Rugby World Cup 2011: News round-up

2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP IN NEW ZEALAND

• Venues: 11 (nine in North Island, two in South)
• Dates: Fri 9 Sept - Sun 23 Oct
• Kick-offs: From 0100 BST - 0930 BST
• Coverage: Scores & reports on BBC Sport website plus live text commentaries on home nations and other major games; updates on BBC Radio 5 live; watch on ITV; commentary on TalkSport

Scots College School students in Wellington perform for the Scotland team but World Cup chiefs have not been so favourable towards Scottish instruments A round-up of the latest news, views and gossip from the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Former Wales captain Ryan Jones is on course to make his World Cup debut against Namibia in New Plymouth next Monday, after recovering from a calf muscle injury that has sidelined him since the World Cup warm-up fixture with England at Twickenham almost seven weeks ago.
Zara Phillips has arrived in Auckland, but has yet to see her husband, England centre Mike Tindall, the New Zealand Herald reported on Thursday. The Queen's grand-daughter was pictured at an evening charity event for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust.
Pressure is mounting on Rugby World Cup organisers to relax a ban on musical instruments at venues which has prevented bagpipes from being played at Scotland's matches. The NZ Herald reported that an online poll conducted by New Zealand's state television network attracted more than 16,000 responses, of which 71% called for the ban to be rescinded. Officials are being labelled "kiltjoys" for their refusal to allow the pipes.
Romania captain Marius Tincu is being demoted to the bench as they make dramatic alterations for the England game. Cristian Petre will serve as captain of a side that includes 11 changes.
Australia captain Will Genia says that his team will change their style of play following their 15-6 defeat against Ireland because they haven't adapted well enough to field-position orientated rugby.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry isn't ruling out a return for Mils Muliaina in the knockout rounds, even though Israel Dagg has been chosen at full-back for Saturday's game against France.
After the first 20 of 40 World Cup pool matches the overall success rate for all goalkicks has been recorded at just over 60%. That was made up from a 70% success with conversions and only 56% for penalties, a shade over one successful kick from two penalties, which represents a significantly lower figure than in previous tournaments.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) dismissed any criticism of the Virtuo ball used in the World Cup, which has a different bladder and valve than the Synergie ball used in the 2007 tournament. "RWCL is extremely satisfied with the performance of the Gilbert Virtuo World Cup match ball," said a spokesman.
The Virtuo was introduced to Test rugby in 2010 and was used in the Six Nations and Tri-Nations tournaments as well as last year's Autumn internationals. "Every ball sent over for the tournament has been hand checked by our Ball Engineer to ensure that they are identical and that they satisfy the high standards required by a Gilbert match ball," said Richard Gray, sales and marketing director of the British company who have supplied the World Cup's balls since 1995. "The technical changes we have incorporated into the Virtuo ball enable us to inflate each ball to the correct pressure prior to handing over to match officials."
Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu has appealed against his three-match suspension for a tip tackle on South Africa's Pat Lambie.
France winger Vincent Clerc has resumed normal training ahead of Saturday's big match against New Zealand, having been resricted earlier in the week because of deep bruising to his left thigh sustained against Canada last Sunday.
Japan coach John Kirwan, who has set the team ambitious targets of being a top-eight side by 2015 and reaching the World Cup final when the country hosts the 2019 competition, said urgent improvements need to be made. The Brave Blossoms, who were beaten 31-18 by Tonga, have lost all but one of their last 17 World Cup matches over a 20-year period and ahead of Tuesday's match with Canada Kirwan said: "Too many errors and not protecting the ball at ruck cost us dearly. We need to fix that otherwise the same thing will happen against Canada. We've got to hang on to the ball and be stronger over the ball at ruck."
A New Zealand cathedral has exhibited a painting depicting a haloed Jesus wearing an All Blacks jersey as he dispenses blessings while clutching a white rugby ball. The Dominian Post report that the painting went on display this week at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Wellington and sold within a few days to an Australian collector, with the part of the proceeds given to charity.
A stray cigarette butt was the cause of the large scrub blaze which alarmed fans and thousands of TV viewers during Japan's match against Tonga, a report said. Flames appeared just behind Northland Events Centre stadium's packed main terrace during the second half on Wednesday. A group of people watching the game from a tree accidentally ignited the scrub fire, which burned about 15 metres from the stadium before being extinguished by firefighters.
Christchurch resident Jeff Smith was amazed when he looked over his garden fence and saw an All Blacks training session, stuff.co.nz report. Smith was one of a small group of neighbours who had a bird's eye view over the low fence around the city's Linfield Park. The venue's gate was closed and covered with a black sheet for privacy after All Blacks officials previously complained of being spied on by rival teams. "The security (guard) said, 'We don't want you taking any photos, thank you'," Smith said.

