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Friday 30 December 2011
Geo Report-IT Genius Hospitalised-29 Dec 2011
The youngest IT certified professional Arfa Karim is hospitalised and in critical condition
See Video
See Video
Australian woman survives three days trapped in car
SYDNEY: An Australian grandmother who survived three days trapped by her overturned car after a road accident on Christmas Day had become so desperate to escape she considered amputating her leg, police said.
With her mobile phone battery dying, Deborah McKnight was unable to reach emergency help after her car rolled over an embankment on an isolated country road on Sunday.
McKnight had been driving near Batlow, in southeast Australia, when she told police she swerved to miss a kangaroo and lost control of her car which careered through a guard rail and tumbled down a cliff.Read more
With her mobile phone battery dying, Deborah McKnight was unable to reach emergency help after her car rolled over an embankment on an isolated country road on Sunday.
McKnight had been driving near Batlow, in southeast Australia, when she told police she swerved to miss a kangaroo and lost control of her car which careered through a guard rail and tumbled down a cliff.Read more
Thursday 29 December 2011
Python attacks Australian infant
SYDNEY: An Australian infant was attacked by a python which wrapped itself around his body and attempted to suffocate him, his terrified mother said Thursday, recalling his "blood-curdling scream".
The two-year-old boy was chasing a ball around his Port Douglas backyard in Australia's tropical north when the snake struck, biting his leg before looping itself around his body, his mother told the local newspaper.
"I heard this blood-curdling scream," she said.
"The snake was biting his leg and was wrapped around his whole body, to his chest. It started constricting." Read more
The two-year-old boy was chasing a ball around his Port Douglas backyard in Australia's tropical north when the snake struck, biting his leg before looping itself around his body, his mother told the local newspaper.
"I heard this blood-curdling scream," she said.
"The snake was biting his leg and was wrapped around his whole body, to his chest. It started constricting." Read more
"Elvis" the croc strikes again in Sydney
SYDNEY: Two workers at a reptile park near Sydney were all shook up Wednesday, running for their lives when a 500 kg crocodile named Elvis suddenly lunged at them, making off with their lawnmower.
Five-meter long Elvis was already not exactly a hunk of burning love, having eaten two girlfriends at another crocodile park where he lived.
He struck again, surging out of the water while the workers performed routine maintenance nearby.
"Elvis is quite a dangerous croc, he's a real firecracker," said Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford, about an hour's drive north of Sydney.
"He came flying out and before we knew it he had the mower in his mouth and he's taken it back into the water, dropping a couple of teeth in the process." Read more
Five-meter long Elvis was already not exactly a hunk of burning love, having eaten two girlfriends at another crocodile park where he lived.
He struck again, surging out of the water while the workers performed routine maintenance nearby.
"Elvis is quite a dangerous croc, he's a real firecracker," said Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford, about an hour's drive north of Sydney.
"He came flying out and before we knew it he had the mower in his mouth and he's taken it back into the water, dropping a couple of teeth in the process." Read more
Stressed Chinese fight back with pillows
The annual event marked its fifth year with such a surge in interest from stressed young office workers and students that organizers held two nights of pillow fighting before Christmas Day and plan another for Dec 30.
"Nowadays there are many white collar workers and students that are facing huge pressures at work and at school, so we hope to give them an outlet to release their stress before the end of the year," said Eleven Wang, the founder and mastermind behind the epic pillow fights.Read more
Colombian city gets giant, outdoor escalator
BOGOTA: Officials in Colombia's second-largest city inaugurated a giant, outdoor escalator for residents of one of its poorest neighborhoods.
For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin's tough Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of large steps authorities say is the same as going up a 28-story building.
Now they can ride an escalator Medellin's mayor says is the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.
"It turned out very well," said Mayor Alonso Salazar, adding that he has not heard of any such project elsewhere in this world.
Salazar said officials from Rio de Janeiro plan to visit Medellin to see if such an escalator would work in that city's favelas, which also cling precariously to hillsides.
Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million escalator which officials say will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes. Use of the escalator is free.
"This is a dream come true," homemaker Olga Holguin told RCN television.
Cesar Hernandez, head of projects for Medellin, said the electric stairway is divided into six sections and has a length of 384 meters (1,260 feet). An escalator goes up and a second goes down. Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement whether.
Salazar described Comuna 13 as the city's district that has "suffered the greatest urban violence... but lately this has been receding and we hope this social package will help it move forward." (AP)
For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin's tough Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of large steps authorities say is the same as going up a 28-story building.
Now they can ride an escalator Medellin's mayor says is the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.
"It turned out very well," said Mayor Alonso Salazar, adding that he has not heard of any such project elsewhere in this world.
Salazar said officials from Rio de Janeiro plan to visit Medellin to see if such an escalator would work in that city's favelas, which also cling precariously to hillsides.
Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million escalator which officials say will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes. Use of the escalator is free.
"This is a dream come true," homemaker Olga Holguin told RCN television.
Cesar Hernandez, head of projects for Medellin, said the electric stairway is divided into six sections and has a length of 384 meters (1,260 feet). An escalator goes up and a second goes down. Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement whether.
Salazar described Comuna 13 as the city's district that has "suffered the greatest urban violence... but lately this has been receding and we hope this social package will help it move forward." (AP)
Stressed Chinese fight back- with pillows
The annual event marked its fifth year with such a surge in interest from stressed young office workers and students that organizers held two nights of pillow fighting before Christmas Day and plans another for Dec 30.
"Nowadays there are many white collar workers and students that are facing huge pressures at work and at school, so we hope to give them an outlet to release their stress before the end of the year," said Eleven Wang, the founder and mastermind behind the epic pillow fights. Read more
Boston student re-united with $170,000 violin
Muchen Hsieh, a student at the New England Conservatory in Boston, had traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving at roughly 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia police, who helped Hsieh track down the missing instrument, said then came a moment of sheer panic for the student.
O'Brien said Hsieh realized she had forgotten the instrument after she was picked up from the bus station. She blamed her absent-mindedness on travel fatigue.Read more
Singapore's SPH says Yahoo! plagiarised content
SINGAPORE: Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which is suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement, has accused the US Internet giant of plagiarising its works.
SPH, which publishes Singapore's Straits Times newspaper and other dailies, also vowed to fight a counterclaim filed this month by Yahoo! Southeast Asia alleging the media group infringed on its copyright, the statement said.
"SPH is determined to pursue this suit vigorously and to protect its copyrighted works," the statement said, adding its defence has been filed Wednesday at the High Court to the counterclaim by Yahoo!.
"It cannot allow a third party to plagiarise its works without regard to the effort and resources that go into producing its content."
SPH said in November it was suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement and wants the California-based web group to pay unspecified damages for infringement. Read more
SPH, which publishes Singapore's Straits Times newspaper and other dailies, also vowed to fight a counterclaim filed this month by Yahoo! Southeast Asia alleging the media group infringed on its copyright, the statement said.
"SPH is determined to pursue this suit vigorously and to protect its copyrighted works," the statement said, adding its defence has been filed Wednesday at the High Court to the counterclaim by Yahoo!.
"It cannot allow a third party to plagiarise its works without regard to the effort and resources that go into producing its content."
SPH said in November it was suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement and wants the California-based web group to pay unspecified damages for infringement. Read more
'Silence of the Lambs', 'Bambi', among US film treasures
NEW YORK: The U.S. National Film Registry has named 25 films to be preserved as cultural treasures ranging from the 1942 Walt Disney classic, "Bambi," to the 1991 psychological thriller "The Silence of the Lambs."
The film list also includes the Academy Award-winning "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks and the post-war noir film "The Big Heat," set in a fictional US town that examined domestic life in the 1950s. It includes Hollywood features, documentaries and animation, spanning the period 1912 to 1994.
The latest films were selected from 2,228 films nominated by the public, bringing the total number of films in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress to 575.
"These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture," said Librarian of Congress James Billington in a statement.Read more
The film list also includes the Academy Award-winning "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks and the post-war noir film "The Big Heat," set in a fictional US town that examined domestic life in the 1950s. It includes Hollywood features, documentaries and animation, spanning the period 1912 to 1994.
The latest films were selected from 2,228 films nominated by the public, bringing the total number of films in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress to 575.
"These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture," said Librarian of Congress James Billington in a statement.Read more
Oscar nomination ballots sent to voters
LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday sent out Oscar ballots to its members, who will select the nominees for Hollywood's top film honors.
The academy's 5,783 voting members must cast their ballots by January 13 to determine the Oscar nominations, which will be announced on January 24.
The Oscar statuettes will be handed out at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on February 26 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater.
Oscars veteran Billy Crystal has stepped in to host this year's Academy Awards show, after actor Eddie Murphy pulled out following a row over a producer's anti-gay comments.
Crystal has hosted the top Hollywood awards show eight times before. He last hosted the event in 2004. (AFP)
Islamabad stocks stay bullish
Islamabad stays bullish
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE-10) here on Thursday witnessed bullish trend as the index gained 6.75 points to close at 2587.01 as compared the previous day's trading.
A stock analyst, talking to news agency expected positive announcement of financial results of corporate sectors caused the positive sentiments in the local markets.
He said that the December was the month of closing accounts of companies listed in all stock exchanges of the country and the investors were expecting more returns from corporate sectors.
"The buying was seemed in the oil sector because it is performing better than other sectors", he added.
In today's trading, the volume of shares was 4,910, which was down by 64,590 as compared to previous day's closing.
A total of 106 companies' shares were traded Thursday, out of which 66 scrips gained while 40 lost, and the share prices of the rest remained unchanged.
The price of top gainer Siemens Pakistan Engineering increased by Rs.16.54 while the price of top loser Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim (FFBL) decreased by Rs.1.47.
Lotte Pakistan PTA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and FFBL remained volume leaders, with volume of 2,000, 1,800 and 1,000
shares respectively. (APP)
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE-10) here on Thursday witnessed bullish trend as the index gained 6.75 points to close at 2587.01 as compared the previous day's trading.
A stock analyst, talking to news agency expected positive announcement of financial results of corporate sectors caused the positive sentiments in the local markets.
He said that the December was the month of closing accounts of companies listed in all stock exchanges of the country and the investors were expecting more returns from corporate sectors.
"The buying was seemed in the oil sector because it is performing better than other sectors", he added.
In today's trading, the volume of shares was 4,910, which was down by 64,590 as compared to previous day's closing.
