India completes Australia whitewash

Shane Watson said Australia would take some hard lessons from its tour of the subcontinent after India completed a clinical 4-0 sweep with a six-wicket win on Sunday.
Cheteshwar Pujara wasted no time as he ruthlessly batted India to victory inside three days in Delhi after Australia was bowled out for 164 in its second innings during the middle session.
The hosts were left needing a supremely achievable 155 to win and they reached that after barely raising a sweat as the tourists' bowling attack again offered little resistance.
Watson was given the reins in the absence of Michael Clarke, who returned to Australia to treat a back injury and missed the fourth Test.
The Queensland-born all-rounder, who scored 17 and 5 for the match after being dropped for the third Test and returning home for the birth of his first child, said the series was educational if nothing else.
"This is really as foreign as you get to playing cricket for an Australian cricket team," he said at the post-match presentation.
"It's been a great learning curve for all of us. Everyone has got a hell of a lot out of this tour."
Indian skipper MS Dhoni belted the winning runs to the mid-wicket boundary off Nathan Lyon, Australia's best bowler by far with match figures of 9 for 165, but it was Pujara who set it up.
Dhoni finished on 12 from 14 deliveries but Pujara piled on an unbeaten 82 from 92, smashing 12 off one Mitchell Johnson over as he chased down Australia's total in imperious fashion.
Australia will have plenty of questions to answer after a dismal series in which it won the toss in every outing but failed to salvage even a draw on the subcontinent.
It has been 43 years since the Australians have lost a series 4-0, the last time in 1970 when Bill Lawry's side lost in South Africa.
"It was a hard-fought Test ... we gave it everything we had," Watson said.
"We were up for it, but unfortunately things did not go according to plan with the ball in the second innings.
"We always thought 150-200 on that wicket ... was going to be enough. We just did not bowl as we wanted.
"Pujara batted very nicely to take it away from us."
Spinner Ravindra Jadeja was named man of the match for his haul of 7 for 98, while partner-in-crime Ravichandran Ashwin won man-of-the-series honours.
Lyon had 2 for 71 in the second innings while Glenn Maxwell, who became the first Australian cricketer in 84 years to open the batting and bowling in a Test, took 2 for 54.

Hugo Chavez influential leader dies at 58

Hugo Chavez the polarizing president of Venezuela who cast himself as a "21st century socialist" and foe of the United States, died tuesday on 5th day of March 2013 .

Chavez, who had battled cancer, was 58.

Chavez's democratic ascent to the presidency in 1999 ushered in a new era in Venezuelan politics and its international relations.

Once a foiled coup-plotter, the swashbuckling former paratrooper was known for lengthy speeches on everything from the evils of capitalism to the proper way to conserve water while showering. He was the first of a wave of leftist presidents to come to power in Latin America in the last dozen years.

As the most vocal U.S. adversary in the region, he influenced other leaders to take a similar stance.

But the last months of Chavez's life were marked by an uncharacteristic silence as his health worsened. Chavez underwent a fourth surgery on December 11 in Cuba, and was not publicly seen again. A handful of pictures released in February were the last images the public had of their president.

Chavez's ministers stubbornly maintained a hopeful message throughout the final weeks, even while admitting that the recently re-elected president was weakened while battling a respiratory infection.

Unrest Bangladesh .. more than 100 people have been killed

At least more than 100  people have been killed since January 2013 in fresh clashes across Bangladesh at the start of a nationwide strike called over a death sentence given to an Islamist party leader for war crimes in the Muslim-majority nation.
Delwar Hossain Sayedee, of Jamaat-e-Islami, was found guilty on Thursday of murder, religious persecution and rape during the 1971 independence war, triggering violent clashes between Jamaat supporters and police across the country.
Security forces were deployed in the northern district of Bogra, as local media reported Jamaat activists attacking police outposts early on Sunday.
More than 10,000 stick-wielding protesters attacked five police stations in Bogra, forcing police to open fire, they said.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, country's largest Islamic party, has enforced a nationwide two-day strike, that begins on Sunday, to protest against the verdict and killing of its activists in police "brutalities".
An inter-city train was torched late on Saturday in the northwest, but there were no casualties, police said.
The death toll in the clashes over the war crimes verdicts has risen to 100 since January 21, including 62 killed in the past four days after Jamaat's vice president was sentenced to death, police said.
Delwar Hossain Sayedee was found guilty on Thursday of murder, religious persecution and rape during the 1971 independence war, triggering violent clashes between Jamaat supporters and police across the country.

India take 1-0 lead with eight-wicket win against Australia

MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Tendulkar were the pivotal contributors to India's 1-0 series lead, showing greater discipline and awareness of the sort of cricket best played on the MA Chidambaram Stadium's clay court. Save for Michael Clarke's first-day century and James Pattinson's fiery pace, it was not until Moises Henriques stood up with the bat in the second innings that the tourists showed evidence of catching up.