Formula 1 gossip and rumours from international media

Man with a plan: Hamilton wants to get his title back in 2012

Lewis Hamilton has told Red Bull's championship leader Sebastian Vettel: 'I'll get my title back next year'. Vettel could clinch the F1 crown on Sunday but Hamilton, McLaren's 2008 world champion, has promised to come back stronger next season.
Full story: The Sun
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso says his team need to get out of the blocks quickly next year to inject some much-needed rivalry into F1 after Vettel's rivals made it too easy for the Red Bull driver this season.
Full story: Reuters
Rubens Barrichello says he is not going to waste time worrying about losing his place in F1, amid mounting speculation that former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is pushing to replace him at Williams next year.
Full story: Autosport
Jenson Button has hit back at Eddie Irvine after the former Ferrari driver this week criticised the McLaren driver as "the best number two" in Formula 1. "Why is Eddie still taking about Formula 1? Is he missing it? It's very sweet, though," said Button. "All I can say is that it was fun winning the World Championship, and I hope to do it again."
Full story: Daily Express
McLaren Group executive chairman Ron Dennis has said that his vision for McLaren is that within 10 years F1 will be only 10% of the company's turnover and he will make it a business which measures its turnover in the billions of dollars.
Full story: James Allen on F1
This story will be updated throughout the day.

Everton punch above weight

David Moyes has worked miracles at Goodison Park with limited resources

Manchester City's game with Everton on Saturday is a battle between the Premier League's "haves" and "have nots", a meeting of contrasts between a club and a manager with riches almost beyond compare in football terms and another with no cash at their disposal.

Everton have made a habit of getting under City's skin in recent years and have a fine record on their visits to what is now Etihad Stadium.
It will be tough for them to maintain that sequence but you know David Moyes and his players will fancy their chances.
Moyes and his City counterpart Roberto Mancini are both dealing with different kind of pressures, but I know which type is preferable.
Mancini is accompanied by huge expectation because of the money he is able to spend, but the big advantage is that it is all in his hands.
He has the money to compete for the world's best players and if one signing doesn't work out he can always buy someone else.
Moyes does not have money and yet, perfectly understandably given their history, Everton and their supporters still have certain expectations of their own.
They expect to be in the top 10 at least and pushing towards the top six. And yet Moyes has to meet these demands without cash to bring in big names or to work the markets.
If, say, Wigan simply stay up with no money then Roberto Martinez is a genius. Moyes has to work within that same financial framework and keep Everton well inside that top 10.
The fact that he does it pretty much every season is a measure of his quality as a manager.

Continue reading the main story

Moyes has tried, even when losing players such as Mikel Arteta, to get right back to basics and foster a team spirit that says 'we're all in this together'

