.

Cricket - Sports

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Murdoch resigns from post

James Murdoch is stepping down as executive chairman of News International to focus on expanding TV business, News Corporation announces.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

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Top al-Qaeda commander 'arrested'

Top al-Qaeda commander Saif al-Adel, once Osama Bin Laden's security chief, is arrested at Cairo airport, Egyptian security officials say.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

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DINA for the Issue of February 29, 2012

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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February 29, 2012 Wednesday Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:

e-mail webmaster@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com
fax +92(21) 35693995
snail-mail DAWN Media Group,
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2012

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.


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Acts of terrorism can't be ignored, agencies tell SC
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The Inter-Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence explained before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that they treated court orders with great sanctity, but could not shut their eyes to rebellious acts of internal and external elements involved in serious cases of terrorism.

A statement was submitted on behalf of the agencies two days ahead of a scheduled hearing by the Supreme Court on production of seven of 11 suspects picked up by intelligence agencies for their alleged involvement in the October 2009 attacks on the GHQ and the ISI's Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi. Four of the 11 have died in mysterious circumstances...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/case-of-missing-people-acts-of-terrorism-cant-be-ignored-agencies-tell-sc.html


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'Saving Face' woman wants son to be plastic surgeon
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By Malik Tahseen Raza
MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 28: Rukhsana Bibi, a central character in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's 'Saving Face', is yet to see the film but is happy to know that it has won an Oscar.

"Even during its making, Sharmeen was confident that her film will win international recognition," she says...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/saving-face-woman-wants-son-to-be-plastic-surgeon.html


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Passengers hauled off buses and gunned down: 16 killed in Kohistan sectarian attack
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By Nisar Ahmad Khan
MANSEHRA, Feb 28: Gunmen in military uniform forced people going from Rawalpindi to Gilgit to disembark from buses in Kohistan's Harban area on Tuesday and gunned down 16 of them after checking their names on their ID cards.

"Sixteen people were killed in the incident. The bodies were handed over to the deputy commissioner of Chilas after autopsy at Shitial hospital," Mohammad Ilyas, district police officer, Kohistan, told reporters...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/passengers-hauled-off-buses-and-gunned-down-16-killed-in-kohistan-sectarian-attack.html


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President signs 20th Amendment into law
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: President Asif Ali Zardari signed on Tuesday the 20th Constitution Amendment Bill 2012 into law for creating an independent election commission and an impartial caretaker set-up for holding general election.

Lawyer Maulvi lqbal Haider filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the same day, challenging the amendment on various legal grounds...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/president-signs-20th-amendment-into-law.html


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Govt, PML-N agree to subsidise oil, raise CNG price
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The government and the PML-N agreed on Tuesday to provide Rs15 billion subsidy on petroleum prices over the next three months. As a result, there may not be any increase in prices from March 1.

In return, the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) will be increased by about Rs6 per kg to partially offset the impact of lower revenue on high speed diesel, petrol and kerosene oil and to maintain a CNG-petrol price parity of about 60 per cent, a senior finance ministry official told Dawn...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/govt-pml-n-agree-to-subsidise-oil-raise-cng-price.html


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Cabinet secretary to appear in PM's case
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Defending the prime minister against contempt charges before the Supreme Court, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan ended up on Tuesday calling one witness from his list of three — and that too as a defence witness to present and certify summaries submitted as evidence by the prosecution.

In his earlier submission the counsel had requested summoning of three persons as court witnesses...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/cabinet-secretary-to-appear-in-pms-case.html


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Oil-for-wheat deal with Iran under study
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Iran has offered to provide 80,000 barrels of crude oil to Pakistan on three-month deferred payment.

Prime Minister's special assistant on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain told reporters after a meeting of the National Assembly's standing committee on petroleum that he would visit Tehran in the second week of March to discuss the matter. He said the Iranian offer had been forwarded to the State Bank for advice and expert opinion...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/oil-for-wheat-deal-with-iran-under-study.html


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US to maintain 'crucial ties' with Pakistan: Clinton
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Feb 28: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Senate panel on Tuesday that the United States was winding down the war in Afghanistan but wanted to maintain a challenging but crucial relationship with Pakistan.

In her opening remarks before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, she noted that the State Department and USAID were requesting $51.6 billion for their programmes in the next fiscal year, which begins in October 2012...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/us-to-maintain-crucial-ties-with-pakistan-clinton.html


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'Some officers knew about Osama safe house'
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KARACHI, Feb 28: Mid-ranking Pakistan Army officials may have known that Osama bin Laden had a safe house in the country, leaked material appears to indicate.

According to the BBC World, the claim was made in emails allegedly from US-based security think tank Stratfor, which were published by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/some-officers-knew-about-osama-safe-house.html


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Pak-India cricket ties should be revived: Khar
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ABU DHABI, Feb 28: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday called for the resumption of cricket ties with India.

"Pakistan pushes for cricket ties with every country, especially with India," Ms Khar told reporters while watching the third and final Twenty20 between Pakistan and England here on Monday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/pak-india-cricket-ties-should-be-revived-khar.html


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Gilani discusses Balochistan situation with army chief
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: With the world focusing on unrest in Balochistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met on Tuesday army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discussed security situation in the country.

"Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at PM's House today and discussed security situation of the country and the region," a brief press release issued by PM's Office after the meeting said...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/gilani-discusses-balochistan-situation-with-army-chief.html


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Raffiq Butt to succeed Rao as PAF chief
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Air Marshal Tahir Raffiq Butt will succeed retiring Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman as the twentieth chief of Pakistan Air Force next month.

