Geo World

Libyan rebels control Tripoli airport

TUNIS: Libyan rebels have taken control of Tripoli airport, an Arab TV reported on Monday, citing a rebel spokesman. Meanwhile, rebels in the Libyan coastal enclave of Misrata said they had intercepted a column of troops from the city of Sirte, Moamer Kadhafi's hometown and a bastion of his regime. "The military council confirms the interception of troops coming from Sirte to support Kadhafi forces in Tripoli" on Monday, the rebels said in a statement. "The convoy consisted of three buses and a number of SUVs loaded with mercenaries and soldiers," said the statement by the Information Centre of the Military Council of Misrata. The troops "were taking the route of Sdada (to) Bani Walid (and) then Tripoli. The interception... happened near Sdada at the eastern front of Misrata," it added. Rebel forces "destroyed one of the buses completely and the rest of the troops managed to escape back to Sirte," the statement said. Sirte is located between the fronts of Brega in eastern Libya, and the rebel enclave of Misrata, long besieged by government forces. The progress of rebel forces in Misrata toward the south has disrupted the supply lines of Kadhafi forces moving north from Sirte to the capital. (Reuters/AFP)

Geo Pakistan

Train engine collides with Rohi Express

RAHIM YAR KHAN: A train engine collided with Rohi Express due to brakes failure of engine in Liaquatpur area of Rahim Yar Khan. At least 25 trains were stopped in different stations after the incident. According to the railway sources, Rohi Express was moving from Pindi to Khanpur. At Liaquatpur railway station the engine of Rohi Express failed. Passengers took alternate transports to reach Khanpur due to short distance from Liaquatpur. Meanwhile, Pakistan Express was stopped at Kochni Goth Railway Station when it was moving from Pindi to Karachi so that the engine of Pakistan Express could be sent to Liaquatpur for the removal of Rohi Express from the railway track. On the way, brakes of Pakistan Express failed and it hit the bogie of Rohi Express, destroying one bogie of latter while no casualty was reported.

Geo Sports

England complete 4-0 whitewash against India

LONDON: England sealed a 4-0 series rout of India with an innings and eight-run victory at The Oval here on Monday as Sachin Tendulkar fell just short of an unprecedented 100th international hundred. India, who needed 291 runs to make the hosts bat again, frustrated England during a fourth-wicket partnership of 144 between Tendulkar, who made 91, and Amit Mishra. But when Mishra was out for a Test-best 84, it was the start of a collapse that saw India lose seven wickets for 21 runs on the way to 283 all out. Off-spinner Graeme Swann, at last presented with a pitch taking turn this series, did the bulk of the damage with six for 106 to the delight of the majority of a sell-out 23,500 crowd. It was the first time England had swept a four-match series since a 4-0 home whitewash of the West Indies in 2004. India resumed on Monday's fifth and final day on 129 for three, still 162 runs shy of England's first innings 591 for six declared featuring Ian Bell's Test-best 235 and Kevin Pietersen's 175. Tendulkar was 25 not out and Mishra eight not out. England, who'd replaced India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table with an innings and 242 run victory at Edgbaston last time out, endured a wicketless morning session. But Tendulkar, whose previous best score this series was 56 in the second Test at Trent Bridge, should have been out for 70 when Alastair Cook at short leg dropped a bat-pad catch off Swann. There was further frustration for Swann and England when Tendulkar was dropped by Prior on 85. But Swann made the breakthrough an increasingly anxious England wanted when Mishra, playing for turn that never came, was bowled, having easily surpassed his previous Test-best of 50 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year. It was another fine effort with the bat by Mishra who made 43 in a first innings 300 featuring Rahul Dravid's 146 not out after taking no wickets for a hugely expensive 170 runs with his leg-spinners. Tendulkar though seemed set to complete his ton of tons. But nine runs short the 38-year-old was lbw to seamer Tim Bresnan. Australian umpire Rod Tucker took his time before raising his finger, with replays indicating the ball would have just clipped the top of leg stump. Tendulkar, walked off to a standing ovation after his best score of the series, topping his 57 in the second Test at Trent Bridge. He batted for nearly four hours, facing 172 balls with 11 fours. Wickets then tumbled in quick succession, with Suresh Raina lbw to Swann to complete a 42-ball pair before India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni drove loosely at Stuart Broad, armed with the new ball and was well caught by Swann in the slips for three. RP Singh was caught behind for a duck off Broad. Swann then had Gautam Gambhir caught in the gully before ending the match by bowling last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

Geo Amazing and Interesting

Captive crocodile recognised as world's largest

SYDNEY: A crocodile which measures 18 feet in length has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest crocodile in captivity. The fearsome croc, known as Cassius is a resident at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island off the coast of Cairns (northern Queensland, Australia). The crocodile, believed to be over 100 years old has been in captivity since it was brought to the marine park back in 1987, having been captured in the wild near to Darwin a few years earlier. It was captured as it had attacked a number of boats in the Darwin area and it was thought to be too big and dangerous to be left at large.

