Srebrenica killings: Seven Bosnian Serbs jailed

SARAJEVO: Bosnia's war crimes court sentenced seven Bosnian Serbs to prison on Tuesday for taking part in the mass killing of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995.The war crime court sentenced criminals ranging from 38 to 42 years. Some of the killers fired machine guns at prisoners and one threw hand grenades at them. Others guarded the warehouse to prevent prisoners from escaping through windows.

Ceasefire in interest of peace: Pranab

TEHRAN: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Pakistan and India to respect and maintain the sanctity of the cease-fire that the two countries had agreed to in November 2003 for the sake of peace, stability and future progress in the composite dialogue process.Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who is visiting Iran these days reacted to the latest violation of the cease-fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in which an Indian Army soldier and four Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Taliban kidnap 30, kill 10 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Pakistani Taliban militants kidnapped 30 security forces from a police station in the northwestern Swat Valley on Tuesday, a day after killing ten intelligence men, officials said.The troops and policemen were abducted after Islamist rebels stormed a checkpost in Swat, a former tourist region where a two-month-old peace deal between militants and the government is under threat."Taliban attacked a police station in Kabal area of Swat and kidnapped 11 police and 19 Frontier Corps troops on Tuesday morning," a security official said while talking to an international news agency on condition of anonymity.

High time for judges restoration: Nawaz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said he is expected to see Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a few daysto discuss things once and for all.He was talking to media persons at Lahore Airport, where he arrived from London after attending his hospitalized wife.He said the mandate which people gave on February 18 remains still incomplete, as the judges are hitherto unrestored, adding, ‘We realize this problem and stayed throughout in contact with PPP over this issue.’

Obama calls on Gilani

WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with Pakistan's prime minister during a mix of private discussions on economic and international issues. Obama conferred with Pakistan's new leader, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, after a telephone call with Paulson, Obama's campaign said. Amid intense security, Obama arrived at the posh Willard Hotel for the meeting with Gilani. The entire street in front of the hotel was barricaded, and a tent had been constructed over its entrance. Reporters were kept on the street and the campaign had no plans to release details of their meeting.

Obama calls on Gilani

WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with Pakistan's prime minister during a mix of private discussions on economic and international issues. Obama conferred with Pakistan's new leader, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, after a telephone call with Paulson, Obama's campaign said. Amid intense security, Obama arrived at the posh Willard Hotel for the meeting with Gilani. The entire street in front of the hotel was barricaded, and a tent had been constructed over its entrance. Reporters were kept on the street and the campaign had no plans to release details of their meeting.

Altaf for role of people in Polio eradication

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday highly appreciated the anti-Polio campaign jointly launched by the government of Pakistan and World Health Organisation (WHO), in the country. Altaf Hussain called upon the parents to actively participate in the anti-polio drive to save their children from Polio disease, said a statement issued by MQM here. MQM Chief also called for an active role of people for complete eradication of Polio disease. He further advised the parents to benefit from the anti-polio drive which will be launched on August 15 across Pakistan and get anti-polio vaccine drops administered to their children.

Laura Bush hosts tea for Begum Gilani

WASHINGTON: US First Lady Laura Bush invited Begum Rukhsana Gilani, wife of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on tea Tuesday afternoon at the White House and discussed with her the state of girl child education in Pakistan.

PTCL union, management reach to agreement

ISLAMABAD: PTCL management has approved all demands of the employees after successful talks between the union representatives and the management.The PTCL has decided to give 35 percent raise in salaries and agreed to provide job security to the NCPG employees like the regular employees. PTCL President Waleed Rasheed and Assistant Vice President Syed Mazhar Hussain have welcomed the agreement with the employees, while Secretary General Muttahida Workers Alliance Hassan Muhammad Rana has also expressed satisfaction with the agreement.

No talks with militants: Gilani

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the suicide attacks have severely harmed Pakistan.Addressing a joint meeting of the US think tank Council of Foreign Relations and the Middle East Institute here Gilani said the there will be no talks with the militants. He said Pakistan need modern weapons in the war against terrorists. Gilani asked the United States not to adopt discriminatory policy for Pakistan and it should also sign deal with Pakistan to provide civilian nuclear technology.He also called for assistance in seeking solution of the Kashmir issue. He said ISI is an organized institution and all intelligence agencies and the military have been operating under the civilian government. The Prime Minister said that Dr. Qadeer’s network has been completely eliminated.