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has advised the president of Pakistan to appoint Air Marshal Tahir Raffiq Butt as the new Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/raffiq-butt-to-succeed-rao-as-paf-chief.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 0.79 Points:
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KARACHI, Feb 28: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12744.45, up 0.79 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Feb 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.1 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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Dunya TV

Dunya TV


Hearing against first Pakistani detainee in Guantanamo begins today

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Majid Shoukat Khan, a Pakistani-American, will appear for an arraignment hearing before a US military commission at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba on February 29 (Wednesday).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He is the first detainee of Pakistani origin who is going to appear for a trial in Guantanamo. The charges against a couple of other detainees from Pakistan were brought by the Department of Defense but later dropped, so the case was never referred for trial. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Khan is accused of a failed plot to assassinate the then President Pervez Musharraf in March 2002 when he wore a suicide jacket to a mosque where Musharraf was supposed to visit. He had also recorded a video of himself swearing to kill Musharraf, but the plot failed when Musharraf never arrived at the mosque.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He is also accused of acting as a courier to arrange $50,000 for JW Marriot hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2003 besides providing material and other kind of support for terrorist attacks in United States, on the directions of top al-Qaeda operative, Khalid Shaikh Muhammad post-9/11.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Khan was picked-up from Karachi in late 2003 and was reportedly kept at a secret location by CIA before shifting him to Guantanamo in September 2006. He had moved to United States with his family in 1996 and obtained nationality before returning to Pakistan in 2002.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The US Defense Department announced formal charges against him on February 14 this year. The charges mention that he used a forged travel document to travel to Pakistan from his home in Baltimore, Maryland, in United States in January 2002.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Khan is charged with conspiracy, murder and attempted murder in violation of the law of war, providing material support for terrorism and spying&rdquo;, Pentagon said and the military commission will start its hearing at Guantanamo accordingly.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Chief Prosecutor of the US Military, Mark Martins, has referred the charges against Majid Khan to the convening authority with the recommendation that these be referred to the military commission for trial. Because he had not recommended any of these to be referred to a military commission empowered to award death penalty, therefore the maximum allowable penalty for the charged offenses could lead to life imprisonment.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, Khan, who turned 32 a day before the hearing, has reportedly entered a plea agreement with the US government, thereby agreeing to testify against other Guantanamo detainees in exchange for a reduced sentence.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A spokesman of the US Department of Defense, Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale confirmed the plea agreement without going into the specifics. He, however, said that a &ldquo;part of the agreement included sentencing period between 25 to 40 years&rdquo;.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There have been reports of Majid Khan&rsquo;s marriage to Dr. Afia Siddiqui, convicted in September 2010 to 86 years in prison by a US court, on alleged charges of assault with attempt to murder US military personnel. However, the US military is reluctant to confirm or deny these reports.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Coutney Sullivan of the US Justice Department has been assigned as the trial counsel, with Army Lt. Col. Michael Hosang and Navy Lt. Nathaniel Gross as assistant trial counsels, in this case while Jonathan Dixon will be Khan&rsquo;s defense lawyer. A military judge will hear the case under the US Military Commissions Act of 2009.</p><p>- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in Gunatanamo Bay, Cuba<br />&nbsp;</p>


Egypt: Judges withdraw from trial of 16 Americans

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>All three judges on Tuesday pulled out of Egypt&nbsp;s trial of 43 pro-democracy workers, including 16 Americans, according to a court official, throwing into question the case that has ripped U.S.-Egypt relations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The defendants are charged with using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest that has roiled Egypt over the past year. The pro-democracy groups and the U.S. flatly deny the charges, and U.S. officials have hinted that foreign aid to Egypt is in jeopardy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lead Judge Mohammed Shoukry said Tuesday that &quot;the court felt uneasiness&quot; in handling the case, according to the court official. He did not elaborate.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The official said new judges will be assigned to the case. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The trial has proceeded only as far as its opening session, and it would need to be restarted with a new panel of judges. Coupled with indications that the two countries are trying to find an acceptable resolution to the crisis, it was seen possible that the trial might be called off at some point.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told two Senate panels on Tuesday that the United States and Egypt are &quot;in very intensive discussions about finding a solution.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;We&nbsp;ve had a lot of very tough conversations,&quot; she said. &quot;We&nbsp;re moving toward a resolution.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;It&nbsp;s important that they know that we are continuing to push them,&quot; she said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Egyptian lawyer and rights activist Ahmed Seif al-Islam said it was hard to interpret what was behind the resignations. He said that judges pull out of cases over relationships with defendants or their lawyers. In other cases, especially the political ones, judges might feel pressure and prefer to stay away.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;In general, the main reason is that the judge feels that he cannot act as a real judge, and his rulings would be unfair or influenced,&quot; Seif al-Islam said. The affair began in December when Egyptian security raided 17 offices of 10 pro-democracy and human rights groups, confiscating documents and equipment. It led to charges that the groups have financed protests over the past year with illegally obtained funds and have failed to register with the government as required.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The groups insist their financing is transparent, and all their efforts to register have been stalled by the Egyptian government. The charges dovetail with constant pronouncements from Egypt&nbsp;s military rulers that protests against their rule are directed by unnamed, dark foreign forces, a claim that is ridiculed by Egyptian activists.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Furious over the charges and travel bans against civil society workers, the United States has threatened to cut off aid to Egypt, putting at risk $1.3 billion in military aid this year and another $250 million in economic assistance. Egyptian officials claim the matter is entirely in the hands of the judiciary, and many of them view the U.S. threat as unacceptable meddling.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The trial began Sunday, but the foreign defendants were not present. Shoukry declared a two-month adjournment to give lawyers time to read the case files, said to be in excess of 1,500 pages, and for authorities to find interpreters for non-Arabic speaking defendants.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Asian stocks firm, Nikkei at 7-month high

