Force India podium, giant leap for Indian motor sport?

It comes after local media revealed this week that the sports ministry had refused a request to remit $36.5 million by JPSK Sports, the private company ...link...

US-SPORTS Summary

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin the defense of their US Open titles at Flushing Meadows on Monday, while Kim Clijsters ...link.....

Pakistan's sugar crisis dampens festive spirits

KARACHI - A sugar crisis in Pakistan has wrong-footed the political leadership as mills owned by lawmakers are blamed for compounding the miseries of Pakistanis and housewives struggle to sweeten the Eid festival. link...

Gush of oil is music to Indian ears

As Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, was invited to turn “the wheel of fortune” that would allow pumping to start at the Mangala oilfield in Rajasthan on Saturday, the academy award-winning song Jai Ho - which in Hindi means “may you be ...
link...

Suicide Bomber Kills 15 Pakistani Police Recruits

By JANE PERLEZ and PIR ZUBAIR SHAH

Published: August 30, 2009

Peshawar, Pakistan — A suicide bomber blew him himself up on Sunday at a central police station in the largest town in the Swat valley, killing 15 police recruits and shattering the semblance of normality that the army has tried to enforce in the troubled area.

A group of new police officers, recently hired to patrol local communities, were performing training exercises when the suicide bomber struck at the police station in Mingora, the information minister for the North West Frontier Province, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said.

The attack came as the Pakistani Army has asserted that it now controls most of the Swat valley and that the Taliban militants who held sway there for nearly two years had been beaten back to only a few enclaves.

The bomber disguised himself as a police recruit and walked into the compound, which is surrounded by high walls, officials said.

The police station had been hit so many times by the Taliban in the previous two years that the regular police of Mingora had abandoned the compound and handed it over for training exercises, local officials said.

The medical superintendant of the main hospital in Mingora, Lal Noor Afridi, said 13 policemen had died at the police and two more had died at the hospital.. There were reports of injuries to about 20 other recruits.

Muhammed Qasim, 28, a university student, said he had been preparing to drive to Peshawar when the bomb went off. “I was standing outside and heard a huge blast, followed by firing,” Mr. Qasim said. Soldiers fired their weapons to signal that the military was imposing an immediate curfew on the town, he said.

The brazen nature of the attack right in the center of Mingora showed the high cost of the failure of the army to capture or kill top Taliban commanders and strategists. The attack, the fourth by militants against security forces in the last month, was by far the most devastating.

Making community police recruits the target of the attack appeared to be a carefully considered strategic choice, striking at one of the main elements of the government’s plan to provide improved security against the militants.

The new police officers were vetted and hired last month under a program introduced by the provincial government to provide local law enforcement officers who could identify militants and protect the public.

The new community officers are paid the equivalent of $120 a month, a larger salary than regular police officers receive. But the new positions do not include a pension or other benefits.

The killing of so many recruits at the beginning of the program will discourage good candidates in the future, said Sher Mohammed, a lawyer from Mingora.

The attack may also have been retaliation against the military for what local residents and human rights advocates say have been extrajudicial killings of suspected militants by the military.

The Pakistani Army has denied that soldiers have arrested suspected militants, killed them and left their bodies in the streets.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan earlier this month called the accusations credible and said that it had gathered “complaints of reprisal attacks by the security forces during the operation in Swat.”link....

Barack Obama pays tribute to mentor Edward Kennedy

President Barack Obama paid tribute to his friend and mentor Edward Kennedy at a funeral mass for the senator today.

Obama's eulogy to Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy hailed him as the ‘greatest legislator of our time’ who became a hero to America's underclasses despite his privileged background.

Speaking before 1,500 mourners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston, Obama said: “We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office.

“We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy - not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power; but only for the people and the country he loved.”

Drawing parallels with his own struggles the president said Kennedy represented a different time in history, when political adversaries could have differences without their patriotism being called into question.

Obama said Kennedy had ‘surpassed the expectations’ placed on him as part of America’s foremost political dynasty and he praised him for raising the children of his brothers President John F Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, who were both assassinated.

Kennedy’s flag-draped casket was carried through the rain to the Basilica at around 10.40am local time.

The church was crowded with the most powerful figures in US politics, including former presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter along with members of the influential Kennedy dynasