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US deports Iranian convicted in arms smuggling
SC to resume PM contempt case today
Couple arrested over new born baby selling
Gwader: 20 fishermen go missing
Mayor decrees death ban in southern Italian town
Traders being forced for extortion in Karachi: Gopali
WB approves $1.09b for projects in Pakistan
US to exempt EU, Japan on Iran sanctions
Mexico rattled by 7.9 earthquake
Greek Parliament approves $227 billion bailout deal
US non-committal on apology, props up mutual respect rhetoric
Afghanistan, Namibia reach T20 qualifying finals
Australia collapse at 220 against West Indies
B'desh beat Lanka, dampen India's Asia Cup dream
Leave Ali Baba and 40 thieves, Shahbaz tells PM

US deports Iranian convicted in arms smuggling

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An Iranian national who pleaded guilty in 2009 to plotting to ship sensitive U.S. military technology to Iran has been deported back to his home country. The 38-year-old Ardebili had been sentenced to five years in prison, with credit for time served. He had been housed at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, since 2010, and records show he was released last month after completing his sentence. Ardebili pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, money laundering, smuggling and arms export control violations. He was arrested in the Republic of Georgia in October 2007, after he had agreed to meet undercover agents there. He was extradited to the U.S. in 2008.

SC to resume PM contempt case today

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A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk will hear a case regarding PM’s indictment in court contempt. On March 19, Prime Minister’s counsel Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan submitted his written reply in the apex court and today he will start his arguments regarding the case. The Prime Minister was indicted for contempt of court after his failure to address a letter to the Swiss authorities requesting them to re-open closed graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Couple arrested over new born baby selling

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Dr Arshad and his spouse Dr Aisha were arrested on charges of selling a new born baby for only Rs 45000. According to police, the family kidnapped a baby and was selling to Tahir Kayani. But the police recovered abducted child from the kidnappers’ possession due to timely action. Police believe the group sold several newborn babies but have not yet determined how many.

Gwader: 20 fishermen go missing

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As per details, at least 20 fishermen twenty fishermen went missing near Gwader due to storm in sea. Locals with the help of Marine officials are searching for the missing.

Mayor decrees death ban in southern Italian town

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The tongue-in-cheek edict is the latest twist and turn in a dispute with a neighbouring town that owns the only cemetery, still with spaces, in the area. Inhabitants of the sleepy southern Italian town of Falciano del Massico have been issued with a rather unusual decree by their mayor - they are now forbidden to die. The news has been greeted with some trepidation by the community s 3,700, mainly pensioner population. Falciano, which lies some 60 kilomteres north of Naples, is not fighting for a right of eternal life, however, but rather the right to die and be buried in their own home town. The tongue-in-cheek edict is the latest episode of a long-running battle with neighbouring towns, Colcanino, Capo Tignano and Mondragone after a redrawing of boundaries between the communities in 1964. Now space in the cemetery at Falciano del Massico has run out and the mayor wants authorities to build a new one for the residents saying that inhabitants do not want to travel several kilometres down the road to be buried in what they seem to regard as hostile territory. "Here people cannot even die, because there is no room in the cemetery. We have to end up either in nearby Mondragone or in Capo Tignano" said pensioner Giuseppe di Fusco. "And if you go to Mondragone you have to pay more, because the Camorra mafia wants money to get you a place in Mondragone" said his friend who did not want to be named. Mayor Giulio Cesare Fava has proudly pinned up his edict outside the town hall, in the format of a death notice. "It is forbidden to cross the border of earthly life... It is forbidden, with immediate effect, to all citizens resident in the municipality of Falciano del Massico, and to whoever passes by its territory, to cross the border of earthly life and to enter the after-life" it reads. "I cannot forbid you to die and I cannot influence the Lord because I do no have such powers. But there is one thing I can do: I can issue an edict ordering you to make every effort not to die insofar as it s in your ability to do so" explained Mayor Fava with a grin. "So, I issued the edict. The media and everyone showed great interest in our problem" Fava said. "I stimulated the attention of the regional authorities and the local inhabitants, some of whom have offered me land and now we are able to build our cemetery. So, my edict looked like a ridiculous, banal idea but, actually, it had a very positive impact" he said proudly. The ageing population will certainly be grateful for the mayor s efforts.