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Asian stocks firmed and the euro held its ground on Wednesday ahead of a fresh cash injection by the European Central Bank, while strong US consumer confidence data and a drop in oil prices bolstered Wall Street.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Markets expect European banks to borrow about 500 billion euros ($670 billion) of cheap funds on offer from the ECB later on Wednesday, although forecasts range from 200 billion to 750 billion euros, according to a Reuters poll.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The euro and commodity currencies held steady in early trade with the former within easy reach of a 2-1/2 month peak of $1.3486 hit last Friday and on track to end the month up 3 percent, its best performance since October.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Asian stocks were firmer, taking a cue from overnight gains in the U.S. The MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan added 0.4 percent while Japan&nbsp;s Nikkei rose 0.7 percent to a fresh seven-month high and was on track for its best February in two decades.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The S&amp;P 500 pierced the 1,370 level and rose above its March 2011 peak after US consumer confidence hit a one-year high in February, as optimism about the labor market outweighed concerns over higher gasoline prices in the world&nbsp;s largest economy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The sharpest drop in oil prices in 2-1/2 months helped to ease concerns that rising energy costs, fed by tensions over Iran&nbsp;s nuclear program and other supply-related issues in the Middle East, would hurt the global economy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>US crude oil futures settled down $2.01 a barrel and were trading slightly lower, down 0.1 percent, early Wednesday.<br />Precious metals were also strong with silver rallying more than 4 percent on Tuesday, while gold raced toward $1,800 an ounce ahead of the ECB&nbsp;s offer of cheap loans to banks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Following the ECB&nbsp;s cash injection, market attention will turn to US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke&nbsp;s semi-annual testimony on monetary policy before the House Financial Services Committee due at 1500 GMT.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Captain pleads guilty over N Zealand oil spill

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The captain and second officer of a cargo ship which grounded off New Zealand last year pleaded guilty Wednesday to causing the country&nbsp;s biggest ever sea pollution disaster, officials said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The officers pleaded guilty to operating the vessel Rena in a dangerous manner and criminal charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice by altering records after the October 5 accident, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Clinton defends US role in Afghanistan

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is defending the U.S. mission in Afghanistan after a week of anti-American violence and the killing of U.S. military advisers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Clinton told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday that the United States has made progress in combating terrorism through operations in Afghanistan. She insisted that President Barack Obama has made clear that U.S. involvement is not an &quot;endless commitment.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Democrats on the panel pressed Clinton about the continued U.S. role.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>More than 30 people have died in clashes since it became known last week that copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and other religious materials were thrown into a fire pit used to burn garbage at a U.S. base near Kabul.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Obama has apologized for what he said was a mistake.<br />&nbsp;</p>


8 Guatemalan soldiers killed in helicopter crash

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Inside the helicopter were eight members of the armed forces, six crew and two pilots, resulting in eight deaths,&quot; Peten province Governor Henry Amezquita told a local radio station.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to preliminary information, the helicopter crashed near the community of Chacalte, in San Luis Peten, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of the capital of Guatemala City, Amezquita said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The governor did not specify the cause of the accident but said the mountainous jungle terrain might have contributed to the crash.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;The village of Chacalte is in a hilly area and there is an area of jungle out there that has some rather high hills and it could be there that the accident occurred,&quot; Amezquita said. &quot;I think there might have been a mistake on the issue of flying very low.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Amilcar Lemus, spokesman for the local volunteer fire department, said a rescue team was sent to the scene but found no survivors.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;What we have here on the site is a pile of what remains of the fallen aircraft and the people are dead under the helicopter, but we have not removed them because there is no order from the prosecutor&nbsp;s office,&quot; Lemus told a local radio station.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The helicopter was flying from Guatemala City to the site of the country&nbsp;s Northern Air Command in Peten, but the mission of the crew was not revealed by the Guatemalan military. An army statement said the helicopter was piloted by a lieutenant.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The accident was the second Guatemalan military helicopter crash this week.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the other one, three people were injured when a helicopter made an emergency landing during a mechanical failure in the El Guarumo area of Guatemala&nbsp;s Caribbean coast.<br />&nbsp;</p>


SC to hear Asghar Khans petition today

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry will hear Asghar Khan&rsquo;s petition regarding misuse of public money reportedly disbursed through Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to influence the 1990 elections.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan had filed a petition in the SC in 1996, requesting the apex court to look into the allegation that in 1990 Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) distributed millions of rupees to right-wing politicians including Nawaz Sharif to cobble an alliance against the Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Muhammad Aslam Beg, former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-General Asad Durrani and Younis Habib of Habib Bank and Mehran Bank have been made respondents in the petition.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq will appear on notice. Senior advocates Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Habib-ul-Wahab-ul-Khairi and Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Salman Akram Raja and others will also appear in the case. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Japan's industrial production surges in Jan

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Japan&nbsp;s industrial production in January rose by a bigger-than-expected 2.0 percent from the previous month as companies stepped up output of cars and electronic products, the government said Wednesday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The rise beat average market expectations of around 1.5 percent growth and followed a revised month-on-month rise of 3.8 percent in December.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Industrial production is showing &quot;signs of an upward movement,&quot; the economy, trade and industry ministry said in a monthly report.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Main contributors to the January growth were transport, information and communications and the steel industry, it said. By item, production rose for passenger cars, digital cameras and car navigation systems.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A survey of producers by the ministry showed industrial output was expected to rise 1.7 percent in February and another 1.7 percent in March.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Brazil Congress divided over alcohol sales at WCup

