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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Nigeria militants 'repel attack, kill troops'

LAGOS, Nigeria Militants in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta region said they killed six government soldiers after the military attacked one of its camps on Thursday. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, in an e-mail, said three military gunboats attacked one of its camps around the Ke River in the country's Rivers state. The group said the gunboats were repelled, with six soldiers dying and three militant fighters wounded in the skirmish. There was no immediate reaction from the government. Nigeria is Africa's largest crude oil producer and the fourth-largest supplier of oil to the United States. MEND has demanded that more of the country's oil wealth be pumped into the region instead of enriching foreign investors, and the militants have been attacking oil pipelines in retaliation against government forces, limiting the amount of crude oil that can leave the country. MEND -- the largest rebel group -- has targeted foreign oil companies since 2006. It has bombed pipelines and kidnapped hundreds of foreign oil workers, typically releasing them unharmed, sometimes after receiving a ransom payment. MEND hopes to secure a greater share of oil wealth for people in the delta, where more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day.

UAE spends $5 bln on arms deals

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates, across the Gulf from Iran, signed military deals worth 18.4 billion dirhams ($5 billion) during an arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week, a senior officer said on Thursday. Major-General Obaid al-Ketbi said the deals awarded at the five-day International Defence Exhibition were a five-fold rise over those signed at the last show in 2007, but denied that the Gulf Arab state was in the middle of an arms race. "There is no arms race in the region," Ketbi said. "We have a strategic plan ... Each country focuses on its plans."

UK plans to inject £25.5 bn in RBS

LONDON: The UK revealed yesterday it was planning to inject up to £25.5bn ($36.5bn) in additional capital into Royal Bank of Scotland as part of a plan to stabilise the beleaguered lender and prevent it from being fully nationalised. The injection, under a government scheme to ringfence £325bn of RBS's assets against large future losses, is the first of what is expected to be a series of banking bail-outs designed to kick-start lending to the ailing British economy. Lloyds Banking Group, which includes HBOS, is today expected to reveal details of a similar scheme to ringfence up to £250bn of potentially bad assets. The long-awaited move came as RBS reported a £24.1bn loss for 2008, the largest in British corporate history, and revealed that businesses with assets of about £240bn - almost a quarter of the bank's balance sheet - would be sold or wound down over the next three to five years.

Canadians intercepted Russian bombers before Obama visit

One day before U.S. President Barack Obama's Canadian visit last week, Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers near Canadian air space, the defense minister said Friday."At no time did Russian planes enter Canadian air space, but within 24 hours of the president's visit here ... we did scramble F-18 fighter planes from NORAD in Canada command," Peter MacKay said in a news conference in Ottawa. The Russian planes were in international waters, about 118 miles (190 kilometers) northeast of Tuktoyuktuk, in Canada's Northwest Territories. "It was a routine flight over international airspace," Yevgeniy Khorishko, a spokesman at the Russian Embassy in Washington, told CBC news.

Zardari should carry forward Ms. Bhutto’s legacy not Musharraf’s: Nawaz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has said that President Zardari should carry forward the legacy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and not of former president Gen. (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf.

In an exclusive interview given to Geo News, Nawaz Sharif said President Asif Ali Zardari intends to take the nation towards a mid-term election.

England in command

Captain Andrew Strauss struck his 16th Test hundred to put in England in control of their must-win fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday.Strauss and Alastair Cook shared England's first double-century opening stand for more than four years -- although once their partnership of 229 came to its conclusion minutes after tea, the runs dried up. England totally dominated the first two sessions only to be pegged back by a loss of wickets in a turgid evening period, and closed on 301 for three. Strauss was dismissed for 142 in spectacular manner by fast bowler Daren Powell to provide a breakthrough in the 65th over of a bat-dominated opening day. A full delivery demolished Strauss' stumps to provide Powell with some joy after much suffering. Opening partner Cook then perished five overs later, six short of a hundred, when he mis-hit a pull off Jerome Taylor which was clutched by a diving Ryan Hinds at midwicket.  It continued Cook's run of failing to register a Test century to 27 innings and to add to the frustration this was the 11th time he has got halfway there without converting. Owais Shah returned to the Test team at Antigua with a half-century, but appeared nervous this time around and perished, after spending 47 balls over seven, when he chopped a delivery from Benn to slip.