A total of 106 companies' shares were traded Thursday, out of which 66 scrips gained while 40 lost, and the share prices of the rest remained unchanged.
The price of top gainer Siemens Pakistan Engineering increased by Rs.16.54 while the price of top loser Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim (FFBL) decreased by Rs.1.47.
Lotte Pakistan PTA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and FFBL remained volume leaders, with volume of 2,000, 1,800 and 1,000
shares respectively. (APP)
KSE up on bargain hunting
KARACHI: Equities in the country’s top bourse Thursday rose on bargain hunting, Geo News reported.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index was up by 0.73 percent, or 83.08 points, to reach 11435.67.
On the other hand the turnover tuned out to be only 33.84 million shares.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index was up by 0.73 percent, or 83.08 points, to reach 11435.67.
On the other hand the turnover tuned out to be only 33.84 million shares.
Euro falls sharply in Asia
TOKYO: The euro fell sharply against major currencies in thin Asian trade Thursday after it hit a 10-year low against the Japanese unit in New York.
The euro fell to $1.2903 and 100.49 yen in early Tokyo trade, down from $1.2912 and 100.80 yen late Wednesday in New York.
The dollar stood at 77.86 yen, barely changed from 77.90 in New York.
A senior dealer at a major bank in Tokyo said the overall selling volume was not large, meaning the impact of euro sell orders was being magnified due to thin year-end flows in Asian markets.
In New York Wednesday, the single European currency fell to 100.73 yen, its lowest level since June 2001, while also plunging against the greenback below the $1.30 line to its lowest level since January 11.
The euro fell to $1.2903 and 100.49 yen in early Tokyo trade, down from $1.2912 and 100.80 yen late Wednesday in New York.
The dollar stood at 77.86 yen, barely changed from 77.90 in New York.
A senior dealer at a major bank in Tokyo said the overall selling volume was not large, meaning the impact of euro sell orders was being magnified due to thin year-end flows in Asian markets.
In New York Wednesday, the single European currency fell to 100.73 yen, its lowest level since June 2001, while also plunging against the greenback below the $1.30 line to its lowest level since January 11.
Myanmar warehouse blast kills 17
"It was not a bomb explosion," the official said, though the cause of the blast, which sparked a large fire that destroyed many nearby storage places and homes, was still unknown.
At least 17 people, including four firefighters, had died, while 79 people were injured, including around 30 firemen, another government official told.
Residents in several areas of the city were woken by the blast around 2:00 am local time (1930 GMT), which appeared to have hit a medical warehouse in the eastern township of Mingalar Taung Nyunt, witnesses told.
Firefighters battled for hours to douse the flames and finally succeeded in extinguishing the massive fire at around 6:45am, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
The second government official said the blast had created a large crater and damaged several warehouses and around 50 houses in the area, most of them wooden dwellings.
Airlines face EU pollution bill from New Year
BRUSSELS: Airlines will have to buy pollution permits to fly in Europe from January 1 under a disputed EU system to fight climate change, but slumping carbon market prices could make the bill less painful.
The cap-and-trade scheme, which has angered the US and Chinese governments and airlines worldwide, comes into force on Sunday after the European Union's highest court rejected a challenge brought by US carriers this month.
The Airlines for America association grudgingly indicated that its members would abide by the EU law, but "under protest" while pursuing legal options. Chinese airlines plan to file a complaint in a German court this week.
For now, buying a permit through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will be much cheaper than paying a fine for ignoring the rules.
Prices in the carbon market have fallen dramatically to eight euros ($10.4) per tonne of CO2, after fluctuating in the past few years between 15 and 25 euros.
Refusing to comply would cost an airline 100 euros per tonne, with the possibility of being denied the right to land in the 27-nation EU in extreme cases.
The cap-and-trade scheme, which has angered the US and Chinese governments and airlines worldwide, comes into force on Sunday after the European Union's highest court rejected a challenge brought by US carriers this month.
The Airlines for America association grudgingly indicated that its members would abide by the EU law, but "under protest" while pursuing legal options. Chinese airlines plan to file a complaint in a German court this week.
For now, buying a permit through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will be much cheaper than paying a fine for ignoring the rules.
Prices in the carbon market have fallen dramatically to eight euros ($10.4) per tonne of CO2, after fluctuating in the past few years between 15 and 25 euros.
Refusing to comply would cost an airline 100 euros per tonne, with the possibility of being denied the right to land in the 27-nation EU in extreme cases.
Wednesday 28 December 2011
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=29325&title=Mel-Gibson,-wife-finalize-divorce
Robyn Gibson will return to using her maiden name, Robyn Denise Moore, but other details of the divorce were kept confidential. The settlement becomes effective on January 9.
Gibson, 55, and his wife married in Australia in 1980 and have seven children together.
The couple separated in 2006 after Gibson was arrested for drunk driving in Malibu, California, and made anti-Semitic remarks that generated headlines around the world.
The actor's wife sued for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences following Gibson's relationship with Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he has a 2-year-old daughter.
The "Lethal Weapon" star pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery following an altercation with Grigorieva in 2010, and was sentenced to three years' probation.
He recently settled a custody battle with his former girlfriend, agreeing to pay Grigorieva $750,000 and share custody of their daughter.
The Oscar winner's turbulent five years since his arrest and the anti-Semitic rant have tarnished his reputation and set back a remarkable career that had made him one of Hollywood's highest paid actors, directors and producers.
While no details of the divorce settlement were released, the actor was previously estimated to be worth $900 million, and he owns several properties in the wealthy, seaside enclave of Malibu, outside Los Angeles.(Reuters)
Moin Akhtar remembered on his 61st birthday
KARACHI: Legendary actor of film, television and stage Moin Akhtar is remebered today on his 61st birthday all across Pakistan and by his fans all over the world.
He was adored for entertaining people of all ages with his unique style of wit and humor, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched.
His attempts to avoid vulgarity in his humor rendered him a favorite amongst family audiences.
Akhtar was fluent in several languages, including English, Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pashto, Gujarati and Urdu. He performed not only in Pakistan but played in several stage shows like Bakra Qiston Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai with Umer Sharif in India too.
Moin Akhtar rose to the national spotlight and gathered critical acclaim for his performance in the drama Rosy /Rozy (????), in which he played the role of a female TV artist. Rozy was an Urdu adaptation of Hollywood movie Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman. Moreover, in a talk-show namely Loose Talk he appeared as a different character in each and every of over 400 episodes interviewed by Anwar Maqsood, the writer and the host of the program.
He was awarded honorary citizenship of Dallas in 1996 for his achievements. He is also listed among Amazing Pakistanis of all time.
He died on 22 April 2011 at about 6:15pm in Karachi after suffering from a heart attack.
The world famous wax museum Madame Tussauds has expressed its wish to include a statue of Moin Akhtar in their London museum. If made, it will be the first of its kind for any Pakistani entertainer.
He was adored for entertaining people of all ages with his unique style of wit and humor, and with an etiquette that remains unmatched.
His attempts to avoid vulgarity in his humor rendered him a favorite amongst family audiences.
Akhtar was fluent in several languages, including English, Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi, Memon, Pashto, Gujarati and Urdu. He performed not only in Pakistan but played in several stage shows like Bakra Qiston Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai with Umer Sharif in India too.
Moin Akhtar rose to the national spotlight and gathered critical acclaim for his performance in the drama Rosy /Rozy (????), in which he played the role of a female TV artist. Rozy was an Urdu adaptation of Hollywood movie Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman. Moreover, in a talk-show namely Loose Talk he appeared as a different character in each and every of over 400 episodes interviewed by Anwar Maqsood, the writer and the host of the program.
He was awarded honorary citizenship of Dallas in 1996 for his achievements. He is also listed among Amazing Pakistanis of all time.
He died on 22 April 2011 at about 6:15pm in Karachi after suffering from a heart attack.
The world famous wax museum Madame Tussauds has expressed its wish to include a statue of Moin Akhtar in their London museum. If made, it will be the first of its kind for any Pakistani entertainer.
Doctors look to treat sick children in virtual worlds
Sensory stimulation could be used to make a burn victim feel she is encased in a block of ice. Three-dimensional images of a child's bedroom at home could make him forget he is in a hospital.
"You could take a child suffering from burns and put him in a polar environment, crossing the threshold of reality, to dull his pain," said Patrick Dube, who is leading a team of medics from Montreal'sSainte-Justine hospital and software engineers at the Society for Arts and Technology.
"We know that cognitive illusions have an effect on the perception of pain," he said. Read more
Hackers hit security think tank Stratfor's website
AUSTIN, Texas: U.S. security think tank Strategic Forecasting Inc (Stratfor) said its website had been hacked and that some of the names of corporate subscribers had been made public.
Stratfor said the breach came from an unauthorized party, while activist hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility.
"As a result of this incident the operation of Stratfor's servers and email have been suspended," the Austin-based company said in an email on Sunday.
Hackers claiming to be the group Anonymous said they had obtained around 4,000 credit card details, passwords and home addresses on Stratfor's private client list, which was posted on information-sharing website Pastebin.
Anonymous, reported to be a loose-knit group of hackers, became famous for attacking the companies and institutions that oppose WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange.
Anonymous has also been linked to attacks on the websites of the PlayStation store, the Church of Scientology and governments around the globe that it considered oppressive.
Stratfor, which describes itself as a provider of strategic intelligence for business, economic, security and geopolitical affairs, said it was "working closely with law enforcement in their investigation and will assist them with the identification of the individual(s) who are responsible". (Reuters)
Stratfor said the breach came from an unauthorized party, while activist hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility.
"As a result of this incident the operation of Stratfor's servers and email have been suspended," the Austin-based company said in an email on Sunday.
Hackers claiming to be the group Anonymous said they had obtained around 4,000 credit card details, passwords and home addresses on Stratfor's private client list, which was posted on information-sharing website Pastebin.
Anonymous, reported to be a loose-knit group of hackers, became famous for attacking the companies and institutions that oppose WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange.
Anonymous has also been linked to attacks on the websites of the PlayStation store, the Church of Scientology and governments around the globe that it considered oppressive.
Stratfor, which describes itself as a provider of strategic intelligence for business, economic, security and geopolitical affairs, said it was "working closely with law enforcement in their investigation and will assist them with the identification of the individual(s) who are responsible". (Reuters)
As Kodak struggles, Eastman Chemical thrives
NEW YORK: George Eastman is best known as the inventor of photographic film and founder of Eastman Kodak Co, but his century-old legacy of entrepreneurship now rides on the lesser-known Eastman Chemical Co.