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>But congressmen remained divided on whether to allow the sale of alcohol at games during the monthlong tournament, dealing a setback to FIFA and local organizers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>FIFA says Brazil has to allow the sale of beer inside stadiums during the World Cup and Confederations Cup next year, but some congressmen are against it because alcohol sales in Brazilian stadiums have been against the law for years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The issue will be voted on separately on Wednesday, along with other changes which have been generating controversy in Brazil. Cheaper tickets for the elderly and to students, another guarantee currently allowed by Brazilian law, were approved despite FIFA&nbsp;s initial attempts to limit them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said recently that he hoped the bill setting the legal framework for the World Cup would be approved in its entirety on Tuesday. Football&nbsp;s governing body wants the proposed law to take effect by the end of March, allowing organizers to get on with the job of preparing the country for the tournament.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The bill would give FIFA the necessary guarantees to organize the World Cup, the first in Brazil since the 1950 tournament. But critics say it gives too much power to FIFA and exempts football&nbsp;s governing body from responsibilities.<br />After approval in the commission, the bill will still have to be approved by the lower house and then by the senate.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>President Dilma Rousseff also has to sign it before it takes effect. The vote was expected to happen two weeks ago, but it was delayed after some members of the commission asked for more time to analyze the proposed law.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The sale of alcohol remained the main sticking point, as Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Critics say it took Brazil a long time to ban alcohol from its stadiums, a move they say ultimately reduced fan violence in Latin America&nbsp;s biggest country.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;If the commission approves this, we will take our fight to the (lower house and the senate), this is a mistake,&quot; said opposition congressman Wanderlei Macris. The law would be in effect only during the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, and would allow only the sale of beer, and only in plastic cups. Only those in the VIP areas would have access to other types of alcoholic beverages.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;It&nbsp;s an exception, security will be reinforced during that time,&quot; congressman Afonso Hamm said. Just before the vote on Tuesday, prosecutors met with lawmakers and asked them to oppose the sale of alcohol during World Cup, claiming that incidents involving violence and alcohol inside stadiums dropped significantly after the current law went into effect.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Congressmen on Wednesday will also try to remove text determining the definition of crime in cases of trademark infringement, as well as extending electronic visas to visitors to other sporting events in the country. The text approved on Tuesday also said that those older than 60 will be entitled to half-priced tickets in all categories, and that students will pay less for 50,000 tickets for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 300,000 for the World Cup.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The approved text also kept unchanged issues regarding responsibilities for the event. President Rousseff had said she wouldn&nbsp;t admit text saying that Brazil will be held responsible for problems caused by nature catastrophes or terrorist attacks. She said Brazil can be held accountable only in cases of omission or direct connection to damages and losses.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;FIFA wanted to see the civil responsibilities explicit on the text, but the federal government believes that the original text already contemplates what FIFA wants,&quot; congressman Renal Filho said. He said the proposed law can still be changed until Rousseff signs it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Until then, FIFA will negotiate with the government to try reach an agreement,&quot; he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On Monday, Brazil&nbsp;s top consumer rights groups protested against the proposed law, urging the population to go on Twitter and Facebook to tell congressmen to vote against the bill. The Brazilian Institute of Consumer Rights said nearly 1,200 people protested on Facebook and some 5,000 tweets were posted in protest, making it the third most popular trending topic in Brazil.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Mian Channu: Five family members killed in road accident

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>As per details, a car collided with a tree at National Highway near Mian Channu, killing at least five members of a family including two minors and injuring two others.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On receiving the information, rescue teams reached the spot and all the injured people have been shifted to Nishtar Hospital Multan. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Turkey welcomes French court cancelling genocide law

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>France&nbsp;s Constitutional Council rules that a bill aiming to make it illegal to deny the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago is unconstitutional, a move welcomed by Turkey.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Turkey welcomed a ruling by France&nbsp;s highest court overturning a law making it illegal to deny the killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a century ago was genocide.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The court ruling could help defuse a potential diplomatic row between Turkey and France, but Turkish foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the cabinet will decide whether to restart economic, political and military meetings with Paris.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;The French constitutional committee&nbsp;s ruling is in compliance with universal human rights and European values that we all favour. In this respect, I would like to congratulate the constitutional committee,&quot; Davutoglu told reporters.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The French parliament passed the law on Jan. 23 making it illegal to deny the killings of Armenians in 1915 was illegal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But more than 130 French lawmakers from both houses of parliament and across the political divide appealed to the court arguing the events of 1915 were still being debated by historians and making it illegal to deny there was a genocide therefore compromised the right to free speech.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Turkey accused President Nicolas Sarkozy of trying to win the votes of 500,000 ethnic Armenians in France in the two-round presidential vote on April 22 and May 6.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked his government on Tuesday to draft a new version of a law.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Let me remind you that negationism (genocide denial) isn&nbsp;t the expression of an ordinary opinion, the aim of negationism is to cast a cloud on consent and to make sure that the crime is forgiven in order to prolong the crime,&quot; said Valerie Boyer, one of the initiators of the proposal and a right-wing UMP party member, adding she would push for another bill proposal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Armenia, backed by many historians and parliaments, says about 1.5 million Christian Armenians were killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World War One in a deliberate policy of genocide ordered by the Ottoman government.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Turkey says there was a heavy loss of life on both sides during the fighting in which Armenian partisans supported invading Russian forces.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Tahir Rafique Butt recommended as new air chief

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has advised President Asif Ali Zardari to appoint Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt as the new Pakistan Air Force chief.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Current Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman will retire from the post on March 18. Butt is currently the senior most officer of PAF. He joined the force on March 6 1977 as a GD pilot.<br /><br />&nbsp;</p>


Raise in petroleum products price recommended

Posted:

<p><br />As per details, OGRA has recommend to enhance the price of petrol by Rs 2.75, diesel by Rs 1.20, high octane by Rs 8.50, kerosene oil by Rs 4.50 and light diesel by Rs 3 per litre.</p><p><br />OGRA has also suggested that if the price of petroleum products are kept stable by decreasing petroleum levy, the government would have to face loss of Rs 3 billion per month.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>


By-polls: Altaf seeks action against violators

Posted:

<p><br />While addressing the 25th Foundation Day of MQM Labour Division at Red Fort Ground Karachi, he said that the people who halted women from casting their votes should be declared illegal for ten years.</p><p><br />He said that the rulers should crave out some reasonable solution to the Balochistan issue; otherwise they should ready to face horrible consequences of their negligence and irresponsibility.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He said that the sophisticated arms were exhibited during by-polls; how such elections could be termed candid and transparent.</p><p><br />He has appealed the political parties&rsquo; leaders to condemn the tactics used to halt women from casting their votes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He said labours rights should be secured.</p><p><br />He also stressed that undue interruption in national institutions should be discouraged and sincere and professionally expert officials should be appointed in PIA, Pakistan Railways, Steel Mills and others.</p>


Governor Punjab approves raise in VCs salaries

Posted:

<p><br />Now the salaries of Vice Chancellors would be equal to track professors after approval of summary issued by the Punjab government to the Governor.</p><p><br />According to new policy, now a VC would get Rs 3,00,000 per month.</p><p><br />Apart from this, increase in allowance has also been approved.</p>


Read more...