Turkish Airlines plane fell 'vertically' to ground

The Turkish Airlines plane that crashed this week in Amsterdam fell almost vertically to the ground, making only a short track in the muddy farmer's field where it went down, Dutch investigators said Friday.That sudden drop indicates the aircraft did not have enough forward speed when it crashed, a spokesman for the Dutch Safety Board said, but the reasons for that are still unclear. It is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash, spokesman Fred Sanders told CNN. Reports that it was caused by engine failure are premature, he said. "There must have been ... reasons why the plane did not get enough speed," Sanders said. "We don't know yet why this came about, and that's the main thing that will have to be investigated." Wednesday's crash of Flight 1951 from Istanbul, Turkey, to Amsterdam killed nine and injured more than 60 of the 135 people on board. The crash, less than 500 yards short of the runway, split the plane into three parts. 

Oil prices slide in Asia

SINGAPORE: Oil prices slid in Asian trade on Friday as investor pessimism returned after the release of more weak US economic data, dealers said. 

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, fell 69 cents to 44.53 dollars a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for April delivery shed 45 cents to 46.06 dollars. 

Nearly 200 mutineers arrested in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Bangladeshi security forces have arrested nearly 200 members of the country's border security force following a two-day mutiny in the capital Dhaka, a security official said Friday. "We have arrested nearly 200 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops who fled their barracks in civilian dress," a spokesman for the Rapid Action Batallion, the country's elite internal security force, told foreign news agency. "We were given orders to arrest the mutineers." The spokesman, Commander Abul Kalam Azad, said checkpoints had been set up at all routes leading out of the capital Dhaka and surrounding the BDR barracks. "We are searching buses and trucks for any other rebel troops." At least 22 people were confirmed to have died during the standoff that began Wednesday. The mutiny ended late Thursday after the border guards surrendered.

Wolverine Movie Trailer 2009 (X-Men Origins) in HD

Central contract not signed by 9 senior cricketers

LAHORE: Nine senior cricketers have not signed the central contract despite heavy offers made to them. Captain Younis Khan and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq are also among them.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered the central contract to 27 cricketers. Those who have not so far signed the new central contract are Shahid Afridi, Danish Kaneria, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanveer and Rao Iftikhar Anjum besides Younis and Misbah.

According to media reports, the players expressed their reservations because of conditioning their TV contracts with the Board permission and depriving them of their salaries while playing county cricket.

Israel: Netanyahu fails to strike deal with Kadima

JERUSALEM  Israel's next government is shaping up to be a narrow conservative coalition after designated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to strike a deal on Friday with the moderate Kadima Party."Unfortunately, I encountered a complete refusal for unity, a complete refusal to create joint teams to reach arrangements in order to find a common ground," Netanyahu told reporters after meeting with Kadima leader, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "I found no willingness for unity by Livni." other major moderate party, Labor, has already stated its unwillingness to join a government led by Netanyahu's Likud Party. Livni said the main sticking point was Netanyahu's refusal to adequately commit to negotiations with the Palestinians that would lead to a Palestinian state. "A two-state solution is not an empty slogan," Livni said. "It is the only way in which Israel can maintain its existence as a Jewish and democratic state." She said the meeting ended "without agreements on issues which I find essential in any entrance to the government."

