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London:Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand allrounder, has won his libel case against Lalit Modi and has been awarded damages of £90,000. Neither party was present when the verdict - which is open to appeal - was announced in the High Court in London.
Modi has been granted permission to appeal the verdict on damages but not liability.
Justice David Bean, who was hearing the case without a jury, also awarded Cairns £400,000 in interim costs, which Modi will have to pay within 28 days.
The judge said Modi had "singularly failed" to provide any reliable evidence that Cairns was involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing, or even strong grounds for suspicion of cheating.
"It is obvious that an allegation that a professional cricketer is a match-fixer goes to the core attributes of his personality and, if true, entirely destroys his reputation for integrity," Justice Bean said. "The allegation is not as serious as one of involvement in terrorism or sexual offences (to take two examples from recent cases). But it is otherwise as serious an allegation as anyone could make against a professional sportsman."
In a statement read out on his behalf after the verdict, Cairns said it "lifts a dark cloud hanging over me" for the past two years. "I feel great joy because my past creer has come through this unscathed and remains intact. I had the courage to stand up in the highest court to defend my name. I feel great relief that I am able to walk into any cricket ground in the world with my head held high."
On January 5, 2010, Modi tweeted that Cairns had been removed from the forthcoming IPL auction list because of his involvement with match-fixing. Cairns denied this but Modi responded by saying: "Let him sue us, then we will produce what we have in court." Cairns issued the writ in London's High Court in January 2010, shortly after Modi's claims were made public.
Cairns was captain of Chandigarh Lions in the Indian Cricket League but had his contract terminated in October 2008, during the third edition of the tournament. The official reason given was that Cairns had breached the terms of his contract by failing to disclose an ankle injury.
During the trial, Cairns spent almost eight hours giving evidence over two days. His witnesses included his wife Mel and advisor Andrew Fitch-Holland.
Chennai: The 13,000-crore nuclear plant at Kudankulam in coastal Tamil Nadu is now filled with engineers, scientists and other workers. They report to work everyday even as thousands of villagers protest against the nuclear project, which, when completed, will be India's largest nuclear power-generating complex. Here are 10 big developments in this story:
After the Tamil Nadu government gave its go-ahead to the Indo-Russian nuclear project on March 19, after which work at the plant is on in full swing, 1. The Madras High Court today has refused to order the government to lift its ban on public gatherings in and around Radapuram Taluk, where the Kudankulam plant is located. Section 144, which prevents large groups from meeting in an area, was imposed last week by the District Collector. 2. The region has been tense since March 19, when the Tamil Nadu government said operations at the nuclear plant could begin. Activists and thousands of villagers have been holding large camps in protest at Idinthakarai adjoining Kudankulam. 3. They say they are not convinced that the plant is safe. They are also worried about ecological damage by radioactivity which would affect the livelihood of thousands of fishermen. 4. The leader of the protests is Dr SP Udhayakumar, who heads the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE). He said today that there is no question of ending the protest but added that "we are ready for talks. If we are considered people of this country, and if our ahimsa protest is respected, the government should talk to us." He has been on an indefinite fast since March 12 along with 14 supporters. 5. He says that the government has failed to provide any sort of disaster training to the villagers staying in and around the plant site. "People within 30km radius of the Kudankulam plant have not been given any disaster training...Without doing this, they cannot load the nuclear fuel...the Central Government and the State Government would be held liable for this criminal activity if they decide to load the fuel rods without preparing the people," Mr Udhayakumar had said. The government says that's not the case. 6. Work at the plant was suspended in September last year when the Tamil Nadu cabinet asked the Prime Minister to halt all operations till residents in the area were reassured that they were safe. 7. The Prime Minister sent a senior minister, V Narayanasamy, to meet with villagers; atomic and technical experts also audited the plant and reported it safe. 8. Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa last week cleared the project, a day after a crucial election in the area. 9. The plant, being built with the help of the Russians, will see two reactors being commissioned within months of each other. When it's completed, six reactors will generate unprecedented power supply for the state. 10. There is heavy security, including Rapid Action Force personnel, guarding the plant.
