India wins at Cardiff - city set to host NATO has 10 miles fencing ...

Cardiff of which I posted yesterday, has been a happy hunting ground – and India won by a huge margin of 133  in the 2^nd  ODI at the Glamorgan County Cricket Ground, or SWALEC Stadium  situate on the west bank of the River Taff in Cardiff.   India made 304 the same score that they made in the last ODI they played against England in Cardiff, in 2011. In both games India also lost six wickets. Further, both games were decided by the D/L method,  the main difference  is England won in 2011. Suresh Raina’s first hundred in ODI outside Asia was a great effort; remember he already has a T20 hundred made in WI.  English players are yet to make century at Cardiff, while Raina, Dhawan and Kohli have made here.

Cardiff is in news for more ....  Cardiff city centre has been turned into a high security ‘prison’ with 10 miles of fencing - which is being dubbed the ‘ring of steel’ - ahead of the Nato conference next week.  This will be the first NATO Summit since Chicago in 2012, and the first NATO summit in the United Kingdom since Margaret Thatcher welcomed NATO leaders to London in 1990. During working sessions at the Celtic Manor and more informal events in Cardiff, world leaders will look to address issues which threaten NATO countries’ national security, from fragile states to piracy, from terrorism to cyber attacks.  Announcing that Wales would host the NATO Summit 2014, the Prime Minister said: It’s a great moment for Wales to advertise its modern and economically brilliant face to the world. We are going to have up to 60 world leaders coming to Wales for this vitally important NATO conference, so I think it’s a very good moment for Wales to put its best foot forward. On 4^th & 5^th September 2014, Wales will host the largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in Britain as the UK hosts the NATO summit. President Obama, Chancellor Merkel, and President Hollande are expected to attend along with leaders and senior ministers from around 60 other countries. The summit comes as NATO draws down from its longest ever mission in Afghanistan and against a backdrop of instability in Ukraine. It is an opportunity to ensure that NATO continues to be at the forefront of building stability in an unpredictable world.

~ and to take care of the 150 World leaders, Police have erected nine feet high security fencing around Celtic Manor resort in Newport and Cardiff city centre. Kim Howells, former foreign office minister, fears that home grown Islamic State terrorists could be planning to attack – more than  than 9,000 officers from across the UK have been drafted in to police event and traffic disruptions are likely.  Daily Mail reports that Cardiff city centre resembles a high security prison with its 10 miles of fencing - dubbed the ‘ring of steel’.  Mounted police officers also patrol the security fence in front of Cardiff Castle ahead of the conference, which will see patrols increased to 9.500 officers from across UK – and with eight miles of fencing surrounding the Newport resort and three miles in and around Cardiff city centre, Gwent Police are preparing for traffic disruptions. Pedestrians too will have to go through access points when walking around the city of Cardiff before and during the Nato summit. Gwent Police say the costs will be met by Nato and No.10 Downing Street – which is leading the event - but opponents have predicted it could cost in the region of £50million, according to the South Wales Argus.

Protesters are expected to arrive in the city this week for a peace camp at Tredegar Park and demonstrations are scheduled for August 30 and September 4. NATO summits have previously provided a focus for protestors and the Police Service respects the right for peaceful protest.

Whilst the summit itself is being held at the Celtic Manor Resort, the UK and Welsh Governments have announced that three iconic Welsh venues – Cardiff Castle, Tredegar House and The Royal College of Music and Drama – will all host events for the international guests attending the summit. The Royal Navy’s newest type 45 frigate, HMS Duncan, which will be docked in Cardiff Bay during the week of the summit, will also be used for the events. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th Aug 2014.