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

DINA for the Issue of February 28, 2012

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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February 28, 2012 Tuesday Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:

e-mail webmaster@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com
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snail-mail DAWN Media Group,
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2012

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.


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Sharmeen brings Oscar glory to Pakistan
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By Masood Haider
NEW YORK, Feb 27: Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won the first ever Oscar award for Pakistan for her documentary 'Saving Face' at the 84th Academy Awards gala on Sunday.

Accepting the world's prestigious award, Ms Chinoy observed: "I want to dedicate this award to all the heroes working on the ground in Pakistan and to all the women in the country who are working for a change. Do not give up as this is your dream."..

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/sharmeen-brings-oscar-glory-to-pakistan.html


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Procedure to bring Musharraf back begins
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By Mohammad Asghar
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The interior ministry has been asked to formally request Interpol to issue red notices for the arrest of former army ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

According to sources, the Federal Investigation Agency's counter-terrorism wing has written a letter to the ministry in this regard...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/procedure-to-bring-musharraf-back-begin.html


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The women behind the Oscar
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By Madiha Sattar
KARACHI: "Rukhsana says that if she has to bear the consequences [of the film], so be it," says Bilquis, a staff member at the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad, where the acid attack victims featured in co-director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's Oscar-winning documentary had sought refuge.

Both Rukhsana and Zakia — the two women attacked by their husbands — who played central roles in the film along with plastic surgeon Dr Mohammad Jawad, denied requests to speak to the media for fear of further victimisation. Contrary to some news reports, the men were never prosecuted for this crime...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/the-women-behind-the-oscar.html


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Outrage over preventing women from casting votes
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By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The National Commission on Status of Women has expressed outrage that women were barred from casting their votes in Mardan and Mianwali during the recently-held by-elections and called upon the provincial governments to hold an inquiry into the matter.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the commission condemned the act of preventing women from exercising their right of franchise in Mardan and Mianwali at a number of polling stations...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/outrage-over-preventing-women-from-casting-votes.html


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Secession to compound problem, says Raisani
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By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, Feb 27: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has said he believes in dialogue for resolving the issues being faced by the province, but Baloch nationalists are not ready for talks because they only want independence.

Talking to EU Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Gunner Wigemark who had called on him at the Chief Minister's House on Monday, Mr Raisani said there was possibility of a civil war breaking out in the province if efforts were made for Balochistan's secession...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/secession-to-compound-problem-says-raisani.html


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Blast near ANP meeting venue; at least 5 dead
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By Suhail Kakakhel
NOWSHERA, Feb 27: Five people were killed and 26 others suffered injuries in a bomb blast near the venue of a public meeting organised by ANP here on Monday. Eleven of the injured are police personnel. (Foreign news agencies put the death toll at seven)

The remote-control bomb strapped to the fuel tank of a motorcycle exploded immediately after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti had left the meeting in a helicopter, accompanied by a number of ministers and party leaders...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/blast-near-anp-meeting-venue-at-least-5-dead.html


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Spillway of Attabad lake widened
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By Farooq Ahmed Khan
GILGIT, Feb 27: The officials of Frontier Works Organisation carried out a blasting plan on Monday to expand and deepen the spillway of Attabad lake, which formed after a devastating landslip two years ago.

"We have completed our task and through controlled blasting, the spillway has been widened...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/spillway-of-attabad-lake-widened.html


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Aitzaz wants SC to summon Awan, officials as witnesses
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: A day before the formal hearing by the Supreme Court of a contempt of court charge against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, his counsel submitted on Monday a miscellaneous application requesting two top government officers and a former law minister to be summoned as court witnesses.

Instead of submitting evidence relating to the contempt of court against the prime minister, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan requested the court to summon Cabinet and Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi, Law Secretary Masood Chishti and former law minister Babar Awan to record their statements as court witnesses...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/aitzaz-wants-sc-to-summon-awan-officials-as-witnesses.html


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Babar Awan won't appear
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By Our Staff Reporter
FORMER law minister Babar Awan would not appear before the apex court as a witness because he had already argued in the NRO review petition filed by Law Secretary Masood Chishti, a source close to Mr Awan said. "The relevant rules (The Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973) bar a lawyer from appearing as a witness before a court where he has already argued the same case as a lawyer," the source added...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/babar-awan-won-t-appear.html


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Early rehabilitation of drains ordered
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By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI, Feb 27: President Asif Ali Zardari has taken serious notice of slow pace of rehabilitation of storm-water drains in Sindh and directed the provincial government to get local people involved in the project.

Reviewing post-flood rehabilitation measures at a meeting here on Monday, the president ordered completion of the first phase of the short-term projects by June...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/early-rehabilitation-of-drains-ordered.html


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LHC seeks reply 'within 24 hours' in brigadier case
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By Malik Asad
RAWALPINDI, Feb 27: The Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court sought on Monday a reply from the secretary of defence 'within 24 hours' on a petition of Brigadier Ali Khan who is currently facing court martial.

