Rs.8b subsidy allocated for electricity: Hafeez

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Senator Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said Saturday the government has allocated additional subsidy of Rs. 8 billion in federal budget for fiscal year 2010-11 by not hiking power tariff, Geo news reported.

This he said talking to Geo news after attending post-budget seminar. A total of 216 development projects will see completion in current financial year, he revealed.

The completion of development projects keeps the key status now for the welfare of common men, he noted.

Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira told Geo news several issues concerning with NFC awards still stand unresolved, which will much likely be settled once the time of their implementation comes.

SAARC members pledge cooperation against terrorism

ISLAMABAD: The 3rd SAARC conference of Ministers for Interior/Home here on Saturday passed resolutions for regional cooperation against terrorism and smuggling while India stressed effective multilateral cooperation to tackle terrorism, declaring it ‘biggest challenge to the region’.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik presided over the SAARC moot which paid particular focus to steps for cooperation towards efforts aimed at crushing terrorism and eliminating smuggling of narcotics.

At the outset, Rehman Malik highlighted the aims and objectives of the conference and spelt out Pakistan’s policy the central point of which was to seek regional cooperation to address the current challenges.

Zardari, Musharraf were in harmony, says Nawaz

SIALKOT: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Saturday came out strongly against the government for shirking its responsibility to act upon the judiciary’s rulings, Geo News reported Saturday.

Addressing a public gathering here, he said the government is all intent on evading the verdicts of the judiciary, stressing upon it to fall in with the court orders.

‘If the government fails to do so, we will force it to capitulate to the judiciary.’

Michael Jackson's death triggers billion dollar bonanza

LOS ANGELES: Soaring music sales, a blockbuster movie and an array of commercial spin-offs: Michael Jackson's demise has lent weight to the wry showbusiness maxim that death is the ultimate career move.

In the final years of his life, Jackson's finances were widely reported to be in chaos, with the singer facing foreclosure on his famed Neverland Ranch and struggling with debts of roughly 500 million dollars

However in the 12 months since Jackson's death on June 25 last year, the King of Pop's empire has witnessed a money-spinning resurgence, generating revenues estimated at more than one billion dollars, according to one report.

Jackson murdered for money, claims sister LaToya

NEW YORK: Michael Jackson was murdered because he was worth “more dead than alive”, his sister has said.

In an interview, LaToya Jackson insisted: “He was murdered for his catalogue. They knew that, and they knew Michael was worth so much more dead than alive.”

Pak, India kids exchange handkerchiefs under Aman Ki Asha venture

WAGHA: The torch of XIX Commonwealth Games, Queen’s Baton Relay, has been handed over to host nation India in a glaring and sparkling ceremony at Wagha Border on early Friday.

A large number of Pakistan’s Olympians 12 Commonwealth gold medalists, government officials and members civil society were also present on the occasion at the memorable moment to convey a loving message in good will gesture and a message of peace under the joint venture of Indian media organization and Pakistan’s leading news giant ‘Jang Group’ named ‘Aman Ki Asha’.

Chidambaram asks Pak to prosecute Mumbai attacks perpetrators

NEW DELHI: Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked Pakistan to prosecute Mumbai attacks perpetrators. Chidambaram will arrive in Islamabad today to attend SAARC interior ministers conference. He would likely meet Interior Minister Rehman Malik.According to Indian media reports, Chidambaram before departure to Pakistan said that Pakistan should take action against those involved in Mumbai attacks.

Police mistakenly shoot govt servant in Faisalabad

FAISALABAD: Policemen during patrolling mistakenly shot dead a government servant and only brother of five sisters in Faisalabad, Geo News reported Friday.

Police sources said Muhammad Amjad, resident of Digkot and an employee of post office was standing roadside when police petrol opened fire at him assuming him a dacoit. Amjad was died on the spot. Later, relatives of Amjad hold protest demonstration against the incident. Police have arrested the four policemen on petrol and registered case against them.

Poverty-hit mother poisons 4 kids in Lahore

LAHORE: A mother has killed her four children by feeding them poison including three daughters and later ate herself in Liaquata colony here on Friday morning, Geo news reported.

Munazza, wife of a constable police, had reportedly been fed up of their fragile financial conditions, which prompted her to feed four minor kids poison and eat herself too.

The kids have been declared dead by doctors while Munazza has been shifted to hospital in critical condition, hospital sources told Geo news.

The children were aged in between 3 to 9 years, witnesses told media.

Private data from Austria, Denmark, Ireland deleted: Google

Google has deleted private wireless data mistakenly collected by its "Street View" cars in Austria, Denmark and Ireland, the Internet giant said in a letter to US lawmakers.
Google, in the letter posted online Friday on the website of the Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives, also reiterated that the data was never used in any Google product or service.
Google also repeated an apology for the gathering of personal information sent over unsecured wireless networks by the Street View cars used to create the panoramic pictures featured in Google Maps
The letter from Pablo Chavez, Google's director of public policy, was in response to questions posed by US Congressmen Henry Waxman, Joe Barton and Edward Markey to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.
According to Google, Sreet View cars taking photographs of cities in more than 30 countries inadvertently gathered fragments of personal information, so-called payload data, sent over unsecured Wi-Fi systems.
In the letter, Chavez said that "at the request of authorities in Ireland, Denmark, and Austria, we deleted payload data identified as coming from those countries."

Sindh Budget allocates Rs30b to Police

The police specific grant, in Sindh Budget, has been increased to 29.60 billion rupees while decision has been taken to impose a tax on oil supplies, from Karachi to in side the country, SAMAA reported on Friday.

According to the budget documents received by SAMAA, it is suggested that the grant assigned to police for next fiscal year, should be mounted up to Rs 29.60 billion while for the purchase of weapons and other necessities along with CCTV cameras, Rs 1.7 billion, and for the improvement of prisons, Rs 200 million should be allocated.

The target, in Sindh Budget, for receiving tax on services has been set to RS 25 billion. The income through NFC award Rs 207.30 billion while income of oil and gas royalty is estimated to Rs 53.70 billion.

In other suggestions, of Sindh Budget, it is included that 2 percent tax on commercial property and 2.5 percent tax on other property shall be imposed. Further more Sindh provincial government has decided for next fiscal year to impose 0.8 percent infrastructure tax on all the oil supplies, through tankers and pipe lines, from Karachi to the interior of country.

The private companies will also be liable to pay this new tax but the oil supply for NATO will be exempted from it. Government is expecting to get Rs 4.5 billion from new tax while the ratio of stamp duty is also likely to change.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of finance department, is likely to present the Budget for fiscal year 2010-11 on Friday.

The total outlay for for the next fiscal year is Rs400 billion, in which Rs133 billions will be allocated to the Annual Development Program.

While the volume of non-developmental budget is likely to be Rs290 billion.

Karachi target killing claims 2 more lives

The target killing spree in Karachi continues with two more victims of firing incidents, SAMAA reported today.

In the latest continuation of Karachi target killings, firing of unidentified persons took life of 40 years old Mehmood-ul-Hassan in the area of Nazimabad no.3 while in Umar Colony of Ferozabad area, Sher Islam Afridi has been killed by the firing of unknown assailants. While giving details to SAMAA, SP Jamshed Town Amir Farooqi told that it is a matter of target killing.

According to details, the series of riots, agitations, blockage and burnings has continued in Buffer Zone, Shadman and North Karachi areas, while unknown persons started firing in Nazimabad, consequently shops of the area have been closed and extreme fear and harassment spread in the area.

Government’s end seer will fail: Kaira

Minister of Information Qamar-uz-zaman Kaira says he and Rehman Malik are Punjabi, term Punjabi Taliban is not an abuse and provincial government will decide about the start of operation in Southern Punjab, SAMAA reported on Friday.

At Lahore airport kaira, talking to journalists, further added that tiny issues do take place in collision government but it’s a normal custom and those who give dates about the collapse of government, will fail.

Drinking coffee may reduce risk of diabetes

The American Chemical Society ( ACS) presented new findings on Wednesday to prove that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The ACS said the study, conducted by researchers at Nagoya University in Japan, was based on animal tests.

The scientists fed either water or coffee to a group of laboratory mice commonly used to study diabetes. Coffee consumption prevented the development of high-blood sugar and also improved insulin sensitivity in the mice, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes.

Coffee also caused a cascade of other beneficial changes in the fatty liver and inflammatory adipocytokines related to a reduced diabetes risk.

Additional lab studies showed that caffeine may be "one of the most effective anti-diabetic compounds in coffee," according to the ACS.

Past studies have suggested that regular coffee drinking may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, little of that evidence comes from studies on lab animals used to do research that cannot be done in humans.

Type 2 diabetes affects millions in the United States and is on the rise worldwide.

Kid fell from swing in Islamabad dies

A child died while another five sustained injuries after having fallen down from a swing situated in Rawal Lake View Park in Islamabad on Friday, Geo news reported.

The accident took place due to breakage of swing; meanwhile, the Park Director and Manager have been suspended while the contractor has been rounded up, sources told Geo news.

The accident took place at 20:00 hours in Rawal Lake View Park on Friday. The deceased kid named Absar Younis was aged 10 years and was hailing from Wah Factory who was on picnic along his family.

The park was immediately vacated and all lights were turned off

Karachi tense, as 3 dead in firing incidents

Various Karachi areas are tense as at least three people were killed in the firing incidents continued overnight, Geo News reported Saturday.

The firing that started yesterday evening, triggered panic, resulting in the closure of all the commercial areas in the affected areas, and the people woke through the night.

Govt has no choice but to write for reopening Swiss cases: Qazi

President SCBA Qazi Anwar has warned the establishment from being aggressive with the judiciary and said we would not allow this being done.

The government has no other choice but to write letter to Swiss authorities for reopening cases against President Asif Ali Zardari involving $ 60 million parked in foreign banks.

No indiscipline in team camp: Waqar

National cricket team coach Waqar Younus claims that no indiscipline existed in the cricket team camp, SAMAA reported today. Waqar Younus, talking to journalists in Lahore, said that they gave special heed to the improvement of players fielding for Asia Cup and selected only those bowlers who are completely fit, so we expect an excellent performance from the players. At the same eve captain Shahid Afridi said that to give rest to Saeed Ajmal, we can give chance to Abdul Rehman, “My advice has been taken for the selection of team, players have done hard labor which will bring good results” Afridi added.

‘Operation in N.Waziristan govt’s next priority’

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said here on Wednesday that operation in North Waziristan is government’s next priority.

While addressing to the European security summit in Istanbul, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan is following the strategy of unanimity to curb terrorism from the country.

Talking about Pak-India relation, FM Qureshi said that Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna will visit Pakistan till July 15, 2010 to discuss bilateral relations of both countries.

Himesh Khan handed over to NAB

The Accountability Court of Lahore has handed over here on Wednesday, main accused of Punjab Bank scandal case Himesh Khan to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 14 days physical remand.

Accountability Court has ordered to present the suspect again on June 2, 2010.

Barrister Mehmood lawyer of Himesh Khan, told the court that Supreme Court had allowed Himesh Khan to meet lawyers instead of that, first officials used to sit with him and now NAB official keeps the photocopies of lawyers’ notes with them. This is the violation of court orders.

NATO tankers attacked in Islamabad, 8 dead

Unknown assailants stormed trucks ferrying supplies to NATO and US forces in Afghanistan on late Tuesday night, killing at least eight people and destroying dozens of vehicle.

The incident took place near Sang Jani area in Islamabad on late Tuesday night when armed militants attacked the NATO tankers and set them on fire.

Police told SAMAA that some 20 terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the convoy of over 100 tankers and set them on fire. As a result of the fire, eight people were killed and several wounded.

Following the incident, police reached the scene and launched search operation by cordoning off the area.

Fire tenders and Rescue 1122 vehicles were immediately called in to extinguish the fire, which was later brought under control.

According to reports reaching here, police have arrested some suspected persons during a search operation launched immediately after the attack on NATO tankers.

Meanwhile, taking notice of the attack, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered commandoes and police force to reach the scene.

Babar Awan grabbed 45 million

Haris Afzal, son of the main character of Haris Steel case,Sheikh Afzal, has alleged Babar Awan of grabbing Rs 45 million from them, to arrange settlement with the judges on case, SAMAA reported on Thursday.

During a press conference arranged at Lahore Press Club, Haris Afzal along with her mother Fariha Afzal and manager Aamir Islam further alleged that NAB investigation officers asked for Rs 250 million for the plea bargain settlement. He also disclosed that they have paid Rs 15 million to Aitzaz Ahsan, as prosecution fee, for our case.

Talking at the same eve Fariha Afzal, wife of Sheikh Afzal, said that his husband is suffering from various kind of illness including Hepatitus, but he has been kept in the dark room. She demanded that his husband should be given A or B class in the prison.

Apple unveils iPhone with video chat

Apple has unveiled a next-generation iPhone that features video chat, can shoot and edit high-definition quality video and has a crisper resolution screen.
"We are going to take the biggest leap since the original iPhone," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said as he showed off the "iPhone 4" at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference here.
The iPhone 4 will go on sale on June 24 in Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States and will cost 199 dollars for the 16 gigabyte model and 299 dollars for the 32GB version.
The touchscreen smartphone, which comes in black and white versions, will be available in 18 other countries in July and 24 more in August.

The iPhone 4 includes more than 100 new features including a front-facing video camera to allow for video-conferencing between iPhones, a better still camera, an improved battery and a screen with significantly higher resolution.

18th Amendment hearing today

A 17-member larger bench of the Supreme Court hearing of the petitions challenging various clauses of the 18th constitutional amendment resuming today (Tuesday), SAMAA reported.

“The ministers in Pakistan are angels and check and balance is just for judges,” said Justice Ramday in his remarks. When the hearing started under the chairman ship of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Senior Lawyer Hamid Khan in his arguments said that during the making of 1973 constitution, consultation of Chief justice was included in appointing judges. In America Senate have the rights to appoint judges as Presidential system prevails there.

Utility stores increase prices by 25pc

Utility Stores Corporation has increased the prices of essential items by 5 to 25 percent, sources said on Tuesday.

Utility stores have increased the prices of 150 essential items including edibles after government has announced the budget for next fiscal year.

According to sources this raise in prices is due to increase in tax and sales tax from packing and manufacturing companies imposed on essential items.

The new prices have been immediately implemented in utility stores.