A Pakistan News

Indian Muslims facing discrimination in housing Posted: 19 Apr 2009 08:03 PM PDT WASHINGTON - India's Muslims face new discrimination following last November's attacks in Mumbai and now even Bollywood's Muslim celebrities are being denied housing in Hindu residential complexes, a leading US newspaper reported Sunday. The Washington Post correspondent in Mumbai interviewed with some well-placed Muslims who were barred from renting a place to live. One such case was that of Palvisha Aslam, a 22-year-old Bollywood producer, who was rejected by an estate broker when he noticed her last name as she was about to sign the lease. "It was just six weeks after the November Mumbai terrorist attacks and Indian Muslims were being viewed with suspicion across the country," correspondent Emily Wax wrote. "He (the broker) then showed her a grimy one-room tenement in a Muslim-dominated ghetto. She felt sick to her stomach as she watched the residents fight over water at a leaky tap in a dark alley," the dispatch said. "That night I cried a lot. I was still an outcast in my own country - even as a secular Muslim with a well-paid job in Bollywood," Ms Aslam, who had similar experiences with five other brokers and three months later is still sleeping on friends' sofas, was quoted as saying. "I'm an Indian. I love my country. Is it a crime now to be a Muslim in Mumbai?" "(S)tories like (Ms) Aslam's are common, even among some of the country's most beloved Bollywood actors, screenwriters and producers in India's most cosmopolitan city," the Post dispatch said. "The accusations of discrimination highlight the often simmering religious tensions in the world's biggest democracy, where Muslim celebrities can be feted on the red carpet one minute and locked out of quality housing the next," it said. "The phenomenon has become known here as 'renting while Muslim.' It raises questions that go to the heart of India's identity as a secular democracy that is home to nearly every major religion on the planet. Although India has a Hindu majority, it also has 150 million Muslims, one of the largest Muslim communities in the world". "The new generation wants a better India that isn't bogged down in religious strife," said Junaid Memon, 34, a

Dinara Safina is the new tennis queen Posted: 19 Apr 2009 07:55 PM PDT Madrid  - Dinara Safina made tennis history for herself and her family when she officially climbed to the world number one position in the women’s rankings on Monday. Safina, 22, is at the top for the first time. Her brother Marat Safin led the men’s rankings for nine weeks in 2000, making them the first brother-sister act to be number one in the singles rankings. “I didn’t know about that until recently. I was told that we are the first family. That is a huge honour, and I am proud of my brother, he has achieved everything in tennis,” Safina told German Press Agency dpa in a telephone interview. Safin is playing in the dusk of his career far from the top of the rankings at age 29, but Safina rejects all criticism that he could have done better over the years than the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open title. “You can think a lot but he could have also won no Grand Slam. I think he has achieved a lot,” said Safina, adding: “My brother was always my idol.” Successful brothers and sisters are rare in sport. Zimbabwe’s Cara and Byron Black got to the tennis doubles rankings top, there are the skiing acts of Hanni and Andreas Wenzel of Liechtenstein and Janica and Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, and US athletics greats Jackie Joyner-Kersee and AL Joyner both won Olympic gold medals. Safina’s career has seen a remarkable turnaround in the past year. Ranked just inside the top 20, Safina was on the verge of quitting the sport after poor results in early 2008, but then got her act together with four 2008 titles and her first big finals at the French Open and the Olympics. She also made the January 2009 decider of the Australian Open, losing a showdown for the trophy and the world number one position to American Serena Williams. Safina attributes the rise to coach Zeljko Krajan, who, she said, made her see tennis in a “positive” way. It has not gone unnoticed that Safina - like Serb Jelena Jankovic last year - is now top without having won a Grand Slam, but she swiftly dismissed any criticism. “I can win every one of the remaining three Grand Slams of the year. Every one!” she told dpa. Safina is the 19th number one overall since the rankings were introduced in 1975 as the race for the top has become very tight in recent months with several changes. “There are many girls in the top 10 who play well. In the past there were only a few, the others were only average,” said Safina. Safina is the second Russian atop the rankings, but considers herself far away from the glamour of the other top-ranked star, Maria Sharapova. “We are totally different, you can’t compare us at all,” she told dpa, but added: “We are both fighters, we don’t like losing.” After all, for Safina only the on-court performance counts, not the latest designer dress. “I have no favourite brand and no favourite designer. I simply wear clothes that suit me. I just want to feel good,” she said. That is definitely the case on court and the top ranking adds to the good feeling of the hard-hitting baseliner. “I am only interested in tennis at the moment, I want to concentrate entirely on that. “When you realize a dream (of being number one) it is unbelievable and difficult to explain. I want to be the best in everything I do,” she said.

India is involved in the attacks on Sri Lankan cricket Posted: 19 Apr 2009 07:37 PM PDT LAHORE: Newly-elected ameer of Jamat Islami Syed Munawwar Hasan has said that India is taking advantage of the present situation of Pakistan. He said that India is involved in the attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team and Manawan Police Training School but the advisor on interior is not indicating it. Addressing at a reception hosted by Jamaat Islami in his honour here on Sunday, Syed Munawwar Hasan said that when the CCPO Lahore told about evidences of India's involvement in these incidents then Rehman Malik immediately denied it. He further said that the hope of any change from the February 18 elections has not been fulfilled. He said that Balochistan is on fire and the anger of the Balochs would not be lessen until the name of former president Pervez Musharraf is not brought to the court after including him in the exit control list. Syed Munawwar Hasan said that he does not favour mid-term elections but he would be showing mirror to the government. He demanded from the chief justice of Pakistan to take sue moto notice against the incidents of Lal Masjid, Karachi's incidents of May 12 and April 9 and issue an order to bring Dr Aafia Siddiqui back home.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s reservations on US-Taliban talks Posted: 19 Apr 2009 07:27 PM PDT WASHINGTON: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai while expressing his reservations on reports of the direct talks between the United States with Taliban said the U.S. efforts to tame the growing Taliban insurgency through negotiations would fail unless his government agreed to such talks. In an interview with an American television on Sunday, the Afghan president said “if you want to accomplish a local deal with a certain Taliban commander at a tactical level, good enough". “But even that has to be done in agreement with the Afghan administration (government) at the local, provincial level. Without that knowledge in the Afghan administration, this peace process will not go anywhere.” The Obama administration has announced it will send more troops and economic assistance to Afghanistan as well as intensify diplomacy within the region in a bid to counter the Taliban, who now control large parts of the Asian nation. Karzai objected to the strategy of having U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan conduct direct talks with Taliban members in order to persuade them to abandon their struggle and join local militias.

Manchester United 0 - 0 Everton Highlights (4-2 pens) Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:52 AM PDT Everton knocked out manchester united to advance to the final in may to play chelsea.The gane went all the way to the end extra time and ended in penaltys which everton took advantage of some poor penalty taking from united.Dimitar Berbatov's  horrid attempt was saved by Howard, who also denied Rio Ferdinand before Jagielka sent the Toffees into the FA Cup final for the first time since 1995 when Paul Rideout's goal accounted for United.Ferguson left out many of this big guns like ronaldo and rooney today and the gamble to do that backfired today for him.While some fans may have been dreaming of five trophies, Ferguson's aim is simpler - to keep liverpool  hands off the Premier League trophy. David Moyes's side will return to London on 30 May to face Guus Hiddink's chelsea after ending United's dream of winning a quintuple of trophies. more

Worst economic crisis over for Dubai Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:42 AM PDT DUBAI: Dubai’s ruler insists his Gulf emirate has recovered from the worst of the fallout from the global economic crisis and has also defended the grandiose vision of the formerly booming city state. “We have overcome the crisis with the least amount of losses,” Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum, who is also United Arab Emirates prime minister, told Dubai’s first e-press conference. “For us in the United Arab Emirates, I can safely say that we have succeeded in containing the risks of the global financial crisis in record time,” said Sheikh Mohammad. His answers to journalists’ questions were posted on the website www.uaepm.ae on Saturday. Sheikh Mohammad put the recovery down to “the additional liquidity that the Abu Dhabi government pumped into the Emirates’ banks” and the bond issuance of 20 billion dollars. However, Sheikh Mohammad acknowledged that economic growth in the UAE would probably fall to around three percent in 2009, down from 7.4 percent last year. But he ruled out introducing income tax. On the world crisis, he said: “I think the panic phase is over now, especially after the intervention of governments in many major countries to regulate financial and banking sectors, and the allocation of large sums of money to revitalise their economies.” As for Dubai itself, Sheikh Mohammad shrugged off comments that “the bubble” had burst on its dazzlingly rapid development. “I keep hearing the expression of ‘the bubble’ for the past couple of decades. In my opinion, this bubble is found only in the minds of those who often keep repeating it and do not know its meaning,” he said. Sheikh Mohammad also brushed aside a spate of negative articles in the international media. “The stereotypes are being brought up. It seems that any successful Arab model in economic development invites such negative treatment in the international media,” he said. The architect of Dubai’s emergence on the world stage as a regional business, IT and leisure hub defended the emirate’s achievements. “We are not growing in order to be a model for its highest building in the world, best airport, and most luxurious hotel, and the largest seaport and man-made islands,” he said. “The Dubai model is beyond that… Dubai is an Arab city with scarce natural resources but with a clear vision of comprehensive development and social needs,” he said. It has “succeeded through investments in human resources, its unique geographical location and trade expertise.”

Aishwaria, Abhishek off to Europe for 2nd wed anniversary Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:29 AM PDT MUMBAI: Bollywood couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, who celebrate their second anniversary on April 20, had earlier planned to make it a working affair but now the plans have changed. The couple was supposed to shoot for for their movie Ravana on their wedding anniversary because director Mani Ratnam wanted to shoot some crucial scenes of the film in Kerala’s Chalakudy jungles from April 20 onwards. However, earlier this week, Ratnam was admitted to hospital due to difficulty in breathing and chest pain. This has put a question mark over the upcoming schedule of Ravana. Now that the doctors have said that Ratnam needs some time to recover, Ash and Abhi have decided to take a quick break from their hectic schedules. According to reports the couple is likely to go on a brief holiday for their second wedding anniversary, which might be Europe or the US. Last year, they could not celebrate their wedding anniversary because the family was mourning Teji Bachchan s death. This year, they may finally get to celebrate the completion of two years as husband and wife.

Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Deccan Chargers Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:16 AM PDT Kolkata Knight Riders, who chose to bat first Umpires MR Benson and HDPK Dharmasena TV umpire SD Ranade Match referee Yashpal Sharma Reserve umpire MW Brown Live Match In Progress Kolkata Knight Riders 101/10; Deccan Chargers 37/2;  you can watch Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Deccan Chargers

Slumdog Rubina’s father offers her in sale Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:04 AM PDT LONDON: The father of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ child star, Rubina Ali Qureshi, tried to sell her for 200,000 pounds in his bid to cash in on the celebrity status of his “Oscar child”, a British newspaper claimed today. Nine-year-old Rubina shot to fame by playing the young Latika in Danny Boyle’s film, which picked up eight Oscars besides earning millions at the box office. The film depicts the heartwarming story of a Mumbai slumdweller, who escapes the Mumbai slums by winning USD 20 million in the Indian version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’. Rubina and Azharudding Ismail were picked from a Mumbai slum to play the young protagonists in the film. And now, Rubina’s father Rafiq Qureshi wants 200,000 pounds (USD 400,00) by putting his daughter up for illegal adoption, the News of The World reported. Rafiq alleged that he was forced to sell his daughter as his family did not get anything from the filmmakers. “We’ve got nothing out of this film,” said Rafiq while trying to fix the illegal adoption deal, “It’s 200,000!,” he told the reporters, who were posing as fake Dubai sheik. When the reporters objected to the huge amount Rafiq’s brother insisted, “The child is special now. This is not an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child!” “I have to consider what’s best for me, my family and Rubina’s future,” Rafiq said.

