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US President Barack Obama BBC Online US President Barack Obama has ordered new economic sanctions against Iran's energy sector and some financial firms. President Obama's executive order is designed to make it harder for Iran to evade existing sanctions. Obama said the US remained committed to reaching a diplomatic solution on Iran, but the onus was on Tehran to meet its international obligations. The sanctions come amid ongoing concern over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran denies is to develop weapons. Tehran has been attempting to diversify the way it gets paid for oil sales, including by using gold and barter, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington. Obama's order comes just as the US Congress prepares to vote this week on new legislation imposing even stricter sanctions on Iran. The executive order appears to be an effort by the White House to show it is being just as tough on Iran, our correspondent adds. The Republican candidate to the W

Rohingya people living in Thailand hold posters and signs as they protest in front of Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok, during Myanmar's President Thein Sein visit to Thailand recently. Photo: Reuters Reuters, Bangkok Myanmar security forces killed, raped or carried out mass arrests of Rohingya Muslims after deadly sectarian riots in the northeast in June, a rights group said on Wednesday, adding the authorities had done little to prevent the initial unrest. Aid workers were blocked and in some cases arrested, and Rohingyas bore the brunt of a government crackdown in Rakhine state after a week of arson and machete attack by both ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingyas, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report. Based on 57 interviews with Rakhines and Rohingyas, the report seeks to shed light on a conflict that exposed deep-rooted communal animosity and put the spotlight on promises by the civilian government in office since 2011 to protect human rights aft

Padma bridge co-financiers ADB, Jica extend loan deal by a month; wait to see how govt acts on WB's graft concern; failure to cost future donor funding Rejaul Karim Byron The ADB and Jica have extended their Padma bridge loan effectuation date by a month with a clear message that during this time the government has to address the issues of corruption raised by the World Bank. If the government does not do so, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will not fund the bridge project. In such a case, their financing of Bangladeshi projects in future might also become uncertain, officials told The Daily Star following talks between ADB-Jica and Economic Relations Division (ERD) yesterday. And conversely, if the government addresses the corruption issues, the two donors might agree to fund the bridge project along with some other donors even if the WB does not finance it, said the officials. The ADB and Jica representatives

Dhaka, Jul 31  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal to form a 'so-called' interim government with the participation of the opposition for overseeing the elections is nothing but a smokescreen, a senior BNP leader said on Tuesday. "The BNP and the 18-Party Alliance will not take part in any election under a partisan government or an interim government led by the current Prime Minister ... we want a non-partisan and impartial government," party's National Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed told a discussion at the Ladies Club at Eskaton. Moudud recalled that then Commonwealth Secretary-General's special envoy, Stephen Ninian, had given a similar proposal to resolve a political crisis in 1994. "But the current Prime Minister had rejected the proposal then saying it would not establish a non-partisan government," he said. "Now she has come up with a similar proposal which is not acceptable to the BNP and the 18-Party All

Dhaka, Jul 31 The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday filed two cases against 22 officials of the Destiny 2000 Ltd, including its Chairman Rafiqul Amin, on charges of embezzling over Tk 32.85 billion. The watchdog's Deputy Director Mozahar Ali Sarkar and Assitant Director Towfiqul Islam lodged the two cases separately at the capital's Kalabagan Police Station. "The accused misappropriated more than Tk 11.74 billion from the tree plantation project," Towfiqul told reporters at a press meet at the ACC headquarters in the city's Segunbagicha in the afternoon. Mozahar Ali Sarkar said the accused allegedly misappropriated over Tk 21.06 billion in the name of the Destiny Multi-purpose Co-operative Society. The accused transferred the illegal money from the projects to their unprofitable institutions first and then the money was shifted to their personal accounts, he added.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Societal abuse and discrimination against the religious and ethnic minority in Bangladesh have declined, the US State Department said in a report on Monday. Click here to read the International Religious Freedom Report. The International Religious Freedom Report for 2011 released by the State Department also mentioned zero occurrences of “abuses of religious freedom” in 2011 in contrast to past years. In its executive summary, the report however stated that there were “scattered attacks on religious and ethnic minorities perpetrated by nongovernmental actors” and holds responsible “the low social status of religious minorities” for the continued discrimination. The sporadic abuses has "little political recourse", says the report. Mentioning the unbiased stance of the constitution towards all religious groups, the report elaborated the government’s initiatives into amending laws and policymaking in favour of all religious co

