Translate

Search This Blog

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Upset by U.S. Security, Pakistanis Return as Heroes

A tour of the United States arranged by the State Department to improve ties to Pakistani legislators ended in a public relations fiasco when the members of the group refused to submit to extra airport screening in Washington, and they are now being hailed as heroes on their return home. “People should be thankful, you made them so proud,” said Hamid Mir, the host of a popular national talk show, during an interview in his studio on Tuesday with four of the six politicians, who railed against the security precautions at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Meetings with the Obama administration’s top policy makers on Pakistan, including the president’s special representative, Richard C. Holbrooke, and visits to the Pentagon and theNational Security Council, did not allay the anger the politicians said they felt at being asked to submit to a secondary screening on Sunday before boarding a flight to New Orleans. They declined to be screened and did not board the flight. Pakistan is one of 14 mostly Muslim countries whose citizens must go through increased checks before they fly into the United States, a procedure mandated by the Obama administration in the wake of the failed attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up an airliner flying from the Netherlands to Detroit on Dec. 25. The inclusion of Pakistan on the list was broadly criticized as an insult to a country that the United States calls an ally. The State Department paid each of the participants $200 a day for accommodations and food during their stay in the United States. If the American taxpayers wanted the money for the expenses refunded, he would be happy to do so, said Mr. Afridi, 40, who described himself as a major trader in cement, with businesses across Pakistan and in Afghanistan. “We can pay back the $200 a day, no problem,” he said. Then, he drove off in his brand-new Hummer — an example of his affection for American autos, he said — to appear on another television program to tell his story of standing up to the American authorities.

Now watch IPL matches live in cinema halls


Want to watch an Indian Premier League (IPL) match live? No need to go to the stadium. Just book a ticket at the nearest cinema hall and enjoy it in airconditioned comfort. For the first time in the country, a unique project will be implemented to show the forthcoming IPL-2010 matches live in over 1,000 cinema halls around the country, including around 50 in Mumbai, from March 12. 'Any match, played anywhere in the country, during the entire 45-day IPL-III season, shall be beamed live in multiplexes and single screen cinemas in a high definition digital format,' an excited Sanjay Gaikwad, managing director of UFO Movies India Limited, which is spearheading the project, said Wednesday. Cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar has been roped in to popularise the concept - he bought and autographed the first cinema ticket for an IPL match. The autographed ticket was purchased by Vikram Kakade, a die-hard cricket fan from Pune, for a whopping Rs.11 lakh, which will be donated to a city NGO, Apnalya.

Israel approves 1,600 new homes in east Jerusalem


Israel approved the construction of 1,600 new homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem — a move that immediately clouded a visit by Vice President Joe Biden aimed at repairing strained ties and kickstarting Mideast peace talks. The Israeli Interior Ministry announced the construction plans just as Biden was wrapping up a series of warm meetings with Israeli leaders. There was no immediate reaction from the vice president. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rebuffed calls from the White House to halt all settlement activity, agreeing only to a limited freeze that does not include east Jerusalem. But Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move was destroying trust needed to go forward with the new round of indirect peace talks, which the two sides agreed this week would take place under the mediation of U.S. envoy George Mitchell. Peace efforts have been stalled for 14 months, in large part because of Palestinian anger over settlement activity. The announcement threatened to embarrass Biden, whose visit is aimed largely at repairing the relationship with Israel. Biden's public comments throughout the day had clearly been meant to calm Israeli concerns that Obama has been less friendly to the country than past US leaders.

Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan banned indefinitely by Pakistan


Pakistan's defence of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next month and their Test prospects against England later this year were todaydealt a severe blow after four players were banished from the team and three others punished by a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the calamitous recent tour of Australia. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, the last two men to captain Pakistan in Tests, have been banned indefinitely for "infighting which … brought down the whole team". Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have been banned for a year and fined. Shahid Afridi, the captain of the Twenty20 side, was fined and put on probation for six months over his "shameful act" of biting the ball in Perth. The Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were treated similarly and told their conduct would be strictly monitored. The former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, who will coach the team in the Twenty20 World Cup, told the website Cricinfo: "It's a huge shock for me, definitely. I want to speak to the board about it to get more details on it before saying more, but it is definitely a big step. It is a big step the board has taken and I hope they have solid evidence for taking the actions that they have taken. All evidence must be there and they must have spoken to a lot of people for this. Once a player is banned it is a label you have put on him so it is a big thing."

12 killed in US drone strikes in Pakistan


Two suspected US drone attacks Wednesday in Pakistan's restive tribal region near the Afghan border killed at least 12 people, intelligence officials said. The airstrikes took place in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, a known sanctuary of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants. 'A drone fired five missiles on a vehicle apparently carrying some miscreants,' said a local intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'Six people died in the attack'. The second drone fired two more missiles on a crowd of villagers carrying out relief work, killing six people and injuring several others. 'The total death toll now stands at 12 but it may rise as some injured are said to be in critical condition,' said the official. A second intelligence official confirmed the incident and put the death toll at 14. He said the identity of those killed was not known yet. The attack occurred in an area that is controlled by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a Taliban commander who has signed a peace deal with the Pakistani government.