Akhtar not yet submit his fitness report: Malik

ABBOTABAD: Captain Pakistan Cricket Team Shoaib Malik said Saturday that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has not submitted so far his fitness report to selection committee.Talking to newsmen at the training camp organized here for national team, he lamented what was happened with Moahmmad Asif.Malik said that declaring Pakistan’s bowling attack would be untrue in presence of Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Khan, while, Omer Gul is also getting well.He said that Nasir Jamshed and Salman Butt will get an opportunity to be the openers.

Sarfraz for termination of Shoaib Malilk as captain

ISLAMABAD (Jahanzaib Ali): Former test cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz Sunday raised his voice for the termination of Shoaib Malik as Captain of national cricket team and asked PCB Selection Committee to appoint middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq as skipper for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament starting in Pakistan from Sep 12. “Shoaib Malik is a good all-rounder but I am sorry he was not suitable for the job of the captain”. “What we have seen in recently Asia Cup was enough to match Malik vs Misbah”, Sarfraz said in an exclusive chat with the M.Iqbal.

Unhappy Gayle may step down

PORT OF SPAIN: Apparently unhappy with the West Indies Cricket Board’s selection policy of experimenting with young blood in the recent series against Australia, Chris Gayle is considering stepping down as the West Indies captain.WICB Chief Executive Donald Peters said he was aware of Gayle’s intention to step down from captaincy though the Board was yet to receive an official word from the swashbuckling opener.“I am aware he (Gayle) is considering not making himself available for the captaincy,” Peters told Trinidad and Tobago Express.

South Zone annexes Women Twenty20 Cup

KARACHI (Mohsin Raza Khan): South Zone annexed the inaugural Twenty20 Women Cricket Championship when they inflicted five wicket defeat on Central Zone Blues after an exciting contest in the final at the National Stadium here on Sunday. Player of the final, Urooj Mumtaz enjoying a vast international experience hit a sparkling match winning unbeaten 39 in 32 balls to steer her team to a thrilling victory. Nain Abid scored 28 in mere 24 balls with four 4s and Naheeda Khan finished 20 not out. South Zone reached the target with two balls to spare.

Asif to go for 'B' sample test on August 6

LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif's B sample will now be tested on August 6.The 25-year-old tested positive for nandrolone following the Delhi Daredevils' Indian Premier League semi-final defeat to Rajasthan Royals in May.The B sample was due to be tested on Monday but Asif's lawyer, Shahid Karim, revealed that had been delayed at the player's request."Hopefully, we will prepare a strong case by August 6," he told the reporters.

Inzamam offers to talk to Champions Trophy waverers

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq on Tuesday offered to talk to players considering a boycott of September's Champions Trophy, saying he would help to allay their security concerns.The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced last week that the tournament would stay in Pakistan, prompting fears of a boycott by non-Asian countries which opposed the decision."If a player has any concern, I am happy to talk to them," Inzamam, who retired from international cricket last year, said."As someone who has played at the highest level, I would never advise cricketers to put their lives or careers at stake. But I firmly believe Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket and the players should trust the ICC, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and the Pakistan government".

Rain, wind clears Beijing air ahead of Olympics

BEIJING: After days of hazy, dark skies raised concerns about pollution levels during the Olympics, wind and rain helped clear Beijing's air Tuesday and officials hoped it will stay for the games' start next week.The heavy haze was among the worst seen in Beijing in the past month, despite drastic pollution controls put in force July 20 that included pulling half the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads

Beijing checks up its last-minute Olympic preps

BEIJING: The host city of the 29th Summer Olympic Games is going through every detail of its seven-year-long preparation amid 10-day's countdown to the Games.Despite suffering overseas torch-relay disruptions, deadly earthquake and soaring inflation, China never stops marching steadily toward the nation's century Olympic dream as the President Hu Jintao has ordered to desperately secure the success of the Games.

Rs5/kg raise in LPG price

LAHORE: Liquified Petroleum Gas Distributors Association Pakistan (LPGDA) has alleged that LPG producing companies have curtailed their production by 500 tones daily thus creating an artificial shortage in the domestic market. In a press statement here, Chairman of the association Abdul Hadi Khan said that LPG prices recorded Rs 3-5 per kilogram increase in the market yesterday as 11.8 Kilograms domestic cylinder recorded an increase of Rs 30-50 and 45.4 Kilograms commercial cylinder registered increase of Rs 115-230.

Bears dominate KSE
KARACHI: The bears dominated the market at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) Tuesday as panic selling pulled down 100-Index by 130.30 points to close at 10,448, a dealer said. The turnover volume was estimated at 113.598 million shares as prices of 152 sustained losses while 97 recorded gains and 16 remained unchanged. A dealer at a leading brokerage house said that market opened on a negative note and selling pressure persisted the whole day.