That was hardly the case in 1994, when Eastman Kodak spun off its chemicals business to help pay down debt. At that time, Kodak was still a colossus in photography whereas Eastman Chemical was a small player very much in its parent's shadow.
But because of a sea change in digital technology and different approaches to business, Eastman Chemical's stock market value has since increased 71 percent to $5.5 billion today, while Kodak's has plummeted 99 percent to about $185 million. Read more
That was hardly the case in 1994, when Eastman Kodak spun off its chemicals business to help pay down debt. At that time, Kodak was still a colossus in photography whereas Eastman Chemical was a small player very much in its parent's shadow.
But because of a sea change in digital technology and different approaches to business, Eastman Chemical's stock market value has since increased 71 percent to $5.5 billion today, while Kodak's has plummeted 99 percent to about $185 million. Read more
Take the time to curate Facebook Timeline
NEW YORK: I've often joked that if something's not on Facebook, it didn't happen. Facebook's new Timeline feature makes that adage even more apparent.
Timeline is Facebook's new way of presenting you to the world. It replaces your traditional profile page - the one with your headshot and a smorgasbord of personal musings, photos and other items to share with friends. Instead of just a snapshot of you today, Timeline is supposed to be a scrapbook of your whole life.
But these highlights are culled from what Facebook sees as important - the stuff you and your friends have chosen to write or post photos about over the years. So it's crucial to spend time curating it, so your life doesn't come across as vain. If you're not careful, you also might reveal skeletons from your past to more recent friends. Read more
Yahoo! might trim stake in Alibaba: report
SAN FRANCISCO: US Internet pioneer Yahoo! is considering trimming its stake in Chinese e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba and letting go of its share of Yahoo! Japan, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The publications cited unnamed sources as indicating Yahoo! might raise billions of dollars by cutting its ownership in Alibaba to 15 percent from 40 percent and by letting go of its 35-percent share of Yahoo! Japan.
Proceeds could help the faded Internet star's plan to transform from an online search engine to a "premier digital media" company and potentially be doled out to sate shareholders irked by its performance in recent years.
Alibaba's value was estimated in September to be about $13 billion.
The California company's share of Yahoo! Japan, a publicly traded company in which Japanese Internet firm Softbank owns a major stake, was estimated at $6 billion.
Alibaba has expressed interest in getting back its shares from Yahoo!, which has openly indicated it wants to release its interest in Yahoo! Japan.
The complex transaction would be tax free because it would be done in a way not considered a sale.
The publications cited unnamed sources as indicating Yahoo! might raise billions of dollars by cutting its ownership in Alibaba to 15 percent from 40 percent and by letting go of its 35-percent share of Yahoo! Japan.
Proceeds could help the faded Internet star's plan to transform from an online search engine to a "premier digital media" company and potentially be doled out to sate shareholders irked by its performance in recent years.
Alibaba's value was estimated in September to be about $13 billion.
The California company's share of Yahoo! Japan, a publicly traded company in which Japanese Internet firm Softbank owns a major stake, was estimated at $6 billion.
Alibaba has expressed interest in getting back its shares from Yahoo!, which has openly indicated it wants to release its interest in Yahoo! Japan.
The complex transaction would be tax free because it would be done in a way not considered a sale.
Hollywood still struggling to focus 3D technology
While 2011 ends with a couple of well-received 3D movies - including Steven Spielberg's holiday smash "Tintin" and Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" - filmmakers need to focus on what works in three dimensions and what doesn't, say experts.
Following a series of 3D flops over the last 12 months, the coming year will see a new crop of releases, including a suped-up version of "Avatar" director James Cameron's record-breaking "Titanic" in April.Read more
Tuesday 13 December 2011
11-year Pak girl sets world record in O-level
This is not the first time that the eleven-year-old girl from Chanab area of Chiniot had dazzled the world with her brilliance. She had passed O-level Chemistry in nine years of age, hitting a record in Pakistan.
Sitara then went ahead and succeeded in setting her first world record after passing O-level Biology at the age of 10.
Sitara Akbar recently pushed the bar up for the world by hitting a new record by passing English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in O-level.
She obtained 7 out of 9 bands in International English Language Test System (IELTS) which is a requirement to get admission for post-graduate education in many colleges abroad.
Sitara's father lamented that she had once been expelled from an elementary school on grounds that she asked many questions in the class.
Children join Santa for a train ride in Munich
MUNICH: German children in Munich went for a special train ride on Sunday, with their attention focused only on Santa Claus who invited them for the trip and handed out gifts to celebrate the Christmas spirit.
Pulled by a vintage steam locomotive built in 1939, the Christmas train went on a one-hour tour of Munich and while the children's fathers seemed more interested in the locomotive, their offspring cared most about what Santa had to hand out.
Alexander Schuhmann, who boarded the train with his two small children, said "this is a great trip for us."
"The children are really enjoying it and earlier, we had a look at the locomotive. I guess it's more impressive for adults," Schuhmann said.
Albanian makes world's largest coffee bean mosaic
TIRANA: A mosaic made with a million coffee beans by Albanian artist Saimir Strati, depicting five musicians, entered the Guinness World Records Monday as the world's largest coffee bean mosaic.
Strati used 140 kg (309 pounds) of coffee beans, some roasted black, some averagely and some not roasted at all, to portray a Brazilian dancer, a Japanese drummer, a U.S. country music singer, a European accordionist and an African drummer.
Strati used 140 kg (309 pounds) of coffee beans, some roasted black, some averagely and some not roasted at all, to portray a Brazilian dancer, a Japanese drummer, a U.S. country music singer, a European accordionist and an African drummer.
Team's winning performance is reaction to spot-fixing scandal: Misbah
However Pakistan wrapped up the first Test against Bangladesh, giving them their fifth win in their previous nine Tests - this one by an innings-and-184-run.
Misbah, who took over as captain in 2010 gave his team the credit after their latest triumph.
"I think if the team is doing well then credit goes to everyone, which also includes the captain," Misbah said.
"But the main thing is players are important in the team. If they are not performing, the captain can't do anything. For which I think the credit goes to every player. They are putting in their efforts and fulfilling their responsibilities. That's why the team is winning." Read more
Misbah, who took over as captain in 2010 gave his team the credit after their latest triumph.
"I think if the team is doing well then credit goes to everyone, which also includes the captain," Misbah said.
"But the main thing is players are important in the team. If they are not performing, the captain can't do anything. For which I think the credit goes to every player. They are putting in their efforts and fulfilling their responsibilities. That's why the team is winning." Read more
Canada bans burqa at citizenship swearing in
TORONTO: New Canadian citizens must remove any face coverings, such as the Islamic niqab or burqa, while they take the oath of citizenship, the country's immigration minister said on Monday.
Jason Kenney said most Canadians have misgivings about Islamic face coverings and said new Canadians should take the oath in view of their fellow citizens. He said he has received complaints from lawmakers and citizenship judges who say it's difficult to ensure that individuals whose faces are covered are actually reciting the oath.
The Conservative minister called the issue a matter of deep principle that goes to the heart of Canada's identity and the country's values of openness and equality. He said women who feel obliged to have their faces covered in public often come from a cultural milieu that treats women as property rather than equal human beings
Two more PIA planes grounded over technical issues
KARACHI: A number of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircrafts are out of operation due to unavailability of spare parts and other technical issues, due to which the entire flight schedule of the national flag carrier has been severely disturbed, Geo News reported Tuesday. Today, two more aircrafts were grounded after which a total of 14 planes are non-operational now.
Currently, three Boeing 747, two 777, two 737, five Airbus A310 and two ATR aircrafts are non-operational.
Several national and international flights have been cancelled or are delayed due to the reduced numbers of planes availability.
US drone strikes 'on hold' in Pakistan: US official
WASHINGTON: As the US-Pakistan relationship continues to unravel, the US has placed its covert air campaign that targets Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives in Pakistan's tribal agencies "on hold."
Several US intelligence officials involved in the CIA program, which uses unmanned Predator and Reaper strike aircraft, more commonly called drones, told The Long War Journal that US officials fear that an attack at this point in time would further damage the already fragile relationship between the US and Pakistan.
Relations between the two countries have been deteriorating over the past two years as the US has ramped up the drone program while accusing Pakistan of supporting the Taliban and other terror groups.
Read more
Monday 12 December 2011
New Delhi's 100th birthday gets barely a nod
NEW DELHI: The Indian capital of New Delhi marked its 100th birthday on Monday without any official celebrations of a day that revives memories of British rule over the country.
On December 12, 1911, visiting King George V told crowds at an elaborate imperial ceremony that India's capital would be moved from the eastern port of Calcutta to a new city to be built next to the ancient settlement of Delhi.
"New Delhi" was designed on a grand scale with tree-lined boulevards, a 340-room palace for the British viceroy and elegant public buildings -- all of which remain intact today.
The centenary of the decision has been the subject of public lectures and discussion seminars, but there has been no programme or parades organised by city authorities.
The only scheduled event is Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of Delhi, attending the launch of a book about the series of cities built in the same area over the centuries.
While officials have been wary of focusing on the pomp and circumstance of 1911, newspapers have covered the run-up to the anniversary with pages of archive pictures.
5,000 surface-to-air missiles secured in Libya: US
SIDI BIN NUR: A top US official said on Sunday that a team of US and Libyan bomb disposal experts has secured about 5,000 surface-to-air missiles stockpiled during the regime of Moamer Kadhafi.
"We have identified, disbanded and secured more than 5,000 MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems), while thousands more have been destroyed during NATO bombing," Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs told a group of reporters.
Dozens of these missiles were detonated along the shore facing Sidi Bin Nur village, east of Tripoli, as Shapiro, on a one-day visit to Libya, witnessed the event from a nearby secured house.
A joint US and Libyan team of bomb disposal experts has been working for several months now to find these missing missiles which are seen as potential threat to civil aviation.
MANPADS are perceived as potential weapons which can be used by militant groups against commercial airliners and helicopters. These missiles have been widely used in military conflicts.
Cyber attacks could wreck world oil supply
DOHA: Hackers are bombarding the world's computer controlled energy sector, conducting industrial espionage and threatening potential global havoc through oil supply disruption.
Oil company executives warned that attacks were becoming more frequent and more carefully planned.