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Geneva: India is among 24 countries that voted against Sri Lanka today at a session of the United Nation Human Rights Council in Geneva. The UN's top human rights body has passed a resolution, sponsored by the US, that Sri Lanka must properly investigate alleged war crimes during its 26-year conflict with the rebel Tamil Tigers.
15 countries including China and Russia backed Sri Lanka, which had rejected the resolution, saying it unduly interfered in the country's domestic affairs and could hinder its reconciliation process. Eight countries abstained from today's vote.
Both the Sri Lanka government and the rebel Tamil Tigers have been accused of atrocities during their country's lengthy civil war. Sri Lanka has rejected the resolution and has said today that the criticism at the level of the United Nations is not justified.
Earlier this week, Dr Manmohan Singh said in Parliament that India "is inclined to vote in favour of the resolution." The Prime Minister had been warned that if India did not vote against Sri Lanka, his key ally, the DMK, would pull out of the government.
Sri Lanka has asked India to reconsider its position. Members of the Sri Lankan delegation to Geneva said today that they understand India's domestic compulsions, but as the super-power in this region, India must recognise that Sri Lanka needs time to investigate the allegations against its defence forces as well as the LTTE, before settling accountability.
Human rights groups say nearly 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of the war. The Sri Lankan government had created a committee, the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission Process, to study the allegations of war crimes. The US delegation in Geneva today referred to the government's "lack of action to implement the recommendations" of that commission. It described the resolution it has moved as one "that encourages Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of its own LLRC and to make concerted efforts at achieving the kind of meaningful accountability upon which lasting reconciliation efforts can be built." China has thrown its weight behind Sri Lanka, saying it is against any country putting pressure on others in the name of rights violations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Sri Lanka and its people were capable of dealing with their own affairs. China, in recent years has made big investments in Sri Lanka besides assisting the island with major projects like building a modern port at Hambanthotta. Earlier this month, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited Beijing to seek its support to stave off the US-led move.
The US delegation's statement on the resolution on Sri Lanka:
"The United States is pleased to introduce draft resolution L.2, on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka for consideration and approval by this Council. This resolution enjoys the broad support of 40 co-sponsors. A copy of the text, including slight revisions, is being circulated in the room today.
It is almost three years since the end of Sri Lanka's long and painful conflict. For the past three years, my government has worked bilaterally, and with like-minded countries, to engage officials at the highest levels of the Sri Lankan government on the steps that are necessary to build a peaceful future for the Sri Lankan people. For those three years Sri Lanka has had the time and space to develop its own roadmap for lasting national reconciliation and accountability. Most recently, we have encouraged Sri Lanka to address actions taken on both sides of the conflict through its domestic Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission Process. We looked forward to the Commission's report, and understood that Sri Lanka would develop its own action plan to implement the LLRC recommendations.
We have also worked bilaterally, and with like-minded countries, to encourage Sri Lanka to take advantage of the resources of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. And we have encouraged Sri Lanka to engage with the Council, and to benefit from the broad range of experiences of Member States that have dealt successfully with their own post-conflict situations.
Mme President and Distinguished delegates, an enduring peace will be unsustainable without meaningful steps to foster national reconciliation and accountability.
Given the lack of action to implement the recommendations of the Sri Lankan government's own LLRC, and the need for additional steps to address accountability issues not covered in the LLRC report, it is appropriate that the UNHRC consider and adopt this moderate and balanced resolution. It is a resolution that encourages Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of it own LLRC and to make concerted efforts at achieving the kind of meaningful accountability upon which lasting reconciliation efforts can be built.
In addition, this Resolution urges Sri Lanka to work with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and draw from helpful expertise the Office can offer.
These proposals are reasonable, constructive, and carefully tailored to the needs of the situation. At our informal session on March 8, none of the many delegations present offered proposals for specific textual modifications.