Dhaka, Jul 31  A former police superintendent (SP) of Dhaka, Mahbub Uddin Ahmed was cross-examined by Jamaat-e-Islami guru Ghulam Azam's defence at the first war crimes tribunal on Monday. Set up to deal with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, the three-judge International Crimes Tribunal indicted the former Jamaat chief for five charges on May 13. His charges include incitement, conspiracy and planning given his superior position within the party structure during the War of Independence. Also a former Deputy Secretary at the home ministry and defence ministry, Mahbub Uddin was the police chief of a sub-division when the war broke out. He went on to become a sub-sector commander during the war. Mahbub Uddin had said in his deposition that the collaborators and vigilante militiamen his freedom fighters caught during the war had told him that such units like the Razakar, Al Badr and Al Shams were commanded by Ghulam Azam and hi

Dhaka, July 31 The High Court on Tuesday slapped an interim embargo on the movement at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for the ouster of the Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor. The bench of Justices Naima Haider and Muhammad Khurshid Alam passed the order after hearing a public interest petition. Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner were instructed to maintain law and order on the BUET campus until the petition is disposed of. The petition also drew a ruling from the court asking authorities to explain why the continuous movement jointly by the university's teachers' association President and General Secretary, other teachers, students and employees should not be declared illegal. The Education Secretary, IGP, DMP Commissioner, Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of BUET, President and General Secretary of the teachers' association and BUET were given four weeks to answer th

 Dhaka, July 31 Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have extended by a month the deadline for disbursement of the loan they pledged to provide for the Padma bridge project. An Economic Relations Department (ERD) official preferring anonymity told bdnews24.com that Resident Representatives of these international donor agencies in Bangladesh handed the extension letters at 2:30pm at the ERD office. "The deadline for the loan agreement (disbursement of money) with ADB and JICA is expiring on Tuesday. ERD had sent letters to both the agencies for extending the deadline. They have extended the deadline separately in response to the letters," said the ERD official who is familiar with the matter. Of the $ 2.9 billion proposed project, ADB had agreed to provide over $ 610 million while JICA pledged $ 400 million. Major donor of the project, the World Bank cancelled its loan agreement for $ 1.2 billion on June 29 alleging

Dhaka, Jul 31 Bangladesh and Nepal will work together under sub-regional framework to produce power for mutual benefit, the Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday. Dhaka has already nominated members for a working group for hydropower and Kathmandu will do the same at the earliest to conduct a study, said Mohamed Mijarul Quayes after holding official talks with his Nepalese counterpart Durga Prasad Bhattarai in Dhaka. The secretaries discussed political relations, trade, investment, connectivity, people-to-people contact and tourism. "Water is flowing and the earlier we can take advantage of power it can generate the better it will be," Quayes said. When asked about hydropower project on Saptokoshi River in Nepal, Quayes said it would not be appropriate for the secretaries to talk only about a single project. Connectivity Both the officials discussed connectivity issues and use of Bangladeshi ports for Nepalese trade. "We have been able to put in place som

Trial to start Aug 7; Pro-BNP lawyers brings out procession protesting court order; Arrest warrant against Khoka, Aman, Nazimuddin BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party leader AKM Fazlul Haque Milon chant anti-government slogans as they board the prison van from a Dhaka court on May 16. Photo: STAR Star Online Report A Dhaka court on Tuesday framed charges against BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 45 others in an arson case. Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-or-Rashid framed the charges rejecting the adjournment petition filed by defence lawyers. Earlier, a metropolitan magistrate felt embarrassed to hear the case as the accused showed no-confidence in him. Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfan Ullah felt embarrassed when defence lawyers filed no-confidence petition against him as he had simultaneously rejected their two petitions during the day's hearing. In the no-confidence petition, they claimed that they wi