"If anybody gets into the area where you can control opening and closing of valves, or release valves, you can imagine what happens," said Ludolf Luehmann, an IT manager at Shell Europe's biggest company .
"It will cost lives and it will cost production, it will cost money, cause fires and cause loss of containment, environmental damage - huge, huge damage," he told the World Petroleum Congress in Doha.Read more
Updated 44 minutes ago [Fire erupts in Karachi storage facility] 8 KARACHI: A sugar warehouse located on II Chundrigar Raod in Karachi has caught fire, Geo News reported. Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing out of the building that houses this warehouse, eyewitnesses told Geo News. Panic is rampant in the area as many highrise corporate offices are nearby. Firefighters are busy battling the monstrous flames with the aid of at least five fire tenders. The cause of the fire has not been established yet. No casualties have been reported so far. 8 Blog Forum Give Comments Imran says will jam country if elections not free and transparent Be the first to comment Post Your Comments (0) Name: Email: Country: Enter Code: If you are facing problem in submitting your comments, please click here to report your problem. Latest News Tehrik-e-Istaqlal joins ranks with PTI [Watch Now] Abbottabad Commission summons Wajid [Watch Now] Fire erupts in Karachi storage facility [Watch Now] PTI calls for transparent elections [Watch Now] NATO announces Iraq mission end [Watch Now] PPP approves new South Punjab province [Watch Now] Golf: Donald lands historic double [Watch Now] Karachi Int'l Book Fair from 16th [Watch Now] NA's 37th session to commence on Dec 15 [Watch Now] KPT gets new boss [Watch Now] China to play hockey series in Pakistan [Watch Now] Electricity of Soomro’s house restored [Watch Now] Cricket captures public's heart in Nepal [Watch Now] Will reverse-engineer US drone: Iran [Watch Now] Roof collapse incident hurts 24 students [Watch Now] Afaq Ahmed indicted in kidnapping case [Watch Now] Dilip Kumar joins Twitter [Watch Now] ‘No need to make Kasuri party in case' [Watch Now] Cyber attacks could wreck oil supply [Watch Now] Notice to Ahmed Kasuri in ZAB reference [Watch Now]
KARACHI: A sugar warehouse located on II Chundrigar Raod in Karachi has caught fire, Geo News reported.
Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing out of the building that houses this warehouse, eyewitnesses told Geo News.
Panic is rampant in the area as many highrise corporate offices are nearby.
Firefighters are busy battling the monstrous flames with the aid of at least five fire tenders.
The cause of the fire has not been established yet.
No casualties have been reported so far.
Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing out of the building that houses this warehouse, eyewitnesses told Geo News.
Panic is rampant in the area as many highrise corporate offices are nearby.
Firefighters are busy battling the monstrous flames with the aid of at least five fire tenders.
The cause of the fire has not been established yet.
No casualties have been reported so far.
Karachi International Book Fair from 16th
KARACHI: The 7th International Book Fair 2011 will be held here from December 16 to 20.
The Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA) would organize the event at Karachi Expo Centre in association with the National Book Foundation.
The Chairman of PPBA, Aziz Khalid, said that as many as 280 stalls would be set up at the fair.
He stated that more than 150 local and foreign publishers would participate including those from United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Iran, Greece and India.
Academic and literary books in English, Urdu, Arabic, Sindhi and other language would be put on display.
Launching of new books, talks shows and event for children would also be organized during the Book Fair, it was further stated. (APP)
NATO announces end of training mission in Iraq
BRUSSELS: NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday announced that a mission to train Iraqi security forces will end at the turn of the year.
"The North Atlantic Council has decided to undertake the permanent withdrawal of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq personnel from Iraq by 31 December 2011," Rasmussen said in a statement.
The news provided confirmation after Iraq's top security adviser Falah al-Fayadh told AFP of the decision in an interview aboard a flight transporting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to Washington.
"Agreement on the extension of this successful programme did not prove possible despite robust negotiations conducted over several weeks," Rasmussen said.Read more
"The North Atlantic Council has decided to undertake the permanent withdrawal of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq personnel from Iraq by 31 December 2011," Rasmussen said in a statement.
The news provided confirmation after Iraq's top security adviser Falah al-Fayadh told AFP of the decision in an interview aboard a flight transporting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to Washington.
"Agreement on the extension of this successful programme did not prove possible despite robust negotiations conducted over several weeks," Rasmussen said.Read more
We will reverse-engineer US drone: Iranian MP
TEHRAN: Iran will reverse-engineer the US drone it has in its possession, and is in the "final stages" of unlocking the aircraft's software secrets, the head of Iran's parliamentary national security committee said on Monday.
"Our next action will be to reverse-engineer the aircraft," Parviz Sorouri said, according to the website of Iranian state television.
"In the near future, we will be able to mass produce it.... Iranian engineers will soon build an aircraft superior to the American (drone) using reverse-engineering," he was quoted as saying.Read more
Friday 9 December 2011
Crows remember colours for a year: Japanese study
TOKYO: Crows have a long-term memory so good that they can recall colours for at least a year, a Japanese study has shown.
Birds that had identified which of two containers held food by the colour of its lid were still able to perform the task 12 months later, said Shoei Sugita, a professor of animal morphology at Utsunomiya University.
Sugita said 24 birds were given the choice between containers with a red and green lid, which held food, and containers with a yellow and blue lid, which did not.
After they had mastered the task, the crows were divided into groups and tested to see if they could recall the information they had learned. Read more
Birds that had identified which of two containers held food by the colour of its lid were still able to perform the task 12 months later, said Shoei Sugita, a professor of animal morphology at Utsunomiya University.
Sugita said 24 birds were given the choice between containers with a red and green lid, which held food, and containers with a yellow and blue lid, which did not.
After they had mastered the task, the crows were divided into groups and tested to see if they could recall the information they had learned. Read more
Blast kills 3 Rangers in Karachi
The injured Rangers were shifted to CMH Malir for treatment where one is still in critical condition.
The martyred personnel include Naik Abdul Rasheed, driver Mohammad Ibrahim, Sipahi Aijaz Ahmed, while Naik Azam, Lance Naik Mohammad Aslam, Sipahi Altaf and Fazil Javed were injured.
According to sources, the bomb was planted near Safura Chaowrangi where Rangers vehicle was targeted. As a result of blast, three Rangers men were martyred while four others sustained injuries who were later shifted to CMH Malir for medical aid. The explosion also affected the Rangers’ van.
Rescue teams reached the incident spot and launched relief activities while security personnel cordoned off the area to launch investigation.
Snowfall, rains chill upper regions
ISLAMABAD: The rugged northern areas have come under many feet thick snow, which has cut off land routes of some parts to the rest of the country, Geo News reported.
Astore, where it snowed for hours is not accessible by road at the moment. Owing to which residents have been marooned in their houses.
The mountainous regions of Ghazar, Skardu, and Gilgit experienced scanty snowfall.
It did rain in Gilgit city but wasn’t too heavy to make things difficult for the locals.
There in Hazara Division sparse snowfall dotted the higher rocky plateaus while drizzling wetted the lower region’s undulating terrain. It’s partially cloudy up there at the moment.
Chitral’s heights also got whitewashed with snow, with its plains coming under the sheets of water sending the mercury below zero.
Also, with frosty winds blowing, it is freezing up there in the fabled hills of Murree.
Paarts of Azad Kashmir saw light showers, whereas Bagh, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Keel, and Lipa’s heights were splashed with snow.
Astore, where it snowed for hours is not accessible by road at the moment. Owing to which residents have been marooned in their houses.
The mountainous regions of Ghazar, Skardu, and Gilgit experienced scanty snowfall.
It did rain in Gilgit city but wasn’t too heavy to make things difficult for the locals.
There in Hazara Division sparse snowfall dotted the higher rocky plateaus while drizzling wetted the lower region’s undulating terrain. It’s partially cloudy up there at the moment.
Chitral’s heights also got whitewashed with snow, with its plains coming under the sheets of water sending the mercury below zero.
Also, with frosty winds blowing, it is freezing up there in the fabled hills of Murree.
Paarts of Azad Kashmir saw light showers, whereas Bagh, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Keel, and Lipa’s heights were splashed with snow.
Nato supplies wrecking the highways big time: minister
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Friday informed the Senate that National Highway Authority (NHA) has suffered Rs.40 billion losses due to overloaded containers of NATO-ISAF during the last two years.
In response to various supplementary questions raised by senators during Question Hour, he said that the NHA road network could not bear overloaded containers supplying goods and oil to the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
He said the NATO containers were being transported through Karachi-Chaman and Karachi-Torkham routes. Read more
In response to various supplementary questions raised by senators during Question Hour, he said that the NHA road network could not bear overloaded containers supplying goods and oil to the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
He said the NATO containers were being transported through Karachi-Chaman and Karachi-Torkham routes. Read more
Institutions should respect each other: Nawaz
LAHORE: PML-N president Nawaz Sharif said Friday that institutions should respect each other, Geo News reported. Sharif prayed that there would be no clash between institutions
Commenting on the memogate scandal, Sharif said the Supreme Court asked for a report and a desired result could not be achieved through Parliament.
Sharif added that it did not matter if he was a part of Parliament or not, his party would continue to play a constructive role.
Commenting on the memogate scandal, Sharif said the Supreme Court asked for a report and a desired result could not be achieved through Parliament.
Sharif added that it did not matter if he was a part of Parliament or not, his party would continue to play a constructive role.
US equipment vacated from Shamsi air base
QUETTA: All equipment belonging to US officials has been vacated from the Shamsi air base and five drones have been shifted to Afghanistan and other locations, Geo News reported.
It is expected that UAE officials will take control of the air base from Saturday.
According to sources American barracks at the base have also been destroyed and FIA officials are present to check the immigration of US citizens.
The Americans had also increased the runway of the air base in order to allow the landing of large aircrafts.
Pakistan upgrades air defences on Afghan border
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has upgraded its air defence system on the Afghan border to make it capable of shooting down aircraft, after NATO strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, a security official said on Friday.
"Now we have a fully equipped air defence system on the Afghan border. It has the capability to trace and detect any aircraft," the official in the northwestern city of Peshawar told AFP by telephone. Read more
Thursday 8 December 2011
Mirza hints at returning to Pakistan
LONDON: Former Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza indicated on Wednesday that he would return to Pakistan soon to assemble tens of thousands people outside the Sindh Assembly if PPP gave its partner MQM too much space in the local government system.