To close, I wish to emphasize that this resolution is intended to help the people of Sri Lanka achieve a lasting and equitable peace that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect.
Thank you.
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Srinagar: Two former treasurers of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) have made fresh allegations against Union minister Farooq Abdullah in connection with what is now being called as the J&K cricket scam. Mr Abdullah, who is a senior National Conference leader, heads the association. Speaking to NDTV, Mir Manzoor Gazanfar, who resigned as the treasurer of JKCA in 2008, has claimed that Mr Abdullah visited his hotel in Srinagar and made him sign blank cheques. "I was taking my father to the doctor. All of a sudden, a call comes from the worthy president. He says he will be coming to see me. He came with Ehsan Mirza. He said the association has become defunct because I don't sign the cheques. I denied, but after he insisted, I signed a few cheques," he said, adding that he admits what he did was wrong. "I did it on the insistence of the worthy president. I had trust in him. I still trust him. He is also being misled and I am also misled," he added. Ehsaan Mirza, the man Mr Gazanfar claims accompanied Mr Abdullah when he visited him, is also a former treasurer of the JKCA. He is accused of defrauding the association of over Rs. 30 crore after allegedly opening bogus bank accounts on its behalf. He was later sacked on charges of embezzlement. He, however, claims that he has been made a scapegoat. NDTV has accessed documents that purportedly show that Mr Abdullah recommended a loan of almost Rs. 2 crore in favour of Mr Mirza. The documents comprise copies of bank account statements and a letter purportedly signed by Mr Abdullah recommending that Mr Mirza be given a loan of Rs. 1.90 crore against deposits of the cricket association at the Khanyar Branch of J&K Bank. The account in this branch is allegedly one of the many bogus accounts being operated from four banks by Mr Mirza. Most of the money, which had been sent by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the promotion of the sport in the state, was landing in the 'shadow' accounts of the cricket association.
Mr Abdullah has however denied that there was "any embezzlement of funds." He has also clarified that Mr Mirza had extended an interest-free loan to the cricket association during the time its accounts had been sealed by the courts. It was this amount, to the tune of Rs. 1.91 crore, which was cleared by the association through a resolution to pay back Mr Mirza. "I have never taken a penny from the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association in any form," he said. Farooq Abdullah's National Conference rules Jammu and Kashmir and his son Omar Abdullah is the chief minister of the state.
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Bangalore: Of the trio of former ministers accused of watching porn in the Karnataka Assembly, two have reason to exhale. A committee, set up by the Assembly, has found there is evidence to merit action against only one of them - Lakshman S Savadi.
On February 7, three ministers were seen watching porn on a cellphone. The incident was captured by the camera crew of a private TV channel that was covering the proceedings in the Assembly that day.
The trio - Lakshman S Savadi, CC Patil and J Krishna Palemar - were forced to resign. All three said they were innocent and were watching a news report on an incident of rape. The phone, it would later turn out, belonged to Mr Palemar.
A committee comprising seven MLAs was set up to investigate the incident. The opposition MLAs refused to participate in the inquiry, because they said that the former ministers should be expelled as MLAs. So the former ministers were questioned only by four members of their own party.
During the probe, it also emerged that over a dozen other MLAs may have also been viewing porn inside the Assembly. But ten of them were not in the terms of reference for the panel that submitted its report today.
The committee's report has been handed over to the speaker, KG Bopaiah.
The fact that two of the three men allegedly involved will be excused comes as huge relief to the BJP which is currently dealing with a revolt in its Karnataka branch. Former chief minister BS Yeddyurapa wants to return to office. He has 67 MLAs - more than half of the party's elected representatives - on his side.
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New Delhi: The Prime Minister said today in Parliament that India is inclined to vote against Sri Lanka at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. A resolution against the Sri Lankan government for alleged war crimes and human rights violations has been moved by the US, Norway and France. "We do not yet have the final text of the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka. However, I may assure the House that we are inclined to vote in favour of a resolution that we hope will advance our objective, namely the achievement of a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect." Sources say that the resolution, to be balanced, could include criticism of the LTTE too.
