I`ll work for tolerance - Msekwa

Newly elected Chama Cha Mapinduzi Vice Chairman (Mainland) Pius Msekwa gestures as he speaks during an exclusive interview with our reporters in Dodoma yesterday.
CCM Vice Chairman (mainland) Pius Msekwa has said he will strive to create harmonious relations with opposition parties for the good of the country.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday, Msekwa, who was recently elected as the ruling party`s vice chairman, said party relations could be in two areas during elections and after elections.

He said because each party`s objective was to win during elections, CCM would make sure that it undertook its election campaigns in a manner that would not embarrass or harm its rivals.

`My main task is to create a culture of tolerance among the parties, a culture whereby CCM can agree to disagree with other parties without fighting or confrontation,` he said.

Msekwa said once the elections were over, CCM would endeavour to create harmonious relations with other parties which have representation in parliament in order to work for the betterment of the people.

`In parliament, political parties need to work together. Here, CCM needs to cooperate well with the Opposition so that different government documents, such as government budgets or bills can be endorsed,` he said, adding `my main mission is to further improve those relations.`

CCM enjoys a majority of seats in the parliament?with 273 seats out of 318. Three parties are represented in the House.

These are the Civic United Front with 32 seats, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo with 11 seats and United Democratic Party with one seat.

Msekwa also defended the new culture in CCM whereby children of prominent politicians were taking up elective posts in the party. He said: `This is healthy for party democracy.`

The just-ended CCM election has seen a number of children of leading politicians taking up elective posts, a situation seen by some political analysts as likely to introduce the element of dynasty in the country`s political affairs.

But yesterday Msekwa said: `It would have been a problem if they were appointed by their parents to party posts. This was an election. They were voted in by members in an open market. I do not see any problem with it.`

He said the tendency was healthy for the party because it indicated that the children were following the footsteps of their parents because they were also satisfied with CCM policies.

Asked about rich businessmen who were increasingly taking up senior CCM posts, Msekwa said there was no problem in businessmen joining politics, adding that his party was open to all Tanzanians.

There have been growing concerns that CCM has been hijacked by the rich and was slowly moving away from its rank and file support base.

Of late, there has been an influx of big businessmen vying for elective posts through the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi.

Msekwa said that every CCM member had the right to elect or be elected.

`CCM does not discriminate against people basing on their race, religious affiliation or one`s occupation. All members are treated equally,` he said.

Asked about the growing tendency of chief-whipping whenever it came to issues of national interest versus party interests? when CCM MPs would sit as a party committee to block serious national issues raised by opposition MPs, Msekwa said: "Who measures whether what the opposition MPs are saying are issues of national interest and not party interests"`

Arm twisting awaits MPs on undeclared property

Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta

Stern measures will be taken against Members of Parliament who will not return official forms explaining list of properties they own by December 31, this year.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta, gave the warning here yesterday when reminding the MPs to collect the forms and fill in before the set dead line.

The order was made at the end of the question and answer session yesterday.

Ho would not however mention MPs who had not submitted the forms.

`I want to remind you that last year some MPs did not meet the deadline. I tolerated them, but this year I will not allow such a thing to happen again,` said Sitta.

He said that any Member of Parliament who would not return the forms to his office, legal actions will be taken against him or her.

He told legislators that the forms were so important that they should not be disregarded.

`If you will not submit your forms by December 31, this year you will face a big problem, hence I urge you to fill in the forms fast before the deadline,` said Sitta.

All public leaders are supposed to fill in the forms every year in order to list properties they own.

Under the Leadership and ethical code, leaders in the higher echelons of the government are required to declare their properties with the Ethics Commission within a few months after being elected or appointed.

TCAA collects 5.9bn/-for the 2006/07 year

The Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr. Maua Daftari

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has collected 5.9bn/- from over flying aircraft charges during the 2006/ 2007 financial year, MPs were told yesterday.

The Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr. Maua Daftari revealed the collection to the MPs when answering a question by Ibrahim Mohamed Sanya (CUF Mji Mkongwe) who sought to know how much fund had the TCAA collected during that period.

He also wanted to know how much share did Tanzania Zanzibar receive from the collected amount and how many Zanzibarians are represented in TCAA Board.

