Ogra increases prices of petroleum products by 9.9 per cent

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra comapany) Huged the prices of petroleum products by 9.9 %, according to Dawn News.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, charmen Javed Naseem, Ogra spokesman, said the petrol price was increased by Rs 7.23 per liter while the new price of gasoline was Rs 80.19 only

Shane Warne is the new Paul Octopus

New Delhi: After FIFA World Cup's Paul Octopus, Shane Warne played the perfect oracle, as much before the India-England match started, the former Australia spinner predicted it would be a tie in Bangalore.

Warne wrote on his Twitter account, "Looking forward to the game between india and England today should be a cracker.. My prediction a tie!"


And so it was when England made 338 for 8 in 50 overs in reply to India's 338 all out in 49.5 overs. Zaheer Khan was the last man to fall as he was run out for 4 runs. Had the Indian batsmen completed one run in the end, the match would well have been in India's bag. But that was not to be.

Soon after the match was over, Warney made sure no wrong guesses were made over his prediction. "Before u think there was something untoward re prediction of a tie, thought it was going to be a cracker-tie was tongue in cheek-but right," he tweeted.

Pakistan Govt clamps down on U.S. contractors after construction

PESHAWAR: An American detained for visa violations in northwest Pakistan has been revealed to be a contractor working on a US-funded construction project, a security official confirmed.

Pakistan's intelligence agency said it is scrutinising the details of all Americans in the country after the arrest last month of a CIA employee for shooting dead two men in Lahore.

It was unclear if the arrest of Aaron Mark DeHaven in Peshawar on Friday was directly related.

The killings in Lahore have sharply raised tensions between ISI and the CIA, which cooperate behind the scenes in the fight against militant groups inside the country.

A wave of anti-American protests has erupted in the wake of the shootings.

Yesterday, more than 300 Islamists from the Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity staged a demonstration in Lahore urging the government to hang the CIA contractor Raymond Allen Davis.

Amir Hamza, a leader of the charity, said: 'Expel all the CIA agents.'

The rally came hours after DeHaven appeared in court in Peshawar and a judge ordered he remain in custody for 14 more days pending a police investigation.

A security official said DeHaven was a contractor who had worked on a least one construction project for the U.S. government in the region, but gave no other details.

He said the 34-year-old, from Virginia, is married to a Pakistani woman. DeHaven's work visa application listed him working for Catalyst Services.

The company's website said it performs logistics, 'life support' and construction services around the world and that its management teams have U.S. Army and Defense Department backgrounds.

The U.S. makes extensive use of contractors to implement its billion-dollar aid and military projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Its embassy said it was trying to arrange consular access to DeHaven.

PU announces results on 26/02/2011 [The News] 26 Feb, 2011

THE Punjab University’s Examinations Department on Friday announced the results of various examinations.

These exams include Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons), Morning, Semester System, Session 2006-10, Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons), Afternoon, Semester System, Session 2006-10, MSc Physics, Semester System, Session 2008-10, Bachelor of Laws, Morning, Semester System, Session 2004-07, MA French, Semester System, Session 2008-10 & Session 2007-09, MSc (IT), Morning, Semester System, Session 2008-10, MSc (IT), Afternoon, Semester System, Session 2008-10, Master of Commerce, Morning, Semester System, Session 2008-10, Master of Commerce, Afternoon, Semester System, Session 2008-10 and BFA (Textile Design), Semester System, Session 2006-10.

Vist this page:http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=33068&Cat=5&dt=2/26/2011

Doors for reconciliation with PML-N still open: Firdous

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Sunday that the option of reconciliation with PML-N was still open and the PPP would play the role of opposition in Punjab. Talking to reporters, Dr Firdous Awan said that though the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had parted…



Visit: http://www.nation.com.pk for full story

Pakistan fined for slow over rate against Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: Pakistan have been fined for their slow over rate during their 11-run win over Sri Lanka in the World Cup, the International Cricket Council said on Sunday.

Captain Shahid Afridi has been fined 20 per cent match fee while his team mates will lose 10 per cent after Pakistan was found to be one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration, the ICC said.

Latest News Britain says Libya's Qadhafi must go

The British government has revoked the diplomatic immunity in Britain of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi and his sons, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday, urging Qadhafi to step down. “Of course it is time for Col. Qadhafi to go,” Hague said in a BBC interview. “That is the best…



Visit: http://www.nation.com.pk for full story

Apple MacBooks get speedier with Intel technology

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on Thursday unveiled an updated line of MacBook Pro laptop computers featuring new Intel “Thunderbolt” technology for moving digital films and other data “blazingly fast.” Apple upgraded the new-model laptops with the latest multi-core chips from Intel and high-definition “FaceTime” cameras for video chat and other uses.

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Apple senior vice president of marketing Philip Schiller.

Apple also released to software developers a preview of the next generation Macintosh operating system named “Lion,” which it said “takes the best ideas from iPad and brings them to the Mac.” A finished version of Lion for Macintosh computers is on track for release in mid-2011, according to Apple.

Lion software available at the online Mac App Store was intended to allow outside developers begin crafting hip, functional or fun programs that fuel the popularity of Apple gadgets.

“The iPad has inspired a new generation of innovative features in Lion,” Schiller said.

“Developers… can now start adding great new Lion features like full screen, gestures, Versions and Auto Save to their own apps.” Cupertino, California-based Apple has sold more than 15 million iPads since the tablet computers hit the market last April.

The company has a tradition of releasing new products annually and is expected to introduce a second-generation iPad tablet computer at a March 2 press event in San Francisco.

The debut of the new MacBook Pro models came on the 56th birthday of Apple’s iconic chief executive Steve Jobs, who is on an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons but remains involved in running the company.

MacBook Pro prices ranged from ,199 for a 13-inch (33-centimeter) model with a 320-gigabyte hard drive to ,499 for a 17-inch (43-centimeter) model with a 750-gigabyte hard drive.

Apple touted the new models as being twice as fast as the prior generation, with Thunderbolt making it possible to transfer an entire Blu-ray film for viewing in less than 30 seconds.

Digital data is transferred at a rate of 10 gigabytes per second, according to Intel.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Intel to bring the groundbreaking Thunderbolt technology to Mac users,” said Mac Hardware Engineering senior vice president Bob Mansfield.

“Thunderbolt is a breakthrough for the entire industry and we think developers are going to have a blast with it.” Thunderbolt technology built into computer ports moves media faster and simplifies connections between devices, according to Intel, which demonstrated the technology Thursday at its Silicon Valley headquarters.

“Working with HD media is one of the most demanding things people do with their PCs,” said Intel PC Client Group general manager Mooly Eden.

“We’ve taken the vision of simple, fast transfer of content between PCs and devices, and made it a reality.”

Pakistan Captain “BHOOM BHOOM AFRIDI” Takes His 300th Wicket In ODI's

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi claimed his 300th wicket in one-day internationals during his team’s World Cup Group A match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Afridi picked up the wicket of Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to achieve the feat in his 314th ODI. He became the 11th bowler in the world to have 300 or more wickets.

Sangakkara holed out to Ahmed Shehzad at mid on after scoring 49 runs and was also Afridi’s third wicket of the innings.

Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan holds the world record with 522 wickets. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416) are at second and third place respectively.

The 60th Pakistan Flower Show 2011

The 60th Annual Pakistan Flower Show took place this week in Karachi at the Sea View Park. Running this week till 27 February, the show ushers in the spring season with a wonderful variety of plant and flower exhibits, garden decorations, and artistic installations.