Pakistan need more to fight Taliban, US Posted: 19 Apr 2009 10:59 AM PDT KABUL: Pakistan must do more to “erase” Taliban bases inside its territory which are destabilising the entire region, the U.S. commander of Western troops in neighbouring Afghanistan said on Sunday. U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has pledged 21,000 more troops to join 39,000 American soldiers fighting Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan. It has also stepped up attacks by drones on suspected militant bases across the border in Pakistan. U.S. Army General David McKiernan, who commands more than 70,000 U.S. and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, said he was confident the new troops would bring improvements in security to southern Afghanistan this year after years of rising violence. But he described insecurity as a regional problem that could only be resolved by a stronger effort from Pakistan’s embattled government to tackle safe havens for militants. “There must be an improved effort on the other side of the border against these safe havens that many of these insurgent groups operate from in Pakistan,” he told a news conference. “There are sanctuary areas that have existed for many years across the border. They feed terrorism and insecurity on both sides of the border,” McKiernan said. “I think it is safe to say there is an expectation that the government of Pakistan must erase these safe havens so that they are not a threat to their own country and the region. They will have the full support of the international community to do that.”

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Palestinian teen was killed by Israeli army Posted: 18 Apr 2009 06:12 AM PDT RAMALLAH: Palestinian officials say a Palestinian teen was killed by Israeli army fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The youth was killed late Friday near the Beit El settlement. The Israeli military says soldiers guarding the settlement spotted a group of Palestinians who threw firebombs toward the gate of Beit El. The military says troops fired warning shots and then toward the group. Palestinian security officials said Saturday that a16-year-old was killed and a 19-year-old was wounded in the leg. Also Saturday, the Gaza-Egypt border opened to allow Gazans seeking medical treatment to leave the blockaded territory. Gaza’s borders have been virtually sealed since the Islamic militant Hamas seized control two years ago.

United States look hackers to protect cyber networks Posted: 18 Apr 2009 06:05 AM PDT WASHINGTON: Buffeted by millions of digital scans and attacks each day, federal authorities are looking for hackers _ not to prosecute them, but to pay them to secure the nation’s networks. General Dynamics Information Technology put out an ad last month on behalf of the Homeland Security Department seeking someone who could “think like the bad guy.” Applicants, it said, must understand hackers’ tools and tactics and be able to analyze Internet traffic and identify vulnerabilities in the federal systems. And in the Pentagon’s budget request submitted last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates hung out his own help-wanted sign, saying the Pentagon will increase the number of cyber experts it can train each year from 80 to 250 by 2011. Amid dire warnings that the U.S. is ill-prepared for a cyber attack, the White House conducted a 60-day study of how the government can better manage and use technology to protect everything from the nation’s electrical grid and stock markets to tax data, airline flight systems, and nuclear launch codes. President Barack Obama appointed former Bush administration aide Melissa Hathaway to head the effort, and her report was delivered Friday, the White House said.

Violence in Afghanistan 13 killed Posted: 18 Apr 2009 06:47 AM PDT KANDAHAR: Thirteen people including two civilians were killed in violence across insurgency-hit Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. Two civilians, one of them a woman, were killed when a bomb placed on an abandoned bicycle was detonated remotely in the southern city of Kandahar Saturday, a local health official told French news agency. Four other civilians were wounded in the incident near a hospital, Abdul Qayoum Pukhla, provincial health director said. In Parwan, a province north of the capital Kabul, five bank security guards were killed and five were wounded in a shootout involving unknown gunmen, the province’s governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa said. The guards came under attack late Friday night as they returned from delivering money in the central province of Bamiyan, Taqwa said. Parwan has been spared much of the insurgent violence affecting southern and eastern Afghanistan. Elsewhere, Afghan and international security forces killed six militants in operations across Afghanistan, according to military statements Saturday. Three militants were killed Saturday in a joint raid by Afghan and ISAF soldiers on a village in Logar province, south of the capital Kabul, to detain insurgent commanders hiding there, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement. In Khost province, near the Pakistan border, ISAF troops killed one militant and detained two others after they were spotted by a unmanned surveillance aircraft placing an improvised explosive device (IED), ISAF said in a separate statement. In western Farah province, Afghan soldiers assisted by coalition troops killed two militants after coming under fire on a combat reconnaissance patrol in Khaki Safed district, the US-led coalition said. ISAF commands more than 58,000 troops from 42 countries, and operates alongside a US-led coalition that is estimated to number around 10,000 although the figure has not been made public.

Silicone injections deadly route for beauty Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:51 AM PDT NEW YORK: New Yorkers looking for a quick beauty fix risk death from unlicensed practitioners offering oil injections to enhance prized body parts, health authorities warned today. The city health department said silicone, petroleum jelly, castor oil, mineral oil or cod liver oil were among substances injected by unscrupulous practitioners. “People who undergo these unsafe procedures hope to enhance their appearance, but the reality can be lifelong deformity and even death,” said Doctor Nathan Graber, director of city’s environmental and occupational disease program. The health department said in a statement that side effects include “serious infections, nerve damage, respiratory and kidney failure, irreversible disabilities, disfigurement and death.” The department said it was aware of five cases in the last two years in which oil injections had been given to the hips, thighs, breasts and buttocks. The department warned New Yorkers to avoid treatments done at home, in hotels or anywhere other than a licensed clinic. “The use of oils to enhance body parts is risky under any circumstances,” the department advised.

Iran Sentences US reporter to 8 years in jail Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:46 AM PDT TEHRAN: An Iranian revolutionary court has sentenced US-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi to eight years in jail on charges of spying for the United States, a relative told on Saturday.