Dr Manmohan Singh's comments have placated his ally, the DMK, which has threatened to pull out of the coalition at the centre if India either abstained or supported Sri Lanka at the vote. The DMK has 18 Lok Sabha MPs and is needed for the government's survival. "We welcome the announcement if it's true," said the party's president, M Karunanidhi, adding "(but) we will wait for the final decision."
All parties from Tamil Nadu have been urging the Centre to take a strong stand on the atrocities allegedly committed by the Sri Lankan government in ending the country's civil war and extinguishing the LTTE. The deaths of Sri Lanka Tamils - 40,000 according to some reports - has been an emotional issue in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement today, the Ministry of External Affairs stressed that Foreign Affairs Minister SM Krishna is "giving great importance to views expressed by MPs from Tamil Nadu" and that India will study the draft of the resolution against Sri Lanka and then take a call on its vote.
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Veteran singer Asha Bhosle has approached police seeking registration of FIR against her tenant and yesteryear actress Sadhana, alleging that the latter was not allowing her use the garden at the bungalow in suburban Khar, police said today.
The 68-year-old actor, known for lead roles in films like Mera Saya, Woh Kaun Thi to name a few, has been staying on the ground floor of the two-storeyed 'Sangeeta' bungalow owned by the songstress.
Besides Sadhna, builder Yusuf Lakdawala stays on the second floor whereas actress Baby Naaz lives on the first floor, police said adding all the three are tenants.
"Sadhana Nayyar is the tenant in respect of the ground floor premises only. However, she is wrongly claiming tenancy in respect of the garden abutting the ground floor premises in Sangeeta bungalow by creating record as also restricting free and unhindered access to the garden to me and my representatives/servants/agents. The said garden is in my possession," Bhosle said in a writing she had submitted to Santacruz police station last month.
"My uninterrupted lawful possession of the said premises is now being sought to be disturbed with malafied intentions by the said Sadhana on a false pretext and by obstructing and interfering with the entry/access to the said premises by her representatives/servants/agents," she said.
The virtuoso singer said she was approaching the police to file an FIR and take immediate action against Sadhna over her alleged claim of tenancy in respect of the garden.
"The garden was never let out to her. The same always remained in my possession," Bhosle stated in the complaint.
Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee's commitment to her fight against the National Counter Terrorism Centre could be tested tomorrow in Parliament. The head of the Trinamool Congress has field-marshalled a group of ten chief ministers who have opposed the centre's new anti-terror agency on the grounds that it erodes the autonomy of state governments.
Ms Banerjee's party members yesterday moved amendments to "the motion of thanks to the President" for her speech delivered this week to Parliament (the President's address outlines the government's agenda). In the Lok Sabha, these amendments have been rejected on technical grounds -the wording was incorrect and they were filed too late. But they've been accepted in the Rajya Sabha. The main opposition party, the BJP, has moved similar amendments. So if Ms Banerjee wants to further embarrass the government which she belongs to, her MPs could vote with the BJP and against the ruling UPA. That's not likely to happen, say sources.
The exit route for Ms Banerjee may come in the form of a protest by her MPs, who could walk out of the House before a vote, demanding financial assistance for Bengal, which is governed by their leader. Ms Banerjee has been asking the centre for 22000 crores; she also wants the centre to suspend the interest the state owes on loans already taken.
Financial assistance is the centre's only hold over Ms Banerjee, whose relationship with the UPA has been in the danger zone for a while now. At a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, Ms Banerjee was missing - she chose to fly to Nagpur instead to attend a wedding. The fact that she deputed a first-time MP, Ratna De Nag, and not one of her senior ministers or leaders was seen as a flat snub to the Congress.
Pointedly, Ms Banerjee deputed two of her union ministers to attend the swearing-in today of the Punjab government, a partnership between the Akalis and the BJP. For the UPA's political rival, Ms Banerjee sent a senior delegation. The Prime Minister's dinner, in comparison, received minimal attention.