The show is organized by the Horticultural Society of Pakistan and is being enthusiastically attended by people of all ages, who are treated to many creative ideas and stalls such as “Mom’s Garden” organic farming, flower arrangement exhibits by Ikebana and the Floral Arts Society of Pakistan, as well as an exhibit by the Pakistan Bonsai Society.

The large and vibrant show features dozens of different exhibits and stalls and is bustling with colors and creative ideas, making it a pleasant and lively attraction as well as a fitting celebration of the spring season. – Photography and text by Nadir Siddiqui

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 12 runs

Muscat Fashion Week 2011

A blend of the local and international fashion designers, display their latest creations during Muscat Fashion Week in the Omani capital. The program includes designers from Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, India, Bahrain and four from Oman.

Rally as court hears Taseer murder case in Adiyala Jail

RAWALPINDI: Supporters of a Pakistani police commando charged with murdering high-profile liberal governor of Punjab held a rally Saturday as the court resumed taking statements in the case.

At a previous hearing Malik Mumtaz Qadri was charged with terrorism and the January 4 murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer.

The killing of the reformist Taseer was the most high-profile political assassination in Pakistan since former prime minister Benazir Bhutto died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007.

More than 250 demonstrators rallied outside the Adiyala prison, where the hearing took place, in the garrison town of Rawalpindi. They shouted “Long live Qadri, Release Qadri!”, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The demonstrators carried the alleged killer’s portrait and placards reading “We salute Qadri’s courage”.

They also approached the car of one of the judges and shouted “Friends of a blasphemer are traitors.” The court recorded statements from three witnesses — two policemen and a doctor who performed Taseer’s post-mortem examination — before adjourning until March 5, Qadri’s lawyer Shujaur Rehman told AFP.

Qadri has confessed to killing Taseer and said he objected to the politician’s calls to reform the blasphemy law, which mandates the death sentence for those convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed.

Rights groups say the law is exploited in cases of personal enmity.

The country’s growing conservative religious right publicly praised Qadri for silencing a dangerous reformer. But the killing appalled the tiny liberal elite, who interpreted it as a death knell for reform efforts.

Pakistan has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy. Most of those convicted have their sentences overturned or commuted on appeal through the courts. – AFP

CIA chief phones ISI head; Davis, intelligence cooperation discussed

ISLAMABAD: Head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Leon Panetta phoned head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Ahmed Shuja Pasha, DawnNews reported.

The two intelligence chiefs reportedly discussed the issue of CIA contractor Raymond Davis and the status of cooperation between the CIA and the ISI.

Defence sources confirmed the conversation and said the ISI chief expressed his reservations over covert activities of CIA operatives during the talk with Panetta.

Sources said the ISI chief emphasised on Pakistan’s security and sovereignty during the conversation.

Sources further said that the CIA will now be providing the ISI with complete records and data on all such operatives.

The CIA will also explain the procedures pertaining to the operatives’ activities, sources said.

When contacted, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) refused to confirm or negate the telephone conversation.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistani intelligence officials said cooperation between the two intelligence agencies had been scaled back because of the Davis incident.

A senior official in Islamabad on Thursday said the Davis case had strained but not broken relations between the CIA and the ISI because the ISI didn’t know about Davis before he shot and killed two Pakistanis on January 27.

“It’s not business as usual; it’s not open war,” the official said. “Cooperation and operations together will continue at a lesser scale.”

Latest News The man who made "Jackie Brown"

US director Quentin Tarantino reacts as he holds his Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement during the 36th Cesar Awards ceremony in Paris on February 25, 2011. – Photo by AP

Latest News Butt, Aamer appeal against corruption banned

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and paceman Mohammad Aamer have lodged appeals against their bans for corruption at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, lawyers said on Saturday.

“We have filed a statement of appeal in the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban by the International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal,” Butt’s lawyer Yasin Patel told AFP by email.

Opening batsman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Aamer were all banned on charges of corruption relating to last year’s Lord’s Test against England.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended. Asif was banned for seven years, two of which were suspended, with Aamer handed a five-year penalty. All three players are also facing criminal prosecution in Britain.

Butt confirmed his lawyer had appealed.

“This is to confirm that today my legal team served a statement of appeal upon the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal against the tribunal’s findings in relation to the Lord’s Test and the sanctions imposed at the recent hearing in Doha,” Butt said in a statement to AFP.

“Full grounds for the appeal will be lodged in due course. Due to the pending proceedings in the UK, my barrister… has advised me against saying anything further at this stage in relation to the appeal.”

“I can also confirm that it is my intention to attend the hearing at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on the 17th of March. At this stage I have no further comments to make in relation to that matter,” said Butt.

Aamer has also appealed against his ban, while Asif hinted at challenging the punishment before the March 2 deadline.

Aamer’s lawyer Shahid Karim said he filed the appeal on Friday.

“We have filed an appeal against the ban on Friday. We are challenging the judgement on various grounds,” Shahid Karim said.

Lates News Afghan defence minister sees better Pakistan cooperation

WASHINGTON: The Afghan defence minister said Friday that security has ”vastly improved” in his country as Afghan and Nato forces have targeted militant leaders and prospects are brightening for cooperation with Pakistan in defeating the Taliban-led insurgency.

Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of harboring the Taliban and plotting terrorist attacks although both countries are allies of the US in its fight against al-Qaida.

Defence Minister Rahim Wardak told The Associated Press on Friday ”the prospect for cooperation is much brighter” after meetings in recent months, involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and US officials.

Wardak said he also met in early February with Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich, Germany.

”We are really hopeful there are very good relations between our governments, (between) our president, their president and prime minister. I think all this will have some impact,” he told The Associated Press. ”But we still have to see how it will be implemented.”

Wardak and Afghan Interior Minister Bismullah Mohammadi were in Washington this week for talks with US defence officials.

Originally, Pakistani officials were due to visit too, but the tripartite talks were shelved amid a disagreement between the US and Pakistan over the detention of a CIA employee accused of murdering two Pakistanis. Washington says the employee should have diplomatic immunity.

Speaking earlier Friday to a seminar at the United States Institute of Peace think tank, both Afghan officials said security in Afghanistan was ”vastly improved” as increased Nato forces —part of a US surge before a drawdown of forces begins in this July —had stepped up operations with Afghan forces.

Their comments praising Nato raids were at odds with Karzai, who on Thursday claimed that 150 civilians had been killed in recent days by militants as well as international troops whom he said were employing an ”unsuccessful” war strategy.

Robert Watkins, departing deputy UN special representative in Afghanistan, also said this week that security is the worst in a decade and the world body is virtually shut out of two-fifths of the country.

Mohammadi said night raids —sometimes criticized for exacting civilian casualties —had dealt a ”back-breaking blow” in taking down Taliban leaders, mid and low-level militants and drug dealers.

Wardak asserted that government control had been established in ”hearts of enemy territory” in Kandahar and Helmand provinces in the volatile south, although there could be a ”very bloody year” of fighting ahead.

Both officials said Pakistan’s cooperation to move against insurgent ”safe havens” and Taliban leaders was essential for winning.

Wardak attributed the apparent change in Pakistan’s attitude toward cooperating with Afghanistan to its internal situation.

David Barno, a former commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said that on a recent visit to Pakistan he detected that Islamabad was beginning to believe the US will have a long-term presence in the region rather than withdraw in a hurry, prompting it to reconsider its ”hedging” strategy —of reportedly still backing Afghan Taliban.

While the US plans to start drawing down forces from July this year, the Nato force it leads is committed to a gradual transfer of security responsibility to expanding numbers of Afghan army and police by 2014.

Barno said he hoped that even after 2014, about 25,000 to 30,000 international troops would stay on to fight al-Qaida and mentor Afghan forces.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, PAK vs SL, Sri Lanka Vs pakistan Live Telecast Streaming

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live World cup 2011, watch PAK vs Sri Lanka live stream icc cricket world cup 2011, live telecast Sri vs Pak start at 14:30 local time (09:00 GMT), Live start at 2 PM Pakistan time and Sri Lanka time 2 PM. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka world cup 2011 will be played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, SriLanka.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live World cup 2011, watch PAK vs Sri Lanka live stream icc cricket world cup 2011, live telecast Sri vs Pak start at 14:30 local time (09:00 GMT), Live start at 2 PM Pakistan time and Sri Lanka time 2 PM. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka world cup 2011 will be played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka live streaming and live broadcast film on our cricket-matches.blogspot.com, we provide you complete live telecast and live streaming of PAK vs Sri Lanka world cup 2011 cricket match.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Live World cup 2011, this is the 10th one day international match of ICC cricket world cup 2011, Pakistan vs SL Group A match live streaming, watch live PAK vs Srilanka world cup 2011.

PAK vs Sri Lanka Live Scorecard

SL vs PAK Man of the match ICC World Cup 2011

Pakistan Team or Squad for ICC world cup 2011 Group A 10th ODI match vs Sri Lanka

Shahid Afridi*, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal†, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Akmal†, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan


Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Toss ICC World Cup 2011

Sri Lanka Team or Squad for ICC world cup 2011 Group Group A 10th ODI match vs Pakistan

KC Sangakkara*†, DPMD Jayawardene, TM Dilshan, CRD Fernando, HMRKB Herath, CK Kapugedera, KMDN Kulasekara, SL Malinga, AD Mathews, BAW Mendis, M Muralitharan, NLTC Perera, TT Samaraweera, LPC Silva, WU Tharanga

SL vs PAK Live Scorecard

Latest News Google to launch YouTube movie service in UK Report

Google's YouTube Plans to launch an unlimited payment service for movies, similar to Netflix and Amazon's offering, the New York Post said.

The exploration giant, which has been talking with Hollywood studios for months, is looking to launch the streaming tune first in Europe country -- mostly the UK -- before expanding to the United States, the paper said citing executives briefed on the plan.

Google has earmarked $100 million for content deals with studios and other premium content providers in its plan to expand its offerings.

Google was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Isheeta Sanghi)

Student News - BISE extends date 2011 March 12, 2011.

THE Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore has extended the last date for submission of forms for Intermediate (Annual) Examination 2011 till March 12, 2011.

BISE spokesman further said all necessary arrangements had been completed and Secondary School Certificate (Matriculation) Annual Examination 2011 would be held as per schedule, commencing from March 5, 2011.

The spokesman further said regular candidates would get their roll number slips from their institutions while the private candidates would be facilitated online and also be dispatched the same by registered mail on their residential addresses.

Umar Akmal - Practice makes perfect

The Pakistan cricket team play their second World Cup 2011 match on Saturday, against co-hosts Sri Lanka. The team traveled from Hambantota to Colombo and trained at the Premadasa Stadium, the venue for the match.

Firdous Aashiq Awan Says PML-N clearly violated CoD

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday termed the PML-N’s move of saying good bye to the PPP Punjab ministers as a gross violation of the Character of Democracy (CoD) and said that any change in the provincial government through Unification Block would create problems for the democratic system.

While talking to the media, Awan said the PPP does not want to leave the Punjab cabinet and intends to play its due role in strengthening the political system.

“PPP would continue to play its role for the reconciliation process with all political parties,” she added.

Replying to a question, she said the PML-N should follow the CoD and discourage horse-trading.

She blamed the PML-N for starting politics of confrontation and said the political crisis would be harmful for democracy and the country.

Latest News Bangladesh overcome Ireland for first win

DHAKA: Bangladesh stung flat-footed Ireland to resurrect their World Cup campaign with a 27-run victory in front of some 25,000 boisterous home fans on Friday.

Bangladesh, bowled out for 205 after taking first strike in the day-night match, hit back to dismiss the leading non-Test nation for 178 in 45 overs at the packed Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Former captain Mohammad Ashraful, who scored just one run, turned an unlikely hero with the ball by claiming two top-order wickets with his part-time off-spin.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan also picked up two wickets with left-arm spin before seamer Shafiul Islam polished off the tail in quick time with 4-21 from eight overs.

Bangladesh, who had lost their first match to India last week, lapped up the pressure in a game they had to win to stay in contention for the quarter-finals from Group B.

But the co-hosts, who play all their league matches at home, must still beat the Netherlands and at least one of the established teams among England, South Africa and the West Indies.

The win helped Bangladesh avenge two successive defeats by Ireland in major events, having lost during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and again in the 2009 World Twenty20 in England.

Shakib turned to spin after just one over from Shafiul, bringing on left-armer Abdul Razzak in the second over and off-spinner Naeem Islam in the third.

The move paid immediate dividends as Paul Stirling was stumped off Razzak for nine, before Irish captain William Porterfield fell to Shakib’s first delivery for 20.

Ed Joyce and Niall O’Brien carried the score from 36-2 to 75 when Ashraful struck with the first delivery of his second spell.

Joyce, the former England batsman, made a fluent 16 when he was beaten in the air by a flighted ball and gave a delighted Ashraful an easy return catch.

Ashraful then bowled Andrew White for 10, while Shakib claimed his second wicket when Niall O’Brien fell to a diving catch by Tamim Iqbal at deep mid-wicket after making 38.

Kevin O’Brien slammed three fours and a six in 37 during a sixth-wicket stand of 41 with Andre Botha when he pulled Shafiul to mid-wicket to reduce Ireland to 151-6 in the 37th over.

Shafiul, who had recovered in time from a shoulder injury to play the key match, claimed three of the last four wickets to send Ireland crashing.

Earlier, seamer Andre Botha picked up three wickets and George Dockrell and Trent Johnston claimed two each to bowl out the hosts in 49.2 overs.

The hosts made a blistering start, racing to 49 without loss by the end of the fifth over, 37 of those runs coming from the blade of Tamim.

But the advantage was soon lost as four wickets fell for 33 runs in the next 10 overs.

Man of the match Tamim, who top-scored with 70 against India, began by taking 10 runs in Boyd Rankin’s opening over and stroked seven boundaries in his 44 off 43 balls.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Raqibul Hasan lifted the hosts with a 61-run stand for the fifth wicket, before tailender Naeem Islam boosted the total with a defiant 29 towards the end.

Latest News PPP hits back after PML-N’s Punjab decision

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party hit-back at the PML-N after it decided to say good bye to the PPP ministers in the Punjab cabinet.

The PPP top leadership held a press conference here on Friday which was attended by Senator Raza Rabbani, Federal Law Minister Babar Awan, former Information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and PPP Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz.

Rabbani said that the 10-point agenda put forth by the PML-N was part of the PPP’s manifesto.

”I want to make it clear that there will be no political instability from today’s act,” said Rabbani, adding the PPP would continue with the policy of reconciliation.

