Dubai, Nov. 24 : Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has moved up 18 places in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after a man-of-the-match performance in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The 27-year-old left-armer registered match figures of 9-69 in 25.3 overs – the best figures of his career to date – as Australia beat its trans-Tasman rival by 149 runs at the ’Gabba.

That effort means Johnson moves up to 12th position as he enjoys his highest rating yet, level with New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori.

Dubai/Brisbane, Nov. 24: The Australia team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 149-run victory against New Zealand in the first Test played between November 20 and 23.

An ICC press release said that Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting’s side was ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

DHABI, Nov. 22nd, 2008: A local UAE newspaper today warned against violent consequences of what it called "an inhuman Israeli blockade" on Gazans who it said were already living under impoverished circumstances.

"The consequences will not be limited to the Palestinians entrapped in this cycle of misery. Instead, the world community will also be affected, as its ineffectiveness and indifferent stance would lead to negative consequences", opined today the Gulf News.

NEW YORK, MANAMA, 22nd, 2008: Secretary-General of The Nnited Nations Ban Ki-Moon

Sheikh Khalifa stressed that "there will be no compromise with whatever threatens our values, our traditions and language, which are the heart of our national identity and the soul of the nation and our heritage." "Thus, we must confront the negative effects of globalisation and the defects in the make-up of our population. Any infringement of our identity is an infringement of the country itself. Simply, it is a violation of the country's sanctity", he remarked.

In this connection, he announced 2008 as the year of National Identity, to strengthen the national elements and components of our society and to specify the threats to them.

DHABI, Nov. 22nd, 2008: The UAE marks the 37th anniversary of its National Day on December 2, 2008 with adamant determination to maintain the momentum of the process of political, social and cultural empowerment which President H. H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan had launched 2 years ago.

The process builds on the rich and impressive legacy left behind by the Late Founding Father of the nation Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose visionary leadership speaks of itself in all fields of development.