At the dinner last night, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that Ms Banerjee's amendments could cost the government heavily - if a vote was held, he warned, the government could lose.
Ms Banerjee's 19 Lok Sabha MPs give her the power to call the shots with the Congress - without her support, the UPA would collapse - and she has held the government and its policies to hostage with increasing daring. She recently forced the UPA to suspend its reforms in retail - the increased Foreign Direct Investment in shops or chains that stock different brands was a move by the Prime Minister and his team to prove wrong allegations of policy paralysis.
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Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee's commitment to her fight against the National Counter Terrorism Centre could be tested today in Parliament. The head of the Trinamool Congress has field-marshalled a group of ten chief ministers who have opposed the Centre's new anti-terror agency on the grounds that it erodes the autonomy of state governments.
Ms Banerjee's party members had moved amendments to "the motion of thanks to the President" for her speech delivered this week to Parliament (the President's address outlines the government's agenda). In the Lok Sabha, these amendments have been rejected on technical grounds - the wording was incorrect and they were filed too late. But they've been accepted in the Rajya Sabha. The main Opposition party, the BJP, has moved similar amendments. So if Ms Banerjee wants to further embarrass the government which she belongs to, her MPs could vote with the BJP and against the ruling UPA. That's not likely to happen, say sources.
The exit route for Ms Banerjee may come in the form of a protest by her MPs, who could walk out of the House before a vote, demanding financial assistance for West Bengal, which is governed by their leader. Ms Banerjee has been asking the Centre for Rs 22000 crore; she also wants the Centre to suspend the interest the state owes on loans already taken.
Financial assistance is the Centre's only hold over Ms Banerjee, whose relationship with the UPA has been in the danger zone for a while now. At a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, Ms Banerjee was missing - she chose to fly to Nagpur instead to attend a wedding. The fact that she deputed a first-time MP, Ratna De Nag, and not one of her senior ministers or leaders was seen as a flat snub to the Congress.
Pointedly, Ms Banerjee deputed two of her Union ministers to attend the swearing-in of the Punjab government, a partnership between the Akalis and the BJP. For the UPA's political rival, Ms Banerjee sent a senior delegation. The Prime Minister's dinner, in comparison, received minimal attention.
At the dinner on Tuesday night, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that Ms Banerjee's amendments could cost the government heavily - if a vote was held, he warned, the government could lose.
Ms Banerjee's 19 Lok Sabha MPs give her the power to call the shots with the Congress - without her support, the UPA would collapse - and she has held the government and its policies to hostage with increasing daring. She recently forced the UPA to suspend its reforms in retail - the increased Foreign Direct Investment in shops or chains that stock different brands was a move by the Prime Minister and his team to prove wrong allegations of policy paralysis.
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Salman Khan is all set to star in a print campaign with his clan to urge people to buy the original t-shirts of his charitable foundation Being Human.
The actor’s charity is facing tiff competition from the shirts’ rip offs, which have become a hit with people, leading to financial loss for the foundation.
The commercial will be shot in Mehmood studio and include Salim Khan, Helen, Arpita, Alvira, Sohail, Arbaaz and Mallika.
Chennai/New Delhi: The DMK, a senior partner in the UPA, has said that India must vote against Sri Lanka next week in Geneva at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The resolution has been moved by the US and India had hinted that it would support its neighbour. The DMK wants both Houses of Parliament to discuss this tomorrow and commit to a vote against Sri Lanka. That's largely due to excerpts from a documentary shot in Sri Lanka that will be aired on Channel 4 this week in the UK. The film shows a 12-year-old lying dead with five bullet holes in his chest. "The boy's name is Balachandran Prabhakaran; he is the son of the LTTE leader, Vellupillai Prabakaran. He has been executed in cold blood," said the documentary's maker, Callum Macrae, in an interview to the Independent newspaper. In the same paper, Mr. Macrae says the video "seems to have been shot [as] a grotesque trophy video by Sri Lankan forces." TKS Elangovan of the DMK said that party chief M Karunanidhi has seen the video and has made it clear that India cannot support Sri Lanka, or abstain during the Geneva vote. He said the party will consider later whether to exit the UPA if it's demand is not met. Sri Lanka has rejected the claims made by the documentary about alleged war crimes. "The Lankan Government is in the process of reconciliation and taking steps to bridge gaps. We don't need extra regional intervention in our region. It's uncalled for," said Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India.