The problem is that supporters - and this is their right as they pay their money, back the club and always turn up in their numbers at Goodison Park - want to see new blood and fresh faces.
Moyes has tried, even when losing players such as Mikel Arteta, to get right back to basics and foster a team spirit that says "we're all in this together".
This is the message you regularly hear from his team, including Tim Cahill recently.
It is obvious how important having big money is in achieving success in the Premier League, and in the Champions League if you qualify. If the financial part is missing from the equation it makes life difficult.
Moyes, however, has managed to build a team that is capable of beating the best.
Everton were incredibly inconsistent last season, producing football that was very good at times and very poor at others.
The highs of home victories against the likes of Liverpool, Spurs, City and Chelsea are at least some consolation. Of course Everton want to win trophies, and rightly so, but Moyes has produced a lot of highs in terms of performances and their life is not total doom and gloom.
If Everton's existence was simply a dull flatlining then there would be problems, but he has got a team that can be a match for pretty well everyone on their day.
Of course Moyes is an ambitious manager and the worry for Everton is if he starts to feel he has come to a standstill.
If a club were to offer him the chance to win trophies or reach the top four on a regular basis then there is the danger of him going elsewhere, but that is not happening at the moment and he seems happy at Goodison Park.
I must admit it does seem strange that no-one has come in to invest in Everton.
You are talking about a fabulous club with passionate supporters and rich history and tradition but you don't hear any rumours at all about an individual, or even a consortium, coming in.
Manchester City have no such difficulties and their infrastructure and influence is increasing. You only have to look at the plans for a magnificent new training complex and academy, announced this week.
Mancini's side have been very impressive this season until the last 30 minutes at Fulham on Sunday.

MOYES AT EVERTON

Continue reading the main story

• David Moyes joined Everton in 2002
• He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year
• Everton were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup final

They have moved away from the over-cautious approach that sometimes let them down, although it was a worry that they stopped competing, stopped playing and retreated to the 18-yard line in the closing stages against Fulham.
City have signed a wonderful player in Sergio Aguero. They have a system with two holding players that has worked away from home and on their own territory they have been going for the throat.
There will be no alarm bells ringing after a bad half-hour, but the sign of their progression as a team will come if they do experience a bad spell. How will they react? Will they ensure that it is only a blip? This will be the test but you have to say the signs are good.
I fully expect City to be challenging for the title and the good news is that it's coming, even if it is not this season. These are exciting time for the club.
Everton's financial future is not so certain, their resources not so lavish - but this just adds another layor of intrigue to events on Saturday lunchtime.
Alan Hansen was speaking to BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

Lawro's predictions

BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a new guest pundit each week this season.

The latest to take centre stage is Wales rugby player Gethin Jenkins, currently on World Cup duty in New Zealand.
Jenkins backs Manchester United to continue their 100% winning start to the Premier League season but cannot see Welsh side Swansea getting anything from their trip to Stamford Bridge.
You can see all of his predictions on Football Focus on Saturday at 1215 BST on BBC One and this website (in the UK).

This week's predictions	Score	Lawro	Gethin Jenkins
Arsenal v Bolton	x-x	2-1	2-1
Chelsea v Swansea	x-x	3-0	3-1
Liverpool v Wolves	x-x	2-0	1-1
Man City v Everton	x-x	2-0	2-0
Newcastle v Blackburn	x-x	2-1	1-2
Norwich v Sunderland	x-x	2-2	1-2
QPR v Aston Villa	x-x	1-1	1-1
Stoke v Man Utd	x-x	1-2	0-2
West Brom v Fulham	x-x	1-1	2-1
Wigan v Tottenham	x-x	0-2	1-2

A correct result is worth ONE point while a correct score earns THREE points.
Last week, Lawro got three results right and no perfect scores, and his three points were beaten by actor Gary Oldman, who scored eight points.

(Predictions leaderboard at the bottom of the page)

LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS SATURDAY
All kick-offs 1500 BST unless stated
Manchester City v Everton (1245 BST) Everton didn't have the luxury, unlike City, of resting most of their main players in the Carling Cup.
I know the Toffees traditionally have a good record at City, but with the vast array of talent at Roberto Mancini's disposal it will be tough for David Moyes and his team.
Prediction: 2-0
Arsenal v Bolton Both have had poor starts to the season. Unusually, Arsene Wenger castigated his players after they lost 4-3 at Blackburn last week.
But you can't just buy players on the last day of the transfer deadline and expect them to knit together. Even so, Bolton's confidence, despite this week's Carling Cup win, is zero.
Prediction: 2-1
Chelsea v Swansea Swansea are clearly getting all the big ones out of the way at the start. They will find it hard work at Chelsea, who really impressed me against Manchester United, despite losing.
The position of Juan Mata is so important. He has to play, centrally, behind Fernando Torres. He looks sharper now.
Prediction: 3-0
Liverpool v Wolves Wolves' great start to the season has quickly faded. And as they won at Anfield last year, Liverpool will have a bone to pick with them.
Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez looked exceptionally sharp against Brighton in midweek. Whether Bellamy can play again in such a short space of time, I don't know.
Prediction: 2-0
Newcastle v Blackburn Remarkably, Newcastle are unbeaten so far. It probably won't last too long, of course, but it's still impressive.
Blackburn's comeback against Arsenal was great - but that game could've been any score. Rovers' midfield was non-existent. It will be physical encounter between these two teams.
Prediction: 2-1
West Brom v Fulham It's been a poor start for Roy Hodgson's West Brom, something none of us really expected. Defensively they are usually so disciplined.
With Fulham, the squad players did very well against Chelsea in the Carling Cup. I believe, despite their fans worrying, they'll be absolutely fine.
Prediction: 1-1
Wigan v Tottenham Spurs have got the bit between the teeth - their midfield of Bale-Modric-Parker-Krancjar was outstanding against Liverpool.
That's a big problem for Wigan. The way Spurs moved the ball at times was breathtaking - and the Wigan pitch is still good, something else Tottenham will like.
Prediction: 0-2
Stoke v Manchester United (1730 BST) The way Stoke conceded four goals against Sunderland was so unlike them, so haphazard.
Tony Pulis does have a good squad, actually, but even so Manchester United just keep rolling over everybody at the moment. And their big names have had a week off.
Prediction: 1-2
SUNDAY
QPR v Aston Villa (1600 BST) QPR have played really well for a couple of matches now, Joey Barton's a good player and Shaun Wright-Phillips looks electric. In that form, he's very difficult to play against.
But have they got goals in them? I expect Villa will be cautious - they'll go into their 4-5-1 shell away from home.
Prediction: 1-1
MONDAY
Norwich v Sunderland (2000 BST) It was a great win for Norwich at Bolton last week, if a little fortuitous. Maybe we've not given them as much praise as they deserve.
Sunderland look like a different team now after that big 4-0 win against Stoke. A draw would certainly keep both teams ticking over.
Prediction: 2-2
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Whyatt.

LEADERBOARD	SCORE
Shaun Edwards	11
Gary Oldman	8
Richard Archer	8
Mark Lawrenson (average)	5
Jimmy Anderson	4
Samuel L Jackson	2

Lawro's best score: seven points (week three).
Lawro's worst score: three points (week five).
Make your own predictions to see how the Premier League will look after this weekend.

Mark Webber column

Highlights - Singapore Grand Prix

This weekend's Singapore Grand Prix is one of the season's showcase events - and probably the toughest of all for drivers.