He is accused of having links with the banned outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT); conspiring to topple the government; trying to instigate a mutiny within the army; and launching an attack on the GHQ...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/lhc-seeks-reply-within-24-hours-in-brigadier-case.html


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England win T20 series
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ABU DHABI, Feb 27: Captain Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbech held their nerve in the closing overs to bowl England to a five-run victory and a 2-1 series win over Pakistan in the final Twenty20 international here on Monday.

Man-of-the match Kevin Pietersen had laid the foundations by belting 62 off 52 deliveries while carrying his bat through the England innings...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/england-win-t20-series.html


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US says can't secure every inch in Afghanistan
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Feb 27: The White House said on Monday that the US was not in Afghanistan to secure every inch of its territory and the next Nato summit in Chicago would focus on turning over the country's security to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

At a White House briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney also stressed the need for US soldiers to operate in a way that enhanced US cooperation with the Afghans and not in a way that detracted them from this objective...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/focus-on-handing-over-responsibility-us-says-can-t-secure-every-inch-in-afghanistan.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 37.14 Points:
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KARACHI, Feb 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12743.66, up 37.14 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Feb 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.2 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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Dunya TV

Dunya TV


SC to hear contempt case against PM today

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk will hear today the contempt of case against Prime Minister.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Earlier, on Moday the counsel of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan submitted a list of witnesses in the Supreme Court which also included the names of Babar Awan and Law Secretary Masood Chishti. He also prayed the court to call them as witness in the case.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It was said in the application moved in the Supreme Court that that the prime minister, in his personal capacity, did not wish to exercise official power in directing any official to appear as a defence witness. The application, however, also stated that the officials should be summoned by court in the capacity of court witnesses.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, Babar Awan declined to oblige, saying he had been a lawyer in the NRO review case; therefore, he was not eligible to appear as a witness. He said if he appeared as a defence witness, it would be tantamount to professional misconduct. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Similarly, Law Secretary Masood Chishti offered regrets to appearing as a court witness, saying he too had appeared as a counsel in the NRO review petition.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Wikileaks: Chavez has less than a year to live

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>WikiLeaks claimed to have 5 million Stratfor emails that it would publishe in collaboration with media outlets. However only 200 were released in the first lot.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One of the e-mails included the suggestion that Hugo Chavez, Venezuela&nbsp;s president, may have less than a year to live after his cancer spread to the colon and bone marrow.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Russian doctors who had been brought in to &quot;clean up the mess&quot; resulting from Cuban treatments for the Venezuelan leader had given a grim prognosis for his recovery, the e-mails said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other revelations were statements that Israel had last year carried out a successful covert attack on Iran&nbsp;s secret nuclear facilities. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Zardari for completing rehabilitation plan before monsoon

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called for involving local people in the rehabilitation work being carried out in Sindh province in the wake of unprecedented downpour of last year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>During a review meeting on floods and rehabilitation work here at Bilawal House he expressed concern over reports that the last year&rsquo;s rainwater was still standing in some areas of the province. He has also directed that the first phase of the rehabilitation work be expedited and efforts be geared up in this regard.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to sources, the USAID Programme has presented a negative report about the working of Education Department.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The president expressed displeasure over the working of Education Department and directed the concerned authorities to conduct a separate briefing on USAID programme. The USAID is starting a training programme for teachers&rsquo; training in Sindh. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Independent Balochistan will never survive: Raisani

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani has said that an independent Balochistan would never be able to survive an unrestrained, bloody civil war.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Talking to the EU ambassador, who called on him on Monday, he, condemning confirmed external interference in Balochistan, clarified that each Sardar and Nawab had patches of areas under their control and were &lsquo;sovereign&rsquo; within their geographical fiefdoms; as such a volatile senseless civil war would erupt between these unruly sardars/nawabs for full control of Provincial resources, which would not augur well for ordinary Baloch.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He informed that high level talks with warring dissidents, who had so far shunned all friendly and truce gestures, would soon be undertaken by Governor Magsi and notables of various tribes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Referring to the issue of mutilated dead bodies, the chief minister said that he had always stressed the fact that this rather compounded the crisis, while regarding missing persons he said that many had been discovered as running their personal businesses in Afghanistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Raisani termed the situation in Balochistan as quite complex , and time-consuming , and hoped that a prudent conducive strategy and process should take it out of crisis.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Raisani also stressed on early resolve of the core issue of Kashmir, with due assistance of EU in this connection, and also demanded technology transfer from EU for maximum indigenous production.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Expressing his great pride in mineral resources of the Province, he said that these could be, and would be used for the benefit of masses, and also expressed his great desire for assistance from EU.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The EU ambassador assured of provision of technology f, alongwith other sectors as well.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Pakistan detains 24 Indian fishermen

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has handed over 24 Indian fishermen to Docks police in Karachi after arresting them fishing inside Pakistani waters.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to Maritime Security Agency sources, these fishermen were busy in fishing in Pakistani territory on 12 boats which were also seized.<br />&nbsp;</p>


