news

Miscreants open fire near US Consulate in Peshawar

2010-08-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

PESHAWAR: Some unidentified armed men opened fire at a government premises near US Consulate in Peshawar’s cantonment area, News reported Saturday.Before long, the heavy contingents of security forces arrived in the area and cordoned off the affected area.The exchange of fire is intermittently in progress for past some hours now in Peshawar’s sensitive area, as US Consulate is situated near the affected site.According to sources, the attackers are holed up in nearby premises, which the law-enforcers have taken in their siege.Also, the security forces have arrested three suspected people.All the roads leading to the Cantonment area including Jamrud Road, Cantt and Airport Road, have been blocked for traffic.Ambulances have been called in for any potential casualties. Following the incident, more contingents of the security personnel turned up in the area.

Tendulkar's world-record 200 boosts India

2010-02-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 GWALIOR: Sachin Tendulkar hammered a world-record 200 not out as India posted a massive 401-3 against South Africa in the second one-day international on Wednesday.Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar (194) were the joint-record holders for the highest individual score before Tendulkar became the first batsman to hit a double-century in one-dayers.Tendulkar, 36, reached the milestone in the last over when he took a single off paceman Charl Langeveldt, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd at Gwalior.The veteran Indian opener smashed 25 fours and three sixes in his 147-ball knock for his 46th one-day hundred in the day-night match to boost his team's hopes of clinching the three-match series.

The hosts lead 1-0 following their one-run victory in the previous game in Jaipur on Sunday.Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan also feasted on the South African attack on a flat track. Dhoni hit a 35-ball 68 not out and Pathan 36 off 23 balls as India posted their highest total against South Africa.But the day belonged to Tendulkar who delighted the spectators with his rich stroke play, executing breathtaking shots on both sides of the wicket to reduce the South African bowlers to a state of helplessness.India lost Virender Sehwag (nine) in the fourth over after electing to bat, but Tendulkar received valuable support from Dinesh Karthik, who scored a career-best 79 in a record 194-run stand for the second wicket off 29.3 overs.India's previous best for the second wicket against South Africa in one-dayers was 180 between Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Nagpur in 2000.Tendulkar went for shots early in the innings, racing to his half-century off just 37 balls with nine fours. He took 53 more deliveries to reach his hundred. Runs came thick and fast from both the ends as Karthik also batted aggressively, cracking three sixes -- one each off Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Jean-Paul Duminy.Karthik was caught by Herschelle Gibbs at mid-wicket while attempting to pull seamer Wayne Parnell, but not before he had put the hosts on course for a big total with his fourth half-century in one-day internationals.South Africa made three changes from the team that lost the opening match, bringing in Hashim Amla, Duminy and Roelof van der Merwe in place of Loots Bosman, Albie Morkel and Johan Botha.

GOLDMINE INTERNATIONAL SCAM (GMI SCAM)

2009-12-01T22:52:00.000-08:00

A very prominent case in history of pyramid scheme was launched by Gerald Payne in USA in 1993 details are as always hit the target follow:

Founded: Circa 1993 Headquarters: Tampa, Florida Leader: Gerald Payne Background: Greater Ministries has run a nearly half-billion dollar pyramid scheme Outreach: Seminars, mail and web-based solicitations Ideology: Anti-government, conservative Christian, some white supremacist elements Number swindled: Around 18,000 Source : (www.adl.org/Learn/ext_us/GMI.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=gmi)
STATISTICAL DATA OF WWW.GOLDMINEINT.COM :
Goldmineint.com users come from these countries:
Pakistan 82.1% THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC IS FROM PAKISTAN
India8.2%
United States2.3%
Qatar1.3%
Other countries6.0%
Goldmineint.com traffic rank in other countries:
Pakistan1,496
Qatar11,030
India156,134
United States1,298,924

GOLDMINE INTERNATIONAL SCAM (GMI SCAM)
GMI SCAM IN PAKISTAN (GOLDMINE INTERNATIONAL)
wednesday, December2, 2009
UPON ENORMOUS REQUEST FROM OUR FELLOWS AND FRIENDS, WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS SCAM COMPANY IN PAKISTAN,WHICH IS ALSO OPERATING IN OTHER Asian COUNTRIES. (This investigation is carried out REHMAN KHANFirst we have to know that how GMI (GOLDMINE INTERNATIONAL) works and what is their business structure. GMI (GOLDMINE INTERNATIONAL) works on the basis of pyramid scheme which is defined as:
"A pyramid scheme is a fraudulent investing plan that has unfortunately cost many people worldwide their hard-earned savings. The concept behind the pyramid scheme is simple and should be easy to identify; however, it is often presented to potential investors in a disguised or slightly altered form. For this reason, it is important to not only understand how pyramid schemes work, but also to be familiar with the many different shapes and sizes they ca n take".

The Scheme: As its name indicates, the pyramid scheme is structured like a pyramid. It starts with one person - the initial recruiter - who is on top, at the apex of the pyramid. This person recruits a second person, who is required to "invest" $100 which is paid to the initial recruiter. In order to make his or her money back, the new recruit must recruit more people under him or her, each of whom will also have to invest $100. If the recruit gets 10 more people to invest, this person will make $900 with just a $100 investment. The 10 new people become recruiters and each one is in turn required to enlist an additional 10 people, resulting in a total of 100 more people. Each of those 100 new recruits is also obligated to pay $100 to the person who recruited him or her; recruiters get a profit of all of the money received minus the initial $100 paid to the person who recruited them. The process continues until the base of the pyramid is no longer strong enough to support the upper structure (meaning there are no more recruits).
The Fraud: The problem is that the scheme cannot go on forever because there is a finite number of people who can join the scheme (even if all the people in the world join). People are deceived into believing that by giving money they will make more money ("with an investment of just $100, you will receive $900 in return"). But no wealth has been created; no product has been sold; no investment has been made; and no service has been provided. The fraud lies in the fact that it is impossible for the cycle to sustain itself, so people will lose their money somewhere down the line. Those who are most vulnerable are those towards the bottom of the pyramid, where it becomes impossible to recruit the number of people required to pay off the previous layer of recruiters. This kind of fraud is illegal in the Unites States and most countries throughout the world. It is estimated that 90% of people who get involved in a pyramid scheme will lose their money.

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM): Legal multi-level marketing (MLM) involves being recruited in order to sell a product or service that actually has some inherent value. As a recruit, you can make a profit from the sales of the product or service, so you don't necessarily have to recruit more salespeople below you. And while you may be encouraged to recruit other salespeople whose sales would give you more profit, you can stick to just selling the product directly to the consumer if you choose. A pyramid scheme MLM, however, will most likely sell a product with no independent value. The product could take the form of reports of some kind, for example, or mailing lists. In this kind of pyramid scheme, you would be required to recruit new members into the MLM in order to make a profit and keep the MLM alive. Joining the MLM is the only reason anyone would buy the products sold by this pyramid scheme.

Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, who ran such a plot from 1919-1920, the Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment plan. It is not necessarily a pyramid, which is hierarchical. In a Ponzi scheme, there is one person who takes people's money as an "investment" and does not necessarily tell them how their returns will be generated. As such, the people's return on investment could be generated by anything; it could come from money taken from new investors - which means new investors essentially pay off the old investors.

Recharge Your Mobile Card For Free

2009-10-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hey..... If u have a cell phone,

Recharge ur phone every month freely by following this process

Please follow the instruction & you can recharge your SIM card absolutely free and check the banner.

Yes it is possible, see how technology can be used to make technicians fool.

I just got a mail from a friend of mine, whose friend is P.hD from AIOU, teaching me how to reload my hand set every month for free.

Engineered by a group of rebel programmers. I am going to share this to all of you.

Please follow the instructions as stated below before you start it:

Applicable for TELENOR, MOBILINK JAZZ, UFONE, WARID and PAKTEL users only and it is done illegally of course. But there are many things that are illegal in this world.

But then who cares. Don't worry nobody can trap you. No legal action can be taken on you for this. So go ahead without worrying.

You can only do this every 24th & 25th of the month as the network system is under upgrade.

1.) ** Dial " 1415007 " using your h/phone and wait for 5 second

2.) ** after 5 second, you will hear some funny noise (like sound from TV when the station is finished)

3.) ** Once the noise stop, immediately dial 9151 follow by your phone number

4.) ** A recorded message "please insert your pin number" will follow

5.) ** punch in the pin number " 011785 45227 00734" and wait for the operator finish repeating the above pin number.

6.) ** After the pin number has been repeat, dial " 0345-for TELENOR, "0321-for WARID" . "0300-for MOBILINK JAZZ" and "0333 for UFONE"

7.) ** you will hear a message "for air time top-up press 1723" you just have to follow the instruction

8.) ** After you follow the instruction, the noisy sound will re-appear for about 5 second

9.) ** once the noise stop, dial " 4455147 " follow by " 146 "

10.) ** after about 5 second, dial " 1918 " after 3 second dial " 4451"

11.) ** after you done that, punch in the serial number " 01174452271145527 " you will hear dial tone.

12.) ** once the dialing tone stop, dial " 55524785933 " you will hear " please key in your password"

13.) ** the password is " **** 2+253+7891*+ 546322 " wait for the message "your password accepted"

14.) ** you will hear " please insert your emey number " now you have to be fast to dial your own h/phone number

15.) ** you will hear a dialing tone, when the call is answered, dial " 1566 " and you will hear "re-confirm emery number"

16.) ** once you hear that message, dial " 6011556 2245334 follow by your h/phone number"

17.) ** after a while, you will hear a message "your pin number is accepted" you have to dial " 1007 "

18.) ** after you done that you will hear "your emery number is accepted"

19.) ** continue dial " 4566 " you will hear "your password is accepted"

20.) ** once the second message finish, immediately dial your own h/phone number

21.) ** Now you will receive a message saying ..........

"NOTHING IS FREE IN THIS WORLD, . SO, GET BACK TO WORK AND DON'T WASTE TIME !!"Bye......... Bye...... --------------------

little child at WAGHA border

2009-10-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

"NOTHING IS FREE IN THIS WORLD, . SO, GET BACK TO WORK AND DON'T WASTE TIME !!"Bye......... Bye......

Pakistani Actress Meera (Real Name: Irtiza Rubab)’s Wedding Ceremony

2009-10-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

IRTIZA RUBAB, better known as MEERA / MIRA, (Urdu: میرا) is a Pakistani movie actress from Sheikhupura, Pakistan. She is based in Lahore now. She first appeared on Television in an advertisement in 1992. She has won the Best Actress award four times and currently has more than 60 movies to her credit.
The marriage of film star Meera was revealed on Sunday after a dispute arose over Meera’s mother Shafqat Zara shifting antique furniture belonging to the film star’s husband Attiqur Rehman (also spelled Attiq-ur-Rehman / Atteeq-ur-Rehman / Attique-ur-Rahman / Atteeq-ur-Rahman).
Defence-A Police Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Abid Rasheed told a local newspaper that he had seen the nikahnama (marriage certificate), according to which the nikah (marriage contract) was solemnized on September 2, 2007. He said the nikahnama was duly registered with the local union council. The SHO said he had also questioned the nikah khawan in Makkah Colony, who confirmed that he had performed the nikah!
Antique furniture: He said Attique had claimed that Meera’s mother, Shafqat Zara Begum, secretly shifted the antiques from Attique’s house without informing him.
The SHO quoted Attique as saying he had asked his mother-in-law not to steal the antiques. Attique said he had gifted the actress a house in G-Block DHA, and did not want her to return it. According to the nikahnama that Attique showed to the police, he should pay Rs 20 million to Meera if he divorces her. He is also bound to pay Rs 0.1 million to her as pocket money. The dower money is stated at Rs 0.5 million.
Pictures of the marriage were also reportedly released to some TV channels (hurray, we have got you a video instead). Police came to know of the incident after Attique called on emergency 15 and said his father-in-law, mother-in-law and their other son-in-law Raheel were beating him. Police arrested five men of each party from the scene, and took them to the police station. Later, they were released and told to return to the police station on Sunday at 10pm.

Pics of Pakistani actress Meera with her supposed husband Ateeq ur Rehman

2009-10-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

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For More Pic Plz Click Here

2009-10-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD (Rehman): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday underlined the need that Islamabad and Washington should bolster steps to bridge the mutual trust deficit.
Gilani expressed these views while talking to General Davis Patraeus, the US Central Command Chief and Isaf commander in Afghanistan General McCrystal at the PM House.
Gilani told the international community should come forward with adequate financial assistance to help Pakistan for relief and reconstruction in the areas affected due to military operation against terrorism.
He also noted Pakistan Army’s sacrifices in the war on terror, adding it had the support of national political leadership in its military action.
General Petraeus said the United States acknowledges the sacrifices of Pakistan in the war on terror.Gilani meets Gen Petraeus, Isaf Commander
Gilani also on Monday met the US Central Command Chief General David Petraeus and Isaf commander in Afghanistan General McCrystal.
General David Petraeus and General McCrystal arrived here on Monday are also due to meet the Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani during their visit.
According to the sources, both general they would hold talks to provide weapons for monitoring the conversation of militants besides the glasses which are used to see at night.
They would also discuss provision of more gunship helicopters besides Kerry-Lugar bill. Both are set to exchange detailed views on the ongoing war on terrorism and military operation to flush out militants from the rugged South Waziristan tribal region

filthy exchange of words live on TV

2009-09-23T02:43:00.000-07:00

Corruption charges on judges reviewed at SJC meeting

2009-08-29T02:54:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council has begin here Saturday.The meeting, presided over by boss justice of Pakistan justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, will appraisal the complaint of monetary irregularities against two judges of the Sindh and Lahore high courts, justice Afzal Soomro and justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha.The Supreme Judicial Council, in its meeting held on August 9, had issued notices to justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha of the Lahore High Court and justice Afzal Soomro of the Sindh High Court on the charges of monetary corruption.In today’s gathering, further actions will be taken concerning charges made on the judges and other matters of the judges.Present at the council meeting are superior judges of the Supreme Court justice Javed Iqbal and justice Sardar Raza Khan, chief justice Lahore High Court justice Khwaja Sharif, chief justice Peshawar High Court Tariq Pervez and registrar Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussain.According to sources, fairness Afzal Soomro has submitted the reply of the take in while PIMS’s doctor did not submit the reply and it was learnt that he is residing in the United States.

