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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Imran writes letter to Brown, lashes out at Altaf

Imran Khan, the Chief of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf—Reuters

Imran Khan, the Chief of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf in a letter sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown has alleged that a British citizen, Altaf Hussain, who styled himself as the leader of a Pakistani political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, sitting in London, sought to incite ethnic violence and vigilantism by calling on his supporters to arm themselves and fight ‘talibanisation’ – a label he tried to put on the two million Pashtun workers of Karachi.‘As a result 36 people were killed over two days of violence. When the Sindh Inspector General of Police implicated the MQM in his inquiry, they demanded his immediate removal,’ the letter released to the press on Friday alleged.The letter also charged that on Altaf Hussain’s call from London the MQM was involved in the 12th May 2007 carnage in Karachi where 48 people were killed and 200 sustained bullet wounds, including 10 workers belonging to the PTI. Mr Khan asked the British PM to refer to Britain’s Karachi Consulate’s report on the incident.The letter said it was shocking to find that no investigation had been conducted into the activities of Mr Hussain despite his public criminal record in Pakistan, ‘considering that the British government has arrested people on mere suspicion in the Heathrow case and the recent Pakistani students’.The letter said: ‘At the time of his arrival in London, he was facing 234 registered criminal cases against him, including 44 murder charges and 18 torture charges.’‘His Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is controlled by Mr Hussain in mafia-style, with his word being the law. Detractors face the ultimate punishment – death – carried out through the private armed force maintained at his Karachi barricaded headquarters known as Nine Zero.’

Pope expresses 'respect' for Islam

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of his "deep respect" for Islam as he embarked on the first leg of his Middle East tour.After arriving in Amman on Friday, he said he came to the Jordanian capital as a "pilgrim to venerate holy places that have played an important part in some of the key events of Biblical history".His week-long tour is being seen as an attempt to repair the Vatican's frayed ties with Muslims and Jews and support Christian minorities in the region.The pope said his visit also gave him the "welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community"."Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of every man and woman will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world," he said.

Pakistan in 'Full-Scale' Operation to Eliminate Taliban Militants

Pakistan's army vowed to eliminate militants from a northwestern valley but warned that its under-equipped troops face thousands of Taliban extremists who have seized towns, planted bombs made from pressure cookers, and dragooned children to be suicide bombers.As air force jets roared overhead and gunbattles raged, terrified civilians from the Swat Valley and neighboring districts accelerated their exodus, with U.N. and Pakistani officials predicting 1 million refugees will soon burden the turbulent Afghan border region.The army formally announced Friday that an offensive was under way. It has drawn praise from U.S. officials alarmed at the Taliban's recent advance to within 60 miles of the capital, Islamabad.Washington describes the militants as an existential threat to nuclear-armed Pakistan itself, as well as to U.S. chances of destroying Al Qaeda or of winning the war against their insurgent allies in neighboring Afghanistan."The army is now engaged in a full-scale operation to eliminate the militants, miscreants and anti-state elements from Swat," said Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, chief army spokesman. "They are on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area."There are doubts about the ability and resolve of the army and the government to sustain the kind of grinding counterinsurgency warfare needed to defeat extremists whose rhetoric resonates widely in a Muslim nation deeply skeptical of U.S. goals in the region.Abbas sought to counter portrayals of the military as ill-trained, saying that they had learned a lot in eight years of fighting along the border. But he said they need helicopters, surveillance drones and night-vision equipment, which the U.S. is scrambling to provide.Pakistan's army is fighting to wrest Swat and two neighboring districts from militants who dominate the adjoining tribal belt along the Afghan frontier, where U.S. officials say Al Qaeda chief Usama bin Laden is likely holed up.The army announced its offensive after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the government would wipe out groups trying to "take Pakistan hostage at gunpoint." Battles and bombing runs by helicopters and jets have been going on all week.

Japan, Australia report first flu cases

The A(H1N1) outbreak spread to Australia and Japan, where a teacher and two students who returned from Canada tested positive for the new flu. Canada, meanwhile, reported its first death from the virus that has spread to 27 countries.The Americas were back in the spotlight over swine flu fears as Canada announced its first death Friday, the number of US infections almost doubled, and more cases were found in Latin America.On the other side of the world, Japan and Australia announced their first confirmed infections. Brazil on Friday also confirmed its first case transmitted from person to person while Mexico said it was investigating 10 more possible swine flu deaths.US President Barack Obama warned the United States was not out of the woods yet, as across the nation's northern border a woman in western Alberta province became the first person in Canada to succumb to the disease."We have our first fatality in Alberta that is associated with the H1N1 flu," said Andre Corriveau, the province's chief medical officer.Canada has the third highest number of swine flu infections with 224 cases, but the United States overtook Mexico on Friday to become the country with the highest number of patients, recording 1,639 cases in 43 states.