At a press conference, Dr Mirza, accompanied by Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, announced that he would resume his political activities after the break he took in respect for the 10 days of Muharram.
Both government partners have been holding brainstorming sessions over the LG system, a draft has been exchanged but an agreement is far from reached and it's believed that tensions are already simmering over the issue.
Mirza said that he spent ten days with his wife, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, in Europe, but disagreed that she conveyed to him any message from the presidency to tone down. Dr Mirza said it was their family reunion and no politics was discussed. "Its true I am under a lot of pressure from Pakistan but I will continue," he said, questioning whether he looked subdued as a result of the rumoured pressure.
He said he will hold another meeting with Scotland Yard as he wanted to hand over more information to the London police before returning to Pakistan but said he will keep a contact with the police and extend every possible help in the probe of Dr Imran Farooq's killing.
About the attack on duo in Manchester two weeks ago, Lord Nazir Ahmed said he is in possession of the names of the attackers but "all of them are of Kashmiri origin and linked to Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and senior Pakistan People's Party leader Chaudhry Yaseen and have nothing to do with Muttahida Qaumi Movement". He said the police was investigating and soon arrests will be made.
At a press conference, Dr Mirza, accompanied by Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, announced that he would resume his political activities after the break he took in respect for the 10 days of Muharram.
Both government partners have been holding brainstorming sessions over the LG system, a draft has been exchanged but an agreement is far from reached and it's believed that tensions are already simmering over the issue.
Mirza said that he spent ten days with his wife, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, in Europe, but disagreed that she conveyed to him any message from the presidency to tone down. Dr Mirza said it was their family reunion and no politics was discussed. "Its true I am under a lot of pressure from Pakistan but I will continue," he said, questioning whether he looked subdued as a result of the rumoured pressure.
He said he will hold another meeting with Scotland Yard as he wanted to hand over more information to the London police before returning to Pakistan but said he will keep a contact with the police and extend every possible help in the probe of Dr Imran Farooq's killing.
About the attack on duo in Manchester two weeks ago, Lord Nazir Ahmed said he is in possession of the names of the attackers but "all of them are of Kashmiri origin and linked to Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and senior Pakistan People's Party leader Chaudhry Yaseen and have nothing to do with Muttahida Qaumi Movement". He said the police was investigating and soon arrests will be made.
Imran is not greedy, says Jemaima
In a message via social networking site, Jemima clarified that she initially paid the money for the house until he sold his flat and then paid her back.
She said, "Can't believe we're divorced and I'm still Imran's Achilles' heel. He has faults but greed is not one of them, unlike many in Pakistani politics."
Jemima said that Imran was known as an honest man who never tried to take any financial benefits from his rich wife.
US military a prime 'target' for home-grown terrorists
WASHINGTON: The US military is under threat in its own country as homegrown extremists, including "radicalized troops," are treating military installations here as prime targets, US officials warned Congress Wednesday.
The only deadly terror strikes on US soil since those of September 11, 2001 have been against the military, with three separate attacks that left 17 people dead, most of them soldiers, according to a report released Wednesday at the first joint House-Senate hearing on homegrown terrorism.
US military installations since 9/11 have been the target of at least 33 "threats, plots and strikes," more than half of the 54 homegrown jihadist plots and attacks that have occurred or been uncovered over the past decade, the report said.Read more
The only deadly terror strikes on US soil since those of September 11, 2001 have been against the military, with three separate attacks that left 17 people dead, most of them soldiers, according to a report released Wednesday at the first joint House-Senate hearing on homegrown terrorism.
US military installations since 9/11 have been the target of at least 33 "threats, plots and strikes," more than half of the 54 homegrown jihadist plots and attacks that have occurred or been uncovered over the past decade, the report said.Read more
IMF denies that G20 will pool funds for Europe
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday denied a report that the G20 economic powers will pool $600 billion to be used to support the eurozone through its crisis.
"There has been no such discussion with the IMF," Fund spokesman Bill Murray said of the report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper saying the Group of 20 nations would muster the funds to be lent to struggling EU nations through the IMF.
It came amid talk that the IMF, with just about $400 billion now available to lend, does not have nearly enough funds to help intervene should there be a sudden deterioration in eurozone stability.
The Nikkei report appeared to give a late boost to US stocks, which propelled into positive territory in the last hour of trade Wednesday.
Shares had spent most of the day down on worries that EU leaders would not agree a long-term crisis plan at their summit this week.
Earlier in the day German officials sought to downplay expectations of the summit, billed as a "make or break" event for the eurozone, despite Monday's strong calls by the French and German leaders for a new EU pact to instill tough fiscal discipline on its members. (AFP)
"There has been no such discussion with the IMF," Fund spokesman Bill Murray said of the report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper saying the Group of 20 nations would muster the funds to be lent to struggling EU nations through the IMF.
It came amid talk that the IMF, with just about $400 billion now available to lend, does not have nearly enough funds to help intervene should there be a sudden deterioration in eurozone stability.
The Nikkei report appeared to give a late boost to US stocks, which propelled into positive territory in the last hour of trade Wednesday.
Shares had spent most of the day down on worries that EU leaders would not agree a long-term crisis plan at their summit this week.
Earlier in the day German officials sought to downplay expectations of the summit, billed as a "make or break" event for the eurozone, despite Monday's strong calls by the French and German leaders for a new EU pact to instill tough fiscal discipline on its members. (AFP)
Sehwag hits highest individual score in one-dayers
INDORE, India: India's Virender Sehwag registered the highest individual score in the 50-over format on Thursday and scored 219 in the fourth one-day international against West Indies at Indore.
Playing his 240th one-day international, the 33-year-old right-handed batsman overtook compatriot Sachin Tendulkar, a player he was often compared to early in his career.
Tendulkar had scored 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior on Feb 24, 2010.
Sehwag's previous highest ODI score of 175 came against Bangladesh in the Feb 19 World Cup match in Dhaka.
India win toss, bat against West Indies in 4th ODI
INDORE, India: India captain Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth one-day international against the West Indies in Indore on Thursday.
The West Indies, who trail 2-1 in the five-match series, suffered a blow when star batsman Darren Bravo was ruled out of the must-win game due to a hamstring strain.He was replaced by Kieran Powell.
India brought in debutant leg-spinner Rahul Sharma in place of fast bowler Umesh Yadav, the only change from the side that lost the third match in Ahmedabad on Monday.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Lendl Simmons, Danza Hyatt, Kieran Powell, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine.
India: Virender Sehwag (captain), Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun.
Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ) and S. Ravi (IND), TV umpire: Sudhir Asnani (IND)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
(AFP)
The West Indies, who trail 2-1 in the five-match series, suffered a blow when star batsman Darren Bravo was ruled out of the must-win game due to a hamstring strain.He was replaced by Kieran Powell.
India brought in debutant leg-spinner Rahul Sharma in place of fast bowler Umesh Yadav, the only change from the side that lost the third match in Ahmedabad on Monday.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Lendl Simmons, Danza Hyatt, Kieran Powell, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine.
India: Virender Sehwag (captain), Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun.
Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ) and S. Ravi (IND), TV umpire: Sudhir Asnani (IND)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
(AFP)
Buoyant Pakistan gear for Bangladesh Tests
CHITTAGONG: Pakistan will begin their first Test series in Bangladesh for almost a decade in Chittagong on Friday determined to extend their 100 percent winning record against the hosts.
The tourists, who beat Sri Lanka in all formats of the game in the United Arab Emirates last month, have already asserted their supremacy over Bangladesh by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the one-day series.
Pakistan played their lone Test series in Bangladesh in January 2002, winning both matches in Dhaka and Chittagong by an innings under the captaincy of Waqar Younis Read more
The tourists, who beat Sri Lanka in all formats of the game in the United Arab Emirates last month, have already asserted their supremacy over Bangladesh by making a 3-0 clean sweep of the one-day series.
Pakistan played their lone Test series in Bangladesh in January 2002, winning both matches in Dhaka and Chittagong by an innings under the captaincy of Waqar Younis Read more
Veena to sue FHM India for Rs 50 cror
Veena initially sued the magazine for Rs 100 million after which the magazine sent a legal reply to Veena over threatening to sue her for Rs 250 million.
In legal reply to her notice, FHM India categorically denied that her photo had been morphed, and said that Malik was the one who had initially pursued the magazine for a shoot.
Talking to Geo News, Veena Malik said that she had objection on only one photo. She said that Indian magazine was silent on the signed agreement between them, adding that she would now sue the magazine for Rs 50 crore.
IHC rejects plea against Veena Malik
A petitioner Wednesday had moved the IHC against Zahida alias Veena Malik contending that she should be tried under article 294 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for obscene acts, article 124-A for sedition, article 140 for wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman and article 500 for defamation.
Justice Muhammad Anwar Kasi of the IHC heard the case in chamber and fixed the hearing for Thursday told the petitioner Salim Ullah Khan. The petitioner told the court that Zahid alia Veena Malik did a naked photo shoot for an India-based male magazine FHM. Naked pictures were printed at the cover page of the magazine and also carried at the e-edition of the magazine.
The petitioner contended that the conduct of Veena Malik is controversial and shameful for everybody in Pakistan and it should be stopped.
According to the petitioner, inscription of ISI at the Veena Malik's arm is a violation of section 140 PPC that prohibits wearing grab or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman.
India to ban 'offensive' Internet material
NEW DEHLI: India on Tuesday vowed to ban offensive material from the Internet after Facebook, Google and other major firms told the government they were unable to screen content before it was posted.
Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said talks with the Internet giants had failed to come up with a solution following complaints that he had lodged three months ago over "unacceptable" images.
"My aim is that insulting material never gets uploaded," Sibal told reporters in New Delhi. "We will evolve guidelines and mechanisms to deal with the issue.
"They will have to give us the data, where these images are being uploaded and who is doing it."
Sibal said the government supported free speech and was against censorship but that some material on the Internet was so offensive that no one would find it acceptable.
He said he had shown some of the worst images to the Internet companies, who had said they could not control distribution.
"Three months back we saw that Google, Yahoo!, Facebook had images which could be an insult to Indians, especially religious-minded people," Sibal said.Read more
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Microsoft to open 'app store' in February
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Tuesday began wooing developers for a February opening of its first "app store" for computers powered by the US technology giant's Windows software.
The Windows Store will open in late February when Microsoft releases a test version of its next-generation Windows 8 operating system.
It will take on Apple and Google in the booming market of fun, hip or functional programs built for smartphones, tablets, or computers.