Oil prices rise above $126

LONDON: Oil prices climbed further on Tuesday, trading above 126 dollars in London, as energy giant Royal Dutch Shell suspended some crude deliveries from Nigeria because of unrest.OPEC President Chakib Khelil meanwhile described crude oil prices above 120 dollars a barrel as "abnormal," adding that they could fall to 78 dollars should the US currency strengthen and tensions ease over Iran's nuclear programme.Brent North Sea crude for September delivery gained 18 cents to 126.02 dollars a barrel in electronic deals at around midday in London.

NAM to discuss problems facing developed countries: Khurshid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah Tuesday said that the aim of 15th Non-Alignment Movement was to discuses problems confronting the developing countries. In a telephonic interview from Tehran, he said main aim of the NAM was to find out the solution of issues presently developed counties are facing. He said it will also be discussed in the NAM that how developed countries can tackle the problem of food shortage and increase of oil prices.

SBP governor unveils monetary policy

KARACHI (PR): Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Governor State Bank of Pakistan has said that considering the risk related to rising external current account and fiscal deficits and worsening inflation outlook, the central bank has decided to raise its policy rate by 100 basis points to 13 percent effective July 30, 2008 to contain further aggregate demand pressures which are contributing to the inflationary pressures.

Obesity on the rise across Europe

ROME: Obesity is on the rise across southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East as people on the shores of the Mediterranean abandon the lean diet of their ancestors and opt for fatter and faster foods, a U.N. agency said Tuesday. The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said that in the 40 years to 2002 daily calorie intake in countries including Greece, Italy and Spain has increased by 30 percent, more than the 20 percent recorded in northern EU countries.

UNDP provides 356 Prefabricated offices to NWFP govt

ISLAMABAD: UNDP under its project namely Enabling Governance and Institutions for Earthquake Response (BEGIN-ER) has provided 317 prefabricated offices along with equipments and furniture to local government institutions in NWFP. Prefabricated structures have been provided and installed in quake hit areas of Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Shangla and Kohistan districts of NWFP.

Karachi welcomes Monsoon amid load shedding

KARACHI: Karachiites continued to suffer from prolong power outages on the second consecutive day, Tuesday, as the KESC failed to reinstate its distribution and transmission systems collapsed following the drizzle in the metropolis yesterday night.Almost 80 percent areas of the city had plunged into darkness on Monday just after the city received the first rain of the Monsoon, mainly because of the o tripping of feeders and generating units at various stations of the Karachi Electric Supply Company.

Amy Winehouse returna home

LONDON: Singer Amy Winehouse returned home on Tuesday (July 29) after receiving emergency treatment for a reaction to medication, the British soul and jazz singer left via a private basement exit and was said to be in good spirits after a "comfortable night". Winehouse was taken by ambulance to the accident and emergency room of University College Hospital from her home on Monday (July 28) night.

Brett Lee upbeat about his music album

New Delhi: Australian pacer Brett Lee on Monday said he is upbeat to launch his own music album.Lee was addressing the media on the sidelines of the launch of a sports watch in New Delhi.“I am a cricketer but now I enjoy other things as well and the fact that I am into music and fashion.”

The Dark Knight premieres in Japan

TOKYO: The latest series of Batman movies the "The Dark Knight" premieres in Japan Christian Bale, star of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight,", record-breaking film's director Christopher Nolan, producers Emma Thomas and Charles Roven and actors Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal also participated in a news conference.Actor Christian Bale, star of the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight," on Tuesday (July 29) remained silent on allegations of assault at a news conference for the film in Tokyo, Japan.

Oil prices fall by $123.89 on weak demand

SINGAPORE: World oil prices fell further in Asian trade on Thursday amid signs of weakening demand in the United States, the world's biggest energy user. In morning trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery dropped by 55 cents to $ 123.89 a barrel from its close of $ 124.44 during US trading hours Wednesday.New York oil prices had already dropped a hefty $ 3.98 yesterday. Prices have tumbled by more than $ 23 since striking record highs above $ 147 on July 11. However, they remain at elevated levels after smashing through $ 100 for the first time at the start of the year.

Kismat Konnection rakes in moolah

MUMBAI: The Shahid Kapur-Vidya Balan starrer Kismat Konnection seems to have connected with the audience as it had a encouraging opening collection all over. The film budgeted at nearly Rs 200 million collected Rs 270 million worldwide till Sunday. Aziz Mirza-directed Kismat Konnection was released worldwide by UTV Motion Pictures with 930 prints.

