British PM Cameron: India must change mind on jets

A "disappointed" British Prime Minister David Cameron today said he would do "everything he can" to "encourage" India to reconsider its decision to acquire 126 French-made Rafale fighter jets instead of the UK-backed Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

"Of course, I will do everything I can, as I have already, to encourage the Indians to look at Typhoon," Cameron told Parliament, a day after India announced that it will opt for Dassault Rafale fighter jets under the biggest-ever military contract that may be worth over USD 10 billion.

"The decision is obviously disappointing," Cameron said, insisting that the contract had not yet been awarded to the French firm.

Cameron said the Typhoon, made by a European consortium including British defence company BAE Systems, was "a superb aircraft, with further capability than Rafale and we will try to encourage the Indians to take that view".

Earlier, a spokesman for Cameron said Britain would look very carefully at why India opted for Dassault's Rafale jets. "We will want to learn from that," he said.

Ferrari will launch 2012 Formula One car

Ferrari will launch their 2012 Formula One car in time for the first pre-season test in February, a team spokesman said.

No date was fixed but the first test is scheduled for Spain`s Jerez circuit on February 7-9.

Rivals Mercedes have already said they will not have their new car on track until the second test in Barcelona on February 21 to give themselves as much time as possible for design and development.

Under new rules this year, cars can take part in testing only once they have passed mandatory FIA (International Automobile Federation) crash tests.

That means teams have to decide between maximising development in the factory and missing out on track time, or getting in more testing but signing off earlier on the design process.

Ferrari won only one race this year, with Fernando Alonso in Britain, and finished third overall.

Australia wins again at Champions Trophy

World No.1 Australia beat Britain 4-1 on Monday to stay unbeaten after two matches at the Champions Trophy men`s field hockey tournament.

Matthew Butturini, Matt Gohdes, Jamie Dwyer and Luke Doerner scored as Australia outclassed first round winner Britain to stay atop Pool A.

Rogier Hofman scored with five minutes left to give the Netherlands a 3-2 win over Germany, the Olympic and European champion, and to leave it unbeaten atop Pool B in the elite, eight-team tournament.

The win was the Netherlands` fifth in succession over Germany at Champions Trophy tournaments and its ninth in all matches.

In other matches on Monday, first-round loser Spain beat Pakistan 4-2 and New Zealand beat Korea 6-1.

Defending champion and 11-time winner Australia took just six minutes to snatch the lead through Butturini in its match against Britain, which had beaten Pakistan 2-1 in its opening match. Fergus Kavanagh split the defense with a superb pass and Butturini beat goalkeeper James Farr at the near post.


Britain missed a chance to equalize from a penalty corner and Australia capitalized, going 2-0 up after 22 minutes when Gohdes rewarded a period of intense pressure.

The second half was more evenly contested and Britain dragged itself back into the game with a goal to Simon Mantell with 15 minutes remaining. But Australia struck back through Dwyer two minutes later to lead 3-1 and Doerner clinched the win with a penalty corner drag-flick two minutes from the end.

Hofman`s brilliant goal earned the Netherlands its second-straight win after an opening 2-0 win over Korea.

Billy Bakker scored the Netherlands` opening goal off an accurate pass from Teun de Nooijer, but Germany replied quickly through Tobias Matania. Germany then went ahead 2-1 when Christoph Menke scored from lead-up work by Thilo Sralkowski.

Jeroen Hertzberger pulled the Netherlands level and Hoffman added the winner as the clock ticked down.

Penalty corner ace Pau Quemada scored twice as Spain beat Pakistan 4-2. Sohail Abbas ad found the target from a penalty corner in the sixth minute of the second half to level the score at 2-2, but Quemada scored twice in eight minute to give Spain its opening win.

Shea McAleese (2), Phil Burrows, Nick Wilson, Shay Neal and Andrew Hayward scored as New Zealand recovered from its opening 2-1 loss to Germany to move into second place in Pool B.

Australia meets Pakistan, South Korea plays Germany, Spain plays Britain and New Zealand meets the Netherlands in matches on Tuesday.

Britain is pulling out diplomats from Iran

Britain is pulling out all its diplomats from Iran, a day after its embassy in the country was stormed by protesters who ransacked the compound, evoking outrage worldwide.

British Prime Minister David Cameron warned Iran of serious consequences over the "outrageous and indefensible" incident that has further escalated tensions between Iran and the West.

Agitated over Britain's announcement of additional economic sanctions on Iran in coordination with the US and Canada over its nuclear programme, protesters had yesterday attacked UK's embassy and another diplomatic compound, ransacking the properties and setting documents on fire.

BBC quoted its diplomatic sources as saying that the country is withdrawing all its diplomatic staff from Iran following the attack on its embassy.

In fact, it said a first group of embassy staff was already at the Tehran airport and due to fly to Dubai. The UN Security Council strongly condemned the attack and called on the Iranian authorities to ensure that diplomatic and consular property and personnel are protected.

Expressing "deep concern" at the assault by protesters who vandalised property at the embassy compound and tore down the Union Jack flag, the 15-nation Council called on the Iranian authorities to "respectfully their international obligations" to protect diplomatic personnel and property.

US President Barack Obama urged the Iranian government to hold to task those responsible for the attack while Germany summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin over the issue.

Iran yesterday regretted the incident, terming it "unacceptable" as police said those who took part would be prosecuted.