A target of only 50 to win was reached with the help of some Tendulkar fireworks - towering sixes from his first two deliveries against Nathan Lyon - but Pattinson again bowled well to the openers and Lyon showed far greater consistency of line and control of length than he had managed while being taken for 3 for 215 in the first innings.

India were left with some questions about their opening pair, M Vijay and Virender Sehwag doing little in either innings, and they may also wonder about subtracting another seam bowler from their XI should the Hyderabad surface be anything like this one. Australia have found a steady batting hand in Henriques, but much of their display in this match will be the cause of serious introspection.

Henriques and Lyon had put on 66 for Australia's last wicket, a defiant gesture after the earlier batsmen had failed to stand their ground. Henriques' unbeaten innings completed a fine double for the debutant, who has surely made his place safe for the second Test.

Ultimately it was Ravindra Jadeja who ended the stand after 25 minutes on the final morning, switching from over to around the wicket against Lyon and coaxing an inside edge onto pad that was snapped up by short leg.

Pattinson's first ball of the innings was a snorter, pitched short and seaming back sharply at Vijay, though it angled away from Matthew Wade and flew away for four byes. The ball kept Vijay thinking, and after depositing Lyon for one straight six, he fell when an indecisive drive was well taken by Henriques at a shortish mid-off.

In the next over Cheteshwar Pujara offered a sharp chance when padding up to Lyon, the ball striking pad and glove but eluding Wade, who was unable to adjust to the ball's shifting trajectory. Sehwag sliced a brace of boundaries over the slips cordon from Pattinson, and when Peter Siddle replaced him he drove sweetly down the ground.

Lyon, meanwhile, showed some evidence of improvement in his bowling. He twirled down far fewer deliveries that could be tucked around the corner behind square leg, and the better line forced some impatient premeditated strokes from Pujara. It also undid Sehwag when he snicked to Clarke at slip. This little joust was ultimately immaterial to the result, sealed as it was by Tendulkar's sixes, but demonstrated that Lyon was learning.

Dhoni's double century builds large lead against Australia

Spectators entered the M Chidambaram Stadium earnestly hoping to see a Sachin Tendulkar century. They were to leave it chanting the name of the unbeaten double-centurion MS Dhoni, after watching one of the most brutal and influential innings the ground has witnessed.
It was a passage that sapped Australia, its after-effects notable in the final session when a contest once finely balanced now looked almost as lopsided as that between Dhoni's top and bottom hands for control of the bat. The debutant and No. 9 Bhuneshwar Kumar played the pesky tail-end role with aplomb, and by the close had taken part in a record, unbroken ninth-wicket stand for India against Australia. In all, 144 runs were ransacked from the final session.
Dhoni arrived with India becalmed. He responded with hard hands and aggressive shots, while Kohli heeded his captain's example and pulled a Lyon long hop into the crowd beyond midwicket to help them regain their voice. Boundaries began to leak again where previously none could be found, and the 50 stand was raised at better than four an over.

Others fell by the wayside - R Ashwin edged Lyon onto the stumps via his boot, and Harbhajan Singh gifted Henriques a first Test wicket with an unseemly waft that did not impress Dhoni - but Bhuvneshwar provided sturdy support. Dhoni toyed with the strike, taking singles at times and spurning them at others, and invariably connecting cleanly when he deigned to swing for the fences.

Australia's bowlers and fielders gradually wilted, Ed Cowan missing a tough chance from Bhuvneshwar while others misfielded, and Pattinson's pace dipped as steadily as Lyon's bite. All the while, the lead grew from pesky to match-defining dimensions. Such a possibility had seemed so unlikely at the moment Tendulkar fell.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Singapore

For many, Valentine’s Day is a dreadful day as restaurants mark up their prices ridiculously. However, it is still possible to have fun celebrating Valentine’s Day – with your partner, your family, or a group of friends – if you know where to go.
Akashi Japanese Restaurant
Akashi is probably not the most romantic restaurant, but what it lacks in ambience it certainly makes up for with top quality Japanese food. This is a nice place to go for your first omakase experience as the restaurant uses the finest ingredients imported from Japan. Otherwise, there are also many value-for-money bento sets to choose from.
Five and Dime Eatery 

Located in a colonial shop house along River Valley Road, Five and Dime Eatery is a restaurant which serves comfort food like mac & cheese, burger, fish & chips, and pasta. Most of the items are priced between $20-30.

It is a charming place, with a friendly and cosy atmosphere. Take my word for it: Five & Dime Eatery is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day with your partner.

Pakistan blown away record 49 lowest test total

If Pakistan were in any doubt about the challenge of facing South Africa's pace attack, they were quickly disabused on the second morning at the Wanderers, as they were bowled out for their lowest total in Tests. Dale Steyn took 6 for 8, his 20th five-wicket haul in Tests, in an extraordinary, lethal display that gave South Africa a choke hold on the match with a lead of over 200. Graeme Smith, deciding not to enforce the follow-on, then picked up his bat with a view to having some more fun in his 100th Test as captain.