Mumbai Indians Give 167/7 as Target Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:44 AM PDT Cape Town: He might have made rooms for the younger generations to play for the country in T20 format of the game but one thing is for sure, Sachin is still the best in any form of cricket. The millions of Indians who are watching the IPL proceeding taste of his batting skills as he crossed 50 with ease. Watch Live Cricket. Mumbai hard-hitter Abhishek Nayar's entertaining knock of 35 came to an end when he hit a Jacob Oram delivery straight to mid-off. Nayar gave MI the much needed momentum in batting as he heaved 3 sixes and 2 fours in his 14-ball cameo. The middle order of Mumbai Indians seemed to squander the opportunity of scoring big runs as three batsmen threw away their wickets in quick succession. Dwayne Bravo was the last man to fall as he pulled a Joginder Sharma delivery straight to mid-wicket for just 5. Abhishek Nayar was the new man to join Tendulkar at the crease. After 15 overs, Indians were 105 for 4. Tendulkar was playing on 39. MS Goly's dream run in IPL continued as he kept on impressing with the ball in the first game of the IPL 2. He sent the new man Jean-Paul Duminy packing with a short ball that the batsman tried to pull only to give a straight catch to the bowler. Duminy made only 8. Shikhar Dhawan's tryst with Mumbai Indians did not start too well as he departed after scoring 22 off 21 balls. He tried to pull a short delivery from MS Gony, but gave an easy catch to MS Dhoni who was standing at short mid wicket. The wicket brought new batting sensation of world cricket Jean-Paul Duminy into the crease to give comapny to Sachin Tendulkar who is playing on 35. As has been said earlier by several experts the contest between bat and ball in IPL II will be even because of the South African tracks which are not entirely biased to the batsmen only. The prediction has turned into truth as Mumbai Indians could manage only 64 in first 10 overs of the match. The struggle of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar was also in evidence as he was unbeaten on 21 off 24 balls. Sri Lankan veteran Sanath Jayasuriya became the first man to be dismissed in the IPL 2 as he flicked a Tushara ball straight to short mid-wicket. Jayasuriya made 26 off just 20 balls. Hayden, who earlier dropped Tendulkat at slip, made no mistake this time as he latched on to a low catch. Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Thilan Thushara, playing his debut IPL match, bowled really well in his fisrt few overs, maintaining a strict line. Jayasuriya`s wicket brought Shikhar Dhawan into the crease. After the powerplay of 6 overs, Mumbai Indians scored 42 runs with Shikhar Dhawan giving company to Sachin Tendulkar (14*). The evidence of the IPL not taking place in India was there for all to see as there is little support for the teams despite having a near capacity crowd. Unlike the IPL 1 that took place on Indian flat tracks, the number of fours and sixes was not in abundance, as far as first 8 overs are concerned. The Mumbai Indians' explosive opening pair of Tendulkar and Jayasuriya could hardly rake up 34 runs. The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) has finally got off in South Africa after the cash-rich league had to be shifted out of India due to the security reasons as it was coinciding with another gala event of India, the General elections. In the first mouthwatering contest of the event, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain M S Dhoni won the toss and decided to put Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians into bat first on a pitch which may help the faster bowlers after a little bit of rains in Cape Towns. The experts suggested that the pitch may be sticky and the moisture would help the pacers to move the ball in the air and off the strip. Teams: Chennai Super Kings (From): Matthew Hayden, Parthiv Patel, Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Andrew Flintoff, Albie Morkel, Laxmipathy Balaji, Joginder Sharma, Manpreet Gony, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, Abhinav Mukund, Mike Hussey(s), Arun Karthik, George Bailey, Jacob Oram, Murali Vijay, Napoleon Einstein, Palani Amarnath, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shadab Jakati, Srikkanth Anirudha, Stephen Fleming, Sudeep Tyagi, Suresh Kumar, Thilan Thushara, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Viraj Kadbe Mumbai Indians (From): Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Abhishek Nayar, Yogesh Takawale(w), Kyle Mills, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ajinkya Rahane, Chetanya Nanda, Dilhara Fernando, Graham Napier, Jaydev Shah, Lasith Malinga, Luke Ronchi, Mohammad Ashraful, Pinal Shah, Rahil Shaikh, Rohan Raje, Ryan McLaren, Saurabh Tiwary

PM Gilani links NAR-2009 With Peace in Swat Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:15 AM PDT KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR-2009) promulgated by the NWFP government will remain effective if there is peace and stability in Swat. Addressing a joint press conference with Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here on Saturday, Gilani said Pakistan wants amicable ties with all its neighbours. He said Pakistan wants resumption of composite dialogue process with India which was stalled after the Mumbai mayhem. The prime minister said that the demands and proposals presented by Sindh cabinet would be reviewed once President Asif Ali Zardari returns home. Gilani said that the salaries of Sindh police would soon be increased.

Islamic law in Somalia approve by Parliament Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:13 AM PDT MOGADISHU: Somalia’s parliament unanimously approved Saturday a government proposal to introduce Islamic sharia law in the country, parliamentary deputy speaker Osman Elmi Bogore told. “There were 340 members at the session and they voted unanimously for the implementation of Islamic sharia in Somalia,” said Bogore, who presided over the debates in the absence of speaker Aden Mohamed Nur. “The bill… is approved by the Parliament…. We have an Islamic government,” he added.

Birthday Lara Dutta Posted: 18 Apr 2009 05:07 AM PDT Bollywood hottie Lara Dutta turned 31 on April 16. The actress spent her birthday in her hometown with her loving parents. Born on April 16, 1978 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Lara is a Bolywood actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and the former Miss Universe (2000). Lara’s father is a Wing Commander L. K. Dutta (retired) and her mother is Jennifer Dutta, and she has two older sisters. In 1981, her family members shifted to Bangalore where the actress finished her high school from St. Francis Xavier Girl’s High School. Lara did her graduation in economics with a minor in communications from Mumbai University. She became Miss Universe in 2000 that resulted in her appointment as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. Dutta won the annual Gladsrags modelling competition in her native India, thus winning the right to be the first Indian delegate at the 1997 Miss Intercontinental pageant, in which she stood first. Afterward, she was declared Femina Miss India Universe and Miss Universe in 2000. Click To Watch At first, Dutta signed up to work in the Tamil movie, Arasatchi in 2002, but owing to financial troubles, it only released in mid-2004. The actress made her Bollywood debut in the year 2003 with the film ‘Andaaz’ that did well on the BO, and she won Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her charter in the film. Till now, Lara has worked in ‘Andaaz’, ‘Khakee’, ‘Masti’, ‘Kaal’, ‘No Entry’, ‘Partner’ and many others. From the starting of her film career, Lara worked with the likes of Akshay Kumar, Big B, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. She is currently dating actor Dino Morea.We wish her a very happy birthday and a successful year

Suicide Blast in Hangu, Pakistan 20 Killed Posted: 18 Apr 2009 04:55 AM PDT HANGU: Eighteen policemen among 20 people have been killed in a deadly suicide attack at a security check-post here. Eyewitnesses that a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden pickup into a police check-post at Doaba area of Hangu when a convoy of security forces was passing by. At least 20 people, including 18 policemen, were killed in the incident while ten others were injured who were rushed to the local hospital. SHO of local police station was also among deceased, police officials told the newsmen. The explosion was as powerful as it severely damaged nearby shops. Heavy contingent of the law enforcement agencies have been arrived at the scene and the area has been cordoned off.

