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Saturday, July 10, 2010

China, Pak ink pact to build two highways in PoK

China, which plans to have a rail link with Pakistan through the strategic Karakoram ranges, has signed another agreement with the country for building two highways in the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir close to the Chinese border. The agreement was signed during Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing six-day visit to China. The two highways are estimated to be built at the cost of Rs 45 Lakh, Pakistan’s official APP news agency reported. Under the agreement, China would meet 85 per cent of the cost while Pakistan would pay for the remaining 15 per cent. China would build the 165-km Jaglot-Skardu road as well as the 135-km-long Thakot-Sazin road in the disputed region. The roads, besides the new rail network across the Karakoram pass into Pakistan, would facilitate free movement of goods between the two countries. India has already expressed its concerns over the proposed rail link. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in New Delhi that “we are closely watching what is happening.” Earlier, Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju said on the issue that it is definitely a matter of concern. “But we are taking our counter measures and we are doing our own preparation.”

Psychic octopus Paul predicts Spain to beat Holland in World Cup final

The octopus said to have psychic powers after predicting all of Germany's six World Cup games correctly, has had his say regarding the final in Johannesburg on Sunday – and it is good news for Spain. The two-year-old cephalopod, called Paul and based at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, decided that Spain would win the final by going for the mussel in the box with a Spanish flag rather than the one with a Dutch flag on it. Before that, he had predicted that Germany will emerge victorious from their third-place play-off against Uruguay tomorrow night. "Paul is such a professional oracle he doesn't even care that hundreds of journalists are watching and commenting on every move he makes," said Stefan Porwoll, the Sea Life Aquarium manager. "We're so proud of him." The Weymouth-born octopus has become an international celebrity after picking the winner in each of Germany's World Cup games in South Africa, including the surprise defeat against Serbia in the group stage and the loss to Spain in the semi-final. The Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said jokingly yesterday that he was prepared to offer state protection to Paul before today's performance, which was live on German TV. "I am concerned for the octopus ... I am thinking of sending him a protective team," he said. The Spanish environment and fisheries minister, Elena Espinosa, added: "On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a [fishing] ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him."