Air strikes kill six militants: army

2009-08-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistan's army said air strike killed six confrontational would-be suicide bombers and shattered the training base they were holed up in after an overnight operation in the anxious northwest.

Air support was called in after aptitude and local people said a suicide attack brains was present in the town in Swat valley, where the army previously said an operation had empty the area of militants.

"At least six would-be suicide bombers were kill in the shelling by gunship helicopters, the same place was being used as initiation pad for training the suicide attackers," an army statement late Friday said.

A military official in Mingora, the main town in Swat and 20 kilometres (12 miles) from where the air raid was carried out, long-established the strike in Mangaltan area and the death toll, adding more than a few militants were also wounded.

Pakistan's military previously said it had vacant Swat of Islamist extremists in an offensive launched previous this year after militants extended their grip into the vale.

Separately, the bullet-riddled bodies of six suspected Taliban rebels were Saturday found in a village in Swat valley eight kilometres from Mingora, police said.

"Six badly mutilated bodies were found from two dissimilar places at Odigram," Ghulam Farooq, a senior police bureaucrat told AFP by telephone, adding that the bodies had bullet wounds.

It was not clear who had kill them.

Earlier this month, 18 suspected militants turned up dead in Swat under similar circumstances. A military official said that since July almost 200 bodies of militants and some civilians had been establish in the region.

Obama reaches out to Islamist parties in Pakistan

2009-08-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Aug 19 (Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama has started reaching out to some of Pakistan's most fervent Islamist and anti-American parties, including one that helped give rise to the Taliban, trying to improve Washington's image in the nuclear-armed state.Obama's special envoy, Richard Holbrooke, is initiating dialogue between the United States and religious parties previous administrations had largely shunned, both sides said."The purpose is to broaden the base of American relations in Pakistan beyond the relatively narrow circle of leaders Washington has previously dealt with," explained Vali Nasr, senior adviser to Holbrooke.John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Bush presidency, questioned Holbrooke's timing for trying to engage Taliban sympathisers on the eve of elections in neighbouring Afghanistan, where U.S. forces are battling the hardline Islamic group."As a general proposition, democracy in Pakistan is fragile enough now that negotiating with people that some on the democratic side of the Pakistani spectrum would think themselves are terrorists strikes me as fairly risky," Bolton said."What we ought to be doing is making sure that our ties with the military are strong because the gravest risk is radical penetration of the military."At one of this week's sessions, Liaqat Baloch, a top member of the religious, right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, told Holbrooke he welcomed the new administration's public change in tone towards Muslims around the world.But Baloch said he was disturbed to see "no change in practice" in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Obama has stepped up military operations against the Taliban on both sides of the border.Holbrooke invited Jamaat-e-Islami, whom some U.S. officials compare to the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, to visit the heavily guarded American embassy compound in Islamabad, seeking to dispel long-running rumours that thousands of U.S. Marines would be based there."NEW ERA"Holbrooke rejected the party's complaints about a Western "assault" on Islam, saying "that could not be further from the truth" with Obama, who has roots in the religion, now in the White House.Fazl-ur-Rehman, whose Jamiat-e-ulema-e-Islam party was active in rousing support for the Taliban in 1990s, also got an audience with Holbrooke and his team.Rehman denies al Qaeda's responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and once warned that if U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan, no American in Pakistan would be safe.In more recent years, however, Rehman's relationship with the Taliban has grown uneasy, and he has publicly supported negotiations between the U.S.-backed government in Kabul and the Islamist group."His hands aren't exactly clean," Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation said of Rehman. "He is associated with the Taliban."But she described his party as a legitimate political force that has met with U.S. officials in the past.Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari praised Holbrooke's meetings with Islamist parties as "a new era" aimed at promoting reconciliation and dialogue instead of "the violent mindset"."We need to help Obama. He's a breath of fresh air to the world," Zardari told reporters travelling with Holbrooke.Dressed in colourful turbans and traditional robes, most of the parliamentarians and clerics representing religious parties as well as tribes appeared to relish access to Obama's point-man for Pakistan and Afghanistan."It's good he's listening," said parliamentarian Munir Khan Orakzai of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas -- ethnic Pashtun lands on the Afghan border -- after pressing Holbrooke for a bigger share of development aid dollars.Holbrooke, who has been meeting mainly Pakistan's political and military establishment, called his nearly hour-long session with Baloch's Jamaat-e-Islami "the most intellectually sustained debate I've ever had in this country".But immediately after their meeting, Baloch and his delegation took to the streets, leading a protest against U.S. policy in Pakistan and the region.

2009-08-19T00:35:00.000-07:00

Friends today is the age of economic crises every body is in tension due to economic problems. A huge number of people are jobless. They are worried for their livelihood. Today I say them do not worry for their livelihood. Today I tell you how to earn money online.There are many ways to earn money online but some of them are based on fraud and some of them are based illegal. I am now telling you a legitimate way of earning money online. There are some ways to earn money in which you have to get registration by paying their fee. But now I m telling you a way in which your registration is totally free. In this way you will have not to pay single penny for registration.Some ways for earning money online are as under.
Google AdSense
One of the most popular ways to earn money online is through advertising programs Google AdSense. It is very simple and easy way. In Google AdSense you need computer with internet connection .you need valid gmail address. The main thing in Google AdSense you need is your own website. You may create it at free domain without paying single penny or you can also create by paying domain fee. You can also create your own blogspot without payment it is totally free. The data in your web site or blogspot should not be sexual and should not be stolen from other websites.Now next step to earn money through Google AdSense is to register your website or blogspot to advertising programs Google AdSense. Registration to Google AdSense is totally free. Once you registered at Google AdSense Google team will paste Ads on your website or blogspot. Now you will have to advertise your website or blogspot. The money you will earn depends upon the traffic or visitors that visit your website or blogspot more the visitors more the money you will earn. As the visitor visit your site and click on Ads by Google the Google will pay you for per click or also pay you for only visiting your site. So try this online earning program and make dollars online. I hope you will try this program.
Earning Money by Web Browsing
Web browsing is another way to earn money online. It is very simple and easiest way to earn money online. In this way you will paid to browse websites and viewing Ads on those websites. You will have to click on ad and view that ad for at least 30 seconds. The time will show on top of the website. In this online earning program you will have not need any own website. The requirement for this online earning program is computer with internet access. If you have a computer with internet connection then registered to the sites that pay for browsing their sites and viewing Ads. Some of those sites demand registration fee but most of them are free to register.You can search these sites by any search engine with key words ‘paid to click’ or ‘paid to browse’ etc.
Paid Survey
Paid survey is another way to earn extra income online. In this program many companies pay the people for their opinion. In this way of earning you have to share your opinion and companies pay you for spending your time with them. It is very simple way of earning online. There are many websites that provide you online surveys. Some of those require registration fee but most of them are free to register. Requirement for this way of earning is computer with internet access. You can search these web sites by any search engine using key words ‘online paid survey’ ‘paid for your opinion’ etc.Note that people from United States, Canada and United Kingdom have more chances to earn from paid surveys earning program than other world because most of surveys are only for people from United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
ONLINE AD POSTING JOBS
It is one of the popular ways of earning online. But this program requires some investment. In this program companies pay you for posting their ads on classified websites. In this job registration to those companies is not free. There are many packages of these companies. However these companies facilitate you with online training, software and list of cgi and non cgi websites. You can earn this way 10 cents to 30 cents per ad post.Requirement for these jobs is computer with internet access with better browsing speed.You can search these sites by any search engine with key words ‘ad posting jobs’ ‘work at home’ online jobs’ etc.
Email List Compiling Job
Email list compiling is another way of earning money online. In this way you have to provide email addresses and names of the people.Registration to these sites also demand registration fee. You can search these sites by any search engine using key words ‘ad posting jobs’ ‘work at home’ online jobs’ etc.So these are the simple ways to earn money online. Try these programs. I hope you will earn money through these programs.I wish best of luck for you. Thanks
A.REHMAN KHAN
923009651192

Rakhi Sawant makes heads turn in Pakistan too

2009-08-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Bollywood item girl-turned-reality TV star Rakhi Sawant's 'swayamvar' is also making news in Pakistan with reams being written in the
English and Urdu media about her impending marriage. Sawant chose Indo-Canadian businessman Elesh Parujanwala as her bridegroom on NDTV Imagine's reality show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar' late on Sunday evening. "Rakhi Sawant ne jeevan saathi chun liya" went the headline in a Urdu newspaper. The news was also put up on several news portals, including popular pakmahfil.com and e-zine pakteahouse soon after the grand finale of the much followed reality show. Titled "Bollywood, Reality TV and Indian secularism," a post on e-zine pakteahouse talked of Sawant who became "a sensation in Bollywood through her hard work and determination despite an obvious lack of education and family background". While a post on pakmahfil.com said, "The 30-year-old Gujarati NRI came all the way from Toronto to marry television's drama queen...Rakhi has been bowled over by Elesh's charm. He is the quietest of the lot and most sensitive when it comes to showing his emotions." Sawant had zeroed in on Delhi's Manas Katyal and Chittiz Jain, but finally chose Parujanwala. "If Rakhi ties the knot with him, he is willing to leave Canada for good and settle in Mumbai forever. Rakhi has time and again said that at no cost she is willing to quit her showbiz career,"

Michael Jackson's mom gets custody

2009-08-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's 79-year-old mother was awarded custody of the singer's three children on Monday and given more time to spell out objections to having two music executives administer his multi-million dollar estate. Judge Mitchell Beckloff officially admitted the pop singer's 2002 will into probate court and extended until October 2 the temporary control of the "Thriller" singer's estate granted to executors John Branca and John McClain.
Michael Douglas' son arrested for drugs: reports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cameron Douglas, the son of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, has been arrested on drug charges, media reports and authorities said on Monday. Douglas, 30, was arrested in New York for possession of what The New York Post reported was a "massive amount" of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
Reality stars Jon & Kate back on air after split
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. reality television show about a family with eight children was back on air on Monday -- despite the parents splitting up. The show "Jon & Kate Plus 8," aired by cable channel TLC, resumed after a six-week hiatus spawned by the break-up of parents Jon and Kate Gosselin which sent ratings soaring.
CBS hopes wardrobe fix will restore "CSI" ratings
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - New "CSI" star Laurence Fishburne is getting a makeover after ratings for the veteran crime drama fell sharply upon his arrival last season. Fishburne wore glasses and suits during his introductory season, when he took over for departing lead William Petersen.
CBS says no plans to change focus on scripted shows
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CBS television, the most-watched U.S. network, has no plans to change its primetime schedule of mostly scripted programing to include more reality shows, Entertainment President Nina Tassler said on Monday. Tassler also told TV critics at a meeting previewing the upcoming 2009 fall season that CBS was confident about meeting the challenge of Jay Leno moving his NBC chat show to primetime in September in a major shake-up of network TV.
Roger Daltrey plots rare North American solo tour
DETROIT (Billboard) - With the Who inactive for the moment, Roger Daltrey is gearing up to launch his first solo tour of North America since 1985. The Use It Or Lose It theater trek -- a nod to the 65-year-old singer's vocal cords -- kicks off October 10 in Vancouver, B.C., and runs through November 30 in Clearwater, Fla.
Kara DioGuardi returns to "Idol," no word on Paula
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kara DioGuardi, who made her debut this year as the fourth judge on No. 1-rated TV singing show "American Idol," will return to the panel for the upcoming ninth season, producers said on Monday. But the fate of Paula Abdul, who has been on the show's judging panel since its inception in 2002, is still up in the air with only a few days to go before auditions begin for the new season.
Rather sues to return CBS execs to $70 million suit
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former TV news anchor Dan Rather sued CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves and former CBS News President Andrew Heyward on Monday in a bid to have them reinstated as defendants in his $70 million lawsuit against the network. In a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court, Rather accused the two men of fraud relating to his claim that CBS made him a scapegoat in a scandal over a 2004 report on then-President George W. Bush's military record.
Carla Gugino lands "Sucker Punch"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Carla Gugino has been cast in "Sucker Punch," an action fantasy from "Watchmen" director Zack Snyder. The 1950s-set tale follows a girl (Emily Browning) confined to a mental institution by her evil stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. She and her friends enter an alternate reality where they begin planning an escape. Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone and Abbie Cornish co-star.
"Tourist" traps Theron, Worthington
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Charlize Theron and Sam Worthington finally got their passports. The Oscar-winning actress and the much-in-demand Aussie star, who is taking over for Tom Cruise, have signed on to a remake of the 2005 French spy thriller "The Tourist."

Oil Prices Retreat After Rally

2009-08-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK – Crude-oil futures fell Tuesday as traders took profits after oil prices advanced more than 13% in the past three trading sessions.
Light, sweet crude for September delivery recently traded down $1.05, or 1.5%, at $70.53 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded 53 cents, or 0.7%, lower at $73.02 a barrel.
Oil prices rapidly rose from around $63 a barrel last Wednesday to more than $71 a barrel Monday, as promising economic data from China, Europe and the U.S. raised hopes that the world economy is in the early stages of recovery from the worst downturn in decades.
Tuesday's retreat signifies little more than the market taking a breather, analysts said. U.S. equities are also down slightly after hitting a 2009 high Monday, while the dollar is slightly stronger against the euro, bouncing back from its weakest point since December.
"We rallied really strong and now we see some money taken off the table after the $10 runup," said Gene McGillian at Tradition Energy.
Oil futures are close to the 2009 intraday high of $73.38 a barrel, set June 30, but may have trouble rising further. U.S. unemployment data for July are due out Friday and expected to show the jobless rate continuing to climb. Oil and product inventory data are scheduled for release Wednesday by the Department of Energy, with increases in crude and some fuel stockpiles expected.
Analysts forecast U.S. oil inventories to rise by 500,000 barrels, while gasoline inventories are seen dropping 1.3 million barrels and distillate stocks, including heating oil and diesel, rising by 800,000 barrels, according to a Dow Jones Newswires survey. Refinery utilization is expected to drop 0.7 percentage point to 83.9% of capacity.
"We are having (inventory) build after build and refineries running at lower capacity," said Tim Jennings, a broker at Vantage Trading. "I don't know why prices are higher. There is no factual confirmation that demand is picking up."
Front-month September reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, recently traded down 1.44 cents, or 0.7%, at $2.0549 a gallon. September heating oil traded 93 points, or 0.5%, lower at $1.8620 a gallon.