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Palestinians ask Barack Obama’s envoy to pressure Israel Posted: 17 Apr 2009 08:56 AM PDT President Barack Obama’s Mideast envoy said Friday that a “two-state solution is the only solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting stark policy differences between the U.S. and Israel over the idea of Palestinian statehood. The envoy, George Mitchell, spoke after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his West Bank headquarters. Mitchell is here on his third trip since being named by Obama, and on Thursday met for the first time with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has misgivings about establishing a Palestinian state. An official in Netanyahu’s office said that in a meeting with Mitchell on Thursday, the Israeli leader expressed concern that if such a state is set up, the Islamic militant Hamas group could take over the West Bank, as it overran Gaza in 2007. The experience of Israel withdrawing from territory, only to have it controlled by Palestinian extremists “is not going to be repeated,” said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were not public. However, Mitchell struck a firm tone on Friday, after his meeting with Abbas. He said establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel is a national interest of the U.S., not only of the people in the Middle East. He said the Arab peace initiative, which offers Israel full recognition by the Arab world in exchange for full withdrawal from occupied territories, should be part of future peace efforts. “This conflict has gone on for far too long, and the people of this region should no longer have to wait for the just peace that guarantees security for all,” Mitchell said. “The U.S. is committed to the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, where the aspirations of the Palestinian people to control their own destiny are realized,” he said. “We want the Arab peace initiative to be a part of the effort to reach this goal. A comprehensive peace in this region is in the national interest of the United States. It is in the interest of the Palestinian people, it is in the interest of the people of Israel and of the entire region. A two-state solution is the only solution,” he said. Earlier, Abbas aides argued that Israel must be held to the same standards as the Palestinians. The previous Israeli government accepted the idea of a two-state solution, though it disagreed sharply with Abbas over the terms of Palestinian statehood. “The international Quartet … demanded from us to accept a two-state solution and agreements signed, and we did, and I think the same standards should be applied to Israel,” Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said ahead of the Mitchell-Obama talks. He said that “it is time for President Obama to make sure that Israel” meets its commitments, he said, adding that failure to do so would weaken moderates and push the region further into the hands of extremists.

Imran Khan Calls for mid-term polls in Balochistan Posted: 17 Apr 2009 08:24 AM PDT LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has demanded that mid-term elections should be held in Balochistan by dissolving the provincial assembly. Speaking to reporters here on Friday, he said that new polls would provide an opportunity to Baloch people to elect their right representatives. He said that women sitting in the assembly were the representatives few family, not the people of Pakistan. Khan said that women empowerment was impossible without provision of proper education, basic rights and the share in property. PTI chief further said that Panchayat and Jirga systems would be reintroduced for provision of speedy justice.

Pakistan not host World Cup 2011 , ICC Posted: 17 Apr 2009 08:02 AM PDT DUBAI: Pakistan has been stripped of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup because of the ‘uncertain security situation’ in the country, the International Cricket Council said on Friday. “It is a regrettable decision (but) our number one priority is to create certainty and deliver a safe, secure and successful event,” ICC president David Morgan said in a statement. Pakistan were due to co-host the event with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. During the first day of ICC's Executive Board's meeting, Australia and New Zealand firmly opposed Pakistan's co-hosting of the matches of World Cup 2011. David Morgan said: "I am unhappy to make this decision but it is has been made to ensure security of the cricket players." The World Cup Secretariat will now be shifted from Lahore and the World Cup matches will now be hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. According to sources, India was hopeful of support from India in this regard but it failed to extend the same. Report of attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore was also presented at the above meeting.

Abdul Karim Telgi sentenced to seven years imprisonment Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:32 AM PDT Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case, and seven others were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment by the CBI special sessions court in bangalore on Friday. Former police official, T G Sangram Singh was sentenced to three years. However, as Singh had completed nearly 22 months in prison, the court granted him bail. The court had deferred till today the pronouncement of the sentence relating to a 1997 fake stamp paper case here. Telgi and the other accused including retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Sangram Singh, were convicted by the court, constituted to try fake stamp paper cases in Karnataka, on Wednesday. Four of the accused Sangram Singh, Syed Mohiyuddin, Annad Thorat and Wazir were produced before the court on Thursday, while the other accused including Shanal Jamedar, Illiyas Ahamad, Sohail Khan and Telgi attended the court trial through video conferencing from the central prison. Counsel for Telgi had sought remitting of the sentence as Telgi had been suffering from various ailments and his wife was sick. He had also appealed to the court to club all the cases together. On 28th June, 2007, Telgi was sentenced to 13 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 202 crore on various counts in one of the main cases of the scandal.

Maya Kodnani’s bail hearing adjourned till 27th April Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:19 AM PDT The hearing on the bail application of former minister in the Narendra Modi government, Maya Kodnani, an accused in 2002 riot cases has been adjourned till 27th April by a court in Ahmedabad. Kodnani had applied for regular bail after her police remand ended last week. She is an accused in the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya cases where 106 people of the minority community were killed by a mob on 28th February 2002. When the matter came up for hearing before Sessions Judge A K Aswani, the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case submitted that Kodnani was accused of committing an offence of a serious nature and led the mob responsible for killing people in Naroda area. Public prosecutor in the case Sudhir Bhrambhatt further submitted that Kodnani being a politician could influence witnesses and hamper investigation in other cases. Court asked Kodnani's lawyer Mitesh Amin, "Why are you making haste in the matter?" The Gujarat High Court order cancelling Kodnani's anticipatory bail clearly mentions that investigation in the matter was on, it added. It further said that it would be premature to apply for bail at this juncture as the chargesheet against Kodnani is yet to be filed.