The 60-minute documentary titled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished corrodes Sri Lanka's opposition to the resolution moved by the US. What America has asked for is an inquiry into human rights violations and the alleged execution of civilians by Sri Lankan soldiers. The DMK, a major ally in the UPA, wants a discussion tomorrow morning in the Rajya Sabha on whether India will vote against Sri Lanka. In Chennai, DMK leader M Karunanidhi said, "India should support the US resolution against Lanka in UNHRC...lots of human rights violations have taken place in Sri Lanka." India had hinted earlier that it would support its neighbor during the vote but the new documentary may provoke a reassessment. Sri Lankan officials have rejected the claims - both in the new documentary and in another last year that also aired on Channel 4 - that the end of their country's 26-year-long civil war included atrocities that catalogue unimaginable war crimes against the island's Tamils.
"The UN reported that over 40,000 people died in weeks. This is appalling. India has a great opportunity to raise this at UN General Assembly. India as a neighbour must act at least now," said Suren Surendiran, a spokesperson for the Global Tamil Forum.
But a faction also warns India that the consequences of voting against Sri Lanka could be grave.
"Support for such adventurist resolutions will make India vulnerable to future resolutions on Kashmir and Manipur," said Subramanian Swamy, the Janata Party President who is from Tamil Nadu.
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Colombo: A documentary shot in Sri Lanka, to be aired on Channel 4 this week, shows a 12-year-old lying dead with five bullet holes in his chest. "The boy's name is Balachandran Prabhakaran; he is the son of the LTTE leader, Vellupillai Prabakaran. He has been executed in cold blood," said the documentary's maker, Callum Macrae, in an interview to the Independent newspaper. In the same paper, Mr. Macrae says the video "seems to have been shot [as] a grotesque trophy video by Sri Lankan forces."
The 60-minute documentary titled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished corrodes Sri Lanka's opposition to a resolution moved by the US at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva. What America has asked for is an inquiry into human rights violations and the alleged execution of civilians by Sri Lankan soldiers. India's vote on the resolution will be closely watched.
Sri Lankan officials have rejected the claims - both in the new documentary and in another last year that also aired on Channel 4 - that the end of their country's 26-year-long civil war included atrocities that catalogue unimaginable war crimes against the island's Tamils.
"The Lankan Government is in the process of reconciliation and taking steps to bridge gaps. We don't need extra regional intervention in our region. It's uncalled for," said Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India, about the resolution in Geneva that will be put to vote soon. India had hinted that it would support its neighbor during the vote but the new documentary may provoke a reassessment.
"The UN reported that over 40,000 people died in weeks. This is appalling. India has a great opportunity to raise this at UN General Assembly. India as a neighbour must act at least now," said Suren Surendiran, a spokesperson for the Global Tamil Forum. The DMK, which is a senior partner in the coalition at the Centre, has begun urging the government to support the rights of the Tamil people. The DMK has given notice in the Rajya Sabha for the suspension of question hour tomorrow for discussing India's stand on the matter. In Parliament today, as the budget session commenced, MPs from the party shouted loudly, referring to the Geneva resolution. "India should support US resolution against Lanka in UNHRC...lots of human rights violations have taken place in Sri Lanka," DMK chief M Karunanidhi said today. But a faction also warns India that the consequences of voting against Sri Lanka could be grave.
"Support for such adventurist resolutions will make India vulnerable to future resolutions on Kashmir and Manipur," said Subramanian Swamy, the Janata Party President who is from Tamil Nadu.