So many things add up to make it that way and I love the challenge and endurance aspect of the race.
The grand prix runs for two hours; it's a long lap on a very demanding course that is pretty repetitive, with lots of 90-degree corners and heavy braking.
It's bumpy, which is uncomfortable in the cockpit and makes the demands on concentration very high, and, on top of all that, it is incredibly hot and humid, even though we're driving at night.
Television just does not do it justice and you need to be there to begin to appreciate it.
It's the same with a lot of sport that's held in extreme conditions, whether it be playing Test cricket in India or competing at the Australian Tennis Open in the middle of summer.
Singapore is of course on the equator and I'm sure some of you will have been there on holiday, or to somewhere like Sri Lanka or Malaysia, and experienced what that can be like in terms of intense heat.
We are wearing three layers of fireproof clothing. There is no ventilation in the cockpit - even though it is open, the air is directed around the driver as much as possible. With a racing engine behind us, and radiators either side of us, temperatures in there exceed 50ºC.
In a grand prix there is no respite - it's high intensity action for the entire duration of the race, with core body temperatures often higher than 40ºC and your heart rate above 170 beats a minute.
Webber finished third under the lights of Singapore at last year's grand prix It's a raw environment; there's no comfort, and you just have to get on with it.
The key thing is to keep on top of your hydration and that starts three or four days before the race - don't forget we have three hours of practice sessions on Friday, and two hours of practice and qualifying on Saturday before we even get to the race.
It's incredibly important to keep hydrated, and it's not about just being thirsty. If you dehydrate, it can have a major effect on body and cognitive function. So for us it can even become dangerous.
We have a drinks bottle in the car but, because of the tight confines of the cockpit and the need to keep weight down, that holds no more than a litre - and I'm definitely going to lose a lot more fluid than that during the race.
Our workload is made even higher by the fact the race is at night.
The lighting in Singapore is very good but it still requires a little bit more effort than normal to compute what you're seeing.
It's not natural light and there are inconsistencies around the track: some places have more light than during the day; some have less.
But those little subtleties of light are something you really notice at 180mph. Just think of what it's like when you're driving at night on a motorway and the lights are flashing past you. Then multiply it…
Finally, there's the fact that, by and large, we stay on European time, even though Singapore is six or seven hours ahead of that.
You have breakfast at three or four in the afternoon. You leave the track at 0130-0200 and try to get some dinner.
It's pretty surreal but it's all worth it - it's a very rewarding grand prix and the tough environment helps makes it that way.

China condemns US upgrade of Taiwan F-16 jets

Obama: 'No short cut' to Middle East peace

US president tells UN that Israel and PLO both have "legitimate aspirations", but peace can only come via direct talks.

The Palestinians are turning to the UN after peace talks with Israel stalled [EPA]

Barack Obama, the US president, has said "there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades" between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Obama expressed frustration at the failure of both parties to bridge their differences and at the Palestinians' decision to seek full membership of the UN through the Security Council later this week.

The US has said it will veto such an effort.

While conceding both sides had "legitimate aspirations," Obama said peace would not come through statements and resolutions at the UN, but rather only through a resumption of direct negotiations.

He said the parties are the only ones who can agree on the issues that continue to divide them.

Obama attempted to strike a delicate balance as he took the UN podium.
He sought to reassure Palestinians he was not abandoning his pledge to help them achieve eventual statehood, while also placating Israeli concerns about Washington's commitment to their security.

"Palestinians need to live in a sovereign state of their own. Their vision has been delayed for too long. That is why the US has spent time and money helping to build a Palestinian state," Obama said.

He then added: "Yet America's commitment  to Israel's security is unshakeable and our friendship with it is enduring."

Members of the General Assembly, where pro-Palestinian sentiment is high, listened politely but had only a muted response to Obama's 36-minute speech.

The Obama administration says that only direct peace talks can lead to peace with the Palestinians, who in turn say almost two decades of fruitless negotiation has left them no choice but to turn to the world body.

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, were scheduled to meet with Obama in separate meetings after the speech.

Violence warning
Speaking to gathered world leaders later on Wednesday, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, proposed a
timetable for Israeli-Palestinian peace, with resumed talks in one month, agreement on borders and security in six months, and a final deal in one year.

Sarkozy told the General Assembly that after 60 years of failure it was time to change tactics.

He said efforts to reach an accord must include a broader range of players, including Arab nations who have been sidelined. Sarkozy said talks were "doomed to failure'' if either side sets preconditions.

Sarkozy also warned that a US veto of the Palestinian bid would trigger violence.

"Who could doubt that a veto at the Security Council risks engendering a cycle of violence in the Middle East?" said Sarkozy.
Rallies continue
Earlier on Wednesday, tens of thousands of people gathered in Ramallah and Nablus in the occupied West Bank, in a show of support for the Palestinian bid to secure full membership at the UN.

