Professor S.D. Biju.
The team’s find, published in the latest issue of Zootaxa (an international journal of zoological taxonomy), is unique as two of the new species have moustache-like stripes on the upper lip not found in caecilians reported from any part of the world before, a university release said on Tuesday.
Worldwide more than 170 species of caecilians (which are one among the three orders of amphibians known as Gymnophiona) have been reported so far. In northeast India, only four of these species were known to exist. The new find takes the number of known legless amphibians in this region to seven.
The team’s find, published in the latest issue of Zootaxa (an international journal of zoological taxonomy), is unique as two of the new species have moustache-like stripes on the upper lip not found in caecilians reported from any part of the world before, a university release said on Tuesday.
Worldwide more than 170 species of caecilians (which are one among the three orders of amphibians known as Gymnophiona) have been reported so far. In northeast India, only four of these species were known to exist. The new find takes the number of known legless amphibians in this region to seven.
Three new species of legless amphibians found in northeast
Three new species of legless amphibians have been discovered from forests in Manipur and Nagaland by researchers led by Delhi University Associate Professor S.D. Biju.
The team’s find, published in the latest issue of Zootaxa (an international journal of zoological taxonomy), is unique as two of the new species have moustache-like stripes on the upper lip not found in caecilians reported from any part of the world before, a university release said on Tuesday.
Worldwide more than 170 species of caecilians (which are one among the three orders of amphibians known as Gymnophiona) have been reported so far. In northeast India, only four of these species were known to exist. The new find takes the number of known legless amphibians in this region to seven.
The team’s find, published in the latest issue of Zootaxa (an international journal of zoological taxonomy), is unique as two of the new species have moustache-like stripes on the upper lip not found in caecilians reported from any part of the world before, a university release said on Tuesday.
Worldwide more than 170 species of caecilians (which are one among the three orders of amphibians known as Gymnophiona) have been reported so far. In northeast India, only four of these species were known to exist. The new find takes the number of known legless amphibians in this region to seven.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
IIT aspirants must get 80% in Class XII
The eligibility for appearing in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance test could be raised from 60 per cent marks secured in the Class XII Board examination.
It will be applicable from 2011.Addressing reporters after a meeting of the IIT Council — the highest decision making body of the institution — Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said this was done to ensure that students took their Class XII exams seriously and also to check the growth of coaching centres, which were thriving on imparting coaching to IIT aspirants.
Mr. Sibal said the present eligibility of 60 per cent marks for appearing in the IIT-JEE was not acceptable. “The minimum marks required could be raised up to 80 per cent,” he said.
It will be applicable from 2011.Addressing reporters after a meeting of the IIT Council — the highest decision making body of the institution — Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said this was done to ensure that students took their Class XII exams seriously and also to check the growth of coaching centres, which were thriving on imparting coaching to IIT aspirants.
Mr. Sibal said the present eligibility of 60 per cent marks for appearing in the IIT-JEE was not acceptable. “The minimum marks required could be raised up to 80 per cent,” he said.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Australia conveys to India concerns over security for CWG
Australia on Wednesday said it has apprehensions over security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi next year, but maintained that India has assured that all precautions will be taken.
"We share the concerns on security arrangements. We have to be very cautious about extremists' activities. We don't want any innocent athlete to face any problem," Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in the Capital.
Smith spoke to reporters after visiting Major Dhyan Chand and Talkatora stadiums.
He said he met his Indian counterpart S M Krishna on Tuesday and discussed the security arrangements for the games.
"It is a reality of modern world that you have to take precautions against these things. That is what the Indian government is doing. We always have to worry about terrorist activities. We are conscious of that and so also is India," he said.
Krishna briefed him about the security arrangements being made for the sporting event and has assured him thatthere would be foolproof arrangements.
"But whatever discussions we had, we are confident that all necessary precautions have been taken. But no one can guarantee, the Indian government cannot guarantee, Australian government cannot guarantee if terrorists will not cause attacks on people. But every precaution has to be taken," he stressed.
"We share the concerns on security arrangements. We have to be very cautious about extremists' activities. We don't want any innocent athlete to face any problem," Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in the Capital.
Smith spoke to reporters after visiting Major Dhyan Chand and Talkatora stadiums.
He said he met his Indian counterpart S M Krishna on Tuesday and discussed the security arrangements for the games.
"It is a reality of modern world that you have to take precautions against these things. That is what the Indian government is doing. We always have to worry about terrorist activities. We are conscious of that and so also is India," he said.
Krishna briefed him about the security arrangements being made for the sporting event and has assured him thatthere would be foolproof arrangements.
"But whatever discussions we had, we are confident that all necessary precautions have been taken. But no one can guarantee, the Indian government cannot guarantee, Australian government cannot guarantee if terrorists will not cause attacks on people. But every precaution has to be taken," he stressed.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
U.S. President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism. The peace prize was created partly to encourage ongoing peace efforts but Mr. Obama’s efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners’ The Nobel committee acknowledged that they may not bear fruit at all.
“He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate,” Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. “Some people say, and I understand it, isn’t it premature? Too early? Well, I’d say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us''.
“He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate,” Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. “Some people say, and I understand it, isn’t it premature? Too early? Well, I’d say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us''.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Ramakrishnan ninth Nobel winner of Indian origin
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan becomes the ninth person of Indian origin or connection to win the coveted Nobel Prize.
Two Americans and an Israeli scientist won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for atom-by-atom mapping of the protein-making factories within cells.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath's work on ribosomes has been fundamental to the scientific understanding of life and has helped researchers develop antibiotics
Two Americans and an Israeli scientist won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for atom-by-atom mapping of the protein-making factories within cells.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath's work on ribosomes has been fundamental to the scientific understanding of life and has helped researchers develop antibiotics
Monday, October 5, 2009
Floods kill 200 in Andhra, Karnataka; thousands affected
Floods triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 200 people in the past five days in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and have An Indian Air Force helicopter rescues a man from a flood hit area in Raichur, Karnataka. Flash floods and landslides reportedly killed 200 people in south India.
At least 167 people have been killed in Karnataka, where several rivers burst their mud embankments following heavy rains and swept away houses.
In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, at least 33 people have died and more than 1.8 million people have been affected by the floods.
At least 167 people have been killed in Karnataka, where several rivers burst their mud embankments following heavy rains and swept away houses.
In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, at least 33 people have died and more than 1.8 million people have been affected by the floods.
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