Dr. Daftari said that over flight collections was one of TCAA revenues and were used to run the Authority`s activities.

She said that for the time being TCAA was not receiving any subsidies from the government and the government also does not get any revenue from services delivered by TCAA.

`Therefore, TCAA collections are not divided by basing on Tanzania mainland or Tanzania Zanzibar, the fund is used for running TCAA activities,` she said

She added that in 2005/2007 a total of 379 were spent in investing and running activities in Zanzibar and Pemba airports.

Concerning how many representatives from Zanzibar were in TCAA board of directors, the Deputy Minister said that TCAA has a total of six members including the Executive Director of the Authority.

She said among the members there are two members from Zanzibar.

Ensure equitable use of resources, Lowassa urges churches

The Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa has challenged churches to ensure available resources are properly and equitably used for the benefit of all the people.

He made the challenge in Dar es Salaam yesterday when opening a workshop of Church leaders on Joint Ownership of Properties as an Effective Way of Fighting Poverty.

The workshop has been by organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC).

`The government values the contribution of the Church, not only in spreading the Word of God, but also in providing various economic services to communities,` said Lowassa in a speech read at the workshop on his behalf by the Deputy Minister (Disaster and HIV/Aids), Dr Luke Siyame.

Lowassa said it would be fair if different institutions gave one voice to ensure the war against poverty succeeds in African countries.

He praised institutions under the Church in the country for their efforts to offer services to the community.

Lowassa said the government understood the contribution of the churches in areas like construction of schools, health centres and water services.

`This has contributed a lot in enabling the wananchi access quality services and therefore continue to work for their own development,` he said.

The PM said African countries could do away with poverty if they took into consideration good governance that went hand in hand with the rule of law.

He said the need for modern agriculture was important for the development of countries in the continent.

Lowassa said presence of modern infrastructure would help in the fight against poverty.

One of the participants of the workshop, Dr Rogate Mshana said time had come for African leaders to change and do things for the interest of their nations and the people who chose them instead of taking care of their own personal interests.

He said some of the leaders had been taking properties leaving the wananchi who put them in power, poor.

Dr Mshana said such a situation made people lose hope in those they chose to effect development change.5

Kiltex closes down, leaving 800 workers unemployed

In what can be described as a major employment blow in Arusha Region, one of the largest textile factories, the New Kilimanjaro Textile Mills (KILTEX), has closed its doors and made nearly 800 workers here now unemployed.

KILTEX`s management says the closure follows a long time review of its supply chain and production level, leaving directors with `no obvious alternative other than to propose the closure of the factory`.

An honorary contract to `cease employment pact` signed between the management and the workers` association on October24, 2007, the employer blamed the crisis on dilapidated production machines and lack of spare parts.

KILTEX, which was privatised six years ago, claims that it would have rather opted to pay out millions in redundancy payments to its 800 workers than continue to run at a loss.

`For a long time now, our production has been declining due to dilapidated production machines and unavailability of spare parts locally, the factor which failed us to run the factory smoothly,` reads part of the signed contract.

As a result the Directors had to order the closure of the plant for a period of three or four months beginning November 1, pending for the arrival of the imported modern machines.

Upon their arrival, all machines will be installed at Spinning and Weaving Picanol department to replace the dilapidated ones which its production capacity has depressed.

`With these dilapidated machines and its low production capacity, KILTEX could not afford to pay the new private sector`s minimum wages announced by the government recently,` the document reads in part. ?

Speaking soon after the announcement, the former worker of the disbanded KILTEX, Hassan Ibrahim said: `This is very disturbing news. It`s a real blow to the community right here in Arusha and its suburbs`.

For his part, Bashir Ally in turn said majority of workers had been crying when they heard the news that the factory would be closed down and that all workers had to be scrapped off.

`There`s so many of us working there. We don`t know what we are going to do now.` Ally said, adding: `This is a bitter economic blow to Arusha region.`

Majority of former employees of the factory, however, have expressed their grave concern over the payment of their terminal benefits.

`There are some workers who worked with the KILTEX for six years and got as little as 200,000/- in terminal benefits,` chipped in yet another former worker, Mwita Marwa.