World tour with Bachchans

MUMBAI : There are few celebrities in Bollywood who can face up to the collective might of the Bachchan family and yet not feel awed -- Preity Zinta is one of them.

Zinta said she knows having the Bachchan tag for the tour helps.
"I have my own sensibility and I am confident of myself as an actor and a person. I am also sensible enough to know that when there are three Bachchans on a tour, people are going to talk about it much more than anyone else," Zinta told media.

Shilpa Shetty to host Bigg Boss

Bigg Boss used to be one of the popular shows of Sony Entertainment Television. Now the second season of Bigg Boss is to be aired very soon by a newly launched channel, Colors and the organizers are planning to rope in Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty as the host looking at her popularity quotient that she had earned through Big Brother win. Shilpa took some time to give her consent due to the racial discrimination issue. After much thought, she has given her nod to the show. The show will be aired just after Akshay Kumar ends up with Khatron Ka Khidali. Rajesh Kamat, CEO of Colors confirmed the news but he refused to comment anything about the host.

Batman star Christian Bale released on bail

LONDON: Batman star Christian Bale has been released on bail by British police after being questioned on allegations of assault on Tuesday (July 22), media reported. Bale was on the red carpet with co-stars Michael Caine and Maggie Gyllenhaal in central London's Leicester Square on Monday night. A martial arts enthusiast and environmental campaigner, Bale has also appeared in "Batman Begins", "American Psycho" and "Empire Of The Sun".

Mideast first Ice Hotel in Dubai

DUBAI: Outside it was a sticky 111 degrees, but Ali Hamdan was shivering under two parkas as he sipped hot chocolate, surrounded by tables and chairs made of ice. Everything is made of ice: the walls, tables and chairs; cups, glasses and plates; the art on the wall, the sculptures depicting Dubai’s skyline, the beaded curtains, the 7-foot-chandelier and the bar. Not everyone is so impressed. Some rush out after only a few minutes in the 21-degree temperature.The $17 cover charge gets you one drink and the rental of a hooded parka, woolen gloves and insulated shoes.Customers don them outside then spend a few minutes in the Buffer Zone, a room set at 41 degrees to adjust before entering the restaurant.

Transport strike in Karachi

KARACHI: The commuters facing difficulties to reach offices and work places on Tuesday morning as the city’s transporters observing strike for indefinite period to protest against hike in oil prices. The buses and mini buses disappeared from Karachi roads on Tuesday while rickshaw and taxi drivers were demanding large amounts from the citizens. The goods transporters have also decided to close offices and godowns and suspend transportation of goods to upcountry and Azad Kashmir, while Karachi traders have announced shutter down on Friday. The government had announced two rupees hike in public transport fares which was rejected by the transporters.

Sri Lankan troops kill 42 rebels: military

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan troops have killed dozens of Tamil Tiger rebels during ground battles across the war-torn island's northern district, the defence ministry said Monday.The military said 42 rebels died in fighting on Sunday, while 10 of its soldiers were injured.The ground battles raised to 5,102 the number of rebels the ministry has said it has killed since January, while listing 447 troop losses in the same period.The military figures cannot be independently verified because the ministry prevents journalists from travelling to the frontlines.The Tamil Tigers did not comment on the casualties, but said eight civilians were injured when the navy and airforce shelled a coastal fishing community in the island's north on Sunday.Army chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Saturday said forces had wiped out two-thirds of the Tigers' military capability.

Israeli, Palestinian presidents to meet

HELD AL QUDS: Israeli President Shimon Peres is to host Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday to discuss Middle East peace efforts and regional issues, Peres's office said on Monday.
The talks at Peres's official residence in Jerusalem will focus on "the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the regional geopolitical situation and the development of joint economic projects to bolster the peace process," it said.

Eight die in Kabul suicide attack

KABUL: Eight civilians were killed Tuesday in suicide bombing in the vicinity o Kabul, police said. “A suicide bomber detonates explosives with him in Guzargah neighborhood in the vicinity of Kabul,” police sources said. The attacker was pedestrian who targeted civilians killing three and wounding one person in the attack.

Bush, Gilani meeting on July 28

WASHINGTON: The White House has said President George Bush and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gailani will hold wide-ranging talks on bilateral cooperation during the Pakistani leader's visit next week.Press Secretary Dana Perino Monday said the two leaders will discuss cooperation in different areas including counterterrorism at their meeting on July 28.

Top war crimes suspect arrested in Serbia

PARIS: Bosnia's Serb wartime president, Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most wanted war criminals for his part in the massacre of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995, has been arrested, Serbian President Boris Tadic's office said on Monday.Serge Brammertz, the prosecutor of the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague, said in a statement late Monday that Karadzic would be transferred to The Hague, but "the date will be determined in due course."