"I think we are going to do great," Windows Web Services vice president Antoine Leblond said as he gave developers and press a preview of the store in a San Francisco art gallery.
"The reach of Windows is absolutely huge and can't be matched," he continued, noting that the Microsoft operating system powers more than a half billion computers around the world.Read more
The Windows Store will open in late February when Microsoft releases a test version of its next-generation Windows 8 operating system.
It will take on Apple and Google in the booming market of fun, hip or functional programs built for smartphones, tablets, or computers.
"I think we are going to do great," Windows Web Services vice president Antoine Leblond said as he gave developers and press a preview of the store in a San Francisco art gallery.
"The reach of Windows is absolutely huge and can't be matched," he continued, noting that the Microsoft operating system powers more than a half billion computers around the world.Read more
Yahoo! awarded $610 million in spammer case
The default judgment, which meant no one showed up to defend against the accusations, was declared on Monday by a federal district judge in New York, according to Yahoo!.
It was left to Yahoo! to find the culprits and collect the money.
"In the scheme, email messages were unlawfully sent to Internet users with the intent of deceiving them into believing they had a lottery prize offered by Yahoo!," the California firm said in a release.
The scam was designed to trick people into revealing valuable personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers, according to Yahoo!.
Valuable secrets gleaned from people were reportedly used for nefarious activities such as looting bank accounts or stealing identities.
Some supposed lottery winners were duped into sending scammers money for non-existent processing or mailing charges for prizes that never arrived.
The court order was the culmination of a lawsuit filed in 2008.
The award included $27 million for trademark infringement and a $583 million penalty for violating the US CAN-SPAM Act.
The struggling Internet firm could use the cash, which promised to be nearly impossible to collect.
World's biggest insect is so huge it eats carrots
He came across the cricket-like creature, which has a wing span of seven inches, after two days of searching on a tiny island.
The creepy crawly is only found on Little Barrier Island, in New Zealand.
The species were wiped off the mainland by rats accidentally introduced by Europeans.
After Mark found the female weta he fed it the carrot before putting it back where he found her.Read more
NASA confirms 'super-Earth' that could hold life
WASHINGTON: In another step toward finding Earth-like planets that may hold life, NASA said Monday the Kepler space telescope has confirmed its first-ever planet in a habitable zone outside our solar system.
French astronomers earlier this year confirmed the first rocky exoplanet to meet key requirements for sustaining life. But Kepler-22b, initially glimpsed in 2009, is the first the US space agency has been able to confirm.
Confirmation means that astronomers have seen it crossing in front of its star three times. But it doesn't mean that astronomers know whether life actually exists there, simply that the conditions are right.Read more
French astronomers earlier this year confirmed the first rocky exoplanet to meet key requirements for sustaining life. But Kepler-22b, initially glimpsed in 2009, is the first the US space agency has been able to confirm.
Confirmation means that astronomers have seen it crossing in front of its star three times. But it doesn't mean that astronomers know whether life actually exists there, simply that the conditions are right.Read more
Barber owns a Rolls Royce, 67 other cars
“Somehow, things have clicked for me,” says Babu, whose clients include politicians, police officers and film stars such as Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. With a film on his life — expected to be released in three languages — in the pipeline, his Bollywood contacts may come in handy.
Babu was nine when his father died in 1979, leaving the family with nothing. To make ends meet, they rented out his father’s saloon on Brigade Road for a mere Rs5 per day. Forced to get a fulltime job, Babu dropped out of school after Class 10 and started working as a barber. Read more
Disarmed grenades found in woman's luggage at airport
The TSA said baggage screeners had found the grenades while X-raying the woman's checked luggage on Saturday
Ancient super-predator eyes found in Australia
SYDNEY: Australian scientists on Thursday hailed the discovery of a pair of insect-like eyes belonging to a freakish prehistoric super-predator which trawled the seas more than 500 million years ago.
Measuring three centimetres (1.2 inches) across and with a whopping 16,000 individual lenses the fossilised eyes, from a huge shellfish-type creature called anomalocaris, were found in rocks on Australia's Kangaroo Island.
Anomalocaris could grow up to one metre long and were considered the "great white shark" of the Cambrian era, topping the ancient marine food chain, according to lead researcher John Paterson.
Modern-day houseflies have about 3,000 lenses in their eyes, while dragonflies have about 30,000 -- the only creature known to have more lenses than anomalocaris.
Paterson said the discovery showed that anomalocaris had lived in well-lit, clear waters and had developed sophisticated vision extremely rapidly, likely triggering an evolutionary "arms race" among other creatures.
Spines, poison glands and other defence mechanisms had probably erupted among creatures eager to escape detection by its huge eyes, which protruded from the side of its head on stalks.
Thursday 1 December 2011
'NATO kills' two more Pakistanis in Afghanistan
CHAMAN: NATO forces killed two Pakistani men in Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani border officials said, a move likely to inflame tensions after the alliance killed 24 Pakistani troops at the weekend.
The officials said the two men, who were from the town of Chagai in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, were gathering wood 30 km (18.6 miles) inside Afghanistan.
NATO officials were not immediately available for comment. (Courtesy)
The officials said the two men, who were from the town of Chagai in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, were gathering wood 30 km (18.6 miles) inside Afghanistan.
NATO officials were not immediately available for comment. (Courtesy)
Nation should trust BB’s confidence: Zardari
According to the presidential spokesperson, a delegation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders called on the president.
During the meeting, Zardari said that he is the spiritual son of Zulfiqar Ali Butto and urged that the nation should have confidence in him as Benazir Bhutto had.
Obama not to offer formal apology to Pakistan: Report
The report stated that the White House has decided that President Obama will not offer formal condolences — at least for now —overruling State Department officials who argued for such a show of remorse to help salvage America’s relationship with Pakistan, the paper quoted administration officials.
COURTESY
شاہد آفریدی آئے اور چھا گئے
پاکستان نے سری لنکا کو ٹیسٹ سیریز کے بعد ون ڈے سیریز میں بھی شکست دے دی۔ پاکستانی ٹیم نے بھرپور ٹیم اسپرٹ کا مظاہرہ کیا لیکن ٹیم میں واپس آنے والے شاہد خان آفریدی نے میلہ لوٹ لیا اور مین آف دی سیریز قرار پائے۔ اپنی بیٹنگ اور جادوئی باؤلنگ سے سری لنکن ٹیم کو پوری سیریز میں دباؤ میں رکھا۔ فتوحات میں سب کھلاڑیوں نے اپنا حصہ ڈالا لیکن بوم بوم آفریدی ون مین آرمی کی طرح ہر فتح میں نمایاں رہے جنہوں نے کہا کہ ریٹائرمنٹ واپس لینے کے بعد مجھ پر اپنا انتخاب درست ثابت کرنے کے لیے بہت دباوٴتھا،سیریزکے آغاز سے ہی میں خودکومنوانا چاہتا تھا۔ اپنے خلاف ہونے والی باتوں کواپنی پرفارمنس سے غلط ثابت کرنا چاہتا تھا، شکرہے اس میں کامیاب رہا۔اس سیریز میں انہوں نے ایک منفرد ریکارڈ بھی اپنے نام کیا۔ کسی بھی میچ میں 50 سے زائد رنز اور 5 وکٹیں لینے کا کارنامہ شاہد آفریدی نے اپنے کیریئر میں دوسری بار سرانجام دیا کوئی اور کھلاڑی فی الحال ایسا نہیں کر سکا۔ شاہد آفریدی ٹیم میں آئے اور چھا گئے لیکن اس کارکردگی کے اس تسلسل کو برقرار رکھنے کے لئے انہیں ایک صائب مشور ہ ضرور دیں گے کہ وہ اب غیر ضروری بیان بازی سے گریز رکھیں اور صرف اپنی کرکٹ پر دھیان دیں۔