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London:Didier Drogba's 100th Premier League goal was enough to beat ten-man Stoke City at Stamford Bridge and maintain Chelsea's challenge for a top four finish.
The win moved the Blues level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal who were due to face Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.
And Drogba's 68th-minute goal ensured caretaker-manager Roberto Di Matteo savoured victory in his first Premier League game since taking charge of the side following the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas last weekend.
But Di Matteo - who also oversaw a midweek FA Cup victory at Birmingham - knows his side will have to perform better if they are to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit when they face Napoli in the Champions League next week.
Stoke were forced to play with ten men for over an hour following the 25th minute dismissal of Ricardo Fuller for a stamp on Branislav Ivanovic.
But while Chelsea dominated possession, they struggled to break the visitors down until Drogba produced an excellent finish following good work by Juan Mata.
The margin of victory could have been greater had a late Mata free kick not struck the woodwork as Stoke tired late on.
But overall, this was a scrappy display that confirmed Chelsea's problems this season and Di Matteo faces a testing challenge if he is to revive the club's campaign.
The caretaker-manager opted to start with Mata and Daniel Sturridge on the bench, perhaps with one eye on the Napoli game.
But the absence of the two forwards did nothing to hinder Chelsea's early attacking moves with the home side quickly laying siege to the Stoke goal.
Ivanovic had clearly been given the green light to get forward at every opportunity and the Serbia defender came close with a fourth minute header from Frank Lampard's corner.
In fact the right back was his side's greatest attacking threat during the first half.
But it was Ivanovic's running tussle with Fuller that led to the decisive moment of opening 45 minutes.
The two had clashed off the ball when Stoke broke rapidly through Jonathan Walters, prompting City manager Tony Pulis to react angrily when no free kick was given.
And the incident clearly left its mark on Fuller who reacted with an ugly stamp on Ivanovic when he was tripped attempting to go past the defender.
A red card was inevitable, leaving Stoke to play with ten men for over an hour.
Already on top, Chelsea should have found it easy to step up the tempo and take control of the game.
But Di Matteo's side struggled to translate their territorial dominance into meaningful chances, even after the Chelsea manager introduced Mata for Raul Meireles after just 37 minutes.
John Terry sent a header against the bar and it took a good save from City keeper Asmir Begovic to deny Ivanovic after the Chelsea man had made a powerful run forward before exchanging a neat one-two with Lampard.
And Ivanovic came closer still four minutes from the break when he lashed a powerful volley against the bar with Begovic with the keeper beaten.
It was clear, though, that Chelsea were growing increasingly frustrated, particularly when Stoke took every opportunity to slow the game down after the break.
Lampard and Terry both fired in long range efforts but Stoke's well organised defence limited the home side's efforts to press further forward.
Chelsea needed a spark of individual quality to find a way through and it almost came in the 66th minute when Drogba curled in a free kick that Begovic did well to claw to safety.
But the keeper was unable to deny the Ivorian two minutes later when the striker was picked out by a superb reverse pass, rounded Begovic and side-footed the ball into the empty net.
Stoke had offered little going forward and, having fallen behind, were never likely to muster a reply. View the original article here
Patna: A CBI court has framed charges against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra in connection with a multi-crore fodder scam.
The case relates to fraudulent withdrawals of around Rs 46 lakh by officials of state animal husbandry department from Banka and Bhagalpur treasuries through fake enforced bills between 1994-96.
Charges have also been framed against ruling JDU MP Jagdish Sharma and former RJD MP R K Rana.
Mr Yadav, who was chief minister of Bihar then, alleges that he has been falsely implicated in the case and the "CBI had not procured gubernatorial nod for prosecution in this case".
The central investigative agency had charge sheeted them in this conspiracy angle case on March 3, 2003.