In video

Al Jazeera's Cal Perry reports from Ramallah

Al Jazeera's Cal Perry, reporting from Ramallah, said people rallying in there were aware of the diplomatic talks taking place in New York.
Thousands marched into Arafat Square in Ramallah, and schools and some businesses were shut as people came out in support of the bid for Palestinian statehood, he said.
In Nablus, some rallyists said it was a big day for Obama. "Lets hope he does not let us down," they said.
Recognising that Abbas is likely to proceed with his bid, Obama is expected to privately ask the Palestinian leader to essentially drop the move for statehood recognition after Abbas delivers a formal letter of intent to the UN on Friday, after his address to the UN General Assembly.
"The president will say, frankly, the same thing in private that he'll say in public, which is that we do not believe that this is the best course of action for achieving Palestinian aspirations," said Ben Rhodes, the White House deputy national security adviser.
Obama's stand has surprised many Palestinians, with the Palestinian foreign minister saying he was "amazed" by the US efforts to persuade other countries not to support the UN bid.
"They have used different forms of pressure, threats, and many others, sending letters, sending ambassadors, etc, etc... Amazing," Riyad al-Maliki told Al Jazeera.
Talking to Al Jazeera's Gregg Carlstrom, senior Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouti, also expressed his surprise over the US opposition.
"I think it is very strange that Obama will veto a bid for Palestinian statehood, when a year ago at the UN General Assembly he supported the idea," he said.

"Palestinian statehood will create a new political situation where Israeli will be occupying another country."
US hopes
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), of whom Abbas is chairman, says it is pressing for statehood after talks with Israel led to nowhere.
The Obama administration say that only direct peace negotiations, not a UN vote, would allow the Palestinians to achieve the benefits of statehood.
The new approach being considered would see the "quartet" of the peace mediators, including the US, UN, European Union and Russia - issue a statement addressing both Palestinian and Israeli concerns and setting a timetable for a return to the long-stalled peace talks, officials close to the diplomatic talks said.
The statement would also endorse the idea of "two states for two peoples, Jewish and Palestinian", according to the AP news agency.
The White House appeared to hold out little hope that Abbas would not go ahead with the bid.
"President Abbas has indicated his determination to go to the Security Council, so we take him at his word on that," Rhodes said.

Enhanced observer
The simmering situation is far from the scenario Obama envisioned when he spoke at the UN one year ago.
"We should reach for what's best within ourselves," Obama said last September in pushing for negotiated agreement on a sovereign Palestinian state.

"If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations."
Should the Palestinian bid fail, Abbas could ask for a vote of the General Assembly for an enhanced observer status, which is enjoyed by others such as the Vatican, in which case no veto would be possible.
While UN recognition would have largely a symbolic value, the Palestinians argue that it would strengthen their hands in peace talks with Israel, especially on the final issues that divide them.
These are the precise location of the border, the final status of Jerusalem, the right of return of Palestinian refugees, water, and security.

On Wednesday, clashes broke out at the Qalandiya Crossing between Ramallah and Jerusalem.

Carlstrom reported that Israeli troops had fired tear gas to disperse an estimated 50 rock-throwing young people.
Several youths and one Israeli soldier were said to have been injured.

Navigator in Russia crash was 'lightly drunk' Official report finds navigator in June air crash that killed 47 people was slightly over the legal limit for alcohol.

The navigator's blood alcohol content was just over the legal limit for driving in Britain and many US states [AFP]

The navigator of a Russian plane that crashed in June, killing 47 people, was legally drunk, an official report has said.

Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee said the navigator "was in a light state of alcoholic intoxication" as the crew attempted to land the plane, in a report posted on its website on Monday.

The RusAir Tu-134 jet crashed into the tops of trees, overturned and slammed into the ground while trying to land in fog at the airport in the northern city of Petrozavodsk, the first in a string of Russian air accidents in recent months.

The report said the experienced navigator, 50, was "excessively active", with data recorders showing he had told the chief pilot several times to speed up the landing.

At one point, he told the pilot: "Sasha, turn quicker, come on!" the report said.

'Excessive self-assurance'

The navigator's body was found to have 0.81 grams of alcohol per litre of blood, which would have caused a "light" level of drunkenness, likely to make a person less self-critical, the report said.

His blood alcohol content was just over the legal limit for driving in Britain and many US states, although Russia has a zero tolerance policy for drivers.