US vows no change in Afghan war strategy

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The US military has no plans to alter its troop drawdown timetable in Afghanistan despite a week of deadly unrest over the burning of the Quran at an American base, the Pentagon said Monday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and top US military officer General Martin Dempsey both &quot;believe that the fundamentals of our strategy remain sound,&quot; spokesman George Little told reporters.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The United States will stick to its plan for a gradual troop drawdown and has an &quot;unwavering&quot; commitment to hand over to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014 as agreed by the NATO alliance, Little said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Attacks on US and coalition troops and violent protests were &quot;regrettable&quot; but had not jeopardized &quot;strong&quot; ties between American and Afghan forces, he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;We&nbsp;re not going to let the events of the past week, which are regrettable and unfortunate and tragic, influence the long-horizon view that we&nbsp;re taking with respect to our partnership with Afghanistan and to our enduring work there,&quot; Little said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Another military spokesman, Captain John Kirby, acknowledged tensions had flared over the burning of the Islamic holy book at the Bagram airbase and after two US officers were gunned down inside the interior ministry.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But he said the scale of protests had begun to decline and that US troops were still operating successfully alongside Afghan forces.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;These events -- they&nbsp;re troubling, they&nbsp;re worrisome, they&nbsp;ve got everybody&nbsp;s attention. And yes, tension is high here in Kabul right now,&quot; Kirby said by video link from the Afghan capital.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;But across the country writ large... the mission continues and we&nbsp;re seeing the protest activity decline.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The United States has repeatedly apologized for the Quran burning at an incinerator and insisted it was a mistake and not intentional.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The incident has set off seven successive days of protest and violence, with the death toll estimated at about 40.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The United Nations announced that it was pulling its international staff out of their base in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz after it came under attack Saturday by demonstrators.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The commander of NATO&nbsp;s International Security Assistance Force, US General John Allen, withdrew all staff out of Afghan ministries at the weekend when two US advisers were shot dead in the interior ministry, apparently by an Afghan colleague.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There had been no decision yet on when coalition advisers would return to their posts at government offices, Kirby said.<br />Allen &quot;is not ready right now to have the advisers go back,&quot; he said. &quot;But this is temporary.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The general had advised his commanders to be &quot;vigilant&quot; given recent events but &quot;he also made it clear that operations must continue,&quot; Kirby said.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Cold kills 35 Afghan children in northeast: official

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The children died in four remote districts of Badakhshan province after the roads to districts were closed by heavy snow.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Thirty five children died as a result of pneumonia caused by severe weather in Badakhshan in the past two days,&quot; Dr Noor Khawrin a provincial public health official told AFP.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;We have only been able to set up some emergency mobile clinics recently to help the kids there.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Afghanistan, a landlocked and mountainous country, has suffered its coldest winter in 15 years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On February 19, the public health ministry said the severe weather had killed almost 40 children in the country over the course of one month.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>More than half came from refugee camps on the outskirts of Kabul, which house thousands of Afghans fleeing war and Taliban intimidation in southern Afghanistan, according to officials.<br />&nbsp;</p>


2 dead in Russian apartment blast

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>An explosion apparently caused by natural gas has heavily damaged a nine-story apartment building in southern Russia, leaving two people dead and 12 injured.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Rescue workers were searching through the rubble, and officials said at least 11 residents of the building are unaccounted for.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The explosion occurred Monday in Astrakhan, a city 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) southeast of Moscow.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A spokesman for the regional emergencies ministry, Oleg Grekov, told the ITAR-Tass news agency two bodies were pulled from the rubble late Monday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Regional Investigative Committee spokeswoman Anna Konyaeva said the blast first blew out a lower section of the building. As people rushed to help, the upper six stories collapsed.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Explosions of gas canisters in Russian homes and businesses are common.<br />&nbsp;</p>


UN doubts credibility of Syria referendum

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Any vote in Syria must be held &quot;in conditions free of violence and intimidation,&quot; United Nations deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters, adding that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had just &quot;noted&quot; Sunday&nbsp;s vote organized by President Bashar al-Assad&nbsp;s government.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Syria said on Monday that almost 90 percent of voters approved a new constitution in the referendum held after 11 months of anti-government protests.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;While a new constitution and the end of the Baath party monopoly on power could be part of a political solution, a referendum must take place in conditions free of violence and intimidation,&quot; del Buey said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;It is unlikely to be credible in a context of pervasive violence and mass human rights violations,&quot; he added. Thousands have been killed in a government crackdown on protests.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;The priority in Syria must therefore be for all violence to stop, only such conditions will allow a genuine political process that will meet the democratic aspirations of the citizens,&quot; the UN spokesman said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos is meanwhile still waiting for Syria to respond to her request to visit the country to assess the extent of the crisis, the spokesman added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Amos made an official request last week after being told by Ban to go there. The UN under secretary general is still &quot;waiting for a reaction from the Syrian government,&quot; del Buey said.<br />&nbsp;</p>


89.4 percent 'yes' for new Syria constitution: minister

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Almost 90 percent of voters approved Syria&nbsp;s new constitution brought in after 11 months of anti-regime protests, the interior minister announced on Monday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Mohammed al-Shaar also told a press conference that turnout reached 57.4 percent of eligible voters, with 89.4 percent of the 8.376 million who cast their ballots in Sunday&nbsp;s referendum saying &quot;yes&quot; to the new constitution.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;There has been a large turnout despite threats made by armed terrorist groups in some regions,&quot; the minister said, using a term employed by the authorities for rebels.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>People went to polling stations &quot;despite campaigns by treacherous media to stop citizens from exercising their rights and undermine the democratic process that took place freely and transparently,&quot; he added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The opposition had called for a boycott of the referendum, while the United States described it as &quot;laughable&quot;.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Djokovic wins on return to action in Dubai

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Novak Djokovic shook off the rust to beat Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4, 6-2 at the Dubai Tennis Championships Monday in his first match since winning the Australian Open.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish also had an easy time against Andreas Beck of Germany, winning 6-1, 6-1 to join Djokovic in the second round.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The top-ranked Djokovic has not played a match in nearly four weeks and it showed at times. He broke the 72nd-ranked German to go up 1-0 but had to save two break points in the fourth game as he struggled with Stebe&nbsp;s return game. Stebe pushed the set to 5-4 and deuce before Djokovic hit his first ace and another good serve which the German returned long.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Djokovic had an easier second set, breaking twice. He won the match with his third ace of the match and another serve that Stebe couldn&nbsp;t return.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Djokovic, going for a fourth consecutive Dubai title, is now 8-0 this year after beating Stebe. He insisted that he was not concerned with matching his exploits in 2011, in which he won three Grand Slams and started the season with a 41-match winning streak.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A few hours before his match, Djokovic was courtside as his younger brother Marko lost his match to Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2. The 869th-ranked Djokovic was granted a wild card into the tournament.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Djokovic serves as a mentor of sorts for the 20-year-old Marko and said it was hard to see his brother struggling, admitting that can difficult for Marko and his other tennis-playing brother 16-year-old Djordje to always be compared to him.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Fish, meanwhile, broke Beck twice in the first set to lead 4-0. In the second, he broke three times before closing it out in 57 minutes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The American has had a mixed year so far, crashing out in the second round of the Australian Open and losing to 388th-ranked Albano Olivetti in the Marseille quarterfinals last week. He did, however, help the United States rout Switzerland 5-0 in the Davis Cup.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Petra Martic, Jelena Dokic advance in Malaysia