PPP, PML (N) could find way out through dialogue: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday a peaceful way out could be found through dialogue if Pakistan Muslim League (N) established contacts to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after Supreme Court verdict against Sharif brothers but he regretted saying that PML (N) opted confrontations. President said this addressing a meeting of National and Provincial members of PPP-Punjab here at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Various national and political issues were discussed during the meeting including formation of government in Punjab province. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP’s Secretary General Jahangir Badr also attended the meeting. According to sources, the overall law and order situations were discussed during the meeting and the option to extend PPP’s contacts with PML (Q) was also highlighted besides seeking attendees’ views on the option.  Addressing the meeting, President Zardari accused Sharif brothers of manipulating the judges’ issue for their vested interests. “People of Punjab are in support of PPP”, he maintained.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Zardari leading nation toward mid-term polls: Nawaz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that President Asif Ali Zardari wants to drag the nation toward mid-term elections. In an exclusive interview with Geo News today (Friday) after his disqualification, Nawaz Sharif said that no third force could come into power if the government showed maturity and responsibility. “I will not come in their way if President Zardari restores the deposed judges,” he said. He further said that Zardari had backed out from the promises he made with his Nawaz League. The democratic revolution could rise in the days to come and it must happen, he added. Former prime minister said that deposed judges were not being restored due to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).  “We have not closed the door to contact the Prime Minister,” he said.Mr. Sharif said that President Zardari should become the descendant of Benazir Bhutto, not of former president Pervez Musharraf.

Rice: U.S. will seek to end any 'illicit' nuclear ambitions by Iran


UNITED NATIONS The Obama administration will work to stop any "illicit" nuclear aspirations by Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.Rice spoke briefly about Iran in her speech, which was primarily focused on the Obama administration's approach to Iraq and its people. She called on the international community to provide greater support to the millions of Iraqi refugees who have been displaced because of the war. Her comments on Iran came toward the end of her speech, when she mentioned that the United States plans to pursue a "comprehensive strategy" in the Middle East, including relations with Syria, Israel and the Palestinian people. The United States "will seek to end Iran's ambition to acquire an illicit nuclear capability and its support for terrorism," Rice said. President Barack Obama has said the United States is looking for opportunities for "face to face" dialogue with Iran, though he has "deep concerns" about Tehran's actions.

For sale: One life in China

BEIJING, China Chen Xiao had pretty much given up making her own decisions and so decided to throw open her life to the whims of China's hundreds of millions of Internet users, known in China as netizens."It's your right to arrange Chen Xiao's life, and it's my obligation to serve you," read her online shop.Since December, Chen has been allowing others to decide what she will do each day, because, for the most part, last year was awful, she said. Her hometown was hit by blizzards, her country rocked by a devastating earthquake, friends divorced and her clothing shop went bankrupt. "Every time I had a plan for what I wanted my life to be like, nothing would come of it. It was very disappointing. I figured if other people came up with things for me to do, I might stumble upon something new and better,"

Pakistan paid Taliban $6 million for the cease fire

US Policy On Pakistan As The Paki Army-ISI Capitulated (?!) To Swat Taliban (t9:11!!)

West Indies v England 4th Test

Barbados: Strauss (142) was dropped on 58 but made an eye-catching 16th Test century as he and Cook (94) put on 229.

But West Indies fought hard and took the morale-boosting wickets of Strauss, Cook and Owais Shah (7) after tea.

Kevin Pietersen was joined by Paul Collingwood and the pair led England to 301-3 at stumps on day one in Barbados.

England should be pleased with their position going into day two but they must hope Pietersen (32no) and Collingwood (11no) can guide them towards an imposing total.

Clinton promises team effort on Afghanistan, Pakistan

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged Thursday to work closely with Afghanistan and Pakistan as a team to root out extremism within their borders.Clinton met this week with Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin D. Spanta, who were in Washington leading delegations for a strategic review of U.S. policy to stabilize Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. Clinton hailed the three days of talks as "in-depth, very specific, open, forthright and, I believe, extremely useful." "If we had met with our Pakistani friends, if we had met with our friends from Afghanistan, that would have been important. But what makes these last three days especially meaningful is that they were trilateral," she said. "We have all been working together."