They also complained about their overtime payments, which they claimed they had not been paid at all until the time the plant was closed down.

`We don`t know what will happen to our over time claims, because the factory has succumbed to the impact of low production?we would like to appeal to the government to stand for our rights,` noted Said Mohamed.

The Northern Zone secretary of Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO), Hassan Ngowo, confirmed to have received the workers` grievances over their terminal benefits as well as overtime payments and he promised to work on them accordingly.

The closure of the factory has sent shocking waves in the region and its suburbs where the KILTEX industry was a major employer, such as Daraja Mbili, Kijenge, Njiro, Mbauda, Sanawari, Kaloleni, Kimandolu among others.

In the early 1980s, Arusha was one of the largest sanctuaries for industries, but today the number of factories has dwindled as 60 per cent of them have been closed leaving a small percentage of the industry`s workers unemployed.

World Kiswahili broadcasting convention next Monday

The National Kiswahili Council will hold its second worldwide Kiswahili broadcasting media convention for four days beginning Monday.

The convention was held for the first time in 1980?s when Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam was marking its 50th anniversary.

The theme of the meeting this time will be `Kiswahili for Cooperation and Solidarity`.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Executive Secretary, Dr Anna Kishe, said the conference takes place on 12 to 15 November this year, at the Mwalimu Nyerere grounds along Kilwa Road in Dar es Salaam.

She said the aim of the meeting would be to sensitise other countries using Kiswahili in their broadcasting to increase the number of Kiswahili programmes and make proper use of the language.

She said the conference would share experiences on how Kiswahili language could be improved through electronic media.

Dr Kishe said that the convention would also help strengthen cooperation between the local electronic media and foreign media.

On the same day, the National Kiswahili Council would be marking its 40th years anniversary, she said.

She said since its establishment in 1967, the National Kiswahili Council had managed to improve the language within Tanzania and outside.

So far, there were 16 radio stations broadcasting in Kiswahili in Africa and 11 others outside the continent.

Participants to the conference would be radio and television presenters from different stations broadcasting in Kiswahili. Each station would be represented by two people, she said.

So far, about 21 local stations and 10 radio and television stations from outside had confirmed their participation.

Dr Kishe said there would also be exhibitions of Kiswahili books.

The University of Dar es Salaam would demonstrate to participants how Kiswahili could be used to surf in the internet.

Best radios and television in broadcasting Kiswahili would be given tokens of recognition, she concluded.

Swissport gives 12m/- to support education sector

Swissport Tanzania Ltd has provided Tanzania Educational Authority (TEA) with 12m/- to uplift education sector in the country.

The Swissport Executive Director, Gaudence Temu, said the contribution was part of the company's corporate social responsibility.

`Education is one of our top priorities, and we strongly believe our assistance will help boost educational sector in the country,` Temu said.

Receiving the contribution in Dar es Salaam Tuesday, the TEA Executive Director, Mercy Sila, said the contribution came at a time when TEA is overwhelmed with education demands.

She said the contribution would help improve teaching and learning environment amongst Tanzania`s schools.

`The country is currently overburdened by schools which lack teaching and learning facilities, so the contribution will help the authority to meet the increasing demands,`
She said most of the recently built schools had limited number of dormitories which posed more risks to
schoolgirls who in most cases suffered from the problem.

`Our focus right now is to assist schoolgirls by building more dormitories in the nearby schools for girls,` she said.

Mercy said that TEA was currently planning to build laboratories to enable students in the newly established schools have access to laboratories and information technology (ICT).

Apart from assisting the schools, TEA was also supporting universities and colleges by building lecture theatre rooms, to meet the increasing number of students in the country.

Since its establishment in 2001, TEA had spent more than 24bn/- for about 344 projects across the country, she concluded.

South Africa court blow for Zuma

Jacob Zuma is a frontrunner for ANC president

South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma could face new corruption charges after a court ruling.
The Supreme Court upheld appeals made by the state against earlier rulings preventing prosecutors from using documents seized from Mr Zuma.

He was sacked in 2005 as deputy leader over an arms deal but graft charges were dropped for lack of evidence.

He is now a frontrunner in leadership elections for the governing African National Congress (ANC) next month.