Traders being forced for extortion in Karachi: Gopali

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Timber Market Merchant Group General Secretary Sharjeel Gopali said that traders were being forced to pay for their life and property despite Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s assurance. He said that unidentified person also disconnected connections of CCTV cameras in Timber Market. Earlier, Rehman Malik had ordered operation against extortionists in Karachi. He also had assured traders that that an Anti-Extortion Act would soon be passed, while police and Rangers would be seen into action against extortionist.

WB approves $1.09b for projects in Pakistan

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The World Bank said Tuesday it would fund two projects totaling $1.09 billion, in energy and irrigation, aimed at supporting Pakistan s growth agenda for reducing poverty. The $840 million Tarbela IV Extension Hydropower Project will add power generation capacity of 1,410 megawatts, contributing a crucial source of electricity for the economic growth and development of Pakistan, the World Bank said. Only 15 percent of Pakistan s vast hydropower potential has been developed, the Bank noted. The Tarbela IV Extension Hydropower Project will use the existing dam, tunnel, roads and transmission line for generating additional electricity in summer months when demand for electricity and river flows are high, it added. "The beauty of this project is that it will help Pakistan reduce the gap between supply and demand of electricity by maximizing the benefits of existing infrastructure of Tarbela Dam without requiring any land acquisition or relocation of population," Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank country director for Pakistan, said in the statement. "The direct beneficiaries will be millions of energy users, including industry, households and farmers who would get more electricity at a lower cost and suffer fewer blackouts." The $250 million Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Program Project is aimed at getting maximum productivity out of irrigation water by weaning farmers away from the traditional and "wasteful" flood irrigation, the Bank said. The project will emphasize more modern methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, which in turn will encourage crop diversification, it said. The hydropower project includes a $400 million, 21-year loan from the Bank s International Bank of Reconstruction and Development that includes a grace period of six years. The remaining $440 million of the Tarbela project and $250 million for the irrigation project are credits from the International Development Association, the World Bank s concessionary lending arm. These 25-year loans have a 1.25 percent interest rate and a five-year grace period, the Bank said.

US to exempt EU, Japan on Iran sanctions

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These states includ European Union members and Japan. The US praised them for reducing dependency on Tehran s oil. Under a tough new law aimed at pressing Iran over its nuclear program, the United States plans to penalize foreign financial institutions that deal with Iran s central bank, which generally handles oil purchases. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the United States would exempt financial institutions from 11 nations -- Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. "The actions taken by these countries were not easy," Clinton said in a statement. "They had to rethink their energy needs at a critical time for the world economy and quickly begin to find alternatives to Iranian oil, which many had been reliant on for their energy needs," she said. Notable nations not on the exemption list included China, India and South Korea. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that President Barack Obama would ultimately have to decide whether to impose economic sanctions that under the law take effect on June 28. The European Union announced a ban on Iranian crude oil on January 23. Japan said that it is reducing oil imports and pressed hard for an exemption from the US sanctions, noting its energy shortfall following the Fukushima nuclear crisis a year ago. "Japan s significant reductions in crude oil purchases is also especially noteworthy considering the extraordinary energy and other challenges it has faced over the past year," Clinton said in her statement. "We commend these countries for their actions and urge other nations that import oil from Iran to follow their example," Clinton said. Iran says that its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes, but Israel and a number of Western officials fear that the clerical regime is building a nuclear bomb.--AFP

Mexico rattled by 7.9 earthquake

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The U.S. Geological Survey earlier reported it at 7.6 magnitude. The quake shook buildings in Mexico City, according to a Reuters witness.

Greek Parliament approves $227 billion bailout deal

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Greece s Parliament has approved a new international bailout deal, which will see the crisis-hit country receive an additional €172 billion ($227 billion) in rescue loans. Lawmakers backing the coalition government of socialists and conservatives voted early Wednesday in favor of the new agreement, after the Communist Party staged nationwide protests against the deal. Greece narrowly avoided default this month after sealing the loan agreement the second in two years with eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund, as well as a massive debt restructuring deal with banks and other private bond holders.

US non-committal on apology, props up mutual respect rhetoric

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But it held off a formal response to a parliamentary demand for an apology over a deadly air raid. Pakistani lawmakers earlier Tuesday called for taxes on NATO convoys and demanded an apology for the November raid near the border that killed 24 soldiers, plunging relations between the war partners to a new low. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that the United States would not comment in-depth on the long-awaited Pakistani report on US relations until it comes up for debate in parliament next week. But she said: "We also have always considered that our relationship should be grounded on the basis of mutual respect and common interest." "We believe that we have a lot to do together, not only in combating terrorism and creating more security, but in strengthening and promoting economic prosperity, democratic development inside Pakistan and in strengthening Pakistan as a good neighbor throughout the region," she said. The United States sent its condolences over the November air strikes, but stopped short of an apology. NATO expressed regret over what it called a "tragic unintended incident." Pakistan closed its Afghan border after the air strikes, the latest deterioration in a relationship that came under new scrutiny after US forces killed Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan in May.--AFP

Afghanistan, Namibia reach T20 qualifying finals

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Both sides were unbeaten over seven matches in the competition in the United Arab Emirates, in which two places are up for grabs for the World Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka later this year. Afghanistan beat Bermuda by 15 runs, while Namibia won by 27 runs against Italy.--AFP

Australia collapse at 220 against West Indies

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They earlier won the toss and chose to bat against West Indies in the third one-day international at Arnos Grove on Tuesday. A superb 112-run fourth-wicket stand between George Bailey and Mike Hussey had helped the tourists recover from a difficult start, with the two batsmen reaching their half-centuries in successive balls in the 39th over. Their partnership came as a boost after captain Shane Watson was run out for ten early on, before Matthew Wade was bowled by Sunil Narine for just two soon after. Australia looked to be in trouble when David Warner was dismissed for 37 to leave the tourists on 58 for 3, but Hussey kept the innings together and top scored with 67 from 95 balls. Bailey had gone shortly before after making 59 for his maiden ODI half century, but the tourists went on to suffer a damaging lower-order collapse. They fell from 202 for four to 208 for nine as Brett Lee, Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty all returned to the pavilion without scoring before the innings ended when Daniel Christian went lbw to Narine from the penultimate delivery. The five-match series is tied at one win apiece. West Indies came into the match with an unchanged team from the side that won by five wickets in Sunday s rain-hit second ODI, while Australia made one change, with Nathan Lyon replacing Peter Forrest.--AFP

B'desh beat Lanka, dampen India's Asia Cup dream

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Bangladesh reached its first Asia Cup final by cruising past Sri Lanka by five wickets with nearly three overs to spare in a rain-disrupted match.  Bangladesh will meet Pakistan in the final on Thursday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium having upset both finalists from last year s World Cup.  After limiting Sri Lanka to 232 in 49.5 overs, Bangladesh was handicapped by a mid-innings downpour which reduced the winning target to 212 but increased the required run rate from 40 overs.  Bangladesh s win has come as a shock for India since they stood a chance only if Lankans had won. Tamim Iqbal (59) and Shakib Al Hasan (56) hit impressive half-centuries as Bangladesh achieved the rain revised target of 212 with 17 balls to spare in the day-night match. Pakistan topped the league with nine points from three matches, followed by Bangladesh (8/3), India (8/3) and Sri Lanka (0/3). The hosts made it to the final as they beat India in the league match. Bangladesh’s good bowling limited Lankans to 232 runs, but the target was lowered to 212 runs after the rain. Yet, the revised target was even difficult since the overs, on the other side, had also been slashed to 40. Nazmul Hossain took 3-32 and Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak two wickets each to dismiss Sri Lanka for 232 in 49.5 overs.

Leave Ali Baba and 40 thieves, Shahbaz tells PM

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The peon who earns his livelihood by fair means is better than chief minister and prime minister, he said. “The PM should get away from Ali Baba and 40 thieves”. Addressing a public gathering in Shahkot, Shahbaz said that progress and prosperity would be brought to the country. The wealth deposited in foreign banks by the mafia would be brought back to the country, he said. He said that that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani should stand by honest people instead of looters and plunders. He also laid foundation stone of a park in measuring 110 acres with the direction that quality of construction work should be the best. Apart from this, he met special children and also inaugurated an institute for them.

PoliticusUSA

Cricket - Sports

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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