'Musharraf has conceded to his exile in London'

2009-08-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

Islamabad (PTI): Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has "conceded to his exile in London" and made up his mind not to return to Pakistan in the wake of the Supreme Court's verdict that the emergency imposed by him in 2007 was unconstitutional, according to a former federal minister.
Gen. Musharraf has also given up his plans to enter the political arena as the odds are against him, senior PML(Q) leader Faisal Saleh Hayat, who served as a federal minister in the former President's regime, said.
Mr. Hayat recently met Gen. Musharraf in London for consultations in connection with the Supreme Court's verdict. The ruling has raised the possibility of Musharraf being tried for treason.
However, such a trial can only be initiated by the government.
Gen. Musharraf was "perturbed" by statements made by the main opposition PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif against him and has been asking his supporters to issue rejoinders against them, Mr. Hayat told The News daily.
Mr. Hayat said he advised Gen. Musharraf to come back to Pakistan to contest all cases against him.
"You must create your credibility first as you ditched the party (PML-Q) that provided the support that was required by you for your survival. But you unfortunately struck an underhand deal with late (former premier) Benazir Bhutto. If you are keen to try your luck in politics, then you must return to Pakistan to fight against the allegations (made against you)," Mr. Hayat told Gen. Musharraf.

Pakistan questions 200 after 8 Christians killed

2009-08-04T03:37:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD — Police questioned more than 200 people to determine if rioting that killed eight Christians was spontaneous or planned by a militant group, a Pakistani official said Tuesday.
Another top official suggested militants fleeing an army offensive in the northwest Swat Valley were involved.
Hundreds of Muslims attacked a Christian neighborhood in the eastern Pakistani city of Gojra on Saturday after reports that Christians had desecrated a Quran. The assault, which also torched dozens of homes, underscored the precarious existence of religious minorities in this Muslim-majority nation where extremist Islam is on the rise.
Punjab province Law Minister Rana Sanaullah told The Associated Press that members of the banned Sunni group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and its al-Qaida-linked offshoot Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were arrested as suspected attackers.
The question is how long — or whether — they had planned the attack. A Pakistani intelligence report some two months earlier suggested militant groups may be switching from suicide attacks to creating sectarian strife in cities, he noted.
"We need to locate and arrest those who were wearing masks during the carnage," Sanaullah said, referring to the attackers who were covering their faces during the rioting to avoid being identified.
The demonstrations began Thursday but reached their violent zenith Saturday, allegedly after hardline clerics began making speeches against the Christians. Authorities say an initial probe had debunked the claims that the Muslim holy book was defiled. Christians in the community attended special church services for the victims Tuesday.
Separately, Punjab province Gov. Salman Taseer, on a visit to Gojra, said "those who were evicted from Swat have a hand in this incident." Taseer offered no evidence to back up this claim.
Pakistan's army is engaged in a three-month-old offensive in Swat, a northwest valley that was once a prominent tourist destination. The military claims to have killed 1,800 suspected militants in the operation.
Christians — including Protestants and Catholics — make up less than 5 percent of Pakistan's 175 million people, according to the CIA World Factbook. They generally live in peace with their Muslim neighbors.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif promised Tuesday that the government would cover the cost of rebuilding the charred houses and pledged to bring the perpetrators of the weekend attack to justice.
"There couldn't be any cruelty more harsh than this," he said in an address to Christians in Lahore.

Taliban threaten Afghan poll, deadly month nears end

2009-07-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

KABUL (Reuters) - The deadliest month of the Afghanistan war neared an end on Thursday, with growing violence threatening to overshadow crucial presidential elections next month which the Taliban have vowed to disrupt.
The United States and Britain in July have suffered by far their worst losses of the war, the total of at least 69 foreign soldiers killed in the month exceeding or equaling total losses for each of the first four years of the war.
U.S. losses stood at 39 killed in July, easily passing the previous high of 26 in September 2008. Britain has suffered its worst battlefield casualties since the 1980s Falklands War, the 22 troops killed in the month taking its total losses in Afghanistan to 189, 10 more than were killed in the Iraq war.
Casualties spiked after thousands of U.S. and British troops launched two major operations in southern Helmand province -- Strike of the Sword and Panther's Claw -- long a Taliban stronghold and the center of Afghanistan's opium production.
The operations are the first under U.S. President Barack Obama's new regional strategy to defeat the Taliban and its Islamist militant allies and stabilize Afghanistan.
The August 20 presidential elections are a crucial test of Washington's new strategy and of Kabul's ability to stage a credible, legitimate and secure poll, analysts say.
On Thursday, the Taliban issued its first formal promise to disrupt the poll, calling on Afghans to shun it..
It labeled the poll a U.S. "invention" and a farce, accusing Afghan President Hamid Karzai of not having the courage to stand up to U.S. ambitions in Afghanistan and telling its fighters to attack election-related targets and stop people from voting.
"All Afghans, due to their Islamic and national sentiments, need to totally boycott this seductive U.S. process and ... join the trenches of jihad," the Taliban's leadership council posted on a website it uses (www.alemarah1.net).
ATTACKS ON CANDIDATES
There have been three attacks against candidates or campaign officials in the past week, including Karzai's vice presidential running mate Mohammad Qasim Fahim, the leader of U.S.-backed Afghan forces that ousted the Taliban.
One of Karzai's campaign offices in remote western Herat also was bombed on Tuesday but there were no casualties.
Violence across Afghanistan this year had already reached its worst level since the Taliban's ouster and has escalated further since the launch of the Helmand operations.
Britain this week wrapped up Panther's Claw after five weeks clearing the Taliban out of population centers before the poll, with the U.S. still pushing further south through a province that provides most of the opium funding the insurgency.
While the high death tolls have been within expectations for operations of that size, the first phase of the "clear, hold and build" operations focused attention on strategies, whether troops are adequately equipped or if they should be there at all. Continued...

Madonna writes for Israeli newspaper

2009-07-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES: Queen of pop Madonna has turned reporter for Israel's biggest newspaper.

The 50-year-old pop star's article on her altered copy to the Jewish cult of Kaballah has been displayed importantly on the front page of 'Yediot Ahronot' with a byline.

The article titled 'How My Life Changed' was translated into Hebrew by the paper and an excerpt of it was in print Wednesday while the full article will be published tomorrow.

In her article, the controversial singer describes her religious awakening more than a decade ago.

The singer who was born a Christian had alienated the Church with her antics including her many sexually explicit stage shows where she had appear crucified.

The 'Material Girl' is an astute follower of Kaballah and has adopted the Hebrew name of Esther and studies Jewish mysticism.

She had also made a private pilgrimage to Israel in 2004 and will perform two shows in the country in September as part of her 'Sticky & Sweet' international.

The AEDB Story:Department and No Electricity

2009-07-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

The AEDB StoryAir Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid was a well recognized face inside Pakistan’s elite circles. After all he managed to stay at the same post in the Pakistan Air Force for nearly two decades, defying every air force rule and regulation. He had turned Air Weapon’s Complex, under his leadership, into his personal enterprise. Other than girls and alcohol, he was famous for getting millions of dollars of funds from the government to build top secret equipment and weapons and then purchase a Chinese version for peanuts and inaugurate it as being developed at AWC after years of hard work and at the cost of millions of dollars. As all of the tenders, bids and projects were done in closed doors and without transparency, thus there was no one to raise any objection.Not to forget here, his incompetency was also quite famous. It was during his watch that AWC lost the famous “bomb”. Not Atom Bomb, as AWC does not deal with those. But it was a big bomb which was later found in FATA, after it had accidentally exploded during transport. He had to loyal sub-ordinates working at AWC. Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan and a civilian engineer Irfan Afzal Mirza.When Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir took over the command, he started a thorough investigation of Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid, his trusted team and AWC. According to the report of Military Intelligence, Raja Shahid Hamid had amassed at least US$ 20 million in foreign bank accounts and had shares in at least one hotel in Dubai. At the end of the investigation, Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid was given the choice of quietly resigning or… He chose to resign. Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan was sent back to his unit in the Pakistan Army while Irfan Afzal Mirza was also kicked out. This happened in 2001.Although Shahid Hamid was out, but he still had contacts, and somehow managed to meet Shaukat Aziz. He somehow convinced Shaukat Aziz that using renewable energy, Pakistan would be able to meet its upcoming energy shortages and under his leadership, it can be achieved in less than five years. As a result in 2003 Alternative Energy Development Board was established with Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid as its Chairman, Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan as its Secretary and Irfan Afzal Mirza as its Director General. It is also worthwhile to note here that Irfan Afzal was given an MP-II grade at the tender age of 30/31, breaking all the rules of Government of Pakistan. Irfan Mirza was not actually 30/31. He had changed his birth certificate to reduce his age by 4 to 5 years. However, in the official documents he was shown 31 at the time of employment.Shahid Hamid got a pay package of MP-I, nearly 5 lakh rupees per month and Irfan Mirza got nearly 2.5 lakh rupees package per month. A sweet deal to begin with.Some Other ProjectsIf the stated scenario is of one of the most propagated projects of AEDB, one doesn’t need a lot of imagination to understand what happened to rest of the 6 billion rupees projects. Some of this money which could be traced is listed below:Research and Development of Biodiesel Applications in Pakistan: The 1 crore rupees project was given to a local company Clean Power, owned by Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid’s wife and Irfan Afzal Mirza’s brother. At the end of the project a hundred page report was prepared which no one outside Clean Power and AEDB has seen.Fuel Cell Research Project: This was Rs. 50 lakh project which had to be given to a private company as AEDB wanted to purchase a fuel cell from a foreign company and under some regulations couldn’t do it directly. So the project was given to Clean Power, which used Rs. 4 lakh to purchase a fuel cell and give it to AEDB. Thus, AEDB spent 50 lakh rupees to buy a 4 lakh rupees machinery.100 Solar Homes projects in each province: The villages were electrified, but no one has ever seen the villages.Pilot Project of Production Plant of Biodiesel: The 2.14 caror rupees project was given to a company of a close “associate” of Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan. The other companies were rejected because of “undisclosed” reasons, as explained by Brig. Nasim Akhtar in his official letter to one of the companies. He also explained that the elimination procedure was very high standard. However, he did not mention that all of the companies who were rejected in the first round had submitted Financial Feasibilities of less than one caror, while the company which won the bid had submitted a financial feasibility of rupees two caror. The project intended to provide electricity to a village using loacally grown biodiesel. However, at the end of the year the villagers were powering their village using diesel purchased from local petrol pump, and it was found out that during the inauguration, the biodiesel seeds were purchased from an international supplier just for the ceremony. Thus, on ground the only worthwhile expenditure was a Rs. 5 lakh generator from a Rs. 2 caror project.Solar Thermal Power Plants Technologies: This Rs. 4 caror project was carried out directly by the Brig. Nasim Akhtar Khan. Nobody knows who was given the contract to. However, the money was given to somebody.Solar Water Pumping & Desalination Unit: Of the 3.3 carors, only one desalination plant was purchased which was then stolen by an AEDB official.Development of an Electrical Vehicle: The project was meant to indigenously develop an electric vehicle. However, of the Rs. 3 million, half a million were spent to purchase an electric vehicle from oversees, and then it was repainted (literally) to make it look like “Made in Pakistan”. The vehicle can still be seen standing inside the Prime Minister House of Pakistan.Research on Development of 1 KW Fuel Cell Vehicle: The project was intended to develop indigenously the capabilities. However, the fuel cell purchased in the previous project was put in the electric vehicle purchased in another project. Thus, the 40 lakh rupees of this project went straight into the pocket of the bidder – may God Bless the Bidder who achieved the aim without spending a single paisa – truly a miracle which can only happen in Pakistan. What a country?Development of supply chain mechanism for pedal generator, hand generator and led lanterns: The project went to Clean Power, who bought a couple of cycles, connected them with fans and gave it to the AEDB. Thus, the government purchased two bicycles, as the cost of Rs. 15 lakh each.Feasibility for waste energy plants in ten (10) cities of Pakistan: No one alive is said to have seen the feasibility reports. That was enough incentive to stop our investigation for this project.The list just keeps on going, however, it is hoped this small overview would give a good look at what went on inside AEDB in its first four years.AEDB TodayAfter the current government takeover, Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid was one of the first persons to go. His number two had been called back to his army unit a few months back, after General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had taken command as COAS. The tenacious Irfan Afzal Mirza is still at AEDB working as Director General in the MP-II equivalent grade. After all, if you would give 60% of whatever you earn to your boss with no questions asked, of course your boss would fight tooth and nail to keep you working under him as well.Electricity StoryThe dreaded load-shedding continues.Also See:KESC Rewards Incompetence By Punishing KarachiPakistan’s Taxing DemocracyPehlwans – From Street Thugs to National Thugs – Story of Not So “Sharif” Brothers Don’t Fool Yourselves, Pakistan’s Judiciary As Screwed As Its Feudal Democracy Black Revolution 2007: Pakistan’s Lawyers Movement – Bush Administration’s Last Color RevolutionOperation Blue Tulsi: 15 Years in Planning, 10 Years in Preparation and Today in Execution To Pak Military: Empower The Middle Class To Save PakistanA Military-Civil Intervention To Save PakistanPakistan’s Battle Of The GenerationsPolitical Parties Destroying PakistanPakistan’s Fake Democracy, Rich DemocratsZardari-Gilani: No Money, Just IMFPakistan’s Founder Jinnah Has No Place In His HomelandPPPistan or Nawazistan or Altafistan or Pakistan? To Save Pakistan, Pakistani Feudalism Must die
A Rs. 500 Million Bribe, Welcome To Pakistani ‘Democracy’
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Six Billion Rupees, Three Bureaucrats, One Government Department and No Electricity