This post would put him in a strong position to become South Africa's next president in 2009. Mr Zuma is currently the ANC's deputy president.

The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the latest judgements do not mean Mr Zuma will inevitably face trial but they do cast a dark shadow over his campaign to win the presidency of the ruling ANC.

Bush and Sarkozy declare Iran aim

Mr Sarkozy spoke warmly of French-US relations

US President George W Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have said they will work jointly to convince Iran to give up its nuclear programme.
After talks at Mount Vernon, near Washington, Mr Bush praised his French counterpart as "a partner in peace".

Mr Sarkozy earlier received a standing ovation during the first address in more than a decade by a French leader to a joint session of Congress.

He pledged to US lawmakers that France would support the US in Afghanistan.

But he also urged Americans to do more in the fight against global warming and complained that the Bush administration had allowed the dollar to plummet against the euro.

'Hundreds held' in Bhutto raids

Anti-emergency rule protests have so far been limited

The party of Pakistan's former PM Benazir Bhutto has said more than 700 members were arrested overnight ahead of a planned mass rally on Friday.
They were held under emergency measures brought in on Saturday by President Pervez Musharraf, the party said.

Separately in Karachi, five more people were charged with sedition, which can carry the death penalty.

The moves came hours after US President George W Bush told Gen Musharraf in a "frank" phone call to hold polls soon.

Mr Bush told Gen Musharraf he could not be both army head and president.

Gen Musharraf has said he declared the state of emergency because of a crisis caused by militant violence and an unruly judiciary.

Vitamin D 'may help slow ageing'

Vitamin D may have far-reaching effects in the body

A vitamin made when sunlight hits the skin could help slow down the ageing of cells and tissues, say researchers.
A King's College London study of more than 2,000 women found those with higher vitamin D levels showed fewer ageing-related changes in their DNA.

However, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study stops short of proving cause and effect.

A lack of vitamin D has already been linked to multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The genetic material inside every cell has an inbuilt "clock", which counts down every time the cell reproduces itself.

The shortening of these strands of DNA called telomeres is one way of examining the ageing process at a cellular level.

Ice expedition tests 'successful'

Images and footage transmitted from the Arctic circle

First tests on equipment that will provide key data on the current state of Arctic ice have been successful.

In 2008, explorer Pen Hadow will trek 2,000km across the North Pole, dragging a radar that will probe the thickness of the ever-shrinking ice-cap.

In advance of the expedition, the team headed to Eureka, north Canada, to test whether the instruments could perform in the tough Arctic conditions.

Mr Hadow said that the team's "planning and hard work had paid off".

The radar, known as Sprite, was able to make accurate ice measurements in temperatures of -35C, the team said.

The onboard communications equipment was able to successfully relay data - including the still images and video seen on this page - making it one of the most northerly transmissions of high-speed data.

Tanzania in surgery name mix-up

Migraine sufferer Emmanuel Mgaya recovering from knee surgery

A Tanzanian hospital has mixed up two patients who share the same first name, resulting in a surgery blunder.

Emmanuel Didas, who was admitted for a knee operation after a motorbike accident, is now unconscious in intensive care after head surgery.

Meanwhile, chronic migraine sufferer Emmanuel Mgaya is recovering from an unplanned knee operation.

Some angry relatives are demanding a full investigation into the incident at Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Doctors at Muhimbili National and Referral Hospital are unwilling to comment on the incident which occurred last week, but was not officially reported.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it has ordered an inquiry into the medical blunder.

Shock

"This is negligence because a doctor must know that a knee is positioned very far from the head," said one of Mr Didas' relatives.

The family, who are keeping vigil outside the intensive care ward, has not yet been told the details of his unexpected head surgery.

"The doctors did not even tell us that Emmanuel had had a head operation. It is the responsibility of a doctor to ensure patients get the right treatment," the relative said.

Outside a surgical ward, the relatives of secondary student Emmanuel Mgaya explained how they felt the unfortunate accident had come about.

"We think maybe the nurses mixed the patients' files because they were admitted in the same ward and sharing the same first names," one said.