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Reiterating the prime minister’s suggestion for forming a ‘small cabinet’ ahead of the next parliamentary polls, minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta said on Tuesday that the elections would be held with the participation of all political parties. “Democracy means people's government. So, representatives from all of the political parties should be included in the interim government,” Suranjit said. If the opposition party wants to say anything about the next general elections, it will have to come to the parliament, he said. Suranjit was speaking as chief guest at the 20th founding anniversary of Saarc Children Forum at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium of Central Public Library in the capital. Ruling out restoration of the caretaker government system, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in an interview with BBC, has s

Dhaka, Jul 31  State-run Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) had found gas at another layer at the number two well of Comilla's Srikail field. Bapex Managing Director Mortuza Ahmad Faruque told bdnews24.com the newly found layer was just above the layer discovered on Jul 13 at well number two. It was confirmed at 10:30pm Monday after conducting Drilling Stem Test (DST)." "DST test has revealed good gas pressure on the upper layer. But it would take several more days to know the reserve," he added. Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla) Chairman Hossain Mansur said the earlier found zone was 26 metre thick while the upper zone, which was discovered Monday, was 48 metres thick.

Dhaka, Jul 31 Trading on Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges was halted for Tuesday due to persisting problems in the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited server. The board of directors of Dhaka Stock Exchange decided to suspend trade as trading could not be settled on the bourses on Monday due to the server problem, DSE Public Relations Officer Shafikur Rahman told bdnews24.com. Chittagong Stock Exchange President Al Maruf Khan told bdnews24.com its board also decided to halt trading for Tuesday. Officials of several brokerage houses and merchant banks said trading had not been cleared until Monday midnight though CDBL was trying to fix the problem. DSE Senior Vice President Ahmed Rashid Lali said Monday's trade could not be completed due to software issues at the CDBL and added that the company was trying to fix the problem. He s

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 North Korea claimed their third gold medal at London 2012 after Kim Un Guk triumphed in world record-breaking style in the men's 62kg weightlifting. The 23-year-old's 153kg snatch equalled the world's best and broke the Olympic record, and his clean and jerk helped to set a new benchmark total of 327kg. Oscar Albeiro Figueroa Mosquera took silver at the ExCel Centre ahead of Indonesia's Irawan Eko Yuli. The Colombian broke the Olympic clean and jerk record with a lift of 177kg. "It was an unexpected result after another stunning day in the weighlifting hall. The entire North Korean team are on fire at the moment." Kim's success followed Friday's victories for fellow North Koreans Yun Chol Om in the men's 56kg weightlifting category and Kum Ae An in the -52kg women's judo. The competition was a disappointing one for China's Zhang Jie though, as the pre-event favourite missed the podium

Monday, July 30, 2012 BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday said only a non-party caretaker government can protect the democratic process of the country. “BNP will not go to election if it is not held under a non-party caretaker government,” the opposition leader said while speaking at an Iftar party hosted by Doctors Association of Bangladesh (Dab) in the city. Khaleda came up with the comments a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an interview with BBC Bangla said BNP can join the interim cabinet which would be formed ahead of the next general elections.

Monday, July 30, 2012 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said BNP can join the interim cabinet which would be formed ahead of the next general elections. The premier made the comment during an interview with BBC Bangla published on the website late July 29. "They (BNP) can table a proposal in the parliament on this issue and we together can form a small cabinet and hold the election," said the prime minister. Hasina further said that she would not impose her decision on her party men about who would lead Awami League after her. "Awami League believes in democracy, everyone in the party accepts the decision that Awami League takes," said the premier. Meanwhile, during another interview with BBC's HARDtalk, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh are unified. Part of the interview is given below: BBC: There is a sense of animosity, a sense that the divisions in Bangladeshi society have not healed whic

Monday, July 30, 2012 An accused in Saudi embassy official Khalaf Al Ali murder case admitted his involvement in the killing before a metropolitan magistrate on Monday. Al Amin, one of the four accused in the case, gave his confessional statement to Metropolitan Magistrate Shahriar Mahmud Adnan at his chamber for over two and a half hours. While giving description of the murder, Al Amin said he along with four others - Saiful Islam Mamun, 20, Rafiqul Islam Khokon, 22, Akbar Ali Lalu, 25, and Md Selim - were present at the scene of occurrence. Among the five criminals, Saiful shot Khalaf, Al Amin said. Before shooting him, the muggers locked into a brawl with Khalaf when the gang demanded some dollars from him but he refused to do so, he said. Al Amin was sitting inside a microbus on which they fled later, the accused told the magistrate. Afte

