.jpg)
WikiLeaks Makes Government Weaks
The CIA has launched a taskforce to assess the impact of 250,000 leaked US diplomatic cables. Its name? WikiLeaks Task Force, or WTF for short.
The group will be charged with scouring the released documents to survey damage caused by the disclosures. One of the most embarrassing revelations was that the US state department had drawn up a list of information it would like on key UN figures – it later emerged the CIA had asked for the information.
"Officially, the panel is called the WikiLeaks Task Force. But at CIA headquarters, it's mainly known by its all-too-apt acronym: WTF," the Washington Post reported.
WTF is more commonly associated with the Facebook and Twitter profiles of teenagers than secret agency committees. Given that its expanded version is usually an expression of extreme disbelief, perhaps the term is apt for the CIA's investigation.
Earlier this month the Guardian revealed that the CIA was responsible for drafting the data "wishlist" that the US state department wanted on UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and other senior members of the organisation.
The Washington Post said the panel was being led by the CIA's counter-intelligence centre, although it has drawn in two dozen members from departments across the agency.
Although the CIA has featured in some WikiLeaks disclosures, relatively little of its own information has entered the ether, the paper reported. A recently retired former high-ranking CIA official told the Post this was because the agency "has not capitulated to this business of making everything available to outsiders".
"They don't even make everything available to insiders. And by and large the system has worked."
While most of the agency's correspondence is understood to be classified at the same "secret" level as the leaked cables that ended up online, it is understood the CIA uses different systems to those of other government agencies.
JOLIE AND PITT WILL MARRY IN INDIA
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are planning to get married in a Hindu ceremony in India next year. Apparently, since the wedding of Katy Perry and Russell Brand, India seems to have become fashionable among the stars. The couple should be united by their former teacher of yoga, the ‘Guru’ Ram Lalji Siyag in his Jodhpur Ashram by Hindu tradition. The ceremony could take place in January or February 2011. This has not been confirmed by the couple but if it happens, their union might be the most publicised wedding in 2011.
SIVA SENA IS FOCUSING ON SHARUK KHAN
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and the threat by the Shiv Sena to ban screenings of his film "My Name is Khan" found mention in a US embassy cable that was leaked by WikiLeaks.
"My Name is Khan" is a 2010 movie made by Karan Johar in which Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol played the lead roles.
"The Shiv Sena had threatened to ban screenings of Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming movie, 'My Name is Khan', because Shah Rukh Khan publicly lamented the absence of Pakistani cricket players in India's professional cricket league for the coming season," says the cable dated Feb 22, 2010.
The cable posted in the Guardian newspaper said that Shiv Sena goons burnt posters of the movie and protested in front of his home, asking Khan to "move to Pakistan".
"Khan himself did not bid on any Pakistani players as co-owner of one of the frachises," it said.
While some theatre owners refrained from screening the film on its opening day due to security concerns, "a show of force by the police convinced theatres to roll out a full release" the next day.
"With protests and controversy generating far more international buzz than the typical Bollywood movie, Khan's new movie opened to packed audiences in Mumbai and elsewhere," it added.
"My Name is Khan" is a 2010 movie made by Karan Johar in which Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol played the lead roles.
"The Shiv Sena had threatened to ban screenings of Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming movie, 'My Name is Khan', because Shah Rukh Khan publicly lamented the absence of Pakistani cricket players in India's professional cricket league for the coming season," says the cable dated Feb 22, 2010.
The cable posted in the Guardian newspaper said that Shiv Sena goons burnt posters of the movie and protested in front of his home, asking Khan to "move to Pakistan".
"Khan himself did not bid on any Pakistani players as co-owner of one of the frachises," it said.
While some theatre owners refrained from screening the film on its opening day due to security concerns, "a show of force by the police convinced theatres to roll out a full release" the next day.
"With protests and controversy generating far more international buzz than the typical Bollywood movie, Khan's new movie opened to packed audiences in Mumbai and elsewhere," it added.
Iam sachin fan- sehwag
NEW DELHI: Indian batting maestro Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar on Sunday became the first batsman to score a monumental 50 centuries in the 133-year history of Test cricket. No other batsman has scored more than 39 Test centuries.