Mr Mgaya had recently developed acute headaches while studying for his final secondary school exams and was referred to Muhimbili Hospital from a remote district in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

"We still have faith in the doctors. What has happened has not made us lose faith," his upbeat family said.

"And we have already spoken to the hospital director who has reassured us that the qualified consultants will operate on our Emmanuel Mgaya. So we are not worried."

But Mr Didas' family remain shocked and dismayed.

"A person has several names. The medical staff should have checked this before the operation," one said.

Simba have formed a 15-man interim committee to lead the team, it was revealed yesterday.

Simba have formed a 15-man interim committee to lead the team, it was revealed yesterday.

A source within the club said yesterday that the committee would do the work of the executive committee which was suspended last Sunday.

The source named the committee members as the club`s publicity secretary Seydou Rubeya, Evarist Hagila, Hemes Muhavi, Evance Aveva, Mashaka Penza, Charles Hamkah, Issa Batenga, Godfrey "Kaburu" Nyange and Said Kibwana.

Others are Kassim Dewji, Juma Nkamia, Juma Ulongo, Sahiyana Saleh, Majaliwa Mbassa, Omar Mtika and Ayoub Semvua.

The source said that Semvua would be the acting secretary-general while Rubeya would remain in his publicity secretary post.

A group of Simba members last Sunday `indefinitely suspended` six executive committee members for embezzlement and misappropriation of the club's funds.

Those who were suspended were chairman Hassani Dalali, Omar Gumbo (vice chairman), Mwina Kaduguda (secretary-general), Mohammed Mjengwa (assistant secretary-general), Idd Senkondo (treasurer) and Chano Almas (assistant treasurer).

Taswa polls set Nov 18

The Tanzania Sports Writers` Association (Taswa) will stage its general elections on November 18 in Dar es Salaam.

The Taswa Secretary-General, Abdul Mohamed, said yesterday that sports writers would contest for chairman, vice chairman, secretary-general and assistant secretary-general posts.

Other posts are treasurer, assistant treasurer and six executive committee members.

He said election forms were available at the Media Council Tanzania (MCT).

He also said only life members would be illegible for the elections. MCT will supervise the election.

Incumbent leaders are Boniface Wambura (chairman), Mgaya Kingoba (vice chairman) Mohammed (secretary-general), Amir Mhando (assistant secretary-general), Robert Komba (treasurer) and Anastazia Anyimike (assistant treasurer).

Executive committee members are Somoe Ng`itu, Tom Chilala, Frank Balile, Nickson Mkilanya, Peter Mwenda and Nasongelya Kilinga.

Kenya, Uganda golfers ready for Ladies Open

Uganda and Kenya will send 20 golfers in the Ladies Open which will tee off from November 16-18 at the Arusha Gymkhana Club.

The Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) President, Betty Malaba, said yesterday that each country would send 10 golfers.

`The registration deadline for foreign golfers was on November 2. The deadline for local golfers would be tomorrow,` Malaba said without naming local golfers expected to compete.

She said the top local golfers were busy preparing for the championship.

She said defending champion Zambian Hilda Edward had confirmed to compete in this year`s tourney again.
The championship was introduced in 1979.

NMB gives Serengeti Boys 17.5m/-

The National Microfinance Bank (NMB) yesterday handed over a cheque of 17.5m/- to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) as part of the bank's under-17 national team sponsorship.

The NMB Senior Marketing Manager, Imani Kajula, said yesterday that the package would assist players and their families.

Kajula said that NMB would put 580,000/- in every player's Junior Account.

``We hope that this sponsorship will stir them to become best footballers and would also motivate them to perform well in their studies,`` added Kajula.

On his side, The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Secretary-General, Frederick Mwakalebela, hailed the bank for boosting the youth soccer, saying it would help the country to generate talented players in future.

However, Mwakalebela called for other donors to follow the footsteps of NMB in the effort to promote youth soccer.

The bank last week signed a ball project contract with TFF to sponsor youths in the country and the bank will tomorrow start distributing sports gear in Dar es Salaam schools.

Mzali handed first Tunisia call

Home-based defender Salah Mzali has been called into the Tunisian national team for the first time.

The US Monastir player was named in the squad for friendly matches against Namibia and Austria later this month.

