Beckham features in AC Milan win

AC Milan kept alive their faint hopes of catching city rivals Inter at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win over Cagliari at the San Siro.

Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf exploited a defensive mix-up to tap into an empty net after 65 minutes.

David Beckham played almost the full match after missing most of the midweek draw with Werder Bremen through injury.

The England international delivered another assured display before giving way to Luca Antonini in injury time.

Milan want to sign LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham permanently, but have so far been unable to reach agreement with the Major Soccer League club.

Beckham admitted that it may not be until the conclusion of his loan period on 8 March that the two camps come close to any arrangement that keeps him with the Rossoneri.

"We'll have to wait and see. These things take time sometimes and of course it's going to. It could go down to the last few days," he said.

"I hope it gets sorted out quickly because I enjoy concentrating on my football and I've done that so far and so I'll continue doing that."

Cagliari gave their hosts several uncomfortable moments early on with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati tested by efforts from Robert Aquafresca and Jeda in the first half.

At the other end Filippo Inzaghi had the ball in the net but saw his strike ruled out as he strayed offside in latching onto Seedorf's neat pass.

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Highlights - Inter Milan 2-1 AC Milan

Andrea Cossu shuddered the woodwork of Abbiati's goal after the break with a fierce long-range shot, but the visitors' efforts were undone as Diego Lopez and keeper Federico Marchetti collided in pursuit of a loose ball and Seedorf profited.

The result keeps Milan third in the league, two points behind second-placed Juventus and 11 off Jose Mourinho's Inter.
BBC

Toll climbs in China mine blast

More than 40 miners have died and dozens remain trapped underground after a gas explosion in a coal mine, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reports.

The blast at the mine in Gujiao City, in Shanxi province, occurred before dawn when 436 miners were underground.

Xinhua said 340 miners had managed to escape, but some had died in hospital and others were badly hurt.

China has the world's deadliest mining industry, with 3,200 deaths reported last year.

But the true figure of those killed is believed to be far higher, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing, as many accidents go unreported.

Illegal mining, official corruption and weak safety inspections lead to tens of thousands of accidents in Chinese mines each year, our correspondent says.

Rescue operation

Early reports from Xinhua suggested 96 miners were trapped after the explosion at about 0200 (1800 GMT) and that 11 miners had died. It is unclear how many are still trapped.

Rescue workers were reported to be on the scene attempting to rescue the workers from the mine, which is owned by the Shanxi Jiaomei Group.

The group is China's largest producer of coking coal and operates 28 mines, according to the Associated Press news agency.

China has said safety is improving, with officials saying the number of fatalities from coal mining accidents had fallen 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year.

Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents had fallen by 19% to 413,700 last year.

BBC

Obama hails 'fastest' US tax cut

President Barack Obama has said US tax bills will begin to fall from April, hailing a tax cut he called the fastest ever to take effect.

In his weekly radio and internet address, President Obama said the typical American family would gain by at least $65 (£46) a month.

He also pledged to cut America's trillion-dollar deficit.

The tax cuts announced on Saturday are part of a $787bn stimulus plan that Mr Obama signed into law this week.

The plan, aimed at reviving the US economy amid a global economic crisis, is split into 36% for tax cuts and 64% percent allocated for spending on social programmes.

Mr Obama said the US treasury had already begun directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes claimed from pay cheques.

The savings will reach 95% of American families, he said.

"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans," the president said.

Challenges ahead

Mr Obama said work must now start on trying to stabilise the banking system, stem the fall in house prices and get budget deficits under control.

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He announced that he would call a fiscal summit on Monday to discuss an inherited deficit of $1.3tn.

An unnamed US official was later quoted as saying Mr Obama intended to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.

This would be done by scaling back on the war in Iraq, increasing taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year and making government more efficient, the official said.

Mr Obama said he would address the nation about his priorities on Tuesday before issuing a budget on Thursday.

"I'll release a budget that's sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't, and restoring fiscal discipline," he said.

However, he also warned of the challenges ahead.

"As important as it was that I was able to sign this plan into law, it is only a first step on the road to economic recovery.

"None of this will be easy. The road ahead will be long and full of hazards," he added.

"But I am confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overcome this crisis."

The stimulus plan, which was approved by Congress just over a week ago, aims to save or create 3.5 million jobs, boost consumer spending and rebuild infrastructure.

Over the past week, Mr Obama has also announced measures to assist families facing foreclosures, and those struggling to meet mortgage payments.