Afghanistan + More Troops = Catastrophe (Full Video)

Obama to pull combat troops from Iraq by August 2010

WASHINGTON President Obama told congressional leaders Thursday he's planning to pull all combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010, which falls short of his campaign promise to bring all combat forces home within 16 months, according to three congressional officials.Under this scenario, all combat troops will be withdrawn within 19 months of Obama's January inauguration, three months longer than his promise on the campaign trail. In a meeting at the White House Thursday evening, Obama also told lawmakers that he plans to keep a range of 35,000 to 50,000 support troops on the ground in Iraq after combat troops are out, the officials said. All U.S. troops have to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, under an agreement the Bush administration signed with the Iraqi government last year. White House officials confirmed the president will deliver a speech about Iraq to troops at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on Friday, his first visit to a military base since being sworn into office.

Bangladesh Mutiny Ends After Tanks Enter Capital

Blaze erupts at Marriott Hotel in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan A fire broke out at a major international hotel in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Thursday, five months after it was hit by a deadly suicide bombing.Smoke could be seen pouring from the upscale Marriott Hotel, close to the country's presidential palace. Reports said five people were evacuated with injuries following the blaze, which came two months after the hotel was reopened following repairs to the bomb damage. The suicide bombing at the hotel in September 2008 left 57 people dead in what officials called the biggest attack in the country in seven years.Reports said Thursday's fire broke out on the second floor of the building where repair work was underway. The hotel is now surrounded by a large bomb-proof wall and extra security has been put in place to prevent further attacks. 

Ice in East Antarctica a Bigger Threat Long Term

TROLL RESEARCH STATION, Antarctica —  Antarctica's western ice sheet is pushing ever faster into the sea, but scientists know an even greater long-term threat lies here in the vast, little-explored whiteness of east AntarcticaAn "absolutely titanic" store of ice that sits atop the east Antarctic plateau should be more closely monitored by glaciologists, the world's thinly spread corps of ice specialists, says Ted Scambos, a leading U.S. expert whose team last weekend finished a two-month scientific expedition across the forbidding plateau.

Bomb kills civilian, injures 3 Afghan soldiers

KANDAHAR: A civilian was killed and five others were injured including 3 Afghan soldiers in a bomb explosion in Kandahar province.

According to Kandahar police chief that the explosion was carried out by a remote detonated bomb, killing a civilian and injuring five others including 3 Afghan soldiers.

According to an estimate around 4,000 people were killed in Kandahar by bomb blasts last year.

Rice turns author

WASHINGTON: Former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has signed a $2.5-million deal to write a trilogy that will chart her rise from a segregated neighbourhood in Alabama to the top ranks of the White House. The 54-year-old Rice's yet untitled first book will be a memoir of her years in the Bush administration.

“Ms Rice will combine candid narrative and acute analysis to tell the story of her time in the White House and as top diplomat of US and her role in protecting American security and shaping foreign policy during the extraordinary period from 2001-2009,” a statement issued by the publishers said. 

Sources inside the publishing house told the newspapers that the deal is worth at least $2.5 million, with the first book scheduled to appear in the markets in 2011. The second book will be about her family, scheduled for a 2012 release.

Child Stars in Slumdog movie getting homes in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Indian newspapers celebrate Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar achievements. Two of the child stars of the Oscar-topping movie Slumdog Millionaire are to move from the Mumbai slum in which they have spent their lives into apartments provided by the local government.  In what will be seen as either an act of kindness or a cynical ploy designed to secure public support before elections, officials in the city's housing authority have sought approval from the chief minister to provide two flats for the child actors Azharuddin Ismail and Rubiana Ali Qureshi.  The children, who flew to Los Angeles to experience the red-carpet excitement of Sunday night's Oscar ceremony, live in the Garib Nagar slum, an area riddled with narrow alleys of shanty homes, open sewage and rubbish. Azhar lives with his sick father in a makeshift cloth shelter and Rubiana lives in a small room. But officials at the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) have requested two apartments for the families from a specially reserved batch of government properties.  Amarjeet Singh Manhas, the MHADA chairman, said he had been contacted by the regional head of the Congress Party to obtain the flats. He said: "We had a meeting of Congress leaders and we felt that since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses. We have recommended it. We are 100 per cent sure the chief minister will clear it." The decision has delighted the children's families. Azharrudin's father, Mohammed Ismail, who reportedly has tuberculosis, told The Times of India: "We have barely got any money from the film-makers. In fact, whatever came, has already been spent. We do not even have a proper wall in this shanty and our future is equally uncertain."