Hackers taking advantage of Windows 7: Microsoft

Windows 7 operating system software

Microsoft said Thursday that cybercriminals are already hawking booby-trapped versions of just-released Windows 7 operating system software.‘It’s so important for customers to get their copies of Windows from a trusted source,’ Joe Williams, general manager, Worldwide Genuine Windows at Microsoft, said in an interview posted at the company's official website.‘In the last few days we’ve seen reports of illegitimate distributions of the release candidate of our latest Windows operating system, Windows 7, being offered in a way that is designed to infect a customer’s PC with malware.’ A nearly-final version of Windows 7 made its world debut on Tuesday, giving people a chance to tell Microsoft what they love or hate about the new-generation operating system.Microsoft is making Windows 7 Release Candidate available as it puts finishing touches on the operating system that will replace Vista.The US software colossus has touted anti-piracy protections it built into Windows 7 to thwart the spread of illegal copies of the operating system.Windows 7 anti-piracy guards build on technology built into Vista, according to Williams. For example, pop-up boxes will warn people when unauthorized copies of software are spied on computers.‘With Windows Vista, we made significant strides in reducing the threat pirated copies posed to customers, our partners and Microsoft software, and we anticipate we'll do even better with Windows 7,’ Williams said.Microsoft decried software piracy as a pervasive problem that costs the world economy more than 45 billion dollars annually and exposes users to risks of identity theft, system crashes, and data loss.Williams said Microsoft research shows that as many as a third of the company's customers worldwide may be running counterfeit copies of Windows.‘We see many cases of customers who wanted to buy genuine software and believed they did, only to find out later that they were victims of software piracy,’ Williams said.Windows operating systems are used in about 90 percent of the world's computers, according to industry figures.

'US plans more funding for Afghanistan than Iraq'

The United States has planned more funding for Afghanistan in next year’s proposed defence budget, marking a shift in priorities that the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates seeks to execute in defense spending, the Washington Post reported on Friday.According to the paper, the $130 billion in war funds that are part of the fiscal 2010 budget request includes $65 billion for Afghanistan operations and $61 billion for Iraq. For 2009, $87 billion was requested for Iraq and $47 billion for Afghanistan.The proposed funding covers the deployment of 21,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year, raising the total to 68,000. More funds would be required if President Obama decides to meet the request of U.S. commanders for 10,000 more troops next year.The funding includes $700 million for training and equipment to improve Pakistan's counterinsurgency capability, a major increase in such assistance over the $400 million sought for this year, the newspaper said.The Pentagon's $534 billion base budget is $21 billion, or 4 percent, larger than last year's. It includes key initiatives that reflect Gates's plan to reshape the military so it is more suited to fighting today's wars and less focused on preparing for future conflicts.According to The Washington Post report, major spending increases include $2 billion on intelligence and reconnaissance, $500 million to field and maintain helicopters, and funds to add 2,400 personnel to Special Operations Forces in 2010 as well as aircraft to support them. More will be spent on some modern weapons systems, with an increase in the purchase of littoral combat ships and the "fifth generation" F-35 fighter jets.But the report said that budgetary pressure had slowed the growth of defense spending overall, which increased 2 percent in inflation-adjusted terms for 2010, compared with an average of 4 percent from 2001 to 2009. The 2010 Pentagon budget proposed by Obama eliminates $8.8 billion in weapons programs that were in the 2009 budget, restructuring or terminating those considered "troubled."

‘Idol’ boots last woman singer

Allison Iraheta was eliminated by ‘American Idol’ 

Allison Iraheta was eliminated by ‘American Idol’ viewers on Wednesday in a season-high tally of 64 million votes that ousted the last surviving woman singer and left three finalists standing.Iraheta, 17, wiped here eyes moments after host Ryan Seacrest announced her name, but tears streamed down as she sang the Janis Joplin song ‘Cry Baby’ in her final performance on the top-rated US television talent show.The red-haired singer’s swan song had the two women judges standing and cheering, and afterward Seacrest, who also hosts a radio show, made a prediction about Iraheta.‘I know I’m going to be playing you on the radio real soon,’ Seacrest told her.She was not asked how she felt about the elimination and she barely spoke, but she hugged her former rivals.The gravelly-voiced singer often received high praise from the judges, with panelist Kara DioGuardi telling her: ‘You sing like you’ve been singing for 400 years.’Iraheta’s elimination on ‘Idol’s’ Rock Week, with former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash as the guest mentor, was somewhat surprising because the judges have described her and presumed frontrunner Adam Lambert as rockers, while fellow contestants Kris Allen and Danny Gokey had been told that rock was not their style.