The little master reached the coveted landmark when he completed his ton on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
It was a century that the entire nation was eagerly awaiting from Sachin Tendulkar.
The moment Sachin found a gap through the extra cover region to push a Dale Steyn delivery for a single, the entire stadium stood up to salute one of the true legends of the game.
He played 197 deliveries and 258 minutes to reach the milestone. He hit 12 boundaries and a big six over long-off with left-arm spinner Paul Harris being the sufferer. This is his seventh century in the year 2010.
If some of the Indian players like Sreesanth were seen saluting Sachin on his achievement, South African players like skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla congratulated the maestro.
The century should rank among one of the best considering the amount of pressure Indian team are in after being all out for a paltry 136 in the first innings.
With established top-order players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina and VVS Laxman back in the pavilion, Sachin found an able ally in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who not only showed positive intent but also let the maestro play his natural game.
This is Sachin's fourth Test century on South African soil and indeed one he would cherish the most.
Incidentally, it was the same opponents South Africa against whom he scored the first ever double hundred by a player in ODIs at Gwalior earlier this year.
The master batsman, enjoying a memorable year at age 37, has amassed more than 1,500 runs in thirteen Tests this year at an amazing average of more than 85 runs per innings.
Tendulkar has scored seven centuries and five fifties in the year 2010 with one more match to play against South Africa, starting on December 26.
With this innings, Tendulkar has extended his record for most hundreds (28) overseas.
During his glittering international career, Tendulkar achieved a quite a few records. Besides being the only cricketer in the planet to score 50 Test centuries, Tendulkar also holds the record for most number of ODI hundreds (46). In total he now has 96 international centuries, the most by any batsman.
With 14506 runs at an average of 56.88 in 175 Tests (most appearances in the longer format of the game), Tendulkar also holds the record for most runs in Test cricket.
In ODIs, he aggregates 17,598 in 442 matches at an average of 45.12.
Tendulkar's records overseas too speak volumes of his talents -- he has scored the most number of runs away from home - 7959 at an average of 56.85 in 96 Tests, and also the most number of centuries (28).
Tendulkar, who has been playing international cricket for 21 years, has hit centuries against every other Test nation.
His tally is made up of 11 hundreds against Australia, nine against Sri Lanka, seven against England, six against South Africa, five against Bangladesh, four against New Zealand, three each against West Indies and Zimbabwe and two against Pakistan.
With one more match of the three-Test series in South Africa scheduled for this year, Tendulkar has opportunity to surpass Mohammad Yousuf's record of 1,768 runs in a calendar year (2006).
wiki leaks
Wide ramification
WikiLeaks seems to have tarnished everyone it touched. But there were plenty of politicians and celebrities who did not need help from the internet whistle-blower to get themselves into trouble in 2010. WikiLeaks' release of cables from US embassies to Washington - often bluntly written accounts of confidential discussions - have in most cases only confirmed what was already widely suspected in international relations. But they have nevertheless embarrassed US friends and foes alike and risk undermining US diplomacy. Text: IANS, Photo: AP
File photo of former telecom minister A. Raja.
A bench of Justices A.K. Ganguly and G. Singhvi directed the CBI to probe the grant of spectrum licences since 2001, thereby bringing the previous NDA government under the ambit of the inquiry.
The court sent out a strong message to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate not to be influenced by anybody in the 2G probe. The CBI has been asked to file a status report on the probe by February 10 next year.
The court told the agency to find out why the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) did not take action against those ineligible for spectrum licences.
The court also ordered the income tax department to hand over to the CBI transcripts of the tapped phone conversations of corporate lobbyist Nira Radia.
The probe will also cover disbursement of loans by PSU banks and find if telecom department officials were signatories to the licence agreements.
The two-judge bench pulled up the Delhi High Court for disallowing a petition seeking a CBI probe.
Moily welcomes verdict
The government welcomed the verdict. Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said the government was always in favour of a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the 2G scam.
Moily said the BJP was politically motivated and lacked faith in the judiciary.
The Congress said the Supreme Court's ruling vindicated the party's stand against a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2G scam.
