Sport

Starting in 2006, HM passport service of Britain will begin use of biometric chips in the issuance of passports. Essential to this scheme is the creation of a central database for passport holders that contains fingerprint and biometric data. This database, along with fingerprinting facilities, will be shared by the controversial Identity Card scheme. The UK Passport Service is a royal prerogative, meaning the proposals do not require parliamentary approval. Critics say this is an attempt by the government to introduce key elements of the Iden

After intense campaigning during the week, yesterday at GAA Congress delegates voted to open Croke Park to Soccer and Rugby by 227 votes to 97. The stadium which can seat 82,500, is by far Ireland's largest and indeed one of the largest in Europe. Traditionally soccer and rugby internationals had been played in the much smaller Landsdowne Road stadium, but due to redevelopment it seemed that all internationals would have to be played in the UK. However this situation has now been avoided with the vote by delegates to amend Rule 42 to allow soc

New Zealand Cricket is coming under increasing domestic pressure to reject a touring trip to Zimbabwe. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, has demanded of the New Zealand Cricket team, called the 'Black Caps', to keep the scheduled play in Zimbabwe where there is to be five-week tour later this year. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has condemned the tour stating, "Zimbabwe has just had a rigged election, which has produced a result which is simply unbelievable. I ... wouldn't go near it." But she refused to ban the tour,

Eric Rudolph, who was on the FBI's most wanted list and a fugitive bomber for more than five years, has reached a deal with prosecutors that gives him life in prison instead of a possible death sentence. Rudolph will plead guilty to a string of bombings — an attack during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; a Birmingham, Alabama women's clinic in 1998. He was facing trial on other bombing charges including a lesbian night club and another women's clinic, both in the Atlanta area. Although one of the victims said she thought the plea bargai

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India The Indian Cricket Team showed a good spirit both in Batting and Bowling activities which helped them beat Pakistan in the Cricket Match held at Visakhapatnam by 58 runs. Batting first, India's V Sehwag (74) and Dhoni (148) with a contribution from Dravid (52) helped them to put a challening 357 runs to Pakistan. Pakistan however were all out for 298 in 44.1 overs. A Nehra took 4 wickets. Indian innings (50 overs maximum) Batsman     R M B 4 6 V Sehwag c Salman Bu

North American travelers will see a phased-in requirement to carry passports in the coming years. In a multi-national initiative to restrict illegal immigration and travel, a passport layer of stricter identification will be introduced for travel throughout the continent by the year 2008. The US State Department announced the new American travel rules Monday. For the most part, North American citizens can now travel to neighboring countries without formal papers. But starting in December 2005, U.S. citizens travelling by air or sea to or from

Frank Clair, the Canadian Football League (CFL) coach and architect of the powerhouse Ottawa Rough Riders of the 1960s and 70s died Sunday at the age of 87 in Sarasota, Florida, United States. Nicknamed "The Professor" for his skills at recognising talent, teaching the game, and ability to get the most from players, Clair first came to Canada to coach the Toronto Argonauts in 1950 and ended his first CFL year with a Grey Cup championship; repeating with the Argos in 1952. He left the Argonauts following a salary dispute and ended up in Ottawa

Barclaycard Premiership football match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa ended up with a fight between two teammates. Newcastle hasn't lost a single game since January 23 and looked as favourites for their April 2 home match against Aston Villa. However things haven't went as planned. On the 5th minute of the game Juan Pablo Angel scored for the away side. Villa continued to dominate and in the second half any hopes of fightback for Newcastle were shattered as Steven Taylor got sent off for the deliberate handball. The foul warranted a p

Ebner Anivel Rivera-Paz, A leader of the vicious Mara Salvatruchas(MS-13) gang, has issued orders from his prison cell for his followers to teach the American "Minutemen" volunteers a lesson when they begin patrolling the Mexican border tomorrow. MS-13 gang members are considered to be America's most violent gang with such acts of barbarism as to "cut off the testicles of their enemies and feed them to their vicious dogs" and "cut the heads off their opponents to play soccer with them". However, such allegations of brutality doesn't seem

The Canadian Football League released details today concerning the June 11 exhibition game dubbed Touchdown Atlantic between the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The game is planned as a gauge for expansion east to an Atlantic city but with ticket prices at $40 and $62.50 (Canadian), CFL commissioner Tom Wright admitted they were considerably more expensive than the average price for other season-ticket holder single games which, he said, is "in the mid to high $20 range". At the news confe

India v Pakistan - Third Test, Day 3 - Bangalore, India Virender Sehwag's characteristic 201 wasn't enough to help India to safety, as a late spur of wickets in the final session left the hosts at 6-379, in response to Pakistan's first innings score of 570, still trailing by 191 runs, at close of play on Day 3 of the third and final Test of this historic series. Sehwag dominated each and every Pakistani bowler during his dominant batting display, a second score of 200+ against the sub-continental neighbours. His innings, which could have been

The former Argentine soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, aged 44, was honored with the keys to the Colombian city of Cartagena. Maradona is in Cartagena recovering from stomach surgery he had to reduce the size of his waist. The surgury was necessary because Maradona is suffering of severe obesity problems which may put his life at risk. He is 5 foot 6 inches (1.67 meters) tall and weighs 267 pounds (121 kg). The Argentine was grateful for the homage and showed good humour: "I want to thank the mayor for giving me the keys to the cit