England win as Onions skins Windies

England beat the West Indies by 10 wickets to win the opening Test of a series for the first time in 15 attempts.The hosts reached the winning target of 32 after tea on the third day at Lord's, having bowled out West Indies for 152 and 256 after their first innings of 377.Led by Ravi Bopara's 143 and debutant Graham Onions' 5-38 in the first innings and Graeme Swann's three wickets in each innings, England won an opening Test for the first time since beating Bangladesh at Lord's in 2005 by an innings and 261 runs.The second and final match starts on Thursday at Chester-le-Street as England attempt to regain the Wisden Trophy and avenge their 1-0 loss in the Caribbean in a five-match series earlier this year.West Indies' Brendan Nash scored 81 and put on 134 with Denesh Ramdin's 61 for the seventh wicket to ensure England had to bat again, but Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss each hit 14 not out to take the hosts to victory.Swann won the man-of-the-match award by taking 3-39 to add to his 3-16 in the first innings and 63 not out with the bat.

Team Standings IPL2009

MPWLNRRRP
Delhi8620+0.2112
Chennai9531+1.2811
Rajasthan9531-0.0511
Hyderabad8530+0.1510
Bangalore9450-0.408
Punjab9450-0.518
Mumbai9351+0.397
Kolkata9171-1.103

Daredevils cruise to 7 wicket victory

The Delhi Daredevils moved back to the top of the IPL table with an easy 7 wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians at Buffalo Park in East London.Delhi achieved the victory target of 117 runs with 7 balls to spare as de Villiers remained unbeaten on a 38-ball 50 that was studded with a six and 6 fours to take his team to the top of the points table. Ashish Nehra was adjudged the Man of the Match for taking 2 wickets. Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 2 fours in his 19-ball 17 before he was caught behind by keeper Pinal Shah off Lasith Malinga. Mumbai were threatening to make it difficult for Delhi till de Villiers hit 3 fours and a six in one over by Sachin Tendulkar.Delhi Daredevils were 52/2 in 10 overs. David Warner hit a six in his 30-ball 21 before Jean Paul Duminy struck in his first over. Warner charged down the pitch to a flighted delivery, missed the off-break and got stumped by Pinal Shah. In the next over, Harbhajan Singh had Delhi captain Gautam Gambhir caught at deep extra cover by Luke Ronchi. Gambhir hit 2 fours in his 19-run knock that came off 23 balls. Earlier, Mumbai Indians were bundled out for 117 runs in 20 overs. The start of the match was delayed by ten minutes due to rain after Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and chose to bat. 

Economy sheds 539,000 jobs in April, pace of losses slowing

The unemployment rate in the United States jumped to 8.9%, its highest level since 1983. But the pace of job losses slowed appreciably, in a sign that the country's job market may be improving.The US unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent in April with 539,000 jobs lost, government data showed Friday, in a report not as bad as feared by private analysts for the recession-stricken economy.The jobless rate hit its highest level since September 1983 but the pace of job losses slowed appreciably, offering another possible sign of an easing of the severe economic slump.The unemployment rate was in line with forecasts but the number of job losses not nearly as bad as the consensus Wall Street estimate of 600,000 in the Labor Department monthly report, one of the best indicators of economic momentum.The agency revised its estimates to show steeper job losses in February and March.The losses for nonfarm employment for February were revised from 651,000 to 681,000, and for March from 663,000 to 699,000.In April, the private sector lost 611,000 jobs but the overall picture was helped by a gain of 72,000 government posts.The goods-producing sector shed 270,000 jobs including 149,000 in manufacturing and 110,000 in construction. Employment in the services sectors fell by 269,000.Although the pace of job losses moderated, the report shows an economy struggling to regain traction.

US banks 'need to raise $75bn'

Ten US banks need to raise almost $75bn in additional funds to survive a further major slump in the economy, the US central bank has said, after carrying out "stress tests" on 19 of the country's biggest banks.Bank of America needs to raise $34bn, more than any other bank, Wells Fargo almost $14bn, and Citigroup needs to raise $5.5bn, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday.The administration of Barack Obama, the US president, hopes the firms can raise the capital holes from private sources, although Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, said the government is prepared to help if needed."Our government, through the treasury department, stands ready to provide whatever additional capital may be necessary to ensure that our banking system is able to navigate a challenging economic downturn," Bernanke said in a statement.Bernanke said that the results should "provide considerable comfort" to US investors as almost all of the banks has enough assets to survive  the hypothetical adverse scenario.