2009-07-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Energy is the politics of today. What happens tomorrow is dictated by energy demand of today. Energy is the real blood pumping through the hearts of today’s economies. Just as a stoppage in the flow of blood would be fatal, a blockage in the flow of energy would devastate any economy.Movers and shakers of the world have realized that energy demands must be meant to keep the status-quo in status-quo. As a result associations and networks have established, over the last few decades, which not only keep the status-quo as status-quo but have learnt of devious ways to maximize their personal profits. These networks operate at all levels, international, national and regional. Here we are going to disclose the workings of such a network, which operated for a relatively short period – only four years – but left a terrible impact on the economy of Pakistan.The Alternative Energy Development BoardAlternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) was established in May 2003 with the main objective to facilitate, promote and encourage development of Renewable Energy in Pakistan with a mission to introduce Alternative/Renewable Energy at an accelerated rate to achieve 10% share of renewable energy in the energy mix of the country. Since its creation the Board has carried out following projects:Year – Project Funding (Rs. Million) – Project Title(2004) – ~10.00 – Research and Development of Bio-diesel Applications in Pakistan(2004) – ~5.0 – Fuel Cell Research Project(2004) – ~4.0 – Pilot Project for Development and Installation of 02 Micro Hydro Kaplan Turbines(2005) – 3.90 – Solar electrification at Narian Khorian(2005) – 100.00 – 100 Solar Homes projects in each province(2006) – 21.43 – Pilot Project of Production Plant of Bio Diesel(2006) – 39.80 – Solar Thermal Power Plants Technologies(2006) – 33.04 – Solar Water Pumping & Desalination Unit(2006) – ~3.0 – Development of an Electrical Vehicle(2006) – (cost unknown) – Socio-economic and technical feasibility for designing water supply schemes in villages of Balochistan and Sindh(2006) – (cost unknown) – Socio-economic survey of remote villages & their energy demands and water requirements(2006) – 4.03 – Research on Development of 1 KW Fuel Cell Vehicle(2006) – 3.00 – Development of supply chain mechanism for pedal generator, hand generator and led lanterns(2006) – 200.00 – Block allocation for i) Electrification of villages through installation of indigenously developed micro wind turbines ii) Research on development of 1 KW fuel cell rikshaw. iii) Erection and operation of pilot production plant for biodiesel with 500 liters per day capacity. iv) Assessment of wind/solar power potential and development of GIS for AEDB.(2006) – (cost unknown) – Feasibility Study for Development of a Master Plan for Establishment of an Institute for Renewable Energy Technology(2006) – (between 20 and 200) – Feasibility for waste energy plants in ten (10) cities of Pakistan(2006) – 50.35 – Solar Homes Program(2006) – 887.71 – Electrify 300 villages(2006) – (cost unknown) – Solar Home System for Province of Sindh, Solar Home System for Northern Balochistan, Solar Home System for Central Balochistan, Solar Home System for Southern Balochistan(2006) (cost unknown) – Supply of solar PV lantern system(2007) (cost unknown) – Baseline Capacity Assessment of PMD, AEDB, NEPRA(2007) – (cost unknown) – Study of grid integration with wind farms in Pakistan(2007) – (cost unknown) – Environmental Impact Assessment Study of the Gharo Corridor in PakistanTotal costs till the end of 2007: Rs. 1.5 billionAccording to the documents of Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan provided over 1.5 billion rupees in funds to the AEDB for carrying out a number of projects.Other than receiving funds from the Government of Pakistan, the AEDB has been funded numerous times by international donor agencies as well. For example the Asian Development Bank (ADB) offered a Technical Assistance (TA) project in 2004 for the development of Renewable Energy in Pakistan. The objective of the proposed Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) was to assist the Government in designing a loan for financing investment in Renewable Energy. U.S. $ 550,000 were made available for the PPTA with U.S. $ 137,500 to be provided to each of the four provinces, while another U.S. $ 150,000 were made available for the Small Scale Technical Assistance (SSTA) for capacity building for carrying out Renewable Energy projects of all the four provinces involved with the TA. Some other mention-worthy projects funded by the international donor agencies till 2007 included:Year – Cost (US $ million) – Agency – Project Title(2004) – 0.55 – ADB – Renewable Energy Development(2005) – 510 – ADB – Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Program(2007) – 0.8 – ADB – Pakistan: Renewable Energy Policy Formulation and Capacity Development of the Alternate Energy Development Board(2006/7) – 3.10 (GEF) + 0.72 (GoP) – Exploitation of Untapped Potential of Wind EnergyOf the 510 million dollars, ADB had provided nearly 150 million dollars by 2007.Thus, by the end of 2007, AEDB had been handed up to six billion rupees from Government of Pakistan and international donor agencies. As a result of all this funding, Pakistan produced a total of 0 megawatts of power through renewable resources at the end of 2007.Narian Khorian ProjectTo understand what happened to the six billion rupees in four rupees, the most publicized project of the AEDB, the Narian Khorian solar electrification is looked at. On 19 June 2005 Prime Minister of Pakistan Shoukat Aziz inaugurated the ceremony of electrification of the entire Narian Khorian village through solar panels. The village is nearly 40 kilometers from Islamabad.The project funding included solar panels. Also, each household was given an electric fan and bulb to be powered by the battery charged by solar panel. The village also got a free water desalination plant. The project of solar electrification and desalination plant was Rs. 3.9 million. As there is no paved road leading to the village, a new road was constructed from the motorway to the village. This project is considered a triumph of AEDB and has been mentioned numerous times by local and international media. To this day the local media beats the drums of this successful project and an illuminating example of effective leadership of Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid the chairman of AEDB.The Inside StoryAccording to Akhtar Solar company located in Islamabad, they donated the solar panels installed at the Narian Khorian village, worth Rs. 3 million, for which they got the tax rebate. Other than the 3.9 million rupees specific to the project, an unknown sum was taken from the # (2006) – 33.04 —- “Solar Water Pumping & Desalination Unit” project (cost 33.04 million) to help buy the water desalination plant at the Narian Khorian village. The road which was constructed from motorway to Narian Khorian village, which in books is a paved road costing millions does not exist today.Where the Money WentWhich company got the 3.9 million rupees contract to purchase the solar panels and install them at the village is difficult to find. Whichever company that was, the money surely wasn’t used to purchase the solar panels as they were donated by Akhtar Solar. There was also a part of the project money which was to be used for the desalination plant. However, money from another project was also used to purchase the same plant – in essence two projects funded the purchase of same equipment. The road was built by the Government of Punjab. Its cost was a few million rupees.The Village StoryThe person to greet any new arrival in the village is a young teenager, who is considered the spokesperson of the village regarding the solar project. Also, this boy was an employee of Government of Pakistan for a period of two years. He was hired at Rs. 2000/month with the job to oversee and monitor the project and make necessary repairs if needed. He was paid Rs. 500 in advance by a person named by him as “Irfan”, a mid height bearded fellow who used to come in a white corolla with green number plate. (The DG of AEDB is Irfan Afzal Mirza with same physical appearance and has been provided a government Toyota Corolla). According to the teenager, he never saw the fellow ever again nor did he see a single rupee more. He has no idea what happened to rest of his salary.The next notability is the missing solar panels from rooftops. Then, one is also brought to the desalination plant, where amazingly there is no desalination plant. Of the installed panels, only 30% are in working condition at the moment.Where the Equipment WentA year after the triumphant inauguration of the solar village, an official from AEDB in official AEDB truck arrived at the village and started loading solar panels in the truck. He also had a couple of mechanics who quickly unscrewed the desalination plant and loaded it into the Shehzor truck. When the local teenager tried to protest, he was quickly handed over to the local police station. The locals had to pay a small amount of money to get the boy out a couple of days later. Next time when the Shehzor came no one said a word. At the end, more than a million rupees worth of equipment was transferred by the AEDB officials using AEDB’s Government of Pakistan vehicles

Army will not defend Musharraf, says Hashmi

2009-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD:Central Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Javed Hashmi has supposed a case of disloyalty should be register against former President Pervez Musharraf below Charter of Democracy (COD), saying the Army would not protect its former Chief of Army Staff.
Chatting to media men here on Tuesday, the PML-N leader said that it is the answerability of both PPP and PML-N to register case against the previous dictator.
Javed Hashmi urged PPP to start case alongside Pervez Musharraf under Article-6 of the constitution as it has hold up of opposition in this regard.
He underlined that the government and opposition should punish those who breached the constitution, adding if Musharraf to be punished then it be remembered and others would take lesson from it.
Responding to a question, Javed Hashmi said that a Judicial Commission should be formed on Kargil to tell the truth to the nation.
The veteran politician has dispelled the impression that the politicians had been responsible for martial law in the country, saying now it was impossible for Army to come into power.
Asked about future of democracy in the country, he said that the Anti democracy forces have been weakened and democracy would be strengthened in the country.
Answering a question, the veteran politician said that PML-N does not want to remove Asif Ali Zardari from the tenure of the president but he (Zardari) should fulfill his pledges made by him with the people of the country

Pervez Musharraf Vows to Face all Cases

2009-07-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court adjourned hearing of the petition for registering FIR against former president Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and Aftab Sherpao till August 17.Coordinator Defence of Human Rights Khalid Khwaja had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court that he was kept in illegal detention during the previous regime on orders of Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz and Aftab Sherpao and police is not registering case against them.He requested to the court to direct police for registering FIR.Giving remarks on the request, justice Ramzan Chaudhry said that if former president Pervez Musharraf appears in the Supreme Court then he can be summoned for appearing also in the high court.

200 boys being trained for suicide bombing recovered

2009-07-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

PESHAWAR: Security forces have succeeded in recovering 200 kids who were life form taught for carrying out suicide bombing from Swat.

According to sources, the children’s age ranges stuck between 6 to 13 years.

The security forces have kept the recovered children in Mardan where they are organism spiritually transformed to become common citizens.

Steps are being taken to get the children through a behavior from psychiatrist.

Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Bilour talking to said the children were totally brainwashed who now believe all others as infidels.

“These children have brainwash in a way that now they yet want to kill their own parents,” he said, adding, however that they were not administer any drugs in the process.

Bashir Bilour said some children were satisfied when they were handed over to their parents. But, a few days later, the parents came back with complaint that the boys are now threatening to kill them which, they (parents) said, is a troublesome thing for them.

Michael Jackson’s nose missing in morgue

2009-07-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK: According to a local publication, Michael Jackson wore a prosthetic nose and witnesses at a Los Angeles morgue story that it was missing from the King of Pop’s body. Instead, left behind was a small, dark hole.

The periodical, which hit newsstands Friday, reports that Jackson wore a prosthetic nose to hide the effects of frequent plastic surgeries.

According to the Mirror, Jackson’s former housekeeper, Adrian McManus said, “His nose was a problem. He wore plasters around the side to cover or support it. It was sternly cave in. In his closet he had a jar of fake noses and period glue, which he told me he used of disguise. But some were similar to his real nose, just without the hole.”

Jackson may have had at least six nose jobs, and reports point out it was because he supposed he look too much like his father.

In a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Jackson spoke about the emotional and physical abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, who denies any abuse took place.

The superstar friend, Marcus Phillips said, “Michael was elated about the information that with the second nose job he looked less like his father. If he couldn’t erase him from his life at least he might erase him from the reflection in the reflect.”

Musharraf’s claim nothing but wishful thinking: Farhatullah Babar

2009-07-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar on Friday dismissed as “wishful philosophy” former President Pervez Musharraf’s claim that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wanted him to continue as president.In a rejoinder to an interview by former armed ruler to an Indian channel, Babar said, “it is wishful thinking of a mortified dictator who has been shunted out of the Presidency in full community view and who is now seeking a assess of public support to escape the fate that awaits all dictators.” He said that Musharraf’s assertion has proved Mohtarma Bhutto’s prophetic prediction made for the duration of a meeting in the last months of her life that “a day will come when Musharraf will beg for my pictures to sustain himself”. Farhatullah Babar, who had also been spokesperson to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for nearly two decades, said that what the late leader thought of the dictator is graphically described in her two books; “Daughter of the East” and “Reconciliation” besides countless interviews. He said Musharraf should interpret her books and the comments she publicly made about him in the interviews. “He must stand erect on his own feet and face the penalty of his misdeeds rather than seeking shelter behind the name and pictures of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whom he chased and hound when in authority as all tin pot dictators do to the leaders of the masses,” he said. “It should be remembered that while he was still holding the coercive apparatus of the state in his hands the PPP first hooted down Musharraf in all the provincial assembly and the national parliament through unanimous resolutions and then actually booted him out of the President House in full public view”. Farhatullah Babar said Musharraf has only ridiculed himself by asserting that the leader and Chairperson of the Party that hooted and booted him out wanted him to continue as the President of the country. “It is not the act of a commando; it is the act of those who have feet of clay. But then such is the fate of dictators and despot who fall not only from the stronghold of power but also in the eyes of the people,” he said.

Eight traffic wardens sacked on public complaints in Faisalabad

2009-07-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

FAISALABAD: Chief Traffic Officer Saturday sacked 8 traffic wardens on public complaint relating to criminal negligence and corruption while 530 wardens have been award departmental punishment.

In this regard ‘Geo Dost’ has also traditional a footage showing the traffic wardens slapping youngsters and pulling their hair. They keep on subjecting the boys to mistreatment in hope of getting bribe.

The citizens have lodged several complaints alongside these wardens in the past.

