16 Pages Number 181 2st Year
Afghanistan tackling almost 4,000 poll complaints PAGE 6
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
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Indian workers dismantle the collapsed footbridge at The Jawaharlal Stadium, the main venue for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, in New Delhi on September 22, 2010.The Delhi Commonwealth Games were plunged into crisis 12 days from the start after the athletes’ village was described as “uninhabitable” and a footbridge collapsed at the main stadium.
Bali’s tuna production earns $53 million in Forex PAGE 8
Paris Hilton denied entry to Japan over cocaine conviction PAGE 12
AFP PHOTO/PEDRO UGARTE
Commonwealth Games chief rushing to New Delhi Associated Press Writer NEW DELHI – Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell is rushing to New Delhi on an emergency visit amid widespread anger over India’s frenzied last-minute preparations for the event which is due to open a week from Sunday. Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Fennell would arrive Thursday and had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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Fennell’s arrival comes as organizers struggle to cope with unfinished buildings, a filthy athletes’ village, a bridge collapse near the main stadium and numerous other problems. But even as star athletes withdrew and doubts over the staging of the Commonwealth Games gathered momentum, Indian offi-
cials were attempting to play down concerns as an international overreaction. “Athletes and guests should not bother about such small matters,” Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy told CNN-IBN television about the unclean accommodations, insisting that the Commonwealth
Games village would be immaculate by the time events begin Oct. 3. Officials from some delegations have already moved into the village, which is due to open to athletes from 71 countries by Friday. As to the collapse of the 90-meter pedestrian bridge — which injured 23 construction workers, five criti-
cally — New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters: “The accident is not as big as being made out to be. We are giving adequate compensation to those injured.” The pedestrian bridge, which was still under construction, lead from a parking lot to the games’ main stadium. Dikshit is the equivalent of the city’s mayor. The Games, which bring together more than 7,000 athletes and officials from all over the British Commonwealth every four years, was supposed to showcase India’s emerging power in the international community. Continued on page 6
74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach Associated Press Writer
WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A pod of 74 pilot whales stranded themselves on a remote northern New Zealand beach — the second time in a month that a mass beaching has happened in the region, officials said Wednesday. Twenty-five of the animals were already dead when officials arrived at Spirits Bay beach, Department
of Conservation area manager Jonathan Maxwell said. In addition to the 49 still alive and stuck on the beach, another 50 were spotted just offshore, he said. “We need as many volunteers as possible, as it will be at least until tomorrow (Thursday) before we can look at refloating them, which means caring for them over the next two days,” he said. Continued on page 6
AFP PHOTO/HO/DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Two people inspect one of 25 pilot whales that died on September 22, 2010 after beaching themselves at Spirits Bay, 320 kilometres (200 miles) northwest of Auckland.