Hong Kong ends flu quarantine

About 300 guest and staff members have been allowed to leave a Hong Kong hotel after being quarantined for a week in an attempt to contain the H1N1 flu virus.The guests clapped and cheered on Friday before they walked out of the Metropark Hotel for the first time in seven days. They were shut into the hotel after it emerged that a Mexican who tested positive for the H1N1 virus had stayed there. "Their health is normal and they have all received health certificates ... I want to thank them on behalf of all Hong Kong people for helping us ensure that Hong Kong is safe," York Chow, the territory's health minister, said.The Mexican patient was also released from a hospital in Hong Kong on Friday after a "thorough clinical assessment", officials said.

Four British soldiers die in Afghanistan in a day

Four British soldiers have been killed in one day in separate attacks in Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defense announced Friday.The deaths happened in three incidents in the southern Helmand province, the ministry said.Two soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing that happened Thursday afternoon during a patrol in Gereshk, the ministry said. One was a member of the Royal Gurkha Rifles and the other served with the Royal Military Police."With heavy heart we report another extremely sad situation, where lives of our courageous soldiers have been sacrificed for the greater good of the Afghan people," said Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. "Our deepest and heartfelt sympathies go to their families and loved ones and we offer our thoughts and prayers to them all at this most painful and distressing time."

Iran president seeks second term

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to fight for a second term in office in June's presidential vote, Iranian media report.He went to the interior ministry and officially registered his candidacy in the 12 June poll, reports said.The five-day registration period for candidates opened on 5 May.Mr Ahmadinejad faces challenges from several quarters, including a former head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and leading reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi.Mr Ahmadinejad still has the backing of key parts of the state machine, military and media, but has been accused of failing to tackle poverty, high prices and unemployment.

US approves additional $1.9 bln in aid to Pakistan

The US Congress Committee has approved $1.9 billion in additional assistance to Pakistan, Islamabad ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani said on Friday.Speaking to media persons here, Haqqani said: “The United States wants enduring bilateral ties with Pakistan.”Terming the approval of $1.9 billion by the US committee a great success, he said that it was a proof that America wants better relations with Islamabad.“We have told the US that no compromise will be made on the country’s sovereignty,” Haqqani added.

Clashes, curfews and displacement across Malakand

Pakistani army soldier stand guard in front of a damaged vehicle

As preparations are underway for a full scale operation to restore government’s writ in Malakand region, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing the violence- wrecked areas to find shelter with relatives in relatively safer places or end up in relief camps set up for the IDPs in various areas.Heavy reinforcements were seen being moved to Swat, Lower Dir and Malakand districts on Friday. Curfew has been declared in entire Lower Dir district from 8pm Friday to 7am Saturday while Malakand district was under curfew from 9pm Thursday to 3pm Friday. Long columns of troops backed by tanks and artillery were heading towards Swat and Lower Dir.Helicopters, jet fighters and artillery pounded suspected positions in the troubled region and fierce clashes between ground forces and militants have been reported from Maidan area of the Lower Dir. Telecommunication including cellular phones have been jammed in different parts of Malakand while most areas were without electricity.There is no confirmation of the army’s claim that over 140 militants had been killed in the offensive during last 24 hours.Witnesses said that entire Swat district, parts of Lower Dir and Buner districts were still under the militants’ control. Sources said that 15 militants were killed and scores wounded in choppers shelling in Kabal and Kanju areas of Swat district. Three people were killed in militants’ attack on Circuit House in Mingora city. Reinforcements reached Chakdara town but could not proceed towards Swat.Officials claimed that ten militants were killed in Maidan area of Lower Dir where house of Rizwanullah, son of Sufi Muhammad was also targeted. But a local militant leader claimed that one Taliban fighter was killed in exchange of firing with militants.In another incident a convoy was attacked in Kala Doog area in which one soldier Khalid Khan was killed and another wounded. Heavy fighting continued between forces and militants in Maidan.