Coach Roger Lemerre also recalled Bastia midfielder Chaouki Ben Saada and goalkeeper Adel Nefzi to the squad.

The Carthage Eagles will host Namibia at Rades on 17 November and then travel to meet Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria four days later.

The games serve as part of Tunisia's preparations for next January's African Nations Cup finals.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Hamdi Kasraoui (Esperance), Adel Nefzi (Club Africain)

Defenders: Wissem Abdi (Zamalek, Egypt), Wissem Bekri (Esperance), Karim Hagui (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Salah Mzali (US Monastir), Alaeddine Yahia (Sedan, France), Chaker Zouaghi (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Midfielders: Tijani Belaid (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Chaouki Ben Saada (Bastia, France), Yassin Mikari (Grasshopper Zurich, Switzerland), Joahar Mnari (Nuremburg, Germany), Mehdi Nafti (Birmingham City, England), Houcine Ragued (Mons-Bergen, Belgium), Kamel Zaiem (Esperance)

Strikers: Yacine Chikhaoui (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Francileudo dos Santos (Toulouse, France), Issam Jomaa (Caen, France), Ali Zitouni (Antalyaspor, Turkey).

Ferguson eyes top spot in group

Ferguson was delighted with Man Utd's progress to knockout stage

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson set his sights on topping their Champions League group after reaching the knockout stage.
He said after the 4-0 win against Dynamo Kiev: "If we beat Sporting Lisbon, we win the group and we want to try to make sure that happens.

"When a side is in the position we were and meet a team who are as defensive as that, it can become tedious.

"Kiev came with the intention not to get too embarrassed."

Football results

Wednesday, 07 November 2007
UEFA Champions League

Barcelona 2-0 Rangers
Fenerbahce 2-0 PSV
Inter Milan 4-2 CSKA Moscow
Lyon 4-2 VfB Stuttgart
Man Utd 4-0 Dynamo Kiev
Slavia Prague 0-0 Arsenal
Sporting 2-2 Roma
Steaua Bucharest 0-2 Sevilla

Coca-Cola Football League Two
Wrexham 0-0 Wycombe

The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Maidstone United Yth 5-3 Abingdon United

Williams' season ended by injury

Williams has had an injury-plagued

Serena Williams had to retire because of injury after a set of her opening tie in the Sony Ericsson Championships against Anna Chakvetadze in Madrid.
Williams was losing 5-4 in the first set when she was treated on her heavily strapped left knee by the doctor.

"It's beyond unfortunate and I can't stress how disappointed I am," said Williams, who retired at 6-4.

It means Justine Henin, who earlier beat Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-2, is definitely through to the semi-finals.

Williams was taken to hospital for a scan and will not make a statement about her presence in the tournament until the results are known.

Henin, who went into the match with a commanding 8-0 career record against the 22-year-old Serb, soon found her range for a 2-0 lead.

Jankovic fought back and despite losing three break points won the fourth game to level at 2-2, but Henin won the next four to take the set in 35 minutes.

As Jankovic's frustration grew, Henin sealed victory - her second of the tournament.

When Jankovic served a double fault at the start of the second set it seemed as though she would quickly subside.

Her persistence was admirable but she quickly became frustrated by her inability to overcome Henin's masterful control of the court.

After two double faults in the final game of the opening set, Henin served two more in her opening service game of the next.

That helped to create a break point for Jankovic but a stunning cross-court backhand got Henin out of danger, and after securing a gruelling second game she dictated the remainder of the contest.

"It's important to play every point 100%," Henin said. "I need to keep working on my serve but generally I can be very happy."

In the other group, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic moved a step closer to the last four by beating Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 7-6 (11-9).

Federer and Roddick in Cup group

Federer suffered a loss to David Nalbandian in his last match

Roger Federer will take on Andy Roddick during the round-robin stage when he defends his Masters Cup title in Shanghai next week.
The world number one has been drawn alongside Roddick, Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando Gonzalez in the Red Group.

In the Gold Group are world number two Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet.

The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with play getting under way on 11 November.

Hingis will fight positive test

Hingis returned to tennis in 2006 after a three-year hiatus

Former world number one Martina Hingis will challenge her positive drugs test, her manager has confirmed.
Hingis announced her retirement after revealing the positive test on 1 November, and she indicated she would not be challenging the result.