Dhaka, Jul 30  The High Court on Monday overturned the lower court conviction of businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and his ex-wife for amassing wealth beyond their known income sources. The bench of justices A K M Asaduzzaman and Abu Taher Mohammad Saifur Rahman gave the order upon an appeal by the duo. On Mar 27, 2008, a special court set up at the Parliament complex sentenced Mamun, a close friend and business associate of BNP's Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10 years in jail and his wife Shahina Yasmin to three years for allegedly amassing nearly Tk 1.11 billion. Mamun challenged the sentence the same year while Yasmin moved the High Court in 2010. The High Court on Monday finally scrapped the imprisonment sentence orders against the couple in the graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), deeming their conviction against illegal. Barrister Rafiq-ul Haque and Advocate Shah Monjurul Haque argued for the accused at the hearing while Advocate

Rajshahi University, Jul 30 Police submitted charge-sheet to a Rajshahi court on Monday against 110 people, including Jamaal-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami in a case over the murder of Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) Rajshahi University unit activist Faruk Hossain in 2010. Rajparha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zillur Rahman submitted the 1,269-page chargesheet to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court that also names Jamaat Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and Executive Council member Delwar Hossan Sayedee as accused. "There are 110 accused in two cases over the murder, attack on police and explosion. All of them are accused in the murder case. Two of them are also accused in the case over the explosion," the OC said. Shamsul Alam Golap, then the President of the RU unit of Chhatra Shibir, Jamaat's student wing, was made the chief accused of the murder.

Dhaka, July 30 The High Court will judge on Tuesday a writ petition seeking directives on the authorities to resume academic activities at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The High Court bench of justices NaimaHaider and Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar fixed the date on Monday after a hearing petition. Advocate Younus Ali Akond, a father of a BUET admission-seeker, filed the petition on Sunday seeking suspension on the activities of the university's Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Pro-VC) and other teachers, students and staff's agitation until the ruling is disposed of. Alongside BUET, the Education Secretary, Inspector General of Police, DMP Commissioner, the university's VC and Pro-VC, BUET Teachers' Association President and General Secretary were made respondents in the petition. The BUET authorities had shut the institution for 44 days from July 11 for summer and Eid vacation in the wake of raging prot

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia addresses an Iftar party hosted by Liberal Democratic Party at a city hotel on Sunday: Photo: Banglar Chock Star Online Report Urging partners of the 18-party alliance to take preparation for a harsher agitation, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday said the opposition will go for a tougher movement after Eid-ul-Fitr. “We will forge movement to protect the countrymen and that is why all the parties belonging to the 18-party alliance have to take preparation from now,” she said at an Iftar party organised by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at a city hotel. LDP President Oli Ahmed MP delivered welcome speech. Senior leaders of BNP and 18-party alliance attended the programme. Khaleda hoped that their movement will be successful and they will win against all sorts of misdeeds by making the anti-government movement successful. She alleged that the press is not enjoying freedom during the present government tenure and even the journalists are bei

Sunday, July 29, 2012 Slating the premier for her continued World Bank bashing, BNP leader Moudud Ahmed on Sunday doubted her intention of building the Padma bridge. “Confusion has been created in public mind whether the prime minister at all wants to build the Padma bridge as she is trying to foil the finance minister’s efforts to revive the loan deal by making remarks against the World Bank,” he said. Moudud came up with the observation at a discussion titled ‘Government’s Intolerant Politics, Unbridled Corruption and Duties of Patriots’ organised by Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the National Press Club in the capital. He said, "It is difficult to understand what the prime minister actually wants. On the one hand, the finance minister is trying to woo the World Bank and the premier is calling Abul Hossain a patriot on the other.” Talking to reporters on July 25 in London, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described Syed Abul Hossain, who quit as