UN chief hails signing of Zimbabwe deal

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the joint pledge by Zimbabwean parties to start formal talks to end their election dispute.“The secretary-general welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties in Zimbabwe, which provides a framework for formal talks to end the political crisis in the country,” said a statement issued by Ban's press office.

Trust Vote in Lok Sabha today

NEW DELHI: The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will face the first trust vote of his 50-month rule on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha amidst expectations that he could scrape through.By what margin remains unclear though. At the beginning of the trust vote debate on Monday, both the ruling and opposition appeared almost evenly poised in the 541-member strong House to which the executive is answerable under the Indian constitution.

Ancient Egyptian boat to be reassembled

CAIRO: Archaeologists will excavate hundreds of fragments of an ancient Egyptian wooden boat entombed in an underground chamber next to Giza's Great Pyramid and try to reassemble the craft.The 4,500-year-old vessel is the sister ship of a similar boat removed in pieces from another pit in 1954 and painstakingly reconstructed.Experts believe the boats were meant to ferry the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid in the afterlife.Starting Saturday, tourists were allowed to view images of the inside of the second boat pit from a camera inserted through a hole in the chambers limestone ceiling.

Sounds of music reverberated the air in Manipur

MANIPUR: Sounds of music reverberated the air in India's northeastern Manipur during a festival of traditional wind musical instruments that left the people enthralled with its melodious offering.Organised under the aegis of North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), the two-day festival saw a participation of 26 folk artistes from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, Sikkim and Manipur.The main aim behind the organisation of the festival was to provide a platform for different tribes across the northeastern region of the country, to share their culture and tradition on a common stage and promote harmony and integrity through music.

OGRA releases new oil prices notification

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved a summary regarding further hike in the prices of petroleum products after that Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) released notification of new prices.According to notification, the government has approved Rs. 10 per liter raise in prices of petroleum products, diesel price by Rs. 7.45 and kerosene oil rate by Rs. 8.20 per liter. Earlier a summary was forwarded to the prime minister for increase in the petroleum prices and decision on the issue was expected on July 15. The decision on the summary however put off due to 100 days performance of the government. whereas common public was deeply struck with the recent oil price hike and rejected the new prices.with the new oil prices everything will increase their price, which will only hurt teh middle and lower income group.

Pakistani IT industry achieves US$ 2 billion size

KARACHI: The size of Pakistan's Information Technology and the IT-enabled services industry stands at (US$) 2 Billion annually with a 50% annual growth rate. The IT exports stand at US$1 billion, according to a research study commissioned by Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA). This was stated by Ms. Jehan Ara, President Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) here on Sunday on the occasion of a day-long Career Expo for IT students and professionals. This very event was organized by the PASHA in a local hotel on Sunday.

LG net profit surges 84 percent

SEOUL: LG Electronics said Monday that second-quarter net profit surged 84 percent from the same period last year amid record mobile phone sales. LG Electronics Inc. earned 706.9 billion won (US$694.4million) in the three months ended June 30, the company said in a regulatory filing. LG posted a net profit of384.6 billion won a year earlier. Sales during the quarter rose 22.5 percent to 7.23 trillion won (US$7.1 billion) from 5.9 trillion won a year earlier, LG said.

Trade policy to help SAFTA implementation: SCCI chief LAHORE: SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Tariq Sayeed commenting on the recently announced trade policy appreciated some of the measures announced, and expressed hope that these will help in implementing the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) in true perspective. He hailed the government decision to enlarge the list of importable items from India, which at 8-digit level now comprises 1900 items out of total 6700 importable items from across the world, according to a media release received here Monday.

No mobile SIM to be issued without NIC

ISLAMABAD: The Government has decided that from now on no mobile SIM shall be issued without valid Identity Card and no SIM is to be handed over to any person but will be posted to the address given by the applicant. Any violation of this procedure shall be punishable under the relevant laws. Necessary instructions have been issued to Chairman, PTA in this regard.

JI to observe "Black Day" on Friday

LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Punjab will observe ‘Black Day’ against fuel-price hike, poor law and order and power crisis on Friday.Amir JI Punjab Liaquat Baloch announced this while addressing a press conference here Monday.He said that his party fully supports the lawyers’ deadline of August 14 for deposed judges’ reinstatement, adding that the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chodhry will be welcomed at each city during his proposed journey towards Multan.He said that the APDM will devise its strategy in view of the present political scenario of the country in its meeting scheduled to be held on July 28.