پہلے زمبابوے اور اب سری لنکا کے خلاف کامیابیوں سے ٹیم فتوحات کے راستے پر گامزن ہو چکی ہے، سینئیر اور جونیئر کھلاڑیوں کا کامبینیشن کامیابی سے کام کر رہا ہے۔ اب ضرورت اس بات کی ہے کہ اس سلسلے کو جاری رکھنے کے لئے ٹیم ڈسپلن اور ٹریننگ کیمپس پر توجہ مرکوز رکھی جائے اور غیر ضروری تنازعات اور بیان بازی سے کھلاڑیوں کو دور رکھا جائے۔ سری لنکا سے سیریز جیتنے کے باوجود یہ بات یاد رکھی جائے کہ ایک میچ میں بیٹنگ لائن کم اسکور پر بکھر چکی تھی جسے آفریدی نے سنبھالا تھا۔ امیدہیکہ سری لنکا کے خلاف سیریز میں کامیابی سے پاکستان کرکٹ پر لگے اسپاٹ فکسنگ کے دھبے کو صاف کرنے میں مدد ملے گی۔ پاکستانی کھلاڑی ساکھ کی بحالی کیلئے سخت جدوجہد کر رہے ہیں۔ اسپاٹ فکسنگ اسیکنڈل نے پاکستانی کرکٹ کو تباہ کردیا۔کھلاڑی مسلسل فتوحات سے الزامات کا موثر جواب دے سکتے ہیں اور دوسری طرف کرکٹ بورڈ کا بھی فرض ہے کہ وہ آئی سی سی پر بھرپور دباؤ ڈالے تاکہ غیر ملکی ٹیموں کی پاکستان آمد کا سلسلہ دوبارہ شروع ہو اور پاکستان اپنی ڈومیسٹک کرکٹ اپنے میدانوں میں کھیلے۔
پہلے زمبابوے اور اب سری لنکا کے خلاف کامیابیوں سے ٹیم فتوحات کے راستے پر گامزن ہو چکی ہے، سینئیر اور جونیئر کھلاڑیوں کا کامبینیشن کامیابی سے کام کر رہا ہے۔ اب ضرورت اس بات کی ہے کہ اس سلسلے کو جاری رکھنے کے لئے ٹیم ڈسپلن اور ٹریننگ کیمپس پر توجہ مرکوز رکھی جائے اور غیر ضروری تنازعات اور بیان بازی سے کھلاڑیوں کو دور رکھا جائے۔ سری لنکا سے سیریز جیتنے کے باوجود یہ بات یاد رکھی جائے کہ ایک میچ میں بیٹنگ لائن کم اسکور پر بکھر چکی تھی جسے آفریدی نے سنبھالا تھا۔ امیدہیکہ سری لنکا کے خلاف سیریز میں کامیابی سے پاکستان کرکٹ پر لگے اسپاٹ فکسنگ کے دھبے کو صاف کرنے میں مدد ملے گی۔ پاکستانی کھلاڑی ساکھ کی بحالی کیلئے سخت جدوجہد کر رہے ہیں۔ اسپاٹ فکسنگ اسیکنڈل نے پاکستانی کرکٹ کو تباہ کردیا۔کھلاڑی مسلسل فتوحات سے الزامات کا موثر جواب دے سکتے ہیں اور دوسری طرف کرکٹ بورڈ کا بھی فرض ہے کہ وہ آئی سی سی پر بھرپور دباؤ ڈالے تاکہ غیر ملکی ٹیموں کی پاکستان آمد کا سلسلہ دوبارہ شروع ہو اور پاکستان اپنی ڈومیسٹک کرکٹ اپنے میدانوں میں کھیلے۔
شیری رحمن … امریکہ میں نئی پاکستانی سفیر
میمو گیٹ اسکینڈل میں نام آنے کے بعدامریکہ میں پاکستانی سفیر حسین حقانی مستعفی ہو گئے جس کے بعد وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے محترمہ شیری رحمن کو امریکہ میں پاکستان کا نیا سفیر مقرر کیا ہے۔ شیری رحمن پیپلز پارٹی کی سیکرٹری اطلاعات رہ چکی ہیں وہ بنیادی طور پر صحافی ہیں اور صحافت کے شعبہ میں انہوں نے 20 سال تک خدمات انجام دیں وہ ان دنوں جناح انسٹیٹیوٹ کے نام سے ایک تھنک ٹینک چلا رہی ہیں اور انجمن ہلال احمر پاکستان کی سربراہ ہیں ایک میگزین کے ایڈیٹر کے طور پر وہ سی پی این ای کی رکن بھی رہ چکی ہیں۔ شیری رحمن موجودہ حکومت کی پہلی وزیر اطلاعات تھیں تاہم ایک سال بعد وہ اپنی وزارت میں مداخلت اور میڈیا کے خلاف سرکاری کریک ڈاوٴن کے خلاف احتجاجاً مستعفی ہو گئی تھیں۔ قومی اسمبلی کی سرگرم رکن کے طور پر وہ خواتین کو بااختیار بنانے، غیرت کے نام پر قتل کے خاتمے، گھریلو تشدد کے خاتمے اور حدود کی تنسیخ کے بل پیش کر چکی ہیں، وہ امریکہ میں پاکستان کی 25 ویں سفیر ہیں لیکن تیسری خاتون سفیر ہیں۔ شیری رحمن ان پانچ پاکستانی میڈیا شخصیات ، ڈاکٹر ملیحہ لودھی، حسین حقانی، واجد شمس الحسن، عطاء الحق قاسمی کے ساتھ شامل ہو گئی ہیں جو بیرون ملک سفارتکاری جیسے اعلیٰ عہدوں پر تعینات رہے ہیں۔
جن حالات میں شیری رحمن کو یہ ذمہ داری سونپی گئی ہیں ان سے عہدہ برآہونا شیری رحمن کے لئے ایکچیلنج سے کم نہیں۔ افغانستان کے حالات، امریکی فوجوں کی واپسی کا شیڈول، دہشت گردی کے خلاف جنگ، پاک امریکہ تعلقات میں موجودہ تناؤ، اور پاکستان کے پڑوسی ممالک کے امریکہ سے تعلقات بھی شیری رحمن کے لئے بطور سفیر باعث آزمائش رہیں گے۔
ہم امید کر سکتے ہیں کہ شیری رحمن نہ صرف پاکستان کی بھرپور نمائندگی کریں گی بلکہ وہ امریکہ میں بسنے والے پاکستانیوں کے مسائل کے حل کیلئے بھی بھرپور کرداراداکریں گی جیسا کہ وزیراعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے کہا ہے کہ شیری رحمن نے خود کو باصلاحیت اور داناسیاسی رہنما ثابت کیا ہے اور ان کو اپنی ذمہ داریوں کا بخوبی علم ہے اور وہ اسے بہتر طریقے سے سر انجام دینا جانتی ہیں۔ امید ہے کہ وہ پاک امریکا تعلقات کو مزید فروغ دینے اور مستحکم بنانے پر توجہ مرکوز کریں گی اور بالخصوص دو طرفہ تجارتی اور اسٹرٹیجک تعلقات کو وسعت دینے کیلئے کام کریں گی۔
شیری رحمن بھی حسین حقانی کی طرح صدر آصف زرداری کی با اعتماد ساتھی اور پیپلز پارٹی کی کارکن ہیں۔۔۔۔۔۔
کیا شیری رحمن پاک امریکہ تعلقات کے حوالے سے ملک کیلئے ایک اچھی سفیر ثابت ہوں گی؟
کیا ان کا تقرر تمام متعلقہ حلقوں کے لئے غیر متنازعہ ثابت ہو گا؟
کیا ان کی بطور خاتون سفیرتعیناتی سے بیرونی دنیا میں پاکستان کا بگڑا تاثر بہترہو سکتاہے؟
کیا وہ امریکہ میں بسنے والے پاکستانیوں کے مسائل کے حل کیلئے کوئی بھرپور کرداراداکریں گی؟
آپ بھی اپنی آراء سے آگاہ کریں۔
جن حالات میں شیری رحمن کو یہ ذمہ داری سونپی گئی ہیں ان سے عہدہ برآہونا شیری رحمن کے لئے ایکچیلنج سے کم نہیں۔ افغانستان کے حالات، امریکی فوجوں کی واپسی کا شیڈول، دہشت گردی کے خلاف جنگ، پاک امریکہ تعلقات میں موجودہ تناؤ، اور پاکستان کے پڑوسی ممالک کے امریکہ سے تعلقات بھی شیری رحمن کے لئے بطور سفیر باعث آزمائش رہیں گے۔
ہم امید کر سکتے ہیں کہ شیری رحمن نہ صرف پاکستان کی بھرپور نمائندگی کریں گی بلکہ وہ امریکہ میں بسنے والے پاکستانیوں کے مسائل کے حل کیلئے بھی بھرپور کرداراداکریں گی جیسا کہ وزیراعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے کہا ہے کہ شیری رحمن نے خود کو باصلاحیت اور داناسیاسی رہنما ثابت کیا ہے اور ان کو اپنی ذمہ داریوں کا بخوبی علم ہے اور وہ اسے بہتر طریقے سے سر انجام دینا جانتی ہیں۔ امید ہے کہ وہ پاک امریکا تعلقات کو مزید فروغ دینے اور مستحکم بنانے پر توجہ مرکوز کریں گی اور بالخصوص دو طرفہ تجارتی اور اسٹرٹیجک تعلقات کو وسعت دینے کیلئے کام کریں گی۔
شیری رحمن بھی حسین حقانی کی طرح صدر آصف زرداری کی با اعتماد ساتھی اور پیپلز پارٹی کی کارکن ہیں۔۔۔۔۔۔
کیا شیری رحمن پاک امریکہ تعلقات کے حوالے سے ملک کیلئے ایک اچھی سفیر ثابت ہوں گی؟
کیا ان کا تقرر تمام متعلقہ حلقوں کے لئے غیر متنازعہ ثابت ہو گا؟
کیا ان کی بطور خاتون سفیرتعیناتی سے بیرونی دنیا میں پاکستان کا بگڑا تاثر بہترہو سکتاہے؟
کیا وہ امریکہ میں بسنے والے پاکستانیوں کے مسائل کے حل کیلئے کوئی بھرپور کرداراداکریں گی؟
آپ بھی اپنی آراء سے آگاہ کریں۔
Haqqani says he did not return to Pakistan to leave without an investigation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani responded to the Supreme Court orders of not allowing him to leave the country by tweeting that he did not return to Pakistan to "leave without an investigation."
Haqqani further tweeted that he had resigned because no one could represent their country as ambassador in the middle of a media trial.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the former ambassador could not leave the country as it accepted petitions filed in regards to the memogate scandal for hearing.
Haqqani further tweeted that he had resigned because no one could represent their country as ambassador in the middle of a media trial.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the former ambassador could not leave the country as it accepted petitions filed in regards to the memogate scandal for hearing.
Snakes released in Indian tax office
LUCKNOW: An Indian snake-charmer released dozens of snakes in a government tax office to protest against officials who had not responded to his complaints about an application for land.
Local bureaucrats leapt onto their desks or ran out of the building in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh when Hakkul, who uses only one name, let his snakes - including some poisonous cobras - out of three bags on Tuesday.
"He had applied for a plot of land to keep his snakes," Subhash Mani Tripathi, the head of land revenue administration, told from the town of Harraiya.
"But there is no provision for such a business. Instead of seeking a written reply, which we would have issued, Hakkul created panic by letting loose a bunch of snakes all over the office."
Workers stood on chairs and shook table clothes at the hissing reptiles to keep them away as excited crowds gathered outside.
Hakkul later told reporters that a district magistrate had promised him a plot of land for his snakes two years ago.
"I am a conservationist and have been seeking the government's help. Having waited patiently for so long, I had no option but to leave all my snakes in this office."
No one was injured in the incident, but police said they were still working to collect the snakes. (AFP)Courtesy:
Local bureaucrats leapt onto their desks or ran out of the building in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh when Hakkul, who uses only one name, let his snakes - including some poisonous cobras - out of three bags on Tuesday.
"He had applied for a plot of land to keep his snakes," Subhash Mani Tripathi, the head of land revenue administration, told from the town of Harraiya.
"But there is no provision for such a business. Instead of seeking a written reply, which we would have issued, Hakkul created panic by letting loose a bunch of snakes all over the office."
Workers stood on chairs and shook table clothes at the hissing reptiles to keep them away as excited crowds gathered outside.
Hakkul later told reporters that a district magistrate had promised him a plot of land for his snakes two years ago.
"I am a conservationist and have been seeking the government's help. Having waited patiently for so long, I had no option but to leave all my snakes in this office."