Dhaka, Jul 29 Bangladesh was not responsible for the deadlock in the TICFA negotiation with the United States, the Foreign Secretary said on Sunday. Mohamed Mijarul Quayes made the remark responding to a question on TICFA at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh and the United States are engaged in negotiations with US to sign TICFA for four years. US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan Mozena on Saturday said Bangladesh would not get duty-free access of its products to the US market unless Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) was signed. "Bangladesh is always ready for one or two rounds of negotiations on TICFA draft," Quayes said. The Secretary, however, declined comment on the US envoy's remark but made a general statement on the issue. Quayes said: "The state of the negotiati

Dhaka, Jul 29 The Law Minister on Sunday assured anti-tobacco campaigners of plugging the loopholes in the tobacco control law to make it 'strong' for public health's sake. "I'll see how we can make it strong and updated so that none can exploit its loopholes," Shafique Ahmed said at a discussion where voices of tobacco victims were heard. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare started amending the 2005 tobacco control law over two and a half years ago to give it more teeth to deter people from the habit. A study had showed more than 43 percent Bangladeshis aged 15 and above consume tobacco in some form. Estimates suggest 57,000 people die of tobacco related illness while nearly 300,000 suffer disabilities in Bangladesh. But it was reported earlier that the Ministry of Finance recalled the draft when the health ministry was about to place it in the Cabinet meeting on Dec 19, 2011. Health Minister A F M Ruhal Haque acknowledged the fact

Sunday, July 29, 2012 The High Court on Sunday issued a rule upon the government to explain why the Joint Drives Indemnity Act 2003 legitimising Operation Clean Heart should not be declared unconstitutional and illegal. As per the court direction, the government will have to come up with a reply in six weeks. Joint drives led by army had run Operation Clean Heart from October 16, 2002 to January 9, 2003 across the country to keep the law and order situation under control. Around 50 people were reportedly killed in the operation. The BNP-led 4-party alliance government issued a gazette notification on February 24, 2003 to legalise the Joint Drives Indemnity Act 2003 legitimising Operation Clean Heart. According to the indemnity act, nobody can challenge the action of joint forces under Operation Clean Heart. Advocate ZI Khan Panna, an executive member of Bangladesh Bar Council, on July 14 this year filed a writ petition challengin

Sunday, July 29, 2012 Communications and railway minister Obidul Quader said the railway authority will start selling train tickets 10 days before the Eid in a bid to case home-bound people’s sufferings. He said, “A total of 41 special trains will run on inter-city routes and 150 coaches will be added. Besides, we will take strong action against black marketing.” He came up with the announcement while addressing a press meet at city’s railway building on Sunday. Obidul said, “The inter-city trains will be operated everyday without any weekly holiday from August 18.” Regarding the road communication during Eid, he said, “BRTC will provide special service from five days before the festival. Under the special service, over 130 buses will be operated.”

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, who appeared before a Dhaka court on Sunday to give his testimony, failed to identify the accused in a case filed for making an attempt to kill him in August 1992. Judge Mohammad Anisur Rahman of the Fifth Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court recorded his deposition and fixed November 5 for the next hearing of the case. In his deposition, Menon told the court that miscreants shot him in front of his party office in Dhaka around 8:30pm on August 17, 1992. He was treated for his injuries at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka cantonment and at Kings College Hospital in London, Menon said. Party leaders Haidar Akbar Khan Rono filed the case on August 18, 1992. Prosecution witnesses Rono and Abdul Khalek also gave their depositions before the court today. Criminal Investigation Department on January 31, 2002 pressed charges against four members of outlawed outfit Sarbahara Party – Md Kamrul Hossain, Abul Kalam Azad, Delwar Hossain and Kabir Maste

Investigation Officer Noor Hossain handed over the probe report to the prosecution team around 11:00am, Shahidur Rahman, a conducting prosecutor of the case, told The Daily Star.Investigation agency of International Crimes Tribunals submitted the final report on the allegations against Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar to the prosecution on Sunday in connection with the crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. Earlier on July 26, the investigation agency said it had found “strong evidence” Azad in connection with 10 incidents of genocide, killing, rape and other crimes during the 1971 war. Expelled Jamaat-e-Islami member Azad went on the run around seven hours before International Crimes Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against him on April 3.