Drone strikes inside Pakistan successful: CIA Chief

WASHINBGTON: CIA Director Leon Panetta said that U.S. aerial attacks against al-Qaeda and other extremist strongholds inside Pakistan would continue, despite concerns about a popular Pakistani backlash. He added the drone strikes have so far turned successful in accomplishing goals. "Nothing has changed our efforts to go after terrorists, and nothing will change those efforts," Panetta said in response to questions about CIA missile attacks, launched from unmanned Predator aircraft.  Although he refused to discuss details of the attacks -- and the CIA will not confirm publicly that it is behind the strikes -- Panetta said that the efforts begun under President George W. Bush to destabilize al-Qaeda and destroy its leadership "have been successful."  "I don't think we can stop just at the effort to try to disrupt them. I think it has to be a continuing effort, because they aren't going to stop," Panetta said in his first news briefing since taking the job. The CIA has launched about three-dozen Predator strikes in Pakistan since late last summer, two of them during the Obama administration.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Kenyan police accused of widespread killings

A U.N. investigator accused Kenyan police of widespread extrajudicial killings, and called Wednesday for the removal of the East African nation's police commissioner and its attorney general. "Killings by the police in Kenya are systematic, widespread and carefully planned. They are committed at will and with utter impunity," U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston said in a written statement on his preliminary findings after his visit to the country. The Kenyan government said it rejected Alston's findings. "The government finds it inconceivable that someone who has been in the country for less than ten days can purport to have conducted comprehensive and accurate research on such a serious matter, as to arrive at the recommendations he made," government spokesman Alfred Matua said in a written statement. He said the government was concerned Alston made "such far-reaching conclusions and recommendations on the basis of his interim report," and said the findings were released without government response.

Hamas, Fatah unity talks begin in Cairo

CAIRO: A dozen Palestinian groups met under Egyptian auspices in Cairo on Thursday at the start of a long-awaited dialogue, which could reunite Palestinians after 18 months of schism between Gaza and the West Bank.  All parties said they hope the dialogue will lead to a new national unity government to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive and then to organise presidential and parliamentary elections. But the Islamist group Hamas and the rival Fatah group, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, have different visions of the crucial question of how to deal with Israel. Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since June 2007, reserves the right to fight Israel, although it is prepared to accept an 18-month truce. Fatah, which controls the West Bank, has renounced violence and puts all its hope in negotiations.

Undersea bombs threaten marine life

Beyond the golden beaches and beneath the blue waters of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques is a site that resembles more of a munitions graveyard than a Caribbean paradise. Hundreds of corroding and unexploded bombs litter the sea floor, leaking toxins and taking a toll on nearby marine life. The munitions were left by the U.S. Navy, which had a training site on Vieques for six decades. "We know that these munitions are leaking cancer-causing materials and endangering sea life," said marine ecologist James Porter, associate dean of the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia, who recently completed a research trip to Vieques. Responding to a request by the governor's office of Puerto Rico, Porter tested the island's waters for the presence of radioactive material surrounding the sunken USS Killen, a World War II-era destroyer used as target practice for Navy missiles.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka teams reach Lahore

LAHORE: Cricket teams of Pakistan and Sri Lanka have reached Lahore on Thursday for playing the second Test match of the series.

Sources told that both teams will practice before the Test between the them.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said that despite political violence continued in Lahore the second Test will begin from Sunday as scheduled and there is no danger for the match.

Crude oil prices dropped in Asian market today

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asian trade Thursday, pushed up by a surprise drop in US gasoline reserves, dealers said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, gained 23 cents to 42.73 dollars a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for April delivery was up 21 cents to 44.50.

The unexpected drop in US gasoline supplies is the main factor behind the jump in crude oil prices but this is likely to be short-lived, said Victor Shum, a Singapore-based analyst with energy consultancy Purin and Gertz.

