News Network

Microsoft has announced a UK service that will stream full-length videos of television shows for free.
The advertising-funded MSN Video Player will be available from next week and will include over 300 hours of shows.
Microsoft said it will continue to extend the service, adding content by working with broadcasters and studios.
The "beta", or trial, service features material from the BBC's commercial subsidiary BBC Worldwide and ALL3MEDIA, including Peep Show and Shameless.
Microsoft's Ashley Highfield on the new MSN Video Player
Programmes will be available in both Windows Media Video (WMV) and Flash formats, to cater for both PC and Mac users.
Initially, the pilot will not use Microsoft's Silverlight platform, widely touted as a flash alternative.
The project is an offshoot of the established MSN Video, which offers short video clips ranging from music to sport and news.
The video service ranked fifth in the UK in a recent survey of video-on-demand sites.
source: bbc.com

Tens of thousands of foreign students may have entered the UK to study at bogus colleges, MPs believe, before the system of accreditation was tightened up this year.
One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, told BBC News how an offer to study for a degree in the UK turned out to be a scam.
The student says many Indians dream of a degree from the UK
I am an Indian citizen and came to the UK to study in 2005 at a college based in the heart of London.
Earlier that year I received an email from a person who claimed that my CV had been selected for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) course in London.
I initially ignored it, but the prospect of a foreign education was just too tempting.
I contacted the man and secured admission to a UK college for the MBA.
The costs were much lower than for a normal UK college or university, and since I didn't want to put too much financial strain on my parents, I decided it would be a good option.
I still needed a bank loan though and borrowed about £6,000 from a bank in India, which I had to start paying back immediately after the year-long course.
I got my student visa sorted and came to the UK with a dream of getting my postgraduate degree. source: bbc.com

The Taliban have called on people in Afghanistan to boycott next month's presidential and provincial elections.
In a statement on a Taliban website, the movement ordered fighters to block roads on the eve of the elections and stop voters going to polling stations.
The statement said that participation in the vote would be a show of support for "invading Americans".
Afghanistan has seen a rise in violence ahead of the poll and there are grave concerns about security on the day.
Correspondents say this is the most specific threat yet made by the Taliban in the run-up to the elections on 20 August, but it is not an unexpected move.
The Taliban have always maintained they want foreign forces to leave the country and have made general calls for election boycotts before. source: bbc.com

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A British multiple sclerosis sufferer who hopes to die one day by assisted suicide will learn Thursday whether she can die with her husband by her side.

Debbie Purdy has said she wants to die next to her husband, Omar Puente.
Debbie Purdy, 46, has been waging a lengthy legal battle to clarify Britain's ambiguous laws on assisted suicide.
Her battle reaches its end Thursday afternoon when Britain's highest court, the Law Lords, issues a ruling on her appeal.
Purdy's condition is getting worse. She has primary progressive multiple sclerosis, which means her symptoms deteriorate over time.
She has said she wants the option to travel abroad to have an assisted death should her condition one day become unbearable.
Britain's current law makes it illegal to help someone commit suicide, and anyone found guilty faces up to 14 years in prison. But it doesn't make clear at what point that person would face prosecution -- whether that includes sitting with that person on the plane to the clinic, opening the door of the car to the airport, or even helping them arrange the trip. What's your view? When is assisted suicide acceptable?
Purdy has said she wants to die next to her husband, Omar Puente. If she gets no clarity on the law, Purdy has said she will choose to die while her condition is still bearable, because that way she can make the trip unaided.source: cnn.com

Nigerian security forces have stormed a mosque where militants from an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence have been hiding out.
Reports say scores of fighters were killed in the assault, which came after a third night of gun battles in the northern city of Maiduguri.
Many of the militants have now fled, attacking police stations on their way.
The group, known as Boko Haram, wants to overthrow the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law
The assault by the security forces came after 1,000 extra soldiers were drafted into the city.
Army commander Major General Saleh Maina told the Associated Press that the deputy leader of the sect was killed in the bombardment, which continued on Wednesday
But he said Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the group also known as "Taliban", escaped along with about 300 followers.
An AP reporter who watched the storming of the mosque counted about 50 bodies inside the building and another 50 in the courtyard.
'All necessary action'
Army spokesman Chris Olukolade told the BBC's Network Africa programme that law and order had now been restored in Maiduguri.
Nigeria's 'Taliban' enigma
Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks
Fear and tension after attack
Nigerian attacks: Your reaction
"The enclave of the people causing the problem has been brought under better control and in a short while we believe that everyone will be able to go about his normal duties in that area," he said. source: bbc.com

Iranian police have arrested mourners at a cemetery in Tehran who had gathered for a memorial to those killed in post-election violence, reports say.
Opposition leaders were due to join mourners at the graveside of a young woman whose killing became a potent symbol of post-election unrest.
Reports say there is a heavy police presence in and around the cemetery in southern Tehran.
Authorities refused a request to hold a mourning ceremony at a Tehran mosque.
Opposition supporters allege the 12 June election results were rigged in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Neda Agha Soltan, 27, was shot dead on 20 June as she watched protests from the sidelines of the demonstration.
Her death - one of 10 that day - was filmed on a mobile phone and broadcast around the world.
Protest ban
Shia Muslims traditionally mark 40 days after a death with a ceremony called the Arbayeen.
Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi had asked the interior ministry for permission to hold a memorial service in Tehran's Mosalla mosque, an aide to Mr Mousavi said.
When permission was refused, a statement on the website of Mr Karroubi's political party said they would instead visit the graves of protesters at a cemetery south of Tehran on Thursday.
source: bbc.com

One Day International Series: Sri Lanka v Pakistan
30-07-2009 at Dambulla
LunchPakistan won the toss and decided to field
Sri Lanka Innings
232 for 9 (50.0 overs)


Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 36 Runs

Pakistan Innings:
196 all out (44.4 overs)