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Kochi: The Italian government says that two of its marines, currently in a Kerala jail for shooting two fishermen from Kochi, will be tried for murder in Italy. This is part of Italy's attempts to persuade India to release the marines who were arrested a few weeks ago. The marines were on board an Italian merchant vessel en route from Dubai to Singapore. They say they mistook a boat of fishermen for Somalian pirates and opened fire. Two fishermen died. India says because the incident took place within its waters, the marines must face a trial here according to Indian law. Italy has disputed that, describing the arrests of the guards as coercive and unilateral. A series of Italian delegates including the country's foreign minister have met with SM Krishna, Minister for External Affairs. They have stressed that as members of the Navy, the marines are entitled to immunity abroad, and should be tried in their home country.
The Kerala High Court is also hearing a case filed by the family of one of the men who was killed. His relatives have asked for a crore as compensation. The lawyers representing the Italians have told the High Court that the Italian government has initiated criminal proceedings against the marines. The murder charges against them mean they could face upto 21 years in prison, according to Italian law.
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Islamabad: Pakistani authorities have sent a formal request to Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, currently living outside the country in self-exile.
The move was taken so that he can be arrested and brought back to the country to face trial in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) yesterday sent the request to the Director of Interpol in Pakistan, official sources said today.
FIA Special Prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry confirmed to the media that the process to bring Mr Musharraf back to Pakistan had begun.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik last week announced that the government would bring Mr Musharraf back to face trial for his alleged failure to provide security to former premier Benazir Bhutto at the time of her assassination in 2007 despite being aware of threats to her life.
Mr Musharraf has been declared a "proclaimed offender" or fugitive by an anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven persons accused of involvement in the assassination. The court also directed authorities to seize Mr Musharraf's assets and to freeze his bank accounts.
Special Prosecutor Chaudhry said an officer of the FIA's joint investigation team probing the assassination had handed over an application for the Red Corner Notice to Interpol's representative in Pakistan.
After scrutinising the application, the Interpol representative will forward it to Interpol headquarters in France, he said.
Once the Red Corner Notice is issued, Mr Musharraf can be detained anywhere in the world and brought back to Pakistan so that he can be produced in court, official sources said.
Mr Musharraf has been living in London and Dubai since he left Pakistan in early 2009 after several criminal and civil cases were filed against him across the country.
Meanwhile, a media report today said the British government may not extradite Mr Musharraf even if Pakistan obtains a Red Corner Notice against him as the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.
The News daily, quoting a senior unnamed British diplomatic source said that not only Mr Musharraf but a number of people from various countries living in Britain are wanted by their governments on different counts.
As long as they obey the law in Britain, they are not deported, the source claimed.
Mr Musharraf has not sought asylum in Britain but is staying as a guest who respects "British laws faithfully", the daily quoted its sources as saying.
"We have no problem with his staying in the United Kingdom," a source said.
Mr Musharraf recently put off his plans to return to Pakistan in March after the government warned that he would be arrested on arrival.
The former dictator had planned to return to the country to lead his All Pakistan Muslim League party in the next general election.
He has denied allegations that he was in any way involved in Bhutto's assassination and said he is willing to face Pakistani courts.
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Delhi: About a dozen Tibetans, including women, today staged a protest outside the Hyderabad House objecting to the border talks between India and China claiming that Beijing cannot discuss the issue before giving freedom to Tibet.
Draped in Tibetan flags and carrying anti-China placards, the protesters assembled in front of the Hyderabad House near India Gate in the morning where External Affairs Minister S M Krishna was holding bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
Anticipating protests, a number of police personnel were deployed in the area and they immediately detained the demonstrators who were shouting slogans demanding freedom for Tibet.
"We have detained the protesters, including women. We have taken them to a nearby police station," a senior police official said.
One of the protesters said China cannot discuss the issue before giving freedom to Tibet. "It is ridiculous for China to have talks with India before giving us freedom," he said.
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Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand allrounder, has won his libel case against Lalit Modi and has been awarded damages of £90,000. Neither party was present when the verdict - which is open to appeal - was announced in the High Court in London.
Didier Drogba's 100th Premier League goal was enough to beat ten-man Stoke City at Stamford Bridge and maintain Chelsea's challenge for a top four finish.