But Republicans, only three of whom voted for the stimulus package in Congress despite calls by Mr Obama for bipartisan support, have said the new tax cuts are insufficient.

They have also complained that the president's spending plans will leave the US economy saddled with debt for years to come.

"We can't borrow and spend our way back to prosperity," Republican Dave Camp said in his party's weekly address.

"If he [Mr Obama] is serious about dealing with the tough issues and getting spending under control, his budget will show it."

BBC

Australia mourns bushfire victims

Australia is observing a day of mourning for the victims of bushfires which swept across the state of Victoria, claiming more than 200 lives.

At a memorial service in the state's capital, Melbourne, PM Kevin Rudd said destroyed communities would be rebuilt.

Many at the service had to be bussed in from towns and villages stricken by the bushfires, having lost their cars and their homes to the flames.

Firemen continue to battle fresh blazes and some bodies are still to be found.

At least 209 people died as the worst bushfires in Australia's living memory swept through Victoria on 7 February - a day that has become known as Black Saturday.

Australia has launched its biggest-ever arson investigation into the causes of the fires.

One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case.

Nation in mourning

The mourning service at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena was attended by Princess Anne, on behalf of the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Australian dignitaries and both fire survivors and rescue personnel.

Let us resolve to rebuild together Australian PM Kevin Rudd In quotes: Memorial service Princess Anne in bushfire tribute

Many of the 50,000 in the arena were wearing the distinctive yellow overalls of Australia's firefighters.

Mr Rudd told those gathered that Australians had stood as one through the crisis with courage, compassion and resilience.

"As a people we weep for the lost, we tend to the injured, we console the suffering, and yet our work has just begun," he said. "Let us resolve to rebuild together."

He said flags would be flown at half mast and a minute's silence would be held each 7 February to remember those who had died in the fires.

Victoria Premier John Brumby said Australians were picking up the pieces after the worst disaster in the nation's history.

"Today we are united in grief, but we are also united in our determination to recover, to rebuild, and we will rebuild," he said.

"And we will remember today and into the future all of those who lost their lives, and who gave so much on Black Saturday."

The national day of mourning began with the ringing of church bells across Victoria.

High temperatures forecast

Princess Anne paid tribute to those caught up in the tragedy.

"Individuals and towns have responded with resilience, ingenuity, courage and selflessness to situations that were changing at terrifying speed," she said.

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"People from around Australia and across the world watched in horror but with admiration at their response."

The 90-minute ceremony included a minute's silence as well as performances by choirs from across Victoria.

Princess Anne is now due to visit the bushfires Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne before travelling on Monday to some of the fire-devastated areas.

The blazes destroyed hundreds of properties and left thousands of people homeless.

Forecasters warn that high temperatures and wind conditions expected on Monday could worsen the situation.

BBC

Flintoff ruled out of fourth Test

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will miss the fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday with a muscle strain in his right hip.

The 31-year-old had a suspected tear that severely hindered him in the drawn third Test in Antigua.

He will be reassessed over the coming days in the hope that he will be fit for the final Test in Trinidad, which begins on 6 March.

Spinner Graeme Swann is also an injury doubt because of elbow trouble.

Flintoff was clearly struggling in Antigua, but still managed to send down 17 overs in West Indies' second innings as the tourists chased victory.

A statement on the ECB website read: "He will be reassessed over the coming days in the hope that he will be fit for the final Test in Trinidad and the one-day series which follows."

Seamer Amjad Khan and all-rounder Ravi Bopara have been called up to the senior squad as cover and could play in the two-day warm-up match which begins in Barbados on Sunday.

A one-day practice game against an WIPA President's Select XI is next up on March 14 before a one-off Twenty20 international which precedes the 50-over series.

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In only his third Test, Swann celebrated his maiden five-wicket Test haul in the first innings and then took three in the second innings as England almost secured a series-levelling victory.

However, the developing injury could make him doubtful for the next Test of the five-match series, which starts on Thursday.

There is also some concern about the fitness of left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom, which is another reason why the squad was expanded.

Flintoff looked uncomfortable as he recorded his second duck of the match having been dropped to number nine in the batting order on day four.

"He played the first Test and struggled a bit with his Achilles, he has had a chronic Achilles problem, and is getting back to full fitness," assistant coach Andy Flower said.

Kevin Pietersen suffered a hand injury in the final over of the third Test, but it is not thought to be serious.

The batsman was struck on the back of the right hand when fielding close to the wicket, but England's medical staff remain confident that the damage is merely bruising.

BBC