The navigator had 25 years' experience and had logged more than 13,000 hours on Tu-134 flights, said the
committee

It added the navigator's behaviour was a contributing factor in the crash, but found that the main cause was the incorrect decision not to abort the landing as the plane descended into thick fog with no sight of the runway.

It blamed a "lack of discipline and excessive self-assurance of the crew members".

The question remained why the navigator had been permitted to fly.

A pre-flight medical examination of the crew appeared to have been done "as a formality", the report, with all of the crew recorded as having exactly the same pulse rate.
Forty-four people died on the scene of the crash and three died later in hospital.

Among the dead were a citizen of the Netherlands, a Swede and two Ukrainians. Five people, including a stewardess, survived the crash with serious injuries.

The report's findings come as an investigation continues into the crash of a plane carrying a top ice hockey team earlier this month, the latest in a string of air disasters in Russia, where many smaller airlines use outdated Soviet-era planes.

The latest crash prompted Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, to order his government to shut down unreliable airlines and raise penalties for air safety violations.

Deadly blast rocks centre of Turkish capital At least three people killed in Ankara in explosion that officials say was caused by bomb on a vehicle.

The explosion gutted several parked cars before it was put out by fire fighters [Reuters]

At least three people have been killed and 15 others wounded in an explosion in the Turkish capital, Ankara, officials have said.

"Three citizens were killed and 15 were injured, five of whom are in critical condition," Idris Naim Sahin, the interior minister, said in televised remarks.
Tuesday's blast occurred in the Kizilay district of downtown Ankara, and Bulent Arinc, the country's deputy prime minister, blamed it on a bomb planted on a vehicle.
Bulent Tanik, a local mayor, said an eyewitness told him someone threw a burning gas canister onto the vehicles from a nearby building.
"The investigation is under way," Tanik said. "If true, that canister might have triggered the blast of a liquefied petroleum gas tank on a vehicle."
Cars set ablaze
The blast occurred across a school but no student was harmed, Tanik said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Kurdish, leftist and Islamic fighters have carried out bomb attacks in Turkey in the past.
The explosion set several vehicles on fire before it was extinguished by firefighters.
One of the vehicles was totally burnt down and four others were also damaged, television images showed.

Monsoon rains swamp much of Asia The monsoon rains have caused chaos across much of Asia

Monsoon rains cause flooding in Sarabun, Thailand [Gallo/Getty]

The devastating floods in Pakistan have overshadowed the fact that many other parts of Asia have also been suffering from too much rainfall over the past few weeks. The list of countries affected is extensive and includes China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and of course India.
Over 250 people have died in the flooding in SE Pakistan and despite the fact that the rain has now eased somewhat, the floodwaters are still reluctant to recede. Run-off from the higher ground will add to the problems for many days to come.
Widespread heavy rain has also hit eastern and northwestern China recently, disrupting transport and tourism. Shangdong Province has suffered for 5 successive days now and the rain is not expected to ease for at least another 3 days. Shaanxi and Huayin have also been submerged by the extensive downpours.
In the case of India, not only has the northwest been badly hit, the eastern state of Orissa has also suffered, as floods caused major destruction, forcing thousands of people to leave their villages and take up refuge in relief camps. More than 65,000 people have been affected by the adverse conditions.
Meanwhile, at least 2,000 houses were damaged in northern and central Vietnam as a result of heavy rains and flooding since the weekend. Six people have been killed in that time.
Similarly, Thailand continues to struggle with this season’s monsoon rains. More than 80 people have died and there are still flood warnings in force across 14 provinces. Some of the dams are at 95% capacity and it is possible that the floodwaters could extend into Bangkok. Media reports suggest that some of the dams could be opened by the Thai government to release the flood waters.
This is creating much cause for concern in neighbouring Cambodia where 4 people have already died as a result of flooding.
Rising floodwaters have already hit four provinces close to the Thai border with another three also under threat. Officials in Phnom Penh are bracing the city against a similar fate with the Tonle Sap and Mekong river currently full to overflowing. The rainy season does extend right through October (which is, on average, the wettest month) so it seems likely that conditions could get worse before they get better.