Government Defers NELP-VIII on tax break concerns Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:16 AM PDT Fearing investor backlash on ambiguity over tax holiday for natural gas, India deferred roadshows for the largest-ever auction of oil and gas blocks and the new dates would be worked out after elections. The promotional roadshows for 70 oil and gas blocks offered for bidding under the eighth edition of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and 10 coal bed methane (CBM) areas were to begin on 20th April but the programme has been deferred. "Concerns had been expressed by several potential bidders on lack of tax holidays for natural gas, similar to the ones given to crude oil production. We could not have got the issue sorted out just now because of elections. So we decided that let the issue be dealt by the new government," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said from Mumbai. The Finance Ministry had in 2008-09 budget scrapped the seven-year tax holiday or exemption from payment of income tax on natural gas production. Though oil and gas naturally occurred together and a single well could be producing both, the incentive was restricted only for crude oil production. The move drew flak from oil majors who kept away from the previous NELP-VII round that closed after the announcement. The tax issue will have to be addressed after elections and a new schedule for roadshows and bid closing worked out thereafter, Deora said. The Government had launched NELP-VIII and CBM-IV on 9th April and bids were to close on 10th August. "We were faced with a scenario where we would have completed one phase of roadshows and results of the elections announced. So, we decided to defer the programme," Deora said. The first roadshow was to be held in Mumbai on 20th April, followed by similar events in Perth (27-28 April), London (4-5 May), Washington (11-12 May) and Calgary (14-15 May). "The roadshows have been cancelled and new dates will be reworked after (the) elections," said V S Sibal, Director General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons. Oil Secretary R S Pandey said only roadshows have been deferred and the last date of bidding may not necessarily be shifted as there were enough time for bidders to decide. India had offered 24 deep-sea blocks, 28 shallow water blocks and 18 onland blocks for bidding in NELP-VIII hoping to attract USD 3 billion investment in exploration. The 75 per cent import dependent nation also offered for bidding 10 areas for extraction of gas from below coal fields or CBM, at a time when energy firms worldwide are cutting investments because of falling prices and economic recession. Besides tax breaks, there were concerns over Government encroaching over the pricing and marketing freedom guaranteed in NELP as was evident in case of Reliance Industries' KG-D6 discoveries where the government first took it upon itself to fix the rates of natural gas and then dictated individual customers, whom the fuel has to be sold to. Asia's third-largest energy consumer is aiming to cut oil imports and has till now awarded 203 blocks in previous seven rounds with over USD 11 billion committed in exploration spend. Besides, 23 blocks have been awarded in previous three CBM rounds. More than 6 Trillion cubic feet reserves have already been established in four CBM blocks. Since its advent in 1999, NELP has given 68 oil and gas discoveries in Cambay onland, North East Coast and Krishna Godavari deep-water areas, totalling over 600 million tons of reserves. Worldwide spending on oil and gas exploration may drop 12 per cent in 2009 to USD 400 billion, Barclays Capital Research has stated. India had offered 57 blocks in NELP-7 last year and awarded 44 to companies like BHP Billiton and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC). In the first six rounds, 162 areas with an investment commitment of USD 8.33 billion were awarded. Of the total committed investment of USD 8.33 billion received in the first six rounds of NELP, USD 3.887 billion had already been spent by oil and gas companies till March 2007. Of the USD 8.33 billion promised investment, the largest commitment of USD 3.32 billion was received in NELP-6 where 52 out of 55 blocks on offer were grabbed.

Congress Ticket Got by Sajjan Kumar’s Brother Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:08 AM PDT New Delhi: Days after withdrawing Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar over their alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the Congress party on Friday announced the names of fresh Lok Sabha candidates who will replace the two leaders. According to reports, DPCC chief J P Agrawal and Sajjan Kumar's brother Ramesh Kumar have been given tickets to contest as Congress candidates. J P Agrawal will be party's Lok Sabha candidate from North East Delhi and Ramesh Kumar will contest the election from South Delhi constituency. The Congress party's decision has ended speculation over the names of candidates who were in race to replace the two senior leaders. The development also comes days after Tytler voluntarily announced to withdraw as Congress candidate owing to widespread protests by the Sikh community after he was given a clean chit by the CBI.

Minor Girl Dies After Teacher’s Beating Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:09 AM PDT New Delhi: The eleven-year-old girl, who slipped into coma after she was brutally beaten by her teacher, died on Friday in a state of coma. She was battling for her life ever since she slipped into a state of coma on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government and the Centre have promised strict action against those involved in an incident that led to a eleven-year-old girl battling for her life while in coma. Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Renuka Chowdhury has promised justice will be done. An inquiry has been ordered by the Municipal Council of Delhi (MCD) into how Shannoo Khan, a student of Class 2 at ND Primary School in Narela, North Delhi, fell into coma. An inquiry has been ordered and the principal and teacher placed under suspension. The incident allegedly occurred when Shannoo failed to recite the English alphabet in class. Angered by this, the teacher allegedly hit Shannoo's head against the table and made her stand in the sun for over two hours. Unable to stand the heat, Shannoo fainted and was found unconscious by her younger sister, who studies in the same school. The girl then informed their mother, Rihanna, who rushed Shannoo to Maharshi Valmiki Hospital. Shannoo's father, Ayub Khan, who works as a waiter in a catering company, was away in Haryana for work. "Doctors at Maharshi Valmiki hospital told me that Shannoo''s condition was critical and she might not survive," said Khan. The 11-year-old has been shifted to the pediatric ICU of Lok Nayak Hospital on Thursday afternoon. " She was brought to our hospital in a critical condition. We have examined the child and her blood pressure is very low due to which she remains in a state of shock. Her pulse is very weak too. She is on a ventilator and we can comment on her condition only tomorrow," said Dr A P Dubey, head of the department, pediatrics, Lok Nayak Hospital. "The child was admitted in with severe seizure and her condition further deteriorated before she slipped into a coma. She was shifted to LNJP in critical condition," said Dr KK Deuri, medical superintendent of Maharshi Valmiki hospital. MCD officials, however, denied that the girl was punished and said she suffered from frequent seizures. Chairman of the MCD Education Committee Prithiviraj Sahni said, "The girl has been detained for shortage of attendance. She has been irregular with her classes because of fits. On Wednesday too, she had fits, following which her parents were informed." Municipal commissioner K S Mehra has asked the director of primary education to conduct an inquiry and submit a report in three days. MCD has already suspended the principal of the school (identified only as Dhanpati) for dereliction of duty and the teacher (identified only as Manju) for alleged corporal punishment. Police said they had confirmed that the child was punished at school. Atul Katiyar, DCP, (outer), said: "We have confirmed from various sources that the child did face corporal punishment and investigations are on. We will file an FIR only after we receive the medical reports."

