More Gurkha soldiers to lose jobs in British Army

Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – Hundreds of Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are expected to lose their jobs in the British army in the defense ministry’s latest round of reduction in military strength.

“As part of further work on defense restructuring the British Army has announced today (17 January 2012) the arrangements for a second phase of Army redundancies,” a statement released by the British Embassy in Kathmandu said.

Around 400 Gurkhas are expected to be made redundant out of the 2,900 positions to be cut.

The Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army has 3,740 soldiers. They have been the part of the British army for almost 200 years.

The defense review, which was published in 2010, demanded 7,000 job losses, but that figure more than doubled last year as the Ministry of Defense struggled to contain its ballooning budget. The ministry argues that the Gurkha brigade has grown too big in recent years, and is bound to face further cuts.

Opponents of the reduction say the soldiers, who are recruited from Nepal, are an easy target. A “Save the Gurkha” petition has been launched by the same group that fought successfully for the Gurkhas to have the same rights as other soldiers.

The Brigade of Gurkhas has been growing in size since modernization in 2007, which also allowed them to serve for 22 years instead of 15.

According to the British media, around 140 Gurkhas lost their jobs in the first wave of defense cuts last year.

View full post on All Stories

Super Steelers again: parlay dominant first half defense, Mendenhall power running

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN Sports) – Rashard Mendenhall and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense dominated the first half and hung on for a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game Sunday night at Heinz Field.

The Steelers advance to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Tex. Feb. 6 in search of a third Super Bowl title in six years and an NFL-high seventh overall. Pittsburgh will play NFC champion Green Bay, which held on for a 21-14 victory over the Chicago Bears earlier Sunday.

New York knocked off Pittsburgh at Heinz Field 22-17 in Week 15, but the Steelers wasted no time exacting revenge.

The Steelers recorded 16 first downs in the first half , gained 231 yards and held the ball for over 21 minutes to take a 24-3 lead at the half. Mendenhall rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown in the opening half and added 32 yards receiving on two catches.

The defense limited the Jets to just 50 yards and converted a strip-sack of quarterback Mark Sanchez late in the first half into a 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

The Steelers even took advantage of two poor punts to cash in a field goal and touchdown in the first 30 minutes.

The only negative for Pittsburgh in the first half was a lower leg injury to rookie and All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey and a thigh injury sustained by Roethlisberger, which he seemed to work through.

The tide changed late in the first half and carried over for the Jets in the second.

Nick Folk kicked a 42-yard field goal to end the first half. Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes with a 45-yard TD pass early in the third to cut the deficit to 24-10.

After an eight-minute Jets drive was stuffed on a 4th-and-goal run run LaDainian Tomlinson, New York got a safety on the next play when Roethlisberger and Pouncey’s replacement, Doug Legursky, botched a second snap.

The Jets took the free kick and went 58 yards on 10 plays to cut the deficit to 24-19 with 3:09 left. Sanchez completed a key 4th-and-1 pass to Braylon Edwards to keep the drive alive and found Jerricho Cotchery for a 4-yard TD pass in the left flat.

The Steelers got the ball back, recorded two first downs, the second on a 3rd-and-6 when Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown for a 14-yard gain that iced it.

Roethlisberger had a subpar game passing, completing 10-of-19 passes for 133 yards with two interceptions, but he hit the last pass, scrambled for three first downs and scored on a 2-yard option run with just over two minutes to play in the first half.

Mendenhall finished with 121 yards on 27 carries and Pittsburgh finished with 166 yards on the ground – the most yards allowed rushing by the Jets all season long.

Because the Steelers controlled the ball, the Jets offense couldn’t find any rhythm and the running game New York hoped to unleash to control the ball had to be abandoned early due to the deficit. New York ran for 70 yards on 22 carries.

Sanchez completed 20 of 33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t throw any interceptions and was sacked twice.

View full post on All Stories