Karachi several areas sans power suffer third day in a row

2009-07-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

KARACHI: The worst power crisis in the city continues, as the citizens in several areas languishing for the third consecutive day without power and water lost all of their patience and went on a rampage burning tyres, blocking roads and rioting.Sindh Governor said that KESC performance was not satisfactory, while the chief minister’s advisor demanded that an FIR should be registered against KESC for the loss of valuable lives due to electrocution during the rain.Following the Friday and Saturday nights’ rain, the city of Karachi was thrown into pitch darkness, as power went off due to massive breakdown, which persists even today for the third day in several parts of the sprawling city.KESC officials in their daily briefing said that nothing could be said as to when the power supply would be restored, while the Karachiites sans electricity are facing dual problems, as potable water could not be pumped without power, unleashing an acute scarcity of water also.The citizens pricked by these unbearable problems came out of their homes protesting on the roads and streets in different localities. Railway Reti Line residents staging a sit-in on the railway line stopped the Peshawar bound Khushhal Khan Express. The demonstrators said that electricity remained cut off for the third day in their quarters, also creating a worst water crisis. They said that the railway officers were enjoying regular electricity and water supply in the nearby bungalows. Later, on the assurance of railway and police officials the demonstrators called off the sit-in.On the other hand, CM Advisor, Sharmila Faruqui talking to Geo News demanded that an FIR should be registered against KESC for the murders of three persons including the KESC staff, who were electrocuted to death during rains, as all these deaths occurred due to inept KESC. KARACHI: The worst power crisis in the city continues, as the citizens in several areas languishing for the third consecutive day without power and water lost all of their patience and went on a rampage burning tyres, blocking roads and rioting.Sindh Governor said that KESC performance was not satisfactory, while the chief minister’s advisor demanded that an FIR should be registered against KESC for the loss of valuable lives due to electrocution during the rain.Following the Friday and Saturday nights’ rain, the city of Karachi was thrown into pitch darkness, as power went off due to massive breakdown, which persists even today for the third day in several parts of the sprawling city.KESC officials in their daily briefing said that nothing could be said as to when the power supply would be restored, while the Karachiites sans electricity are facing dual problems, as potable water could not be pumped without power, unleashing an acute scarcity of water also.The citizens pricked by these unbearable problems came out of their homes protesting on the roads and streets in different localities. Railway Reti Line residents staging a sit-in on the railway line stopped the Peshawar bound Khushhal Khan Express. The demonstrators said that electricity remained cut off for the third day in their quarters, also creating a worst water crisis. They said that the railway officers were enjoying regular electricity and water supply in the nearby bungalows. Later, on the assurance of railway and police officials the demonstrators called off the sit-in.On the other hand, CM Advisor, Sharmila Faruqui talking to Geo News demanded that an FIR should be registered against KESC for the murders of three persons including the KESC staff, who were electrocuted to death during rains, as all these deaths occurred due to inept KESC.

Rallies against loadshedding, bogies torched in Jhang

2009-07-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: Strong dissent and rallies continue in a variety of cities and towns of Punjab including its capital Lahore against scheduled and unprepared loadsheddings of 12 to 18 hours in many cities, towns and villages of the region while enraged protesters set on fire bogies of a train in Jhang.

Traders and citizens are protest on loadshedding of electricity and price increase of petroleum products in most of the city in Punjab where all types of businesses and routine of life stood still.

In Sargodha, trader and citizens torched tyres throughout protests and blocked the road. Hundreds of people attacked the office of executive engineer. A partial transport strike was also observed during which passengers and citizens face great difficulties.

In Jhang, protester threw stones, did ghrao and jalao. They blocked a train and set on fire its three bogies.

In Chiniot, police baton charged and passionate in air to stop protesters from going to grid station.

Protesters blocked Sargodha-Faisalabad Road by torching tyres.

Participants of a rally in Hujrashah Muqeem attacked the WAPDA office and set office record and equipment on fire.

In Gujrat, trader did not go on strike after assurance from federal ministers Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira and all business centres remained open.

In Arifwala, traders brought rallies and set tyres ablaze. Protesters were raising slogans against the government and the WAPDA.

Complete shutterdown strike against loadshedding was seen in Sheikhupura where rallies are being taken out while shops and trade centres remain closed in Chichawatni.

In Mandi Ahmedabad, protest rally was brought out and participants raised slogans against the WAPDA.

Complete shutterdown is also being seen in Kasur, Hafizabad, Gaggu Mandi, Pasrur, Chunnian, Nurpur Thal, Pindi Bhattian and rallies are being taken out there.

Baby Billie Jean - Michael Jackson babies dancing

2009-07-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

Shumaila Rana matter to be dealt under law: CM Punjab

2009-07-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif Sunday term the incident connecting PML-N member Shumaila Rana as regrettable and that conclusion in this regard will be made in accordance with the law.

He said that while discussion to media on the occasion of the theater the inauguration of MRI center at a private hospital here.

“The law has been breach and that is why legal system has turn out to be active,” Shahbaz Sharif said adding “I know Shumaila Rana, she is (just like) my sister.”

When asked to remark on the statement of the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in which he said the there government is a combination of presidential and parliamentary system, Shahbaz Sharif said: “Whatever the PM said has to be correct.”

Zardari raises pensions for lawyers and judges

2009-07-09T01:18:00.000-07:00

ddISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday sign an order increasing pension payback for the spouses of dead judges and retired judges of high courts.

‘Under the new order the spouse of a retire or dead judge shall be entitled, at government cost, to a driver or an orderly; 800 free local telephone calls per month; 800 units of electrical energy per month; 25HM3 of gas per month; free supply of water and 150 litres of petrol per month. All these benefits shall be tax free,’ Presidential Spokesman If during service a judge dies or has died before the commencement of this order, the spouse shall also be entitled to these benefits and perquisites, the order said.

However, if the retired judge is re-employed with the federal or provincial government the facilities and benefits under this order shall be suspended.

The order said a judge availing these facilities on retirement must perform the work of arbitration involving government interest if assigned to him and cannot charge a fee.

The order was issued on the advice of the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and in exercise of the powers conferred on the president by the 5th Schedule of the Constitution. The order that comes into force with immediate effect, amends the high court judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Order, 1977.

Housing sector:

In a separate meeting with a delegation of Gulf General Investment Company (GGICO), a UAE based construction company, President Zardari said local and foreign investors could invest in housing sector of Pakistan particularly for displaced people of Malakand and Swat.

‘The investment policy of Pakistan is investors friendly and aims at encouraging foreign investment through fair treatment to both local and foreign investors,’ he said.
The president said the government has already launched a housing scheme for the poor, the general public and government employees to meet the growing demand of housing in the country.

Mr. Abdulla Juma Al Sari, the head of the GGICO said the firm was interested to invest in housing sector of Pakistan particularly pre-fabricated housing units for the displaced people and affordable housing in the major urban areas.

Agriculture sector:

In another meeting with a delegation of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), president Zardari said agricultural transformation along with adequate power generation were two critical areas for overcoming Pakistan’s economic problems and called for a massive restructuring of the bank as an important element of agricultural transformation.

‘Agriculture sector in Pakistan was confronting problems of low yield, water scarcity, soil degradation and poor use of inputs like fertilizers, pesticides besides credit problems faced by small farmers.

The president said he would advise the government to make ZTBL an independent and autonomous body so that it could address the challenges of revamping. ‘The government should also consider setting up a National Agriculture Transformation Fund for massively injecting new technologies into this vital sector of national economy,’ he said.

Swat Taliban chief Fazlullah injured, says ISPR

2009-07-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: the military spokesman established that Swat Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah was badly injured and another militant leader, Abu Jandal, had been killed.

He said Taliban leader Shah Dauran was also report to have been killed.
Replying to a question, Maj-Gen Abbas said most of the terrorist commander and leaders were in the valley and only a few of them had moved out.
However, there was no possibility of the militants regrouping and in service in the valley, he said.

Barack Obama urges Russia not to interfere in neighbouring states

2009-07-07T07:40:00.001-07:00

OBAMA Today set out his vision for a new post-cold war world, and urged Russia not to interfere in neighboring states and to move on "from old ways of thinking".
In a keynote speech during his first trip to Russia as US president, Obama called on Moscow to stop viewing America as an adversary. The assumption that Russia and the US were eternal antagonists was "a 20th-century view" rooted in the past, he said.
Obama delivered a tough, though implicit, critique of Kremlin foreign policy, rejecting the claim it has "privileged interests" in post-Soviet countries. He said the 19th-century doctrine of spheres of influence and "great powers forging competing blocs" was finished.
"In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonising other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chessboard are over," he said, speaking to graduates from Moscow's New Economic School.
He added: "As I said in Cairo, given our interdependence any world order that tries to elevate one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. That is why I have called for a 'reset' in relations between the United States and Russia.
"America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia."
Obama acknowledged that the US needed to play its part in bringing about a fresh start with Russia – "a great power". And he paid tribute to the achievements of Russian writers and scientists, even managing to quote a line from Pushkin when he told the students: "Inspiration is needed in geometry just as much as in poetry."
Crucially, though, Obama indicated that Washington would not tolerate another Russian invasion of Georgia. Russia is winding up full-scale military exercises next to the Georgian border amid ominous predictions that a second conflict in the Caucasus could erupt this summer.
On Monday Obama reaffirmed Georgia's sovereignty – severely undermined by last year's war and Moscow's subsequent unilateral recognition of rebel-held Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Today Obama defended "state sovereignty", describing it as "a cornerstone of international order".
He also said that Georgia and Ukraine had a right to choose their own foreign policy and leaders, and could join Nato if they wanted. Russia is deeply opposed to Ukraine's and Georgia's accession, and wants the White House to rule out their future membership. Today Obama responded by saying that Nato sought collaboration with Russia, not confrontation.
Earlier, Obama had breakfast with Vladimir Putin, the man whom most people regard as Russia's real ruler. Last week Obama described Putin, Russia's prime minister, as having "one foot in the past". Today, however, he talked to him for two and a half hours – longer than planned and an admission of Putin's continuing importance. The meeting, their first, was "excellent", Obama said.
During his speech, however, Obama delivered a withering assessment of Putinism. Without mentioning Russia by name, Obama spelled out the US's commitment to "universal values". These included the rule of law, the equal administration of justice, and competitive elections – all things missing from Putin's vertically managed authoritarian state.
Obama also stressed the importance of "independent media in exposing corruption at all levels of business and government". Russia's state-controlled TV has largely snubbed Obama's first trip to Moscow, apparently on Kremlin orders, either failing to mention him at all or relegating him to the lower regions of the news schedule.
On Monday Obama and Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, agreed a framework document that would see both sides cut their nuclear arsenals by up to a third. Today Obama warned again of the dangers of nuclear proliferation, and urged Moscow to join with the US to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and to end North Korea's nuclear efforts.
He also reaffirmed that the US would only go ahead with its planned missile defence shield in central Europe – opposed by the Kremlin – if there was an Iranian nuclear "threat". He said neither the US or Russia would benefit from a nuclear arms race in east Asia or the Middle East.
"In the short period since the end of the cold war we have already seen India, Pakistan and North Korea conduct nuclear tests. Without a fundamental change, do any of us truly believe that the next two decades will not bring about the further spread of nuclear weapons?" he asked.
"That is why America is committed to stopping nuclear proliferation, and ultimately seeking a world without nuclear weapons … And while I know this goal won't be met soon, pursuing it provides the legal and moral foundation to prevent the proliferation and eventual use of nuclear weapons."
The White House billed Obama's Moscow address as a "major foreign policy speech". It is the third in a series of major speeches that began in April in Prague, where he discussed disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and continued in Cairo, where he offered a fresh US approach to the Middle East and Muslim communities.
Later, Obama met the former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. He is due to meet business leaders and hold talks with civil society activists, including the opposition leader and former world chess champion Gary Kasparov.

Karachi fourth in world cheapest cities

2009-07-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

SINGAPORE: A universal survey naming Tokyo and Osaka as the world's nearly everyone exclusive cities for expatriates, largely due to the strength of the yen against the U.S. dollar.The survey rated Karachi as the fourth between the cheapest cities of world, as it stands on 140th position in the list of priciest 143 cities.The 2009 Cost of Living survey, by consultancy firm Mercer, covered 143 cities across the world, measuring the relative cost of over 200 items, as well as housing, transport, food, clothing, activity and household goods.Tokyo, last year's second nearly everyone luxurious city, climbed to the top spot, knocking Moscow down to number 3. Geneva and Hong Kong ranked 4th and 5th, with Asian and European cities dominate the top 10 slots.The survey, conduct in March, uses New York as the base city for the directory, with currency moves measured against the dollar. New York itself jumped to 8th from 22nd last year."As a direct impact of the economic slump over the last year, we have observed significant fluctuations in the majority of the world's currencies, which have had a profound impact on this year's rankings," Nathalie Constantin-Metral, a senior canvasser at Mercer, said in a declaration on the firm's website."Now that cost containment and reduction is at the top of most company agendas, keeping track of the change in factors that dictate expatriate cost of living is essential," she added.Tel Aviv ranked as the most expensive conurbation in the Middle East, while Caracas was top in South America, and Sydney was the priciest city for expatriates in the Pacific.And the cheapest city? ... Johannesburg, which replace Asuncion in Paraguay.Following are the top-10 most expensive cities, according to the Mercer survey. Last year's rankings in brackets:1. Tokyo (2)2. Osaka (11)3. Moscow (1)4. Geneva (8)5. Hong Kong (6)6. Zurich (9)7. Copenhagen (7)8. New York City (22)9. Beijing (20)10.Singapore (13)

Madonna in Jackson stage tribute

2009-07-05T00:23:00.001-07:00

Madonna kicked-off her revamp humid and lovable tour at London's O2 Arena with a tribute to Michael Jackson

Jackson, who dies last week, owed to perform a series of 50 farewell concert at the venue from 13 July.As Madonna sang Holiday she was connected by a dancer dressed in Jackson's obvious style of sequined jacket and sparkling white glove.Madonna told the crowd: "Give it up for one of the record artists the world has ever known - long live the King
Signature moves
Pictures of Jackson as a boy flash up on a massive screen as the dancer moon-walked crosswise the stage to the strain of Billie Jean.He went on to carry out some of Jackson's signature moves to wanna be preliminary something.A predictable crowd of 17,000 watched Madonna carry out at the first of two concerts in London this weekend.She moves on to Manchester on Tuesday, followed by several dates crossways Europe.Madonna closed the show with Give It 2 me, and donned a jewelled glove, along with her dancers, in a final, simple, compliment to JacksonSolo stars
Lyrics from his hit Man in the Mirror scroll crossways the screens. It read: "If you want to create the world an improved place, take a look at yourself and then make the modify."The compliment, albeit brief, frightened fans at the O2. Victoria Mears, of Billericay, Essex, said: "I really liked it. It seemed very fitting for the queen of pop to pay tribute to the king of pop."Nina Lawrence, 32, of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, said: "It consideration it was good, but it was a shame she didn't sing one of his songs as a honor."And Helen Levy, 30, of Winchester, Hants, said: "She seemed very passionate when she spoke about Michael Jackson. It's clear that he was a great inspiration to her."Jackson and Madonna in cooperation became huge solo stars in the 1980s.Speaking after the 50-year-old's death on 25 June, Madonna said: "I can't stop crying over the sad news."I've forever admired Michael Jackson - the world has misplaced one of its greats, but his music will live on forever."A public memorial service for Jackson will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Over half-a-million fans have practical for just 17,500 tickets obtainable for the event.