Fake Stamp Paper Scam Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:11 AM PDT Bangalore: Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case, and seven others were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment by the CBI special sessions court here on Friday. Former police official, T G Sangram Singh was sentenced to three years. However, as Singh had completed nearly 22 months in prison, the court granted him bail. The court had deferred till today the pronouncement of the sentence relating to a 1997 fake stamp paper case here. Telgi and the other accused including retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Sangram Singh, were convicted by the court, constituted to try fake stamp paper cases in Karnataka, on Wednesday. Four of the accused Sangram Singh, Syed Mohiyuddin, Annad Thorat and Wazir were produced before the court on Thursday, while the other accused including Shanal Jamedar, Illiyas Ahamad, Sohail Khan and Telgi attended the court trial through video conferencing from the central prison. Counsel for Telgi had sought remitting of the sentence as Telgi had been suffering from various ailments and his wife was sick. He had also appealed to the court to club all the cases together. On June 28, 2007, Telgi was sentenced to 13 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 202 crore on various counts in one of the main cases of the scandal.

Ajmal Kasab Should Be Hang Publicly: Bal Thackeray Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:10 AM PDT MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Friday said Mumbai attack terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab should not be provided any legal help and be hanged publicly near the Gateway of India. "Why should Kasab be provided legal help? There is public demand that he should be hanged near Gateway of India and no time should be lost in trial," Thackeray said in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna'. Alleging that Kasab was being treated as a "guest", the Sena chief said "Kasab's mother, who is coming to visit his son in prison, would now be given treatment as if she was a 'veermata' (martyr's mother)". He further said that Kasab's lawyers have not gauged the public fury and were "playing" with the country's prestige by being in the limelight through the case.

I Will Not Stop My Vioce: Vuran Gandhi Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:11 AM PDT New Delhi: A day after getting a temporary relief from the Supreme Court in the "hate speech" case, BJP leader Varun Gandhi on Friday said he was not in favour of violence as a tool in politics but would continue to raise his voice against "anti-national forces". In a written statement circulated to media, he said the countrymen need to unite to face the threat of terrorism emanating from the neighbouring countries. "Indians should unite to face the threat of terrorism (emanating from) neighbouring countries. We need to rise and face this menace boldly and I shall continue to raise my voice against anti-national forces," Varun said. Varun was released yesterday from Etah jail on parole for two weeks following a Supreme Court directive, almost 19 days after he was detained under the NSA for making hate speeches at election meetings in Pilibhit. Varun had been released on parole to campaign for Lok Sabha polls with the condition that he would not indulge in any conduct likely to disturb communal harmony.

SAfrica Vs Oz 5th ODI, Australia on 114 Runs Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:52 AM PDT Durban: South Africa on Thursday brought back pace duo of Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini in their team for Friday`s fifth and final One-dayer against Australia at the cost of off-spinner Johan Botha and fast bowler Wayne Parnell. Watch Live Cricket. Botha was reported for suspect bowling action during the fourth match, which the hosts won to secure an unassailable 3-1 in the five-match series. South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said their success against formidable Australia and earlier against England is most satisfying. "If I look back at the highlights over the past 18 months, I have to put the away Test series victories over England and Australia at the top of the list." "These have been the two toughest assignments for South African cricket in the past and to have achieved both of those successes in the space of six months has been very special for this team," Smith said. The opening batsman also lavished praise on his young players for living up to challenges. "On an individual level the most pleasing aspect has been the way the younger players have come through. You need a hard core of experience on which to base a top team and we now have the ideal balance of youth and experience coming together." "The emergence of these young players has also enabled us to develop our one-day brand and the type of cricket we want to play," he said.

Afghan Minister Escapes Twin Suicide Bomber Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:43 AM PDT Kabul: A suicide bomber was killed Friday by police before he could reach an Afghan minister’s home in western Afghanistan, but a second bomber detonated his explosives nearby, killing three civilians and wounding 16, a provincial governor said. An armed bomber, who disguised himself in police uniform, was shot to death by police guards as he was trying to enter the home of Abdul Karim Bahrawi, refugee minister, in Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimruz province, Governor Gholam Dastagir said. “He detonated his explosive-filled vest after being shot several times by the guards,” Azaad said, adding that the bomber was the only victim in the initial blast. Moments later, another bomber, who covered himself in a women’s veil, detonated himself near a mosque close to the minister’s house, killing three people. The minister was inside his home and was unhurt, the governor said.No group immediately took responsibility for Friday’s bombings. Recently, Taliban militants, who were driven from power in a US-led military invasion in late 2001, have relied heavily on suicide and roadside bombings as part of their campaign against the Western-backed Afghan government and about 70,000 international forces in the country. The militants were responsible for more than 120 suicide bombings last year.