No one was injured in the incident, but police said they were still working to collect the snakes. (AFP)Courtesy:
منصور اعجاز کا خط .... حقیقت کیا ہے؟
فنانشل ٹائمز میں شائع ہونے والے ایک مضمون نے پاکستانی اور امریکی قصرنشینوں کی خواب گاہوں اور غلام گردشوں میں ہلچل مچا دی ہے۔ مضمون نگار پاکستانی امریکن بزنس مین منصور اعجاز ہیں جنہوں نے مبینہ طور پر صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری اور امریکی فوج کے کمانڈر ایڈمرل مائیک مولن میں ہونے والی خفیہ مراسلت کا پردہ چاک کرتے ہوئے ان اطلاعات و خدشات کو تقویت فراہم کردی ہے کہ حکومت اور فوج کے مابین تعلقات میں سب اچھا نہیں ہے۔منصور اعجاز نے اپنے مضمون میں فوج کو سخت تنقید کا نشانہ بنایا ہے۔اس خفیہ مراسلت کے ایک اہم کردار کے طور پر امریکا میں پاکستان کے سفیر حسین حقانی کا نام بھی سامنے آیا ہے۔حسین حقانی اپنے اس کردار سے انکاری ہیں جبکہ امریکی کمانڈر ایڈمرل مائیک مولن نے منصور اعجاز کی جانب سے ”میمو“ موصول ہونے کی تصدیق کر کے پہلے سے لرزیدہ حکومتی ایوانوں میں مزید ہلچل پیدا کر دی ہے۔تاہم ایوان صدر بھی حسین حقانی کی طرح اس بات سے انکاری ہے کہ صدر زرداری کی جانب سے ایبٹ آباد میں اسامہ بن لادن کی ہلاکت کے بعد فوجی قیادت کو ہٹانے کی کوئی خفیہ کوشش کی گئی ہے۔اس حقیقت سے انکار ممکن نہیں کہ پاکستان میں جب بھی کوئی سویلین حکومت برسر اقتدار آتی ہے ۔ فوج اور حکومت میں اعتماد اورایک دوسرے سے تعاون کی کمی اپنی جگہ موجود رہتی ہے۔ لیکن دیکھا جائے تو صدر زرداری اور جنرل کیانی کے درمیان تعلقات ِ کار بظاہر بہت زیادہ مثالی رہے ہیں۔اور جب جب بھی امریکا کی جانب سے دہشت گردی کے خلاف جنگ میں پاک فوج پر بداعتمادی کا اظہار کیا گیا ہے ۔ صدرزرداری کی حکومت دامے ، درمے ، سخنے فوج کے شانہ بشانہ کھڑی رہی ہے۔سوال یہ پیدا ہوتا ہے کہ آخر وہ کون سی وجوہات تھیں جن کی بنیاد پر مذکورہ بالا مراسلت کی ضرورت پیش آئی۔خط کے حوالے سے جاری میڈیا وار منصور اعجاز نے جیت لی ہے۔کیونکہ مائیک مولن کی ابتدائی تردید کے بعد آخر کار انہوں نے خط کا وصول کرنا تسلیم کر لیا ہے۔خط کے مندرجات انتہائی خطرناک اور غداری کے زمرے میں آتے ہیں۔اس سارے معاملے میں یہ پتہ لگانا بھی ضروری ہے کہ حسین حقانی اس کا حصہ تھے کہ نہیں۔اگر وہ اس کا حصہ تھے تو پھر یہ بھی ضروری ہے کہ اس بات کا پتہ لگایا جائے کہ یہ سب کچھ انہوں نے خود کیا یا صدر کی ہدایت پر کیا۔یا پھر منصور اعجاز کا یہ اپنا تخیل ہے۔یقینی طور پر یہ ساری صورتحال صاف ، شفاف اور غیر جانبدار تحقیقات کی متقاضی ہے۔آخر کب تک ہم اپنے گندے کپڑے چوراہے کے بیچ میں دھوتے رہیں گے؟
کراچی، ڈکیتیوں میں تشویشناک اضافہ
حالیہ دنوں میں کراچی میں بینک ڈکیتی کی وارداتوں میں اچانک اضافہ ہوگیا ہے رواں سال کے دوران ہونے والی بینک ڈکیتی کی ایک درجن سے زائد وارداتوں میں مسلح ملزمان لگ بھگ 6کروڑ روپے سے زائد نقدی کے علاوہ غیر ملکی کرنسی اور دیگر سامان لوٹ چکے ہیں۔ پولیس ذرائع کے مطابق اسی عرصے کے دوران 8ملزمان کوگرفتارکیاگیا جن سے صرف14لاکھ روپے سے زائد رقم برآمد ہوسکی ہے۔ شہر میں ہونے والی بینک ڈکیتی کی وارداتوں کی تفتیش کے دوران انکشاف ہوا ہے کہ حالیہ وارداتوں میں کالعدم جہادی تنظیموں سمیت کئی گروہ ملوث ہیں۔تحقیقاتی ذرائع لے مطابق جیسے جیسے کالعدم جہادی تنظیموں کے لئے فنڈز کے ذرائع محدود ہوتے جارہے ہیں وہ اپنی بقا اور مسلح کاروائیوں کو جاری رکھنے کے لئے اسٹریٹ کرائمز، بینک ڈکیتیوں اور اغوا برائے تاوان کا سہارا لے رہے ہیں اور ان کاروائیوں کے لئے باقاعدہ تربیت یافتہ گروہ بنائے جاتے ہیں جو بڑی مہارت کے ساتھ کامیاب بینک ڈکیتیاں کرتے ہیں بلکہ جاتے ہوئے گارڈز کا اسلحہ اور بینکوں میں نصب خفیہ کیمروں کے علاوہ کیمروں کی ریکارڈنگ بھی نکال کرلے جاتے ہیں۔ پولیس ذرائع کاکہنا ہے کہ بینک ڈکیتی کے ملزمان شہرکی گنجان آبادیوں میں رہائش اختیارکرتے ہیں اور بینک کی مکمل ریکی کرنے کے بعد واردات کرتے ہیں اور واردات کے فوری بعد شہرچھوڑکرچلے جاتے ہیں۔سال رواں کے دوران ہونے والی بینک ڈکیتی کی وارداتوں کی تفتیش کے دوران یہ بھی انکشاف ہواہے کہ ان وارداتوں میں کالعدم تنظیموں کے علاوہ مختلف جیلوں سے رہا ہوکرآنے والے جرائم پیشہ افراد بھی شامل ہیں جو اپنا گروپ بناکر دن کے اوقات میں نہ صرف بینک ڈکیتی کی وارداتیں کرتے ہیں بلکہ مختلف علاقوں میں اجتماعی اسٹریٹ کرائمز کی وارداتیں بھی دیدہ دلیری سے کرتے ہیں اور مالدار افراد کو تاوان کے لیے اغوا بھی کرتے ہیں، ان ملزمان کا تعلق ملک کے شمالی علاقوں سے بتایا جاتا ہے جہاں ان کے روابط وہاں کے جہادی افراد سے بتائے جاتے ہیں۔ ان تفصیلات کے علاوہ معاملے کا دوسرا رخ یہ بھی ہے کہ سیکیورٹی کمپنیوں سے حاصل کردہ بینکوں کے گارڈز نہ صرف غیرتربیت یافتہ ہوتے ہیں بلکہ اکثر اوقات یہ وارداتوں میں شریک بھی نکلتے ہیں اور یہ جن شناختی کارڈز پر ملازمت حاصل کرتے ہیں ان پر دور دراز شمالی علاقوں کا جعلی پتہ درج ہوتا ہے جن کی تصدیق اس کمپنی کے لئے ناممکن ہوتا ہے۔بہت سی وارداتوں کی تفتیش سے یہ بھی معلوم ہوا ہے کہ بینک کے اندر کی معلومات بینکوں میں رکھے جانے والے غیر مستقل یا عارضی ملازمین بھی ان گروہوں کو فراہم کرتے ہیں۔
بہرحال وارداتوں کی تفصیلات و معاملات تو تفتیشی ادارے جانیں، عام شہری اور تاجر طبقہ ان حالات سے بہت پریشان ہے اور عدم تحفظ کا شکار ہے اور ملکی اداروں پر ان کا اعتماد متزلزل ہو رہا ہے۔شہری گھر میں محفوظ ہیں نہ ہی سڑکوں پر، نہ بینکوں میں نہ دفتروں میں۔ شہری نہ بے فکر ہو کر سیر و تفریح کر سکتے ہیں اور نہ ہی کہیں تقریب میں شریک ہو سکتے ہیں کہ چشم فلک نے شادی ہالوں میں ڈکیتیوں کی اجتماعی وارداتیں بھی دیکھیں ہیں جہاں مہمانوں کے ساتھ ساتھ دولہا اور دلہن بھی تحائف اور زیورات سے محروم ہو چکے ہیں اور قبرستان میں تدفین میں شریک افراد کو بھی بارہالٹتے دیکھا ہے۔ ارباب اختیار جہاں ملک کو درپیش بڑے بڑے مسائل سے نبرد آزما ہیں کیا انہیں غریب شہریوں کی بے بسی اور بے کسی پر توجہ دینے کی فرصت ملے گی ؟۔۔۔۔۔۔ جو بہرحال ان کے فرض اولین میں سے ایک ہے۔۔۔!!!
بہرحال وارداتوں کی تفصیلات و معاملات تو تفتیشی ادارے جانیں، عام شہری اور تاجر طبقہ ان حالات سے بہت پریشان ہے اور عدم تحفظ کا شکار ہے اور ملکی اداروں پر ان کا اعتماد متزلزل ہو رہا ہے۔شہری گھر میں محفوظ ہیں نہ ہی سڑکوں پر، نہ بینکوں میں نہ دفتروں میں۔ شہری نہ بے فکر ہو کر سیر و تفریح کر سکتے ہیں اور نہ ہی کہیں تقریب میں شریک ہو سکتے ہیں کہ چشم فلک نے شادی ہالوں میں ڈکیتیوں کی اجتماعی وارداتیں بھی دیکھیں ہیں جہاں مہمانوں کے ساتھ ساتھ دولہا اور دلہن بھی تحائف اور زیورات سے محروم ہو چکے ہیں اور قبرستان میں تدفین میں شریک افراد کو بھی بارہالٹتے دیکھا ہے۔ ارباب اختیار جہاں ملک کو درپیش بڑے بڑے مسائل سے نبرد آزما ہیں کیا انہیں غریب شہریوں کی بے بسی اور بے کسی پر توجہ دینے کی فرصت ملے گی ؟۔۔۔۔۔۔ جو بہرحال ان کے فرض اولین میں سے ایک ہے۔۔۔!!!