Pak moves SC against Hafiz Saeed's release

2009-07-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

Islamabad, July 5 : Following the Punjab government's conclusion to challenge the Lahore High Court's (LHC) judgment of releasing the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed and Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmad, together of whom are accuse of mastermind the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, now the centralized government has also resolute to file a divide petition against the verdict.The Pakistan government is probable to file the petition on Monday, July 6."We are filing the petition because we are not pleased with the order of the LHC. The centralized government's challenge was approximately ready, but it could not file the petition on Saturday as the delegate of Punjab government was not available on time," The Dawn quoted the assistant Advocate General, Shah Khawar, as saying.On June 2, a full bench of the Lahore High Court had ordered Saeed's release from house arrest on the basis of a habeas corpus petition filed by his lawyer. The high court said that it had not established substantial confirmation to continue the detention of Saeed; the prime accused of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.The court also prearranged the release of another JuD leader Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmad.Saeed was put beneath house arrest on December 11 last year, day after the JuD, the political wing of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was affirmed a radical group by the United Nations (UN).

Lahore goes on strike against load shedding, oil raise

2009-07-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Complete shutter-down strike Saturday against the price hike, load cracking and fresh increase in petroleum prices today in the metropolis.Anjuman Tajiran Pakistan and other deal organization gave a strike call for total shutter down and announcement was made urging all the traders to keep all commercial and business centers closed today.All trade centers at Mall Road, Hall Road, Bandth Road, McLeod Road, Anarkali, and Ferozpur Road will remain closed; while, the trade leaders announced to take out protest rallies and stage public gatherings at Hall Road, Mall Road and Kot Lakhpat.Meantime, Lahore traders have put up banners and posters with slogans next to government and Wapda written on them, at Mall Road and all adjoining markets next to the unjustified raise in power tariffs, load cracking and hike in petroleum prices.

Officials: 16 killed in clashes in NW Pakistan

2009-07-04T00:46:00.000-07:00

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — clash stuck between tribesmen and Taliban militants left 16 people dead in Pakistan's northwest on Saturday, official said, in the newest violence between pro-government tribal militias and insurgents.
The fighting took place in remote Mohmand region, part of the lawless tribal belt all along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, killing 12 tribal militiamen and 4 militants.
Islamabad has encouraged local tribesmen in the semiautonomous frontier area to set up militias — known as lashkars — to flush out Taliban fighters blamed for attacks in Pakistan as healthy as in Afghanistan.
Such groups have been set up in several regions, but face stiff Taliban resistance.
Saturday's clash was the first major combating in months between tribesmen and militants in the Mohmand tribal region. Tribal elder have begin to clear the area of militants after receiving a warning from the military that it would be compulsory to send in troops if the tribesmen failed to also kill or evict the insurgents.
Dozens of militants attacked the tribesmen after in receipt of a warning from a board of tribal elders to leave the area, the official said.
"The fighting flanked by tribesmen and Taliban began this daybreak and so far 16 people, including 12 tribesmen and four Taliban have died," a local government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not official to speak to the media.
Local security officials confirmed the clashes and the loss toll.
Access to the remote area is strictly forbidden, and the account could not be independently verified.
The aggression comes as Pakistan's military prepares for an offensive in South Waziristan, another part of the tribal restraint where top Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding.

Taliban claim to down Pakistan military helicopter

2009-07-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — Taliban militant Saturday claim accountability for a military helicopter collide that killed 26 people in the craggy tribal area in the country's north.
The helicopter crashed Friday on the edge of the semi-autonomous Orakzai and Khyber tribal region and officials said no one survives.
"We shot down the helicopter," a spokesman for Taliban insurgent based in the close by Darra Adam Khel region said in a telephone call to AFP.
The spokesman identifies himself as Muhammad said it was in reprisal for the Pakistani military process in South Waziristan, a Taliban and Al-Qaeda stronghold.
A military spokesman discarded the claim, reiterating Saturday that the helicopter had crashed due to a "technical fault."
"Taliban militants regularly make false claims," he added.
"All 26 people on board died and the wreckage of the helicopter has been detached," he said adding up that an inquiry had been ordered.
On Friday a senior security official said an MI-17 (military) helicopter stopped due to a technical fault, killing 26 security personnel on board.
He said that the place of crash was 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.
Pakistan has been combating a two-month battle to dislodge militants in three districts of the northwest.
The military has also launch air raids in the tribal belt to prepare for a second front alongside the Taliban in South Waziristan, a stronghold of fear warlord Baitullah Mehsud.

Who is He Taliban

2009-07-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

July 3 -- U.S. troops pushed deeper into a Taliban stranglehold in southern Afghanistan in a bid to root out insurgent and stabilize the region, after one Marine was kill on the operation’s first day.
Forces superior into three district centers and are chatting with local leaders to find out what they “want and need,” Captain Bill Pelletier said by telephone today from Camp Leatherneck, a Marine base in Helmand province. Again today, troops face only “light skirmishes” with gunmen who then fled, he added.
The Helmand disagreeable began before dawn yesterday when about 4,000 U.S. personnel and 650 Afghan soldiers poured into the Helmand River valley in helicopters and armored vehicles. The process is the first test of President Barack Obama’s new strategy to defeat the insurgency and involves holding Taliban- under enemy control areas to let Afghan forces and official restore the authority of the Afghan government.
U.S. troops and weapons bound for Afghanistan will be allowable to fly over Russian territory, providing a significant new corridor, the New York Times reported today; cite unidentified Russian and U.S. officials. The accord will be announced when Obama visits Moscow next week, the Times said.
Opium Crop
The assault also threatens a financial pillar of the Taliban group. By today, Marines, Afghan and allied British forces held positions along a 120-mile (193-kilometer) stretch of the Helmand River, whose water irrigates farms that last year grew two-thirds of Afghanistan’s opium crop.
Opium, the uncooked form of heroin, has earned the Taliban and other drug smugglers as much as $470 million a year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Marines advanced as far as Khanishin, a town on the Helmand River from where grime roads used by Taliban and smugglers stretch 80 miles south across the desert to the Pakistani border. Pakistan’s army is “reorganizing” its forces near Helmand to ensure that “Taliban fleeing the U.S. process cannot cross the border,” armed spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said by telephone from the capital, Islamabad, yesterday.
One Marine died and more than a few others were upset yesterday, Pelletier said. Two U.K. troops were killed in a blast during a parallel process by their units near Lashkar Gah on July 1. They were identified late yesterday by the Ministry of Defence as trooper Joshua Hammond and Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe. Thorneloe was commanding official of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and the highest ranking Army officer to be killed in action since the 1982 Falklands war.
Man Shot
An Afghan man was shot and injured yesterday when he walk toward a group of Marines at a “rapid pace” and didn’t stop after a caution shot was fired, Pelletier said in an e-mail today. The man was taken to a Lashkar Gar hospital, where he is in stable state, Pelletier said.
The government of President Hamid Karzai controls only eight of Helmand’s 13 districts, provincial government spokesman Daud Ahmedi said by telephone from Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. The U.S. forces are in the main inhabitants centers in the districts of Nawa, Garmsir and Khanishin and will soon be following by civilian officials from non-governmental organizations.
Missing Soldier
In the country’s east, forces are “very tiring all available resources” to recover a U.S. soldier missing since June 30, the armed said in a statement, addition that officials believe he was “captured by militant forces.”
The Helmand unpleasant is the first major operation since the Obama administration shifted emphasis from the war in Iraq to combating Taliban and al-Qaeda extremists in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.
Before the operation, international forces in the districts were incomplete to a few British bases. Insurgents have slowly regain control since the Taliban regime was ousted in late 2001, forcing out local Afghan government and police official.

Important Pic Of BAITULA MAHOOD

2009-07-03T00:30:00.001-07:00

Baitullah Mehsud: Who is He?

2009-07-03T00:26:00.000-07:00

Baitullah Mehsud, the man who claimed accountability for the harass on a police preparation academy in Manawan (on the outskirts of Lahore) on March 30, is a veteran of the anti-Soviet ‘jihad’ of the 1980s, and has emerge to become the top Taliban leader in Pakistan. He claims to enjoy a ‘good relationship’ with the Afghan Taliban’s top most chief Mullah Omar. In adding together to in a straight line controlling sizeable militias who have wage overt war with Pakistani security forces in Waziristan, Baitullah has also been responsible for a number of radical attacks in the rest of the country, including the assassination of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto. However, despite all of his exploits, he remains elusive and masked in mystery. According to Jane’s cleverness Guide, Baitullah Mehsud was born for a moment during the 1970’s in the village of Landi Dhok in NWFP’s Bannu region. Though Bannu is far from the customary Mehsud stranglehold of southern Waziristan, it remains ferociously independent, and its residents carry on to display the uniqueness which helped the tribe remain one of the few that might never be conquered by the British during their colonization of the subcontinent.
Despite deteriorating to register on any major cleverness agency’s radar screen until recently, his standing for bravery made for a stable rise through the Taliban’s ranks. Paradoxically, Baitullah was among the selected few Pakistanis who complete it to the Time’s 2009 list of the world’s most powerful people. However, his so called ‘mystery’ has been improved by his refusal to let himself be photographed in current years, citing spiritual beliefs, even though he has had no issues with his press conferences being photographed as long as his face remains hidden.
Baitullah Mehsud play a leading role in a vicious movement against the military operation in Waziristan throughout 2004, during which he working many of the strategy evolved during his time in Afghanistan, counting beheading local policemen, guerrilla warfare and using the rugged terrain to hide troops and supplies.
At that time, Baitullah was operational in close association with Tahir Yuldashev, cofounder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo prisoner who is also said to be Baitullah’s brother but it remains unconfirmed. Another report by Dawn claimed that one of Abdullah’s brothers was a serving major in the Pakistan army, throughout the Waziristan operation which failed in rounding up this top rank of militants. Abdullah Mehsud committed suicide in 2007 after security forces raided his hideout in Balochistan.
The Pakistan Army, decrepit by a long campaign against militants in the region, to finish offered a cease-fire concord to him in February 2005. The agreement cede manage of vast tracts of land to Baitullah Mehsud and saw the army approving to man obtainable forts in the region only with paramilitary Frontier Corpsmen in go back for a vow to end sanctuary for foreign fighters and ending resistance to development projects.
However, according to the New York Times, Baitullah took this as a chance to re-arm his men and merge his grip on power in the region. This seems to be borne out by the fact that when the peace treaty collapsed in August 2007, Baitullah’s tribal armies were even stronger than before. After claiming that the army had dishonored the terms of the ceasefire, his forces launched attacks which seized more than 200 soldiers on August 30, 2007, who were later exchange for 25 militants in November the same year.
On December 14, 2007, he was chosen to lead the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), an sun umbrella group aimed at uniting the largest militant factions operating in the tribal agencies and NWFP. He was also answerable for exacerbating the violence during the Red Mosque operation, which saw army officers attack a seminary in the heart of Islamabad.
In February 2008, Baitullah supposedly announced another ceasefire union with the Pakistani government; however, the Pakistani military officially claims operations against him have not stopped. At the time, Carlotta Gall of the New York Times and Ismail Khan of Dawn report that high-level officials in the Pakistani government confirmed the deal with him.
In July 2008, Baitullah threatened to take action next to the NWFP government if its official did not step down within five days. The warning was met with absolute scorn on the government's part. Only a month later, rumours of his death from kidney failure spread, but were later clarified by his doctor. He continues to live.
Days before the Manawan attack near Lahore, on March 26, the United States government offered a $5 million reward for in sequence on Baitullah Mehsud, telling him as a key al-Qaeda facilitator intending to attack the United States. In the light of recent developments, analyst are debating whether or not the Pakistan army is truly committed to root out Baitullah and his ilk, or whether they fancy to use these militants as an supplementary line of defence against a likely Indian invasion and for acquiring a ‘strategic depth’ of sorts in the region. However, it remains to be seen if the newest attack in Manawan will spark a change in attitudes towards the TTP and their brethren.

Pakistan win hockey test series against England

2009-07-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Pakistan hockey team has beaten England persuasively in the second test mach here by 3-2 goals, thus bag the three-match test series by 2-0 on Friday
In the thirteenth minute of the first half, Waqas Shareef scored first goal from Pakistan while Muhammad Imran, score second goal from Pakistan in the twenty-fifth minute of the first half, got Pakistan 2-0 guide.

The team regularly lost grip on the match in the second half but in the fifty-fifth minute of the match, Hafeez Khan complete the third goal from Pakistan however, English team, pending back into the game, had manage to score two goals thirteen minutes previous to the final whistle of the match.

Consequently, Pakistan hockey thrashed England by 3-2 in the second test match, winning the test series by 2-0.

India media hail gay sex ruling

2009-07-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

The Indian media has hail a ruling by a court ruling decriminalizing homosexuality in the country.
The decision on Thursday overturns a 148-year-old regal law which describes a same-sex relationship as a "not natural offence".
Homosexual acts were carrying a punishment of by a 10-year prison sentence.
Many people in India regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate. Rights groups have long argued that the law contravened person rights.
India's Gay Day, headlined The Times of India
"..This historic decision could act as a catalyst, encouraging our legislators to shed their blinkers and take a more progressive view on the issue," the newspaper said.
"In 21st century India, it is perverse to penalise adults for their sexual choices."
'Giant step'Recitation the ruling as a "giant step towards globalization", the newspaper said India had become the 127th country "to take the guilt out of homosexuality".
It's okay to be gay, headline Hindustan Times
Section 377 of the colonial Indian Penal Code, defines homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse alongside the order of nature" and made them illegal.
"It took 150 years for us India - and 42 years after Britain itself had made homosexuality legal- to figure out that we didn't have a difficulty with same-sex relationships," Hindustan Times said.
The newspaper said "homosexuality and heterosexuality aren't divisive, emotive issues in Middle India - sexuality is, especially when it concern women and their perceived behaviors in a still male-dominated, anti-woman civilization at large".
Sexuality Equality, headlined The Indian Express
"Can a modern democratic system intrude upon the private domain of agreeable adults on the grounds of 'moral indignation’?" the newspaper wonder.
The paper said that the Delhi ruling "may not be the last word on the matter".