Suicide Blast in Afghanistan Targets NATO Forces Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:37 AM PDT A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of NATO-led Norwegian forces Friday in northern Afghanistan, killing himself and wounding two soldiers while coalition forces killed six militants elsewhere in the country, officials said. The bomber rammed his explosives-filled vehicle into the Norwegian convoy in the Takht Pul area of the relatively peaceful province of Balkh, said Abdul Raouf Taj, deputy provincial police chief. Two NATO vehicles were destroyed in the attack, he said. A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed that one of the ISAF’s military convoys was attacked in Balkh but would not elaborate. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Taliban militants, claimed responsibility for the attack and said Abdul Based, a resident of the southern province and Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, carried out the assault. Mujahid claimed that 10 NATO soldiers were killed in the blast and three tanks were destroyed. The peaceful northern region of Afghanistan is under the command of German forces, who are part of the ISAF. Currently, 3,800 German forces are stationed in the region while Berlin announced the deployment of 600 additional soldiers to be sent to country before the presidential election in August. Meanwhile, Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed six suspected militants in an operation Thursday night in Kandahar’s Maiwand district, the US military said in a statement. Five other militants were detained by joint Afghan-international forces in separate operations in Logar, Nangahar and Paktia provinces Thursday, the military said.

COAS Kayani Briefs PM Gilani of His SA, UAE Visit Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:25 AM PDT ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani on Friday called on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here and apprised him of his recent visit to Saudi Arabia. In a meeting held at PM House, the Army Chief briefed the Prime Minister about his meetings with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz as well as his interaction with the top leadership of Saudi armed forces. He also gave details to Prime Minister Gilani about his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Security on High Alert in Peshawar University Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:14 AM PDT PESHAWAR: Security has been put on high alert at the Peshawar University amid reports about entry of a suspicious vehicle in the campus. While a suspected person has also been taken into custody by police during a search operation. The police have stepped up security after receiving some reports that an explosive-laden vehicle has entered the campus. A large contingent of police has been deployed outside girls' hostels, entry, and exit points of the university to avert any untoward incident. The SSP Peshawar has confirmed that he has received some reports about entry of a suspected black car in the university.

Akshay Kuma Avoids SRK in South Africa Posted: 17 Apr 2009 06:02 AM PDT Though shooting in South Africa, Akshay Kumar will skip the IPL matches Last year Akshay Kumar avidly supported the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Daredevils. This year, though he is currently shooting in South Africa, he won’t be supporting any of the teams. Even though the IPL involves some members of his own fraternity like Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta, Akshay intends to maintain his distance. When quizzed on this matter, he was evasive, "I am shooting during the nights for a TV show. I would like to spend my day time catching up on my sleep, or spending time with my wife and kids who are also here with me." But when we probed further we realised that Akshay was excercising caution when it came to being associated with any event featuring Shah Rukh. A source said, "There has been a constant attempt to pitch Akshay against the Khans. So far, he has fought a lonely battle to develop and maintain his brand name. Since two of his films have not done well this year, attacks to devalue his equity are stronger. There’s a strong attempt to demean his latest film Kambakkht Ishq. He even knows where these attempts are emerging from." Akshay said diplomatically, "Right now, I do not want to say anything. I know exactly who these people are and I wish they would do their own work and let me do mine. The day I decide to speak out about them, they won’t know where to hide. I’ve worked really hard on Kambakkht Ishq and I won’t let anyone spoil it for me."

Afghanistan Minister Survives Attack Posted: 17 Apr 2009 05:50 AM PDT HEART: Afghanistan’s minister of refugees and resettlement survived an attack on his residence by two suicide bombers wearing explosive vests, the governor of his home province said on Friday. Nimroz Province governor Gulam Dastager Azaad said three civilians were killed and 10 injured in the attack on the home of the minister, Abdul Karim Brahawi.

Asif Ali Zardari Arrives in China Posted: 17 Apr 2009 05:41 AM PDT President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here on Friday to represent Pakistan in Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).Earlier, President Zardari addressed the donors' conference in which 30 countries pledged about 5.28 billion dollars to help stabilise Pakistan. President Zardari will meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia and exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interests. It will be the second meeting between the two leaders in six months since President Zardari assumed his office. The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), from April 17-19 in Boao, will be a good opportunity for Asian nations to get together and think about strategies to deal with the current financial crisis, Pakistani's Ambassador to China Masood Khan told the media team covering the President.

Boycott For Basic Amenities In Many Poonch Villages: CEO Posted: 17 Apr 2009 05:23 AM PDT Jammu: Amidst clashes between supporters of rival political parties, firing by troops and boycott at some places, the polling remained by and large peaceful in Jammu Parliamentary constituency where voters sealed the fate of 21 contestants with an overall 49 per cent turn out. According to the figures provided by the chief electoral officer, BR Sharma, the total vote percentage was 49 with Samba 47 per cent, Jammu 51 per cent, Rajouri 49 per cent and Poonch 47 per cent. Addressing a press conference here, Sharma said that barring clashes between workers of two political parties in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the overall polling remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from Jammu and Samba. Voters of Slotri, 82 Dodi-B and 72-Gali Pindi polling station in Poonch district boycotted the polls to register their protest against the state government. They protested the failure of the government to provide basic amenities to these areas and decided to boycott polling. "None of the electors of these polling stations turned up to cast votes. These polling stations come under Mandi and Surankote areas of border district of Poonch," the CEO said. "People in the area were reportedly not happy with the government, which is said to be the reason of their protest. The team of civil administration was rushed to these areas and they tried to convince the people and later the voters of Slotri cast their votes but those of the remaining two stations did not relent," he said. Covering 20 Assembly segments spread over four border districts of Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch, the polling in both urban as well as rural areas was almost same where very less number of voter came out for voting till afternoon, but the poll percentage picked up in the evening. Barring some incidents of violence, the overall polling remained peaceful in over 2,210 booths established for more than 1.72 lakh voters in the constituency, Sharma said. 50 PRISONERS CAST VOTE UNI adds: Not only the oldies and the first timers exercised their franchise but 50 prisoners also cast their votes through ballot papers in District Jail Amphalla, sources said. "There are around 650 inmates inside Jammu Jail but under the law, only 50 of them were found eligible to vote," official sources told UNI. Sources said under trials from four districts falling in the constituency including Samba, Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu locked up in the jail, took part in electoral process under Section 12 (c) of the Act as the papers were delivered to them 10 days prior to the polling date.

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