"It would be premature to say that oil now has turned the corner because the weak economy remains a threat to the oil market, but the downward momentum in oil pricing has been broken," said Shum.

The rebellion by paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles troops apparently ended Thursday after they handed over their weapons inside their headquarters in the capital city's Pilkhana district, the national press agency quoted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as saying in a nationwide televised address. However, the fate of top military officers who were taken hostage Wednesday was unclear, according to the news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, or BSS, on its Web site. Home Minister Sahara Khatun "oversaw a rescue campaign along with a government delegation in search of bodies of officers, BDR soldiers, their family members and relatives," the agency said.

The Bangladesh Rifles is also known as the BDR.

Serb ex-president cleared of war crimes



Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic (above), who was accused of war crimes including murder and persecution on political, racial or religious grounds in Kosovo, has been found not guilty by a U.N. tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. Five other former high-ranking Serb officials were found guilty of similar charges. 

Nation not to accept undemocratic decisions: Nawaz Sharif

SHEIKHUPURA: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has said the people would not accept the Supreme Court ruling. He said no undemocratic action would be tolerated and the mandate of the people should be respected.

Addressing a huge public rally here on Thursday, Nawaz said Pakistan is passing through hard times because of verdicts of the PCO judiciary. He said President Asif Ali Zardari had deceived the nation and did not honour his commitments.

PML (N) chief said Shahbaz Sharif was still the Chief Minister of Punjab under the constitution. Nawaz said that long spells of dictatorship had been snubbing democratic process in the country. He urged people to raise their voice and play an active role in safeguarding Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif said President Zardari did not honour Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s will and there was a dichotomy between his words and his actions. “If Benazir Bhutto were alive today, we would not have to witness present state of affairs”, Nawaz added.

Praising Prime Minister’s efforts for political reconciliation between PML (N) and PPP, Sharif asked Gilani to distance himself from the Supreme Court verdict by joining people. He revealed that Sindh Education Minister, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq told Mian Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting that Sindh should also have a Chief Minister like Shahbaz Sharif.

U.N.: 15,000 flee southern Darfur

The U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that fighting in Muhajeria and Shearia between Sudanese government forces, and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), drove over 15,000 people north to the Zam Zam camp.The water supply to the camp is becoming strained with displaced people arriving there every day, OCHA has said.The government of Darfur has waged a brutal counter-insurgency against militias for the past six years, a war that some international critics have characterized as genocide.An estimated 300,000 people have been killed through combat, disease or malnutrition, according to the United Nations. An additional 2.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of fighting among rebels, government forces and the violent Janjaweed militias.

Bomb kills civilian, injures 3 Afghan soldiers

KANDAHAR: A civilian was killed and five others were injured including 3 Afghan soldiers in a bomb explosion in Kandahar province.

According to Kandahar police chief that the explosion was carried out by a remote detonated bomb, killing a civilian and injuring five others including 3 Afghan soldiers.

According to an estimate around 4,000 people were killed in Kandahar by bomb blasts last year.

Reshuffling of Punjab’s top officials in Governor’s Rule

ISLAMABAD: Following the imposition of the Governor’s Rule in the Punjab, various high officials have been made OSD besides the transfer of IG-Punjab Police and Chief Secretary Punjab, posted during the regime of former Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

According to sources, Among those transferred late night were CPO Rawalpindi Mohammad Iqbal Khan, RPO Gujranwala Zulfiqar Cheema, Chairman PND Mohammad Sami, Additional Chief Secretary Javed Aslam, Secretary I & C Umar Rasool, Secretary Communications Fawad Hussain, Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Tauqeer, Secretary Coordination Tauqeer Ajmal Khan. All these officers have been made OSD.The task force committees formed during the regime of Shahbaz Sharif have also been abolished.Sources said that more transfers and postings are likely to be made in government institutions.

Turkish plane crash in Amsterdam




A Turkish Airlines plane breaks up after landing short of the runway at Amsterdam airport, killing nine people and injuring 84.