But Mario Widmer told BBC Sport: "She will be fighting this, of course. You can be clear about that. The matter is currently with her lawyers."

Hingis tested positive for cocaine at this year's Wimbledon.

Haas Moscow poison claims probed

Haas missed his reverse singles match with stomach pains

The International Tennis Federation is investigating claims Germany's Tommy Haas was poisoned during the Davis Cup semi-final defeat by Russia.
Team-mate Alexander Waske told German tabloid Bild an unnamed Russian suggested to him Haas had been poisoned in Moscow.

"We take this very seriously," said an ITF spokeswoman.

Haas, who plans to undergo hair and blood tests, lost the opening singles match and was unable to play again.

Germany went into the final day with a 2-1 lead but Haas' replacement Philipp Petzschner lost in four sets before Russia clinched the decider with Andreev beating Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Waske said the poisoning claim was made by a Russian who manages various athletes.

"He said, as an aside, that it was bitter that Tommy Haas was poisoned," said Waske.

Former world number two Haas told Bild: "I was shocked when Alex told me this but when I thought back about how bad I felt at the time I can imagine it's possible."

The 29-year-old has arranged to undergo tests on Friday in New York.

He added: "I want to find out if any poison can be traced or confirmed."

Nakajima secures Williams drive

Nakajima finished 10th on his debut at Interlagos

Japan's Kazuki Nakajima will race for Williams in Formula One next year.

The team said the 22-year-old, who was promoted from test driver for a debut in the season-ending Brazil Grand Prix, would partner German Nico Rosberg.

The announcement appears to end speculation linking Rosberg to McLaren as Fernando Alonso's replacement.

If Rosberg is out of the frame at McLaren, Renault's Heikki Kovalainen would be favourite to join the team but he has also been linked with Toyota.

The driver market is in flux while Alonso's future remains in doubt.

Hopkins ready for Calzaghe fight

Hopkins wants the super fight to take place in America

America's Bernard Hopkins says fighting Britain's undisputed super-middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe could be the crowning moment of his career.
But the 42-year-old, who defended the world middleweight title 20 times, is wary of the Welshman's pedigree.

The light-heavyweight champion said: "Of all the things I have accomplished, that would be a profound testimony to the legacy that I will leave behind.

"But I will be 43 for a fight against a man who has dominated for many years."

World records set by DSE swimmers

Lewis claimed another gold medal

Andrew Lindsay set a world record time of one minute 14.47 seconds as he won the S7 men's 100m backstroke at the DSE Short Course Swimming Championships.
Scotland's James Anderson set two new world records in winning the 100m and 200m S2 freestyle races in Sheffield.

Sam Hynd, 16, from the East Midlands and Swansea's Eleanor Simmonds, 13, beat the world record in their events.

Paralympic gold medallist Nyree Lewis also set a new world record, winning the SM6 100m in 1:34:43.

Lewis said: "The DSE short course nationals have been an event in my calendar for many years.

"I always look forward to competing at a short course event - something that we only get to do once a year at this level."

Over 200 British and international swimmers competed in the championships.

Thorpe in clear over drugs test

Thorpe denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs

Swimming's world governing body, Fina, has dropped its investigation into the results of an Ian Thorpe drugs test because of a lack of evidence.
Thorpe, who won five Olympic gold medals, showed abnormal levels of testosterone and leutenising hormone in a drugs test last year.

He strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and submitted a strong defence to Fina.

"There's not sufficient evidence to take further action," a Fina executive director told the Australian newspaper.

Fina had been looking at taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but has now abandoned the idea.

"The case is now closed and there is no question of it being opened again," a Fina spokesman told BBC Sport.

The 25-year-old had already been cleared by the Australia Anti-doping Authority (ASADA) in August, with medical experts deciding that the substances had occurred naturally.

Both testosterone and leutenising hormone are on the banned list but are naturally produced by the body.

Thorpe, Australia's most successful Olympian of all time, retired from the sport last year, citing injury and fatigue.

Fact of The Day!

Even when you are having a really bad day,


someone will still screw you.