As South Africa ascended to the No. 1 Test ranking over the last year, a succession of teams have been left thrashing helplessly in their wake. After dispatching England and Australia in their own backyards, Smith's team are now relishing the chance to display their talents in front of home crowds. The only disappointment for the Johannesburg locals may be that this contest - like the two Tests against New Zealand last month - is unlikely to go anywhere near the distance.

The Pakistan innings could not have resembled a horror show any more had Freddie Krueger been spotted in the stands. As ever, Dale Steyn was a batsman's nightmare incarnate, his opening spell decapitating the Pakistan top-order in a manner worthy of any slasher flick, as the South Africa bowlers made perfect use of swinging conditions, useful bounce and more than a modicum of indecision among the tourists. After lunch arrived with Pakistan clinging on at 40 for 7, Steyn returned to stamp on their fingers and send them hurtling into the abyss. His relentless display produced six wickets and 39 dot balls, and only allowed three scoring shots, in 8.1 overs of mesmeric bowling.

Having resumed without loss, Pakistan would have known that the chances of them getting up towards South Africa's first-innings 253 rested on their successfully getting past the new ball. Recognising that did not come close to actually helping them achieve it, however, and at 12 for 3 after six overs the tone had been set. A partnership of 24 in almost 14 overs seemed to have stabilised the Pakistan innings, only for the darkness to swallow them up again, the last seven wickets falling for 13 runs and the roar of the crowd becoming a blanket of white noise.

North Korean parents 'eating their own children'

A starving man in North Korea has been executed after murdering his two children for food, reports from inside the secretive state claim.
A 'hidden famine' in the farming provinces of North and South Hwanghae is believed to have killed up to 10,000 people and there are fears that incidents of cannibalism have risen.
The grim story is just one to emerge as residents battle starvation after a drought hit farms and shortages were compounded by party officials confiscating food.

The informant said the father killed his eldest daughter while his wife was away on business and then killed his son because he had witnessed the murder.
When his wife returned the man told her they had 'meat' but she became suspicious and contacted officials who discovered part of the children's bodies.
Jiro Ishimaru, from Asia Press, which compiled a 12 page report, said: 'Particularly shocking were the numerous testimonies that hit us about cannibalism.'
Undercover reporters said food was confiscated from the two provinces and given to the residents of the capital Pyongyang.
A drought then left food supplies desperately short.

Indian politican wears shirt made of 3.5 kilograms gold

The new gold man, Datta Phuge, has stitched himself a shirt made out of the precious yellow metal weighing approximately 3.5 kilograms. The shirt is in addition to 6 to 6.5 kilograms of golden ornaments — including chains, bracelets and rings and necklaces — that he has been wearing for the past few years.

Apart from wearing so many golden ornaments, what made him to stitch himself a golden shirt?

“Unlike many, I have no passion for high-end luxury vehicles like Audi or purchasing something else that is fancy. I had money and wanted to invest in gold. Even while investing in gold, I wanted to do something that would earn me the title of being a gold man. Then the idea of stitching myself a golden shirt came to me when I visited a jewellery shop a month ago " Phuje said .

Indian women were given 21,000 knives to defend themselves from rapists

A radical Hindu nationalist party Shiv Sena in India has handed out kitchen knives and chili powder to women in the city of Mumbai following the gang rape that ignited a national debate on the best way to tackle sex crimes.
The Shiv Sena party, an ally of the main opposition BJP, said it had handed out 21,000 knives with three-inch blades to women in the city and surrounding areas and plans to distribute 100,000.
Mumbai police said they were examining the knives and considering legal action.

"This is a symbolic gesture," said Shiv Sena spokesman Rahul Narvekar, adding that a knife shorter than six inches in length does not fit the definition of a weapon. The party also handed out small bags of chili powder -- apparently to throw into an attacker's eyes.

"It's only to pass a signal to eve-teasers [men who molest women], anti-social elements and perpetrators of crime against women that women are empowered and they can take care of themselves," Narvekar said.

Rape continues in India : Nursery student raped on moving school bus In Mumbai

In a yet another shameful act, a four-year-old nursery student was sexually assaulted in a school bus that was taking her home. Police has arrested the bus conductor, a 35-year-old, in connection to the case.

As per the reports on Tuesday afternoon, Ramesh Rajput allegedly raped the young girl when the bus was dropping children home. She was the only student left in the vehicle when the conductor sexually assaulted her.

Sources say that the child was in the front row, waiting for her turn when Rajput threatened her to go with him to the backseat and allegedly raped her. Ramesh then warned the girl of dire consequences if she spoke about the incident to anyone.

According to the police officers, the school has broken state government policy as no woman attendant was present on the bus at the time of this horrendous crime. The school, however, insisted that a female attendant was at hand and it was she who confronted Rajput and stopped him.

Sources say that after the girl informed her parents about the incident, they immediately took up the matter with the school and filed a police complaint.

Ramesh was arrested on Thursday and booked for rape and molestation under the Indian Penal Code and invoked several sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Sources reveal that the driver's role in the crime too is suspect. He said that he neither noticed the girl being attacked nor heard her cries for help.