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Seeded players Petra Martic of Croatia and defending champion Jelena Dokic of Australia won first-round matches at the Malaysian Open on Monday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The fifth-seeded Martic rallied to defeat Erika Sema of Japan 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 after nearly two and a half hours at Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The seventh-seeded Dokic beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-3, 6-1.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Olivia Rogowska of Australia also advanced, downing Elitsa Kostova of Bulgaria 6-4, 6-0.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Two Japanese players reached the second round. Misaki Doi fended off Olga Puchkova of Russia 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Kurumi Nara topped Thailand&nbsp;s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-4, 6-3.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Boxing: Klitschko out to make Mormeck his 50th knock-out

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Wladimir Klitschko plans on making Jean-Marc Mormeck the 50th knock-out of his career on Saturday, while the Frenchman says he is determined to become his country&nbsp;s first world heavyweight champion.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>World champion Klitschko will defend his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA titles against Mormeck, who stepped up from cruiserweight just over two years ago, in Dusseldorf.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The pair were scheduled to meet last December, but kidney stones forced Klitschko, 35, to postpone the fight which will be the 60th of his career.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I&nbsp;m ready for this challenge,&quot; said Klitschko at Monday&nbsp;s press conference.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I still have the hunger and assume the task will not be easy.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Klitschko has not been beaten since April 2004 when he suffered a fifth round technical knock-out to Lamon Brewster in Las Vegas and Mormeck wants to break the Ukrainian&nbsp;s winning streak and take his titles.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I know that I am underestimated against a bigger and heavier opponent,&quot; the 39-year-old Mormeck told AFP.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I have an iron will and I&nbsp;m tough, I will give it my all.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I have the mental strength too. Does he?&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This will be Mormeck&nbsp;s fourth heavyweight bout and Klitschko has said it will be tough against a man who is considerably shorter than he is with the challenger measuring 181 cms, compared to Klitschko&nbsp;s height of 198 cms.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Klitschko&nbsp;s brother Vitali defended his WBC heavyweight title against Britain&nbsp;s Dereck Chisora a fortnight ago in Munich, but the sport&nbsp;s image was tarnished by the post-fight brawl between Chisora and ex-champion David Haye.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chisora had also slapped Vitali in the pre-bout weigh-in before running away.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Wladimir says he expects things to stay peaceful, but is taking nothing for granted.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;We are only on Monday, things also started peacefully in the press conference between Vitali and Chisora,&quot; said the younger Klitschko, who also suffered from Chisora&nbsp;s boorish behaviour when he spat in his face.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;I am looking forward to the open training and the weigh-in.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Despite his threats to dethrone the champ, all bar three of Mormeck&nbsp;s 40 fights have been at the lighter weight including a technical knock-out at the hands of Haye at cruiserweight in 2007.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Frenchman has still enjoyed 22 knock-outs in 36 victories, but has suffered four defeats in his career.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Oil prices fall after 7-day surge

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<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Benchmark crude fell by 79 cents to $108.98 per barrel in New York.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Brent crude, which is used to price oil that&nbsp;s imported by U.S. refineries, lost $1.33 at $124.14 per barrel in London.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Analysts say a standoff between the West and Iran over its nuclear programme continues to keep oil prices around nine-month highs. But many traders sold contracts to lock in profits following a 9 percent rise since mid-February.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Some people are getting out now just because oil is at those high levels,&quot; PFGBest analyst Phil Flynn said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Western nations fear that Iran is making a nuclear weapon and have been trying to get international inspectors into its facilities. Iran denies the claim and has threatened to disrupt oil supplies in response to any threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, gasoline prices continue to hit new records in the U.S. The national average of $3.70 a gallon (98 cents a litre) is the highest ever for this time of year. The pump price averages $4.29 per gallon in California.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In some isolated cases around the U.S., gas is going for more than $5 a gallon ($1.32 a litre).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In other energy trading, heating oil fell by 3 cents to $3.29 per gallon and gasoline futures lost 3 cents at $3.13 per gallon. Natural gas futures fell by 4 cents to $2.51 per 1,000 cubic feet.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Euro falls against dollar after G-20 meeting

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<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The euro fell against the dollar Monday after finance ministers from the world&nbsp;s 20 leading economies said that they would not add money to the International Monetary Fund until the European Union puts up more money to stave off its debt crisis.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The euro fell to $1.3398 in afternoon trading Monday from $1.3459 late Friday. The euro rose to an 11-week high of $1.3486 on Friday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The IMF wants to raise about $500 million to help struggling countries, mostly in Europe. With the G-20 not willing to add cash, traders are concerned that Europe&nbsp;s debt crisis might drag on further. The G-20 nations met over the weekend in Mexico.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Greece got closer to getting its second bailout Monday after German lawmakers approved a $174 billion loan package.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The bailout is needed in order for Greece to avoid defaulting on its debt next month. A default could have triggered another financial crisis.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Greece received a $148 billion package of rescue loans in 2010.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In other trading, the British pound rose $1.5823 from $1.5889. The dollar fell to 80.49 Japanese yen from 80.98 yen and to 99.86 Canadian cents from 1.0002 Canadian dollar.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The U.S. currency rose to 0.8996 Swiss franc from 0.8950 Swiss franc.<br />&nbsp;</p>


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