Bomb in Pakistan's Rawalpindi kills at least one

2009-07-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

RAWALPINDI,A suicide bomber on a motorcycle hit a bus transport workers from a nuclear ability and blew himself up in the Pakistani metropolis of Rawalpindi on Thursday, killing at least one person, police said.
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of bombings in current weeks in answer to a military offensive against Taliban militants in the northwest of the country, but Thursday's was the closest to the capital since the launch of the offensive.
Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, is home to the headquarters of the Pakistani army and additional condition agencies.
The city's police chief had initially told reporters that up to six people had been kill in the blast, but he later revised that figure down.
"I was at the spot and was told the toll was five to six, but later we checked with hospitals and they long-established one dead and 29 wounded," Nasir Durrani told reporters.

Indian court legalizes homosexuality

2009-07-02T01:56:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday legalized homosexuality by reading down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Section 377 of the IPC as far as it criminalizes gay sex among agreeable adults is infringement of basic rights, said the high court. However, Section 377 of the Indian Penal system which criminalizes homosexuality will continue for non-consensual and non-vaginal sex.

Any kind of favoritism is anti-thesis of right to parity, said the court, while allowing plea of gay rights activist for decriminalization of homosexuality.

The court said that this judgment would hold till Parliament chooses to alter the law.

Wi-tribe launches wireless broadband service in Pakistan

2009-07-02T01:47:00.000-07:00

Wi-tribe, a wireless internet provider back by Qatar’s Qtel Group, has launched a wireless broadband service in Pakistan. The consumption, which uses WiMAX technology from Motorola, covers major cities of Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, chairman of Qtel Group, said the launch, which is Wi-tribe’s biggest scheme to date, marks an very important stage in the company’s aim to become a top 20 telecom player by 2020. “Following our open in Jordan, Pakistan marks a major step stone towards our increase strategy and our meaning to leverage the scale and strength of the Qtel Group in order to deliver the latest technology to our custom.

Dr Nasser Marafih, CEO Qtel, added that broadband represent a “major pillar of growth” for the company, chiefly in market which have low broadband saturation rates, such as Jordan and Pakistan.“Broadband diffusion levels in new rising markets are at present very low compare to markets in the region. However, consumer demand for wireless services is mounting at a fast pace. So we will carry on focusing on this area in the future as we see good business chance and significant growth potential,” he said.While Pakistan previously has about 50 ISPs, services are incomplete outside metropolitan areas. Access to high speed broadband and mobile broadband is also restricted. As of February 2008, Pakistan had about 100,000 broadband users, although the administration has set itself a target to add to this number to 1.6 million by 2010.Qtel entered Pakistan in April 2007 when it acquired a 75% stake in wireless telecoms operator Burraq Telecom, in a combined deal with and Saudi Arabia's A.A. Turki for Trading and Contracting.ers,” he said.

Saif and Kareena's Love run away

2009-07-01T01:41:00.000-07:00

Saifeena have hardly just returned from their vacation to London, New York and Italy and the pair is already preparation their next romantic escapade. However, while the preceding trip was taken for some much wanted rest-and-relaxation, this one will be to celebrate their union. Yes, come August 16th, Saif and Bebo will have completed two years of their romantic connection. Ironically, it also happens to be Saif Ali Khan's birthday on the same day.

"It'll be two years on to day since Saif and I started dating. The revelry is going to be extended as the couple begins shooting for Agent Vinod, Saif's second home manufacture, from September 1," she said to a leading publication. The actress is obviously excited for Agent Vinod but complained that beau "Saifu" is far too concerned in this flick, "I often lose Saif to long-lasting discussions with Sriram Raghavan in the middle of the night. Sometimes at 3 am, Sriram and he are eagerly discussing a scene."

However, the actress also claims that while the actor will play numerous roles in his career, at heart he still remains "James Bond." In fact, she also exposed that during their time in England jointly; the actor would often dress up in a stylish suit and take his most important lady out to dinner. "He likes his martini surprised not stirred. And he'd often woo me exactly like it happens in those Bond flicks," she quickly additional before signing off.

UN begin probe into Bhutto killing

2009-07-01T01:27:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD (AFP) — A UN commission selected to investigate the murder of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto begin work on Wednesday, a spokesman said.
The board, which has a six-month command, is being led by the Chilean ambassador to the United Nations, Heraldo Munoz, and includes an Indonesian ex-attorney general and an Irish previous police official.
Bhutto, the first woman to become prime minister of a Muslim country, was killing on December 27, 2007 in a gun and suicide attack after address a voting rally in Rawalpindi, a barracks city near the capital Islamabad.
"The six-month permission of the Benazir Bhutto commission of query has begun today. The commission is probable to visit Pakistan but the dates are not strong-minded yet," Hiro Ueki, a UN spokesman in Pakistan, told AFP.
The United Nations has said the board will inquire into the facts and situation of the assassination, but have made clear it will be up to Pakistan to determine "the criminal liability of the perpetrators."

Father's doubts over Jackson death

2009-06-28T22:59:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson's father say he has a "lot of concern" over the actions that lead up to his son's death, as information began to materialize of the post-mortem examination.

Jackson's body weighed just 8st 1oz - and his stomach merely contained partially-dissolved pills when he died, it was reported.

The answer, reported in The Sun, condition the singer had four inoculation marks near his heart, apparently from attempt to pump adrenaline into the limb in a bid to restart it.

Speaking on the Black Entertainment Television Awards' red carpet in Los Angeles, Joe Jackson said he couldn't go into aspect about what his concerns were.

But he additional the singer's children were the family's "first priority" and that he and Michael's mother, Katherine, have "authority for our son and his children".

Asked about funeral preparations, Mr. Jackson said: "We haven't get to that yet, we are functioning on that."

Previous, Joe Jackson had said he did not think stress over the powerful series of London concerts the King of Pop designed for his comeback had led to his death.

He also said he supposed his son would be superior in death than he was in life.

The patriarch of the Jackson five said he wished Michael Jackson was approximately to see the expression of affection since his death.

He told Fox News Channel's Geraldo at Large that "Michael was the principal superstar in the world and in history".

Dubai Airport

2009-06-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Fastest Bikes In The World

2009-06-28T04:39:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Fastest Bikes In The World

2009-06-28T04:36:00.001-07:00

Jackson's family seek second autopsy

2009-06-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson’s family is looking for a second and independent autopsy on the singer’s body, according to US media reports.The family is supposed to have a series of questions about Jackson’s death, which remained unreciprocated by the initial autopsy on Friday.The Rev Jesse Jackson, a close friend of the family, told Good Morning America Jackson’s relatives “ought” to press for the autopsy.He said, "When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what? Was he on the scene twice? Did he use the Demerol? It's a very powerful drug. Was he injected once? Was he inject twice?"The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office said yesterday that there was no proof of foul play or outside trauma in Jackson’s death.But after a three-hour oral exam of the star’s body doctors late cause of death while they await the results of further tests.The toxicology test results could take up to six weeks. Meanwhile, Jackson’s dead body has been handed over to his family.Since his death on Thursday, focal point has shifted to the star’s alleged addiction on painkilling drugs.Police in Los Angeles have spoken to Jackson’s doctor, who was present when the singer suffered a supposed cardiac take into custody.But tonight it has emerged that police are allegedly looking to speak to another of Jackson’s physicians, Dr. Tohme Tohme.

PSO temporarily suspends fuel supply to airlines

2009-06-28T01:09:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has momentarily suspended the fuel supply to many airlines including Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for the desire of JP1 fuel, sources said.
According to PSO sources, the fuel scarcity hit due to the annual repair work on National Refinery, which will be done soon but Shell and Caltex lubricants companies have been endlessly providing fuel to airline.
JP1 Fuel, stored for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, is in use theses days, sources added.

Quaid's portraits removed from President House

2009-06-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: The portraits of Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah have been detached from the Prime Minister House and Presidential HouseTwo days ago, President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a welcome in the honour of national cricket team on winning the ICC Twenty20 World Cup title. On this occasion, the team players and officials had a group photo with President Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.There are pictures of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Zardari Bhutto and President Zardari without any picture of founder of Pakistan is seen hung in the backdrop of photo.Similarly, an Internship Award ceremony was held with PM Gilani in chair on Friday. On this occasion, the stage was bedecked with the pictures of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari and PM Gilani; however, there was no picture of Quaid-e-Azam.In a alike photograph, President Zardari was administering oath of Federal Mohtasib to Dr Shoaib Suddle; however, the backdrop flash with a picture of Quaid-e-Awam sans any photo of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah.Similarly, in a meeting with US delegation, no photograph of Muhammed Ali Jinnah was visible.underneath law, to hang the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam at offices of government officials, President and Prime Minister is compulsory.

PEPCO modernizing its systems to strengthen its power distribution system

2009-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) is put all possible tireless human and financial efforts in research and expansion to introduce modern technology in strengthening and improvement its power distribution systems.
According to a press release issued here on Saturday, Innovation and originality based research, blended with the worldwide trends and practices is being conducted in various distribution companies of PEPCO on the instructions of its MD to make the best use of technological advancements in the power sector and strengthen the power distribution system and get better its related services.
It is said that LESCO being one of the distribution companies of PEPCO, has undertake various projects fruitfully, namely, the AMR (automatic meter reading), Transformer’s protection and ERP (Enterprise resource planning) projects are worth mentioning, which will altogether improve the performance of the sharing companies in supplying the electricity to the customers.
It further that its research and development cell is working on Automatic Meter Reading project, which involves a state of the art computer network based system enabling the distribution companies to control and execute connection & disconnection procedures from the head office.
Complete consumption of the consumer can be monitored to detect electricity theft and also ensure accurate billing to save consumers from any inconvenience.
The transformer protection switches are also being introduced to save the transformers from any damage due to abrupt increase in the electricity load thus reduction a substantial amount of money necessary for their repair or purchase.
PEPCO said that another very sophisticated and contemporary technology based program E R P is also being implemented which will establish a net work, linking all departmental offices, field offices and stores to enable the managers take punctual decisions and carry out tasks expeditiously.
It said that this hard work will not only improve the power allocation system but also will enable the management to control the load. As per the daily load location the total electricity demand went up to 15734 MW on 26 July and a deficit of 2401 MW was managed, which was 4520 MW last year on the same date.
Electricity export to Karachi was 690 MW on 26 June 2009 as compare to 540 MW last year on the same day.

Michael Jackson Became Muslim

2009-06-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Pop star Michael Jackson dies at 50

2009-06-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES: Pop giant Michael Jackson, who took to the period as a child star and set the world dancing to the thrashing rhythms of his music in the 1970s, died on Thursday, online website reported. He was 50.The website reported that Jackson suffers a heart attack just after 12:00 pm (1900 GMT) local time and paramedics were unable to revive him.Jackson's manager Tohme E. Tohme was not right away available for comment when contact by media. Officials at UCLA Medical Center where Jackson was treat also could not be reached for comment. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales would not verify Jackson's identity but said paramedics went to an address corresponding to the star's home at 12:21 pm (1921 GMT) and the person was taken to UCLA Medical Center.An nameless family member earlier told TMZ -- the first outlet to report that Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest -- that the star was in "really bad shape." Michael's father Joe Jackson told E! Online he was aware of the crisis but did not know further details. "I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital," he said. "I am not sure what's wrong. I am waiting to hear back from them." The information came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges. However those concerts -- billed as the "final curtain" -- had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month. Organizers of the concerts had stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health. Promoters and producers AEG Live said the rescheduling was done because of the "sheer magnitude" of the show and the desire for fans presence the opening nights to get the same experience intended for all 50 shows. In a press conference from the United States broadcast over the Internet, AEG Live president Randy Phillips was asked about Jackson's health and said: "I would trade my body for his tomorrow. He's in unbelievable shape." While Jackson reigned as the "King of Pop" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colorful public behavior, his startling physical alteration and multiple allegations of child abuse. Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and intrigues to kidnap his young accuser. Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover. Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionizing music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success. The concentration however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery -- which he denies -- his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.

Protest across country against load-shedding

2009-06-25T11:14:00.001-07:00

LAHORE: Power catastrophe continues in diverse parts of the country as the electricity shortfall has climbed to 3,000 MW due to rise in mercury.The scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding has additional to the hardship of the people who took to streets and staged complaint. They burned bone fires to show their anger at the failure of power utilities to cater to their electricity needs.The period of load-shedding was increased in southern Punjab with the rise in temperature. According to MEPCO spokesman, southern Punjab is facing a shortfall of 600 MW.Load-shedding up to 4 hours is being undertaken in cities while rural areas have to bear 7 to 8 hour power outages every day.