Governor-rule imposed in Punjab Pakistan for two months

LAHORE: The federal government has imposed the Governor-rule in Punjab for a period of two months, the Presidential spokesman said on Wednesday.
According to spokesman, the Governor-rule has been imposed on the directives of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani under article 234 of the constitution.
Earlier, Punjab Assembly members had submitted a requisition to convene provincial assembly session.

Political ban for Pakistan's former PM

Pakistan's Supreme Court has upheld bans on former prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, from elected office.Consequently, Shahbaz Sharif also lost his office of Chief Minister of Punjab and elder brother Nawaz Sharif is barred from contesting elections, thus, shifting the bitter political bitterness to the streets.

20 dead in Bangladesh security force headquarters gunfire

DHAKA: Gunfights took place inside the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters here Wednesday morning in which 20 people were killed, a media report said.
A rebellion broke out in paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Headquarters in Pilkhana area in Dhaka with witnesses reporting heavy gun battle among the troops at their main barracks. According to the reports, revolt erupted over pay and perks.

Many army officers have been held hostage by border guards. Director General of Bangladesh Rifles has also been killed in the firing. Civilians are being evacuated from areas near Bangladesh Rifles Headquarters.

Bangladesh Rifles soldiers have taken control of a mall near the headquarters

Officials said that army was called out to crush the rebellion as witnesses reported movement of military convoys and hovering of air force helicopters over the sky of the Pilkhana barracks.

Smoke could be seen coming from the complex, with security forces sealing the area off.

1st Test ends in draw after SL lose 5 wkts

KARACHI: Sri Lanka lost half of their side in their second innings before the first Test ended in a draw here on Wednesday.

When Sri Lanka reached 144-5, both captains decided to end the game realising no result possible in the remaining 12 overs. 

However, Pakistan has emerged with the upper hand in this drawn game which has seen plenty of runs made, a handful of landmarks reached and a number of records broken, and in the end Pakistan bowlers to make things interesting. 

When Sri Lanka batted for the second time after toiling in the field for about three days, Pakistan paceman Umar Gul struck early blows, removing opener Malinda Warnapura (2), caught behind in the first over, then had Tillakaratne Dilshan (8) caught to leave the tourists struggling at 45-3.

Tharanga Paranavitana, who fell for a duck in the first innings, failed to beat a direct throw on to his stumps while taking a quick single and was run out for nine, ending a miserable Test debut.

Kumar Sangakkara was the only batsman to play with responsibility to take his team to safety. He batted for 113 minutes for 65 runs with ten fours.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and pacer Umar Gul took two wickets each for 35 and 41 runs, respectively.

KSE sinks after Sharif's disqualification

KARACHI: Shares closed down five percent Wednesday after the Supreme Court disqualified main opposition leader and former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections.

The court similarly disqualified Sharif's brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is chief minister of the country's most populous Punjab province.

The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE-100 index shed over 300 points or five percent to close at 5,580.78 on volume of 145.42 million shares.

Shares gained one percent before the court ruling but brokers went into panic selling after the judgment was announced.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

US military role in Pakistan no secret: Pentagon


WASHINGTON: The US Defense Department on Monday confirmed it has a team of military advisers training the Pakistani army 

Amnesty calls on US to suspend arms sales to Israel


KARACHI: Detailed evidence has emerged of Israel's extensive use of US-made weaponry during its war in Gaza last month

Japanese PM arrives in US


WASHINGTON: Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has arrived in the United States for a meeting Tuesday with President 

Movies and cinemas are coming, says Saudi prince


RIYADH: A senior member of royal family says he is certain that one day there will be movie theaters in the kingdom. 

Japan to pay salaries of 80,000 Afghan police officials


TOKYO: Japan will pay the salaries of Afghanistan's 80,000 police officers for six months as part of its ongoing financial support

UK making immigration rules tougher


LONDON: UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced tougher measures to reduce the number of foreign workers wishing to enter

French military base in UAE to open in May


PARIS: France will open a military base in the United Arab Emirates this year. 

Obama prepares for big week-budget, Congress speech

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama's budget this week will set out big goals like rescuing the economy from freefall