Dhaka, Jul 28  US ambassador in Dhaka has once again made it clear that Bangladesh would not get duty-free access of its products to the market of United States unless Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) was signed.  Dan Mozena termed Ticfa negotiation an 'inexplicably irritant' issue. "What's wrong with it?" he asked and said, "I see nothing wrong [in Ticfa]."  However, he told Bangladesh's business leaders on Saturday that the issue would be resolved through 'political process'.  After four years of negotiation, the ambassador said, it did not move forward giving a perception to Washington that Dhaka was 'walking back from its international labour obligations.'  "My advice to you is to make environment favourable to Washington," Mozena said, "Bangladesh needs to deliver a powerful message that it does support labour rights."  Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, however, rece

Narayanganj, Jul 29 Five workers have died squashed under sacks of cement while they were sleeping in the warehouse of an under-construction amusement park at Sadar upazila of the district.  District Police Superintendent Shiekh Nazmul Alam told bdnews24.com that they recovered the five bodies Sunday morning from the under-construction Greenland Park of RK Group at Godanail in Siddhirganj.  Quoting the workers Alam said they slept inside the tin-roofed store after dinner.  In the morning co-workers noticed that five of their colleagues were missing and at one point they found them dead under the sacks of cement in the warehouse.  The deceased have been identified as 'Zahid' (22), Adu Mia (50) and his son 'Raquib' (20), 'Nazmul' (27) and Nasir Uddin (22).  The workers thought that the cement bags fall on their co-workers, who were sleeping in the warehouse, due to the tremor that jolted parts of Bangladesh in the morning.  The SP said they have been investigat

Dhaka, Jul 29  Earthquake originated in Myanmar jolted south-eastern part of Bangladesh Sunday morning. Dhaka met office said the tremor, measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale, was felt at 8:21am and lasted for 15 seconds. The source of the quake was 397 km east from Dhaka's Earthquake Observation Centre. People in Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Chittaogong felt the tremor, but there was no report of casualties or damage. 

London, July 28 (Reuters) - Shooting took centre stage at the Olympics on Saturday when IOC President Jacques Rogge handed over the first gold medal of the London Games, but it was the pioneering and pregnant athletes who stole the show. China's Yi Siling took the honour of being the first London gold medallist when she won the women's 10 metre air rifle at a packed Royal Artillery Barracks in southeast London as supporters clamoured to see the opening action. "I felt like a movie star," the 23-year-old Yi told reporters after winning her first Olympic gold. "Now I've got the gold medal I feel very happy and very excited. I almost cried." The event was graced by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge who watched the 40 minute final and then presented the first medal at his last Games before he steps down from the role next year. However, Yi and Rogge shared the spotlight with eight-months pregnant shooter Nur Suryani Moham

Serena Williams opened her bid for the Olympic women's singles gold medal with victory over fellow former world number one Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon. Back on Centre Court, where she won her 14th Grand Slam title on 7 July, the American fourth seed beat her Serbian opponent 6-3 6-1 to make round two. Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who is set to retire at the end of the season, overcame Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-4. Roger Federer and all eight Britons are also in action on Saturday.

  Olympic Park, London  "Let it be known from this day forth, the Olympic movement has seen the creation of the first 'rock 'n' roll' Games, and London 2012 will be remembered for all time as the venue of its birth." An affirmation that was not so much spoken by opening ceremony supremo Danny Boyle - film director and Oscar winner of "Slum Dog Millionaire" fame - but implied with so much of his vision for the 30th Olympiad curtain raiser. Music was the heartbeat of the $42.3 million spectacular, an aural backdrop arguably worthy of the "Isle of Wonders" hype, creating an almost tangible cultural DNA of what the organizers feel is to be British. From the androgynous swagger of David Bowie (his hit "Heroes" introduced Team GB to the stadium), to the drugged-out funk of the Happy Mondays; the rolling grooves of Soul II Soul's "Back to Life" to the punky-punch of The Prodigy's "F