British dogs trained to sniff out diabetes danger

2009-06-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

AYLESBURY, England: Dogs are being qualified in Britain as possible life-savers to warn diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels fall to treacherously low levels.Man's best friend previously has been shown competent of sniff out certain cancer cells, and dogs have long been put to work in the hunt for prohibited drugs and explosives.Their new front-line role in diabetes care follows current evidence signifying a dog's oversensitive nose can notice tiny changes that occur when a person is about to have a hypoglycemic attack.A investigation last December by researchers at Queen's University Belfast found 65 percent of 212 people with insulin-dependent diabetes reported that when they had a hypoglycemic incident their pets had react by whining, barking, licking or some other display.At the Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs research centre in Aylesbury, southern England, and animal trainer are put that finding into practice and honing dogs' innate skills.The charity has 17 save dogs at a variety of stages of preparation that will be paired up with diabetic owners, many of them children."Dogs have been trained to detect certain odours down to parts per trillion, so we are talking tiny, minute amounts. Their world is actually very dissimilar to ours," Chief Executive Claire Guest told Reuters TV.The centre was started five years ago by orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Hunt, who wanted to investigate curious anecdotes about dogs harassment their owners repeatedly on parts of their body that were later establish to be cancerous.At approximately the same time, the first hard proof was being gather by researchers down the road at Amersham Hospital that dogs could recognize bladder cancer from chemicals in urine.The move into diabetes followed the case of Paul Jackson, who told Guest and her team about his dog Tinker who warns him when his sugar levels get too low and he is in danger of collapsing."It's usually licking my face, panting beside me. It depends how far I have gone before he realises," Jackson said.Tinker has now been educated by the Aylesbury centre and is a fully capable Diabetic Hypo-Alert dog, complete with red jacket to announce himself as a working assistance animal.The centre is continuing work to perfect dogs' ability in spotting signs of cancer. But while dog-lover Guest says it would be nice to have a dog in every doctor's office to screen for disease, ultimately that is not practical.Instead, she hopes the research will lead to the invention of an electronic nose that will mimic a dog's."At the moment electronic noses are not as advanced as the dogs', they are about 15 years behind. But the work that we are doing and what we are finding out will help scientists advance quickly so that they can use electronic noses to do the same thing," she said

Afridi devotes T20 victory to Swat people

2009-06-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

KARACHI: The hero from Pakistan cricket team in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Shahid Khan Afridi has said our ambition were to reduce the restless nation by winning the world cup and I dedicate our victory to the people of Swat.
Afridi devotes T20 victory to Swat people.He advised political leaders to get united as our national team is and they must learn lesson from our commitment, he added.

Talking to rehmankhan66@gmail.com (Rehman) on his return to country, he said the prayers of the people set the ways for our victory; my seniors kept my moral high and boosted my confidence as the tournament progressed.

He advised political leaders to get united as our national team is and they have to learn lesson from our commitment, he added.

Younis Khan receives hero's welcome in Karachi

2009-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

KARACHI: A jubilant crowd gathered at Jinnah international airport to greet Pakistan cricket team’s skipper Younis Khan.Younis’ family members, friends and large number of cricket lovers were present at the airport to welcome winning captain. Fans shower flower petals as soon as Younis came out from the airport. They chanted sologans in Younis Khan and Pakistan’s favour. Younis at this occasion avoid media.

Victorious Pakistan cricket players returning home

2009-06-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: Most of the players of triumphant Pakistan cricket team have dead from London to return home where the complete nation is impatiently waiting to accord them warmest welcome.People of all ages together with cricket fans, women and children will be gathering outside Lahore airport where the flight transportation the cricket heroes is scheduled to land at 3:00 AM.The team captain Younus Khan, star performer Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul are not among the players returning home in the wee hours tonight.The nation is prepared to pay tribute to the cricket heroes who made the entire nation pompous.This is the second time when the Pakistan cricket team is returning home after becoming world champions.The memories of Pakistan team recurring home still lingers in peoples mind and heart when the players led by captain Imran Khan returned home after wining 1992 World Cup.

Watch Live Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Final Match Twenty Twenty World Cup 2009 t20 Cricket lords London

2009-06-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

T20 World Cup Victory celebration @ Bangalore

2009-06-22T07:12:00.001-07:00

Final Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Lords

2009-06-22T07:09:00.001-07:00

Pakistan celebrate victory in for world twenty20

2009-06-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2009 T20 World Cup Final (Celebrns + Post Match)

2009-06-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Twenty20 Cricket World Cup Final 2009 Pakistan vs Srilanka

2009-06-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

PAKISTAN WON THE WORLDCUP of t20 2009

2009-06-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

Pakistan lift World T20 Cup, beat Sri Lanka by 8 wkts

2009-06-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Pakistan won their first major title in 17 years when they astonished Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at a sell-out Lord's here on Sunday.

Seamer Abdur Razzaq claimed three wickets as Pakistan bowled and field aggressively to restrict Sri Lanka to 138-6, then coast home easily with eight deliveries to spare.

Shahid Afridi hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, and former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the unbeatable third wicket.

Pakistan, runners-up to India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, ended Sri Lanka's winning run in the tournament with style.

Pakistan last won an offical multi-nation tournament in 1992 when Imran Khan's team lifted the World Cup by beating England in the final at the Melbourne cricket ground in Australia.

The win by Younus Khan's team gave Pakistanis back home reason to cheer as the cricket-mad nation has been deprived of international tours due to security concerns in the volatile nation.

The International Cricket Council has already ruled out holding World Cup matches in Pakistan in 2011 following the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3.

Pakistani openers Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan ensured there were no early scares as they put on 48 for the first wicket in seven overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya broke through with his first delivery in the next over when he beat Akmal in the air with his left-arm spin and had him stumped for 37 off 28 balls.

Jayasuriya then took a catch to get rid of Shahzaib off Muttiah Muralitharan for 19, but Afridi and Malik took Pakistan home amid loud celebrations from their fans in the stands.

Sri Lanka were dealt quick blows after Sangakkara won the toss and elected to take first strike on a slow wicket.

The Lankans slumped to 2-2 in the first nine balls and that became 34-4 before Sangakkara himself led the rescue act with a defiant unbeaten 64 from 52 balls.

Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews put on 68 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket as Sri Lanka plundered 59 runs in the final five overs.

Mathews returned unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls.

Pakistan got off to a sensational start when teenage fast bowler Mohammad Aamir sent back the in-form Tillekaratne Dilshan with the fifth ball of the match.

Dilshan, the tournament's leading scorer with 317 runs, miscued a pull shot off the speedy left-armer and was caught at backward square-leg by Shahzaib Hasan for zero.

Four balls later, Shahzaib grabbed his second catch at mid-off as Jehan Mubarak skied a leading edge off Razzaq, who shared the new ball with Aamir.

Jayasuriya counter-attacked with a six and four in Razzaq's second over, but the bowler hit back two balls later as the left-handed veteran edged a ball on to his stumps after making 17.

Razzaq, who replaced the injured Yasir Arafat after ending his links with the rebel Indian Cricket League, struck again in his third over when Misbah-ul Haq dived to his right at slip to remove Mahela Jayawardene for one.

56th birth anniversary of Benazir today

2009-06-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: The 56th birthday of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is being celebrated across the country on Sunday (today).

It would be observed in a befitting manner while Quran Khwani and prayer would be held at the PPP’s offices crossways the country. A large number of PPP leaders and staff from all over the country will visit Garhi Khuda Bukhsh Bhutto to pay homage to their immense leader.

A ceremony will be held at Naudero in which prominent writers will present their papers on the life and achievement of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.

President Asif Ali Zardari will speak to the party workers on the occasion. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) official and workers, on the directives of President Zardari, will contribute blood for the Pakistan Army that is conducting an anti-terrorist operation in the NWFP.

The birthday will be simply celebrated without any cake-cutting ceremony. A large number of PPP leaders and workers arrived in Naudero.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka in ICC World T20 final today

2009-06-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will competition the World Twenty20 final at Lord's today.
Pakistan, who beat favourites South Africa by seven runs in Thursday's semi-final, has bounced back in style at this tournament.
They will face unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after their Asian rivals thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday.
Despite the events in Lahore, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said relatives amid the two sides had remained friendly.
"What Lahore truly brought home to us was we are just the same as anyone else," he said.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eights match former at this tournament but Sangakkara said: "We've played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in separation. Different players come into form at different times.

"Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy."

The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan's semi-final triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners.

"He is a guy who can take the game away in few overs, but we can't just concentrate on him," said Sangakkara.

In Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded.

"Mendis, the way he's bowled in the middle overs had been a charm," Sangakkara said. "Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets."

Sri Lanka's semi-final victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five.

Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies' reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks.

Chris Gayle made 63 not out but none of the West Indies captain's colleagues could stay with the left-handed opener long enough to mount a serious chase as Sri Lanka won with 14 balls to spare.

Dilshan decided not to employ the 'Dilscoop' shot where he flicks the ball over the wicket-keeper's head and settled for more orthodox strokes.

"Now we've one more match, hopefully I can stay strong. I think I'll keep the paddle for the final," Dilshan explained.

Sangakkara, who said he expected something special from veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in the final, added: "I have run out of superlatives for Dilshan. He is a pioneer stroke-maker in Twenty20.

"The best thing is that he understands his role and has become very responsible and mature. He has finally understood how good he is."

And as for Mathews, the captain said: "It's Mathews's first major international tour and you can't ask for much more than three wickets in the first over.

"Now we will take this confidence into the final against Pakistan."

Pakistan, who lost by just five runs to arch-rivals India in the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg, are desperate to go one better this time.

The dark horses of this tournament, they have justified veteran coach Intikhab Alam's belief that they would be at their best when it mattered most.

"We want to make people back home happy," Pakistan captain Younus Khan said. "Winning the title will mean a lot to them and that will inspire us in the final. One more game and the World Cup will be ours."

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said: "You couldn't ask for a better final, they are two quality teams."

10 ka dum

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10 ka dum

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10 KA DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 08(last part) DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS | SALMAN KHAN

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10 KA DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 07 |DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS |

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10 KA DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 05 |DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS

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10 KA DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 03 |DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS |

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10 KA DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 02 |DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS |

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DUM 2 |13 JUNE |PART 01 |DARSHEEL & SLUMDOG KIDS | SALMAN KHAN

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Sangakkara lauds Sri Lanka spirit

2009-06-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said Pakistan is one of the best team and he expects an exhilarating encounter with Pakistan in the final of T20 World Cup.
Addressing a press conference, Sangakkara said both countries enjoying good cricket ties and their is definitely a thrilling final ahead for cricket lovers.
West Indian captain spoken regrets over the defeat in semi-final. He said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have talented players and large number of supporters, therefore, an interesting final is probable.

GM railways terms Noshad statement fake

2009-06-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

LAHORE: The General Manager of Railways Saeed Akhtar has term the statement of the nine-year-old Noshad who jump for a goods moving train as fake and self-made false story.
He said the six different trains, traveling through Samasatta track have been checkered, thoroughly searched and given approval by district police but no evidence favoring the incident could be found.
It is hard to believe that nine-year-old boy jumped safely from seven feet high container and did not receive injuries but we still we are look into the complain, GM added.

The Top Tens in the world Part 7

2009-06-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka reach final, beat WI by 57 runs

2009-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Sri Lanka had beaten the West Indies by 57 runs with 14 balls to spare in the second semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009 here at The Oval on Friday.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who open the innings remained not out on 63 as no other batsman could resist against the accurate bowling from Sri Lankans.

Girl Kissing

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Obama’s popularity goes down

2009-06-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama’s honeymoon period has probably finished, since two new surveys suggested that the Americans are sternly concern over his policy.

A poll jointly conducted by news two publications here showed that the US President’s popularity went down from 61% in April to 56%. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents (58%) want more changes capable of trimming the deficit, even if it may take longer for the recovery of the US economy.

Seven in Ten Wary of His Interventions in Economy

Almost 70% of those surveyed said they were concerned over the federal government’s intervention in economy, healthcare and social security and Obama’s rescue of General Motors.

The poll found that just 37%t of Americans thought Obama’s had taken on too many issues, while 60% said he was fighting on many fronts because the country faced many pressing problems.

In the meantime, the Republicans’ popularity has received a heavy blow, since only 28% of the people gave them a positive rating.

Both polls demonstrated the majority’s opposition to Obama’s decision to shut down the Guantanamo detention centre for suspected terrorists.

Pakistan can easily win World T20 Cup: Ramiz Raja

2009-06-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD: Previous captain of Pakistan cricket team Ramiz Raja, declare the Pakistan victory against South Africa a good omen, said that the national cricket team after defeat Proteas now can easily win the final of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009.
Talking with rehmankhan66@gmail.com (Rehman), the former captain said that the success against a big team like South Africa is a result of the best team combination.
Praising the performance of Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, he said that equally these players have played a significant role in the team’s victory.
Replying to a question, Ramiz said that Abdul Razzaq is a good cricketer but fresh cricketers is given more chances in Twenty20 cricket.
He said that his favorite team for the final would be Pakistan only.

Afridi blitz takes Pakistan to 149-4 against SA

2009-06-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

NOTTINGHAM: Shahid Afridi hit 51 off 34 balls as Pakistan made a challenging 149-4 in the World Twenty20 semi-final against South Africa at Trent Bridge here on Thursday.The hard-hitting batsman smashed eight boundaries, counting four in succession off Johan Botha, after Pakistan chosen to bat on a wicket expected to assist spinners later.Pakistan, who was 120-3 after 15 overs, failed to build on the early advantage and managed just 29 runs in the final five overs. South Africa, unbeaten in the tournament so far, regrouped after Afridi's assault and did not concede a boundary after 14.4 overs.Pakistan captain Younus Khan returned unbeaten on 24, while Abdur Razzaq was on 12."It's not an easy wicket to bat on, the ball is not coming onto the bat," said Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik."Our bowlers will use their variations and that will help them."South Africa's JP Duminy praised his team's bowlers who limited Pakistan to just 29 runs in the last five overs."Shahid Afridi played really well and hit the ball nicely," said Duminy."But it was a great fightback by us in the last five overs. The bowlers did really well and were judgment the block holes."Pakistan made a frenetic start, racing to 28 off the first 15 deliveries but at the cost of two wickets.After Kamran Akmal had taken eight runs in Dale Steyn's first over, Shahzaib Hasan fell in the second over for zero when he miscued a big hit off left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell.Akmal struck a six in Steyn's second over, but fell off the next delivery as he top-edged a pull to Albie Morkel at mid-on. Akmal made 23 from 12 balls with four boundaries and a six.Afridi, promoted to number three, swung Jacques Kallis for two fours in one over as Pakistan reached 47-2 by the time the field restrictions ended after the sixth.Afridi brought up his half-century off 33 deliveries after slamming off-spinner Botha for four consecutive boundaries in the 11th over that realised 18 runs.A desperate South African captain Graeme Smith turned to slow bowler Jean-Paul Duminy in the 13th over and struck gold first ball as Afridi holed out to mid-wicket.Shoaib Malik, who faced 39 balls to make 34, also returned playing a lofted shot as Botha took a well-judged catch at long-on off left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe.

Pakistan in final beating South Africa

2009-06-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan beaten South Africa by seven runs in an exciting finish in the first semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Cup 2009 here at Trent Bridge on Thursday.Chasing a rather difficult target of 150 runs, South Africa were restricted to 142-5 when the 20 overs were completed.