”The federal government is stable. There is no question of midterm elections.”

The senator said the national agenda would be carried forward and the ruling party would take all stake holders on board when it comes to matters of national interest.

Pakistan Government agrees on RGST’s implementation - sources

According to sources in the Finance Ministry the ongoing talks between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Pakistani delegation, there has been an agreement on the implementation of the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) in the country.

Sources revealed that the government has succumbed under pressure from the IMF, and will implement this reformed tax system from October 1, this year.

This will of course push out a wave of protests from different pockets of the country, as already there have been talks about the increase in the Special Excise Duty (SED) and the Flood Surcharge Tax.

The rate at which this RGST will be implemented will be decided later. Sources from the Finance Ministry have also said that the government has no other choice but to implement this tax reform, as this is one of the tough conditions that the IMF has placed on Pakistan, in order to acquire the rest of the .1 billion loan package.

Kings Speech, Social Network lead Oscar picks

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Who will take home Oscar statuettes on Sunday. Based on behind-the-scenes info, The Hollywood Reporter picks the winners in the key races.


BEST PICTURE - "The King's Speech"

Three factors favor the Weinstein Co. film over its only serious rival, "The Social Network":

Precedent: "Speech" scored wins at the producers, directors and screen actors guild awards. True, it lost to "Social Network" at the Golden Globes, but the Globes are hardly a litmus test for the Oscars anymore.

Voters' Ages: Academy members average out at 57, meaning they're far more likely to identify with "Speech's" middle-aged heroes than "Social's" young cast.

The Voting System: In the Best Picture race, voters rank the 10 nominees in order of preference; if no movie gets more than 50 percent of first-place votes, the bottom vote-getters are eliminated and their votes transferred. So it's important to be placed second and third on lots of ballots, rather than just be No. 1. Being widely liked counts more than being deeply loved. And a whole lot of voters really like "Speech."

ACTOR - Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"

Punjab University Datesheet

The PU Examinations section has announced the written Examation date-sheet of BSc (Enginer), Third Professional, 2nd Annual Exam 2006. The exam will commence from March 2 and conclude on March 18, 2011. Detailed date-sheet is also available on PU website www.pu.edu.pk.

PML-N decides to remove PPP from Punjab govt

LAHORE: The Pakistan PML-N on Wednesday decided to remove the Pakistan People’s Party’s ministers from the Punjab government, DawnNews reported.

PML-N sources said the conclusion was taken during a meeting headed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

The gathering also decided to assign two ministries to members of the amalgamation Bloc of displeased PML-Q MPAs.
The Unification Bloc MPAs expected to be appointed ministers are Dr Tahir Ali Javed, the bloc’s head, and MPA Ata Maneka

Cricket World Cup: Ten Doeschate rues one that got away

NAGPUR: Ryan ten Doeschate was left musing on what might have been after the Netherlands narrowly failed to record a sensational victory over England despite his stunning century and two wickets.

The Essex all-rounder dominated England''s attack in a show of impressive power, hitting 119 as the Dutch piled up 292 for six in their World Cup opener at the VCA Ground in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The medium-pacer then took two wickets for 47 runs but England captain Andrew Strauss''s 88 and an unbeaten 30 from ten Doeschate''s county colleague Ravi Bopara helped the Test side to a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare.

"It''s a massive disappointment," South Africa-born ten Doeschate said. "You could see it when we came off the field there.

"We genuinely thought we had a chance of defending 290 and at a lot of stages in the game we looked like doing that.

"I don''t think it was our best bowling performance and I think if we''d bowled well we would have won that game."

Turning to his own innings, he added: "I didn''t strike it all that well for the first 20 balls or so.

"But then, as does happen in cricket, I got into that zone and felt like I could hit every ball.

"I guess those are the days where you''ve got to cash in and score some heavy runs," explained the 30-year-old, who added his relatively late development as a cricketer in the past two or three years meant he had never been approached by either South Africa or England.

Heavy defeats for Kenya and Canada in their openers appeared to give weight to the International Cricket Council''s decision to reduce the World Cup to 10 teams in 2015, a move that could rule out participation by associate or second-tier nations such as the Netherlands.

But this latest example of Dutch courage -- ten Doeschate was in at the finish when the Netherlands beat England at Lord''s in the World Twenty20 two years ago -- at least put the other side of the argument.

"We said at the start of the tournament we wanted to play brave cricket and this was a good example of that," said ten Doeschate, who has been signed up by the Indian Premier League.

Dutch captain Peter Borren saluted ten Doeschate''s innings but lamented his side''s bowling display.

"Ryan played probably the perfect knock but it still needs other guys to bat well. But we are capable of bowling better than that. If we bowled to our standards, 290 would have been enough." (AFP)

Annual day of UoP College for Boys held

Annual day of UoP College for Boys held:
The annual day of the University of Peshawar College for Boys was observed on Tuesday in which students presented tableaus, national songs and skits.

Dean faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences Prof Dr Farrukh Hussain was chief guest.

Principal of the College Prof Ishaq presented the annual report of the college.

He said that the college, within one year of its establishment, had become a promising seat of learning and the students had been up to the mark and geared up to excel among the best colleges in the province.

Prof Ishaq said that educated youth were a ray of hope for Pakistan and asked them to be had working.

He said that the college presented hundred percent result in its first internal examination and that the students were being trained for bringing distinction in board examination.

Mr Ishaq said the college had state-of-the-art laboratories and faculty and students were given best facilities for curricular and co-curricular activities.

Prof Dr Farrukh Hussain distributed prizes among the position holders in academics and sports.

Addressing the gathering he said that the college had the best teaching staff and the required infrastructure for emerging as the best institution. “Now it`s up to the students to deliver and make their parents and teachers proud,” he concluded.

PU results announced at 19/02/2011

The Punjab University announced the result of Doctor of Pharmacy (Condensed/Deficit Course), annual examination 2009. According to a press statement, detailed results are available on PU website www.pu.edu.pk

M.Com exams postponed

LAHORE, Feb 21: The Punjab University has postponed M.Com second annual examination for 2010 till further orders. A notification in this regard has been issued.

Pakistan intelligence confirms Davis is CIA guy

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani intelligence official said Monday that an American in custody for killing two men was an undercover CIA contractor, in remarks likely to inflame a crisis with the United States.

Washington insists that Raymond Davis, who says he acted in self-defence, is a member of its Islamabad embassy’s “administrative and technical staff” who has diplomatic immunity and should be released immediately.

“It is beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was working for CIA,” an official from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“He’s on contract. He’s not a regular CIA guy, but he’s working for CIA. That’s confirmed,” the Pakistani official said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the lower house on Monday that he was confident “that both the Pakistani and the US governments will not allow the Davis case to come in the way of mutually beneficial partnership”.

He said Pakistan was mindful of its international obligations under the Vienna Convention and other agreements.

But he added: “I want to assure this house and the nation that my government will not compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty and dignity. We are a responsible government and conscious of the sentiments of our people.”

Local analysts suggested Pakistani intelligence had deliberately decided to complicate the case in order to put pressure on the government and the United States, with whom relations have been troubled over the war in Afghanistan.

“This would be seen as a kind of deliberate attempt to make the situation more difficult and complex to handle, and this provides additional material to the militant groups to adopt a hardline stance,” said analyst Hasan Askari.

“These (intelligence) groups are not happy with the way America was building pressure on Pakistan on the war on terrorism.