Geo Pakistan

 Altaf asks PM to resign if unable to restore peace

 LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain Monday asked the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to step down forthwith if he could not get his orders implemented and was unable to restore peace in Karachi, Geo News reported.

In a statement issued here, the MQM Chief said: "It is my brotherly advice to the Prime Minister to resign from his office if he is unable to bring peace to Karachi."

Geo Entertainment

Sallu’s “Bodyguard” seen busting blocks

MUMBAI: The buzz around a Salman Khan-film release only gets bigger with Bodyguard. After two blockbuster Eid releases in the last two years— Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010), Salman is now looking forward to yet another festive hit with Bodyguard. Slated to hit the theatres on Sallu’s favourite Eid weekend (this time it coincides with yet another big festival—the Ganesh festival), there are high expectations from the film. It is a love story (with ample doses of action thrown in) and Salman has compared it to Maine Pyar Kiya. Trade pundits are expecting a big opening for the film and distributors are waiting with baited breath. Analysts say that the film could set fresh records at the BO. “The media and the trade say that Eid and Salman have become synonymous, etc. I don’t think like that. This time Eid and Ganpati are likely to be on the same day. I’m more excited about that. Hindu-Muslim revelry is something I cherish. If I bring a film that doesn’t do it for my audience in a festival season, then it will not work. The festive season is all about watching a purely entertaining film,” said Salman in an interview. If this film works, Salman will manage to pull off a rare hatrick- three consecutive Eid weekend hits! That shouldn’t be very difficult, considering his current form at the BO!

Geo World

Tripoli falls to rebels, crowds celebrate in streets

AL-MAYA/TRIPOLI: Rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli as Muammar Kadhafi’s forces collapsed and crowds took to the streets to celebrate, tearing down posters of the Libyan leader. A convoy of rebels entered a western neighbourhood of the city, firing their weapons into the air. Rebels said the whole of the city was under their control except Gaddafi's Bab Al-Aziziya-Jazeera stronghold. Kadhafi made two audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the rebels. "I am afraid if we don't act, they will burn Tripoli," he said. "There will be no more water, food, electricity or freedom." Kadhafi , a colourful and often brutal autocrat who has ruled Libya for over 40 years, said he was breaking out weapons stores to arm the population. His spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, predicted a violent reckoning by the rebels. "A massacre will be committed inside Tripoli if one side wins now, because the rebels have come with such hatred, such vendetta...Even if the leader leaves or steps down now, there will be a massacre." NATO, which has backed the rebels with a bombing campaign, said the transition of power in Libya must be peaceful. After a six-month civil war, the fall of Tripoli came quickly, with a carefully orchestrated uprising launched on Saturday night to coincide with the advance of rebel troops on three fronts. Fighting broke out after the call to prayer from the minarets of the mosques. Rebel National Transitional Council Coordinator Adel Dabbechi confirmed that Kadhafi’syounger son Saif Al-Islam had been captured. His eldest son Mohammed Al- Kadhafi hadsurrendered to rebel forces, he told. Only five months ago Kadhafi forces were set to crush the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, the leader warning in a television address that there would be "no mercy, no pity" for his opponents. His forces, he said, would hunt them down "district to district, street to street, house to house, room to room." The United Nations then acted quickly, clearing the way for creation of a no-fly zone that NATO, with a campaign of bombing, used ultimately to help drive back Kadhafi’s forces. "It's over. Kadhafi’s finished," said Saad Djebbar, former legal adviser to Libyan government. Al Jazeera television aired images of people celebrating in central Tripoli and tearing down posters of Kadhafi , which had dominated Libyan cities for decades. In Benghazi in the east, thousands gathered in a city-centre square waving red, black and green opposition flag as news filtered through of rebel advances into Tripoli. (Reuters)