Pakistan Bombs Taliban as 500,000 Flee Battle

Pakistani jets screamed over a Taliban-controlled town Friday and bombed suspected militant positions as hundreds of thousands fled in terror and other trapped residents appealed for a pause in the fighting so they could escape.The U.N. said half a million people have either already left or are trying to flee the bombings in the northwestern Swat Valley area that followed strong U.S. pressure on nuclear-armed Pakistan to fight back against militants advancing toward the capital as a now-defunct peace deal crumbled.Pakistan has launched at least a dozen operations in the border region in recent years, but most ended inconclusively and after massive destruction and significant civilian deaths. It remains a haven for Al Qaeda and Taliban militants, foreign governments say.To end one of those protracted offensives, the government signed a peace accord in Swat that provided for Islamic law in the region. But that deal began unraveling last month when Swat Taliban fighters moved into Buner, a neighboring district just 60 miles from Islamabad.Pakistan's prime minister appealed for international assistance late Thursday for the growing refugee crisis and vowed to defeat the militants in the latest operation."I appeal to the people of Pakistan to support the government and army at this crucial time," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in a television address. "We pledge to eliminate the elements who have destroyed the peace and calm of the nation and wanted to take Pakistan hostage at gunpoint."The military hailed signs of the public's mood shifting against the Taliban after the militants used the peace deal to regroup and advance."The public have seen their real face," Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said. "They realize their agenda goes much beyond Shariah (Islamic) courts. They have a design to expand."Still, the pro-Western government will face a stiff task to keep a skeptical nation behind its security forces.The mayor of Mardan, the main district to the south of the fighting, said an estimated 250,000 people had fled in recent days and that more were on the move. Of those, 4,500 were staying in camps, while the rest were with relatives or rented accommodation, he said.Pakistani officials have said up to 500,000 are expected leave. The exodus from Swat adds to the more than 500,000 already displaced by fighting elsewhere in Pakistan's volatile border region with Afghanistan.A spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Ron Redmond, said Friday in Geneva that up to 200,000 people have arrived in safe areas in the past few days and that another 300,000 are on the move or are about to flee.Military operations are taking place in three districts that stretch over some 400 square miles. Much of the fighting has been in the Swat Valley's main city of Mingora, a militant hub that was home to around 360,000 people before the insurgency two years ago.Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said Friday that 140 militants had been killed in the last 24 hours, adding to around 150 already reported slain. He did give any figures for civilian deaths, but witness and local media say that noncombatants have been killed.Tens of thousands of people remain trapped in Mingora. Some have said the Taliban are not allowing them to leave, perhaps because they want to use them as "human shields" and make the army unwilling to use force."We want to leave the city, but we cannot go out because of the fighting," said one resident, Hidayat Ullah. "We will be killed, our children will be killed, our women will be killed and these Taliban will escape.""Kill terrorists, but don't harm us," he pleaded.

At least 31 dead, 50,000 homeless in Brazil flooding

Rain-induced flooding over large parts of Brazil have killed at least 31 people and left another 500,000 homeless, the government's civil defense agency said Thursday.About 270 towns and communities in 10 states have been flooded by swollen rivers. About one-third of the deaths have occurred in Ceara state in the northeastern part of the country, officials said.The remaining deaths have occurred in four other states.Food, supplies and other aid sent by the government can only reach some communities by helicopter because roads are flooded.Rain has fallen steadily in some places for more than two weeks and is forecast to continue for another 10 days.Meteorologists and other weather specialists are divided over what has caused so much rain, particularly in the normally dry northeastern section of the nation.

Fighting between troops and rebels kills 247, govt says

Sudan-backed rebels, who crossed the border from neighbouring Sudan, clashed with Chadian troops for a second day in eastern Chad, rebel sources said. The government says 247 people have been killed in the fighting so far.Two days of fighting in the east of Chad has claimed 247 lives, including 225 rebel combatants, the government's spokesman said Friday in what he called a provisional casualty toll.Speaking at a press briefing, Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene added that 127 rebel vehicles had been captured, and 93 destroyed, during combat that erupted on Thursday and raged into Friday.The fighting concentrated around the town of Am-Dam has raised concerns among UN agencies and aid groups caring for about 450,000 refugees from Sudan and Central African Republic in camps in eastern Chad.The UN Security Council meets Friday to discuss the fighting. France, which has troops in Chad, is also anxiously watching events.The Chad army has bombed the rebels from planes and helicopters since they crossed the Sudanese border on Monday. The Chad government accuses Sudan of backing the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) rebels who say their aim is to take the capital Ndjamena.There were new "violent clashes" early Friday, a rebel spokesman Ali Ordjo Hemchi told AFP in a statement. He said "several dozen" government troops had been killed or wounded and tanks destroyed in the fighting around Houaich, near Am-Dam.