“If it goes to the street and massive agitation, all political parties will find it a good opportunity to knock the PPP out of power,” he said.

The Pakistani intelligence official said the Davis case had soured relations with the Central Intelligence Agency.

“Our relations with the CIA are now sort of pretty dicey. It has affected our relationship,” the official told AFP.

Asia’s richest man strikes big gas deal with BP

MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani does not do small. He is the richest man in Asia, chairman of India’s biggest listed company, and lives in one of the largest and most expensive homes in the world.

On Monday, he struck a deal with BP that will see the British energy giant pump at least .2 billion into gas projects developed by his Reliance Industries in one of the country’s largest foreign investments.

The blockbuster deal comes less than a year after Ambani won a gas pricing dispute with his younger brother Anil that went all the way to the Supreme Court, leading to the end of a long-running family feud that had captivated India.

At 53, Mukesh Ambani is the world’s fourth richest man with a net worth estimated at billion, according to Forbes. The older son of Reliance Industries founder Dhirubhai

Ambani, a schoolteacher’s son whose rise inspired a Bollywood film, Mukesh is known to be soft-spoken, a vegetarian and a teetotaller, and keeps a lower public profile than his brother.

A chemical engineer by training, Mukesh Ambani dropped out of an MBA programme at Stanford University, where he was a classmate of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and joined Reliance in 1981.

After the death of their father in 2002, the two brothers fought publicly, ending with a split of the family business empire in 2005 that was brokered by their mother and saw Mukesh win control of energy-based conglomerate Reliance Industries.

Anil, now 51, took control of the telecoms, power and infrastructure businesses.

DEALMAKER

Mukesh Ambani has been an avid dealmaker.

Monday’s deal with BP is expected to boost shares in Reliance Industries, valued at about billion, company watchers said, as it brings in capital and technology.

Last year, he struck three shale gas joint ventures in the United States, including a .7 billion deal with Atlas Energy to own 40 per cent of its Marcellus Shale operations in the eastern United States.

Still, not everything he touches turns to gold. Reliance bid billion for 65 per cent of troubled Canadian oil sands company Value Creation but did not make it to the finish line. And its .5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected.

LOW PROFILE

A father of three, Mukesh Ambani enjoys watching Bollywood movies in private screenings. By comparison, Anil has been a regular on the social circuit with his wife, a former Bollywood actress.

Mukesh’s wife, Nita, is trained in Indian classical dance and runs Mumbai’s Dhirubhai Ambani International School, popular with the city’s elite. She also co-owns the Indian Premier League cricket team Mumbai Indians, for which the Ambanis paid 1 million in 2008.

A member of Mumbai’s prosperous Gujarati business community, Mukesh Ambani in 2010 said he would take a two-thirds pay cut after the Indian prime minister commented on “vulgar salaries.” But despite a staid image, Mukesh gave his wife a luxury private jet for her birthday in 2007.

Late last year he moved his five-member family — and scores of servants — into a one billion dollar, 27-storey home, featuring three rooftop helipads, that towers over south Mumbai.

Monday’s deal underscored his penchant for the big. “Mukesh Ambani likes to play only on big platforms, and with this deal he has again shown the desire and hunger in him to take Reliance into a different paradigm,” said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of research SMC Global Securities in New Delhi.

Cosmic census finds crowd of planets in our galaxy

WASHINGTON: Scientists have estimated the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy and the numbers are astronomical: at least 50 billion planets in the Milky Way.

At least 500 million of those planets are in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold zone where life could exist. The numbers were extrapolated from the early results of NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler telescope.

Kepler science chief William Borucki says scientists took the number of planets they found in the first year of searching a small part of the night sky and then made an estimate on how likely stars are to have planets. Kepler spots planets as they pass between Earth and the star it orbits.

So far Kepler has found 1,235 candidate planets, with 54 in the zone where life could possibly exist. Kepler’s main mission is not to examine individual worlds, but give astronomers a sense of how many planets, especially potentially habitable ones, there are likely to be in our galaxy. They would use the one-four-hundredth of the night sky that Kepler is looking at and extrapolate from there.

Borucki and colleagues figured one of two stars has planets and one of 200 stars has planets in the habitable zone, announcing these ratios Saturday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Washington. And that’s a minimum because these stars can have more than one planet and Kepler has yet to get a long enough glimpse to see stars that are further out from the star, like Earth, Borucki said.

For example, if Kepler were 1,000 light years from Earth and looking at our sun and noticed Venus passing by, there’s only a one-in-eight chance that Earth would also be seen, astronomers said.

To get the estimate for the total number of planets, scientists then took the frequency observed already and applied it to the number of stars in the Milky Way.

For many years scientists figured there were 100 billion stars in the Milky Way, but last year a Yale scientist figured the number was closer to 300 billion stars.

Either way it shows that Carl Sagan was right when he talked of billions and billions of worlds, said retired NASA astronomer Steve Maran, who praised the research but wasn’t part of it.

And that’s just our galaxy. Scientists figure there are 100 billion galaxies.

Borucki said the new calculations lead to worlds of questions about life elsewhere in the cosmos. ”The next question is why haven’t they visited us?” And the answer? ”I don’t know,” Borucki said.

If you want to be someone, be like Sachin: Miandad

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad Sunday hailed record-breaking Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar who equalled his record of playing in six World Cup editions.
Tendulkar, whose first World Cup was in 1992 which Pakistan won, has now featured in six World Cup tournaments, a record held by Miandad who played the inaugural edition in 1975 and then went on to play in the 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996 editions.
Tendulkar, 37, featured in India’s comprehensive 87-run win in the opening match of the event, against Bangladesh on Saturday.
“I congratulate Tendulkar for equalling my record,” Miandad told AFP.
“It is always good when a great player manages to equal or surpass a record set by you.
“I am happy Tendulkar has equalled my record of World Cup appearances and it shows his dedication and love for the game.”
Miandad said Tendulkar has been a role model for the youth around the world.
“My advice to young players is to follow Tendulkar’s example. He has been successful as an international cricketer and has been a role model for millions of players, not only in India but around the world.”

New mobile can check pulse, send ambulance

BARCELONA: You probably have good reason to worry if you get a call on your mobile phone with the following message: “Sir, an ambulance is on the way.” That’s the worst call you can receive if you buy a new EPI Life mobile phone, which comes complete with mini electrocardiogram.

It’s a new phone developed in Singapore that takes your pulse when you press your fingers on a receptor, and sends the results to a 24-hour medical call centre.
“We think it’s a revolution. It has clinical significance,” EPI medical chief Dr. Chow U-Jin said at the mobile industry’s annual conference in Barcelona.
“Anywhere in the world you can use it as a phone but you are also able to transfer an ECG and get a reply,” Chow said.

“If you get a normal reply it will just be an SMS,” he added.

“If it’s severe, you get a call: ‘Sir, an ambulance is on the way’.”EPI Life has three hospitals in Singapore, all of which carry the phone users’ history.
EPI Life costs 0 (516 euros), the price of a top range smartphone, and 2,000 of them have been on the market since 2010.
“The most obvious targets are people with heart disease,” Chow said.
Depending on your health or nervous disposition you can choose from three packages offering 10, 30 or 100 tests a month.

There is now a mini version with a smaller receptor that links via Bluetooth connection to your smartphone, which is due for launch soon in Spain and France.
The EPI Life is one of a series of mobile health initiatives unveiled in Barcelona.
Many of the services rely on SMS or MMS messages that even older mobiles can receive.

Health Company, which covers Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, sends medical information about sexuality, obesity, children’s health etc. to about 430,000 customers in Arab and English.

“You could also send a consultation through SMS,” said company vice president Fahad S. Al-Orifi.

“This SMS will go to our website where our doctor answers you to your mobile.” Mobile health is developing in poorer countries where it can play a crucial role, said Kazi Islam, chief executive of Grameenphone in Bangladesh.
In his country there are 156 million people and fewer than 3,000 hospitals but 66 million people have access to a mobile phone.
“Most women don’t have access to information of health. Seventy-five percent of women from 15 to 24 have never heard of STIs (sexually transmitted infections),” he said.
“With a simple SMS we are sending information to expectant mothers. This is a necessary help”.

Decision on PPP ministers in Punjab after talks| Shahbaz

Decision on PPP ministers in Punjab after talks| Shahbaz

FAISALABAD: Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the future of the PPP minister in Punjab will be decided after the final round of talks on February 22.
Speaking to the media in Faisalabad, in regards to the Raymond Davis case, Sharif said the law applies to everyone in the same way, regardless of anything else.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he had created a high-level committee which would be giving him recommendations regarding the Raymond Davis case.

Taliban attack on Afghan bank - 18 killed

JALALABAD: Eighteen people were killed and over 70 others were wounded, including police chiefs, Saturday in a Taliban attack on a bank in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan.

Police collecting their salaries were among the casualties including Alishah Paktyamwal, police chief of Nangarhar province where Jalalabad is located, and his deputy.

The incident is third major attack in a week targeting police in Afghanistan.

It happened when seven Taliban suicide bombers burst into a branch of Kabul Bank in the city and detonated their devices. There was also a hail of gunfire as the attack unfolded.

“Unfortunately, 18 of our countrymen were martyred and more than 70 injured,” Gul Agha Shirzay, provincial governor of Nangarhar province, told a press conference.

He added that seven suicide attackers armed with guns and grenades carried out the attack.

The casualties included police, bank staff and civilians. One of the dead was a police officer as were 14 of the injured.

One man who was in the bank when the attack started, who gave his name as Ewazullah, told AFP that the gunmen were “killing indiscriminately”.

“I was in the bank to withdraw some money when several armed men entered, fired some shots in the air and then told the people to gather to one side and then they started shooting,” he said.

“They were killing indiscriminately, I was hiding in a corner.” Baz Mohammad Shirzad, regional health director for eastern Afghanistan, said he had asked for extra army security at the hospital where the injured were being treated amid fears of a possible fresh attack there.

Although the fighting is now over, a curfew has been imposed across the city by local police banning cars from the roads, an AFP reporter said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack.

“People were there doing business deals and to receive their salaries,” he said. “This attack once again showed the cruel actions of the terrorists who do not want the people of Afghanistan to live in peace.”

A medical source speaking on condition of anonymity said the police chief of Nangarhar province where Jalalabad is located, Alishah Paktyamwal, plus his deputy and the city’s criminal police chief were slightly hurt.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said the militant, who have been fighting international and government forces in Afghanistan for nearly ten years, were responsible.

Captains sweat it out over dew factor choices

MUMBAI: The ‘dew factor’ at the World Cup looks likely to make captains sweat over their choices at the toss, adding a extra factor to think about in the subcontinent for the day/night matches.

The evening dew, quite normal in the subcontinent during this time of the year, might also spoil the chances of more spinners making it into their teams as it gets very difficult for them to grip the ball once it gets wet.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, an off spinner, is well aware of the problems.

“The wicket starts getting little bit better when the dew comes on, so it’s a bit better for batting but the outfield is particularly slippery and difficult to bowl,” Vettori told reporters on Saturday in Chennai.

“We saw that in the warm-up match against Ireland. I think it will influence (the decision of whoever wins) the toss.”

The organisers have scheduled 36 of the 49 matches in the Feb 19-April 2 World Cup as day-night fixtures in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.The knockout stages are all late finishes.

PLACID TRACK
It probably impacted Bangladesh captain Sakib Al Hasan’s decision to field first on a placid track against India in the opening match in Dhaka on Saturday.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had said the ‘dew factor’ would impact his choice of players and it meant India included only one spinner against Bangladesh.

“We will have to see if there is dew on the outfield,” Dhoni had said after their warm-up game in Chennai on Wednesday.

“The last time we toured Bangladesh, it was around January and there was a lot of dew, and now we are close to the end of February.

“Still we need to see if there is dew and pick the best 11 accordingly.”

The organisers mopped up the ground to get rid of the dew during the drinks intervals in Saturday’s match in Dhaka.

Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan also predicted that the dew factor would play a critical role in the outcome of matches at the tournament.

“Apart from the related strengths and weaknesses of the participating teams I think the ‘dew factor’ in day and night matches will decide results,” Imran told a sports channel.

“I think any team batting second will have a huge advantage as the ball keeps on getting wet, the outfield is wet and bowlers find it hard to grip the ball.

“And in these months I know by experience that the ‘dew factor’ also becomes very important in the subcontinent.”

Asma welcomes JC decision on ad-hoc judges

Asma welcomes JC decision on ad-hoc judges

ISLAMABAD: President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Asma Jahangir on Saturday hailed a decision of the Judicial Commission to defer the issue of appointment of retired judges on ad-hoc basis in tLSupreme Court.

Talking to media in the Supreme Court building, she said it was a good omen that the matter was postponed for developing a consensus.

Expressing lawyers bodies’ reservations over ad-hocism in the judiciary, she reiterated that such appointments should be ended for ever.

The guidelines given in the Al-Jihad Trust case by the apex court about appointment of judges should be followed in letter and spirit, she added.

Mumba’s Wankhede stadium in lockdown after safety failure

Mumbai stadium in lockdown

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium went into complete lockdown on Saturday just 24 hours after it was criticised by the city’s top fire chief for not meeting safety standards.

All unauthorised personnel were being shooed away by harassed security guards, who were under orders not to allow any media to come within 75 metres of the stadium, which will host the World Cup final on April 2.

“We are under so much tension. Every day something or the other is happening. Please go away. Our jobs are on the line. If any officer sees you, we will be in trouble,” a uniformed guard told Reuters as he escorted journalists out of the stadium complex.

A large digital clock in front of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) headquarters, which is housed in the same compound as the Wankhede, was counting down the minutes to India’s opening World Cup match against Bangladesh in Dhaka later on Saturday.

There was no disguising the fact that time was fast running short too for Mumbai’s cricket authorities to get their problems sorted before the venue hosts the first of its three World Cup matches on March 13.

Safety inspectors were unhappy that mandatory fire equipment, including water hydrants, no-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers were still not in place.

“They should have sorted this beforehand as you never want to leave these things so late,” a Mumbai fire officer, who declined to reveal his name, told Reuters while leaning through the window of his engine after freeing a trapped bird from a house situated just a stone’s throw away from the stadium.

“It’s never good to hear negative things about your city …and we are still waiting for them to let us know when we can come back,” he added referring to the clearance the fire brigade have to give Wankhede before it can host any matches.

All the negative publicity surrounding the imposing 33,000-seater concrete and steel structure, which rises out from the middle of one of Mumbai’s poshest areas of Marine Lights, has not gone down well in the neighbourhood.

“After what happened here (when more than 150 people were killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks), the authorities cannot allow any kind of safety or security lapses. It’s really shameful,” local resident Mita Mithani told Reuters.

Although the stadium was a no-go area, a cacophony of drilling, hammering and banging sounds could be heard drifting out from inside the arena.

Outside, dozens of workers were busy carrying out a multitude of tasks on the path leading up to the Wankhede.

Some labourers, wearing protective masks, crouched on the ground to weld together metal barriers, while others dragged metre after metre of heavy electric cables from the public roads right up to the stadium entrance.

Even a sign reading “Mumbai Cricket Association” was in a state of disrepair and appeared to be attached precariously on top

of a pair of rusted metal poles that looked like they could topple over at any time over the labourers working underneath.

As the arena also failed an inspection by the ICC in December, it was little wonder that officials in charge had closed ranks on Saturday and refused to talk to the media.

Friday’s warning once again cast doubts on India’s capability as a host of major events after last year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi ended up being a public relations shambles despite a late scramble by the government.

India had intended to showcase its growing financial might through the billion Games in October but organisational blunders in the lead-up to the event turned it into an embarrassment.

There were more red faces in India last month when the ICC shifted the high profile India v England World Cup match, scheduled for Feb 27, out of Kolkata’s Eden Gardens to Bangalore due to a delay in construction work.

Davis issue should not harm Pak-US relationship: Qureshi

MULTAN: Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan and United States must lay foundation of a durable relationship based on equality which could not be harmed by any single issue.

While addressing a public gathering here on Saturday, he said that the US must give weight to the numerous sacrifices Pakistan had rendered in the fight against terrorism.

Qureshi said that while he was a foreign minister, he had told the US leaders that the bilateral relations tend to ebb and flow over time.

He said that after going through law provisions, he was of the considered view that the US demand for a diplomatic immunity for Raymond Davis was not valid.

Referring to the recent statement by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding strained Pak-US relationship, he questioned: “I want to ask who was responsible for this situation?”

Qureshi said that he was still a diehard worker of the PPP and has no differences with the party and its leadership.

Zardari, Gilani have disappointed us on 10-point agenda|says Nawaz

Nawaz says govt disappointed nation

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said President Asif Zardari disappointed us all on 10-point agenda.

While addressing to party reorganizing meeting in Lahore, he said we will side with the truth on Raymond Davis’s issue, as we cannot sacrifice our sovereignty in the hands of otherindividual interests.
Pertaining to 10-point interim agenda, Nawaz Sharif was of the view we ensured our utmost support to PPP to curb on load shedding, poverty, and inflation, but President Zardari turned our all efforts fruitless.

“We presented the 10-point agenda in the best national interest, but federal government and President Zardari in particular let down on all of their pledges committed with us in a single move”, Nawaz Sharif said.

While talking about the veteran politicians of the party, he said those who faced hardships of dictatorship, are party asset. He vowed to give them their deserving status in the party.

Mobile Phones radiation is dangerous

How Mobile Cells
radiation is dangerous

The speculative fears of mobile phones being a danger to health in the long run, seem to be coming true.A latest government study talks about the harmful effects of not just using mobile phones but also the radiation from mobile phone towers.

A Times of India report states that Radiation from mobile phones and towers poses serious health risks, including loss of memory, lack of concentration, disturbance in the digestive system and sleep disturbances, according to an inter-ministerial committee formed by the ministry of communications and information technology to study the hazards posed by mobile phones.

One India also reported that the damages may not be lethal for humans, but they worse for birds and insects as well. The committee has attributed the radiation effects to the disappearance of butterflies, bees, insects and sparrows.

The government report also says that mobile towers should not be installed near high density residential areas, schools, playgrounds and hospitals. “The localized SAR value as per the Indian guidelines standard is 2 watt per kg, averaged over a six minute period and using a 10 gram average mass. With higher SAR values of mobile handsets the public could potentially receive much higher radiofrequency exposure. We have recommended that SAR levels to be lowered down to 1.6 watt/kg, as prescribed by the Federal Communication Commission of US,” said a member.

The eight-member committee, which included representatives from the health ministry, department of biotechnology and member secretary, DoT, has recommended that mobile phones not adhering to standard levels of specific absorption rate (SAR) – a measure of the amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body while using a phone — should be barred.

Member scientist, ICMR R S Sharma said that compared to Europeans, Indian cellphone users are more at risk for adverse affect of radiation due the country’s hot tropical climate, low body mass index, and low fat content. “We have recommended amendment in the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and rules so that only mobile handsets satisfying radiation standards should be permitted in the country,” he said.

In another report, citizens are scared of the radiation from mobile tower in Andheri.
In the past five years, more than 15 housewives living in Sher-e-Punjab colony in Andheri (East) have suffered from various forms of cancer. Although there is no proof of a direct link, residents are drawing parallels between the appearance of the first cancer case and the installation of the first mobile phone tower in the society nearly seven years ago.
Based on a Hindustan Times report.

Neha Kumar, who has been studying the biological effects of mobile phone towers, said, All these women dont have any family history of cancer. Plus, all of them are within a certain radius of those mobile towers. All this is not a coincidence.

So how do we minimise the damage in view of such grave consequences.

The report adds –
While talking on mobile, keep calls short or send a text message (SMS). This advice should be especially relevant keeping in mind the children, adolescents and pregnant women said the report. The advice should be printed in the user manual by handset manufacturers.

Whenever possible, use cellphone when the signal quality is good. People having active medical implants should keep their cellphone at least 30 cm away from the implant said the report.

Many a times we find ourselves complaining of bad network in certain areas. Mobile companies raise towers at every nook and corner to beat each other at network coverage. Are we compromising our health for better mobile connections?

Kerry Says hopeful of resolving dispute over diplomat

American ----- Sen. John Kerry says he believe there is a "approach forward" to resolving a delicate argument with Pakistan over the arrest of an American diplomat who shot to death two Pakistani men he claims were trying to rob him.

Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, traveled to Pakistan this week at the request of President Barack Obama. Kerry says there are still "very difficult" legal issues to deal with in the case of Raymond Allen Davis.

Kerry says he discussed his trip and options for resolving the condition with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday. He did not complex.

The U.S. has called for the release of Davis, saying he acted in self-defense in the Janvary.27 shootings and qualifies for political immunity.

Pakistan Cricket Team ICC World Cup 2011 team guide

Shahid Afridi, right, and Umar Gul of Pakistan

------------------------------------------
Group A
------------------------------------------
23 Feb v Kenya, Hambantota (d/n)

26 Feb v Sri Lanka, Colombo (d/n)

3 Mar v Canada, Colombo (d/n)

8 Mar v Pakistan, Kandy (d/n)

14 Mar v Zimbabwe, Kandy (d/n)

19 Mar v Australia, Colombo (d/n)

---------------------------------------------
World Cup history
---------------------------------------------
Winners in 1992. Finalists in 1999. Semi-finalists in 1973, 1983 and 1987. Quarter-finalists in 1996. First round in 1975, 2003 and 2007
------------------------
The captain
------------------------
Shahid Afridi Is known for his aggressive batting style, and currently holds the highest career strike-rate in the history of international cricket. A highly regarded player, to say he is an all-rounder, is to say Einstein was a scientist, some say.

-----------------------
The coach
-----------------------
Waqar Younis Was appointed as coach in March 2010, having previously twice served as bowling coach. A household name in cricket, Younis has also worked as a sports commentator for Nine Network in Australia and Ten Sports in the UAE.

------------------------------
Best batsman
------------------------------
Shahid Afridi Given the dubious privilege of captaining the team, in the hope that he can reproduce the performances that inspired an unlikely and uplifting triumph in the Twenty20 World Championship in England in the summer of 2009. But can he extend explosive 20-over innings to match-winning efforts in the longer game?

------------------------------
Success depends on
------------------------------
How motivated and unified they are as a side. Despite losing their captain, two opening bowlers and wicketkeeper to suspension and self-imposed exile, they have a squad which is packed with match-winning talent. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq add stability to the batting, and they have two outstanding all-rounders in Afridi and Abdul Razzaq. But with all that baggage between the players they are more likely to implode than explode.

--------------------------------
Prediction
--------------------------------
Quarter-finals Most likely they will avoid an ignominious early exit by thrashing one of the big teams in a manner that suggests they are going to go all the way to the final, then subside meekly in their next match.

-------------------------------
Best bowler
-------------------------------
Umar Gul Another key figure in Pakistan's 2009 T20 triumph, this Peshawar-born seamer is now the senior figure in an attack missing the Mohammads Asif and Amir for well-documented reasons. Can deliver yorkers on demand, at various paces, making him arguably the world's best death bowler.

-------------------------------
The squad
--------------------------------
Shahid Afridi (capt), Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younus Khan.

Zardari to visit Japan from Feb 21

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Japan from February 21-23 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan, to further strengthen the cordial relations between the two countries and open new avenues of cooperation.This will be President Zardari’s second visit to Japan since assuming office.
During his stay in Japan, the President will make a state call on the Emperor of Japan. He will hold summit level talks with Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
The President is also scheduled to meet with Japanese Cabinet members, parliamentarians and leading Japanese businessmen.

The visit will provide an opportunity to brief the Japanese leadership on Pakistan views on key international and regional issues as well as discuss ways and means to further expand bilateral political and economic ties.
The visit will also reiterate the importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with Japan. President’s meeting with the Japanese businessmen will help project Pakistan as a destination for Japanese investment.

Eid-ul-Milad-un-Nabi celebrated

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad celebrated Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) on Wednesday with religious enthusiasm, zeal and fervour like other parts of the country.

Various religious orgnisations took out Milad processions from different parts of the city, Latifabad and Qasimabad Talukas, which later gathered at Salawat Para from where the main Eid Milad procession was brought out.

The main procession was led by prominent religious leaders and scholars.

Law enforcement agency had adopted strict security measures including the blocking of entrances of the main Milad processions with barbwires, escorting Milad processions and deployment of force at different spots, as well as rooftops of the buildings.

Court to decide Davis’ immunity Yousaf Raza Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Wednesday that the courts would decide whether a US official who shot dead two Pakistanis was protected by diplomatic immunity, state media said.

Raymond Davis has insisted he acted in self-defence when he shot the two men in Lahore on January 27. A third Pakistani died when he was struck by a US diplomatic vehicle that came to Davis’ assistance.

“Davis also has a lawyer, he will present his case and then the court will decide whether he has immunity or not,” the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Gilani as telling a convention of religious scholars.

Gilani urged the religious scholars to find a solution to the sensitive issue in accordance with Islamic law, under which a victim’s family can pardon a killer in return for compensation.

“Ulema (Islamic scholars) should tell the solution. Either the heirs should give a pardon or ask about ‘Qisas’ (compensation) or the court should decide. We don’t have any role,” APP quoted him as saying.

Gilani said that the government was caught between a public backlash and international anger. “We are facing difficult decisions. There is a political price,” Gilani said.

“We are just caught between the devil and the deep sea. This needs wisdom. We will do whatever is in the interest of the country and the nation,” he said.

Gilani said that the government had not bowed to US pressure even after President Barack Obama asked for immunity to Davis.

Pakistan’s fragile ties with the United States have been plunged into crisis since Davis was taken into custody and admitted to shooting dead two men on a busy street in Lahore.

US senator John Kerry arrived late Tuesday in the eastern city to hold talks with Pakistani leaders to help resolve the bitter diplomatic row over the man’s fate. He voiced deep regret over the killings.

Obama Asks Pakistan to Release Shooter Raymond Davis, as Kerry Visits

LAHORE, Pakistan—U.S. President Barack Obama called for Pakistan to release a government employee who killed two men last month, as Sen. John Kerry arrived here for talks aimed at ending the diplomatic standoff.

The man, Raymond Davis, has been in custody in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, since the incident on Jan. 27. The U.S. says he is covered by diplomatic immunity and should be released.

Mr. Obama weighed in on the row Tuesday, saying Pakistan must release Mr. Davis under its commitments as a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a pact from the 1960s that guarantees diplomats immunity from prosecution. "If it starts being fair game on our ambassadors around the world, including in dangerous places…it means they can't do their job," Mr. Obama told a news conference.

The comments escalated a diplomatic dispute over the Mr. Davis's detention. The shooting sparked protests here and demands for Mr. Davis's prosecution that have been inflamed by reports in Pakistan's media questioning Mr. Davis's role at the consulate. The public anger over the shooting makes it difficult for Pakistan's central government—an ally of the U.S.—to order his release.

The U.S. has said Mr. Davis is a "technical and administrative" staff of the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, but hasn't said what his role was or whether he was authorized to carry a weapon. The U.S. confirmed Mr. Davis's identity Friday, two weeks after Pakistani authorities released his name.

A court in Lahore is expected to begin hearing a case Thursday on whether Mr. Davis has immunity from prosecution.

Mr. Kerry, at a news conference in Lahore, promised the U.S. Justice Department would conduct its own "thorough criminal investigation" if Pakistan were to release Mr. Davis.

"It is a strong belief of our government that this case does not belong in the court," Mr. Kerry said Tuesday. "And it does not belong in the court because this man has diplomatic immunity."

Mr. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has made four trips to Pakistan in the past two years and was instrumental in co-writing in 2009 a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian aid package, part of a strategy to help counter Islamic radicalism in the country. Despite closer ties, many here remain wary of the U.S., which is viewed as building strategic alliances with Pakistan's traditional rivals, notably India.

Washington, too, has been disappointed with Pakistan for failing to clamp down on Taliban havens on its soil.

The incident involving Mr. Davis has added a further level of mistrust to the relationship.

The U.S. last week canceled a meeting scheduled for late February in Washington, involving Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan, in protest against Mr. Davis's detention. Washington has also scaled back other routine bilateral contacts.

ICC red flags Dhoni over ambush marketing

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, poses during a photo call as a brand ambassador of.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni that he could be in breach of its ambush marketing laws and has asked him to stop promoting companies and products not related to the World Cup. Dhoni has earned ICC's displeasure for doing advertisements for Sony related storiesand Aircel. According to the ICC's rules, players had to stop promoting companies and products not related to the World Cup days before the event begins on February 19.

The DNA newspaper reports ICC has written a letter telling Dhoni that a recent commercial he had featured in could be in breach of its ambush marketing laws.

According to sources, the ICC has written to chief executives of all the national boards reminding them of the need for strict adherence to the ambush marketing clause after the publication of the Dhoni’s commercial in a leading national daily.

In a recent advertisement, Dhoni was seen endorsing a product that is a competition to an official sponsor of the World Cup. As per the ambush marketing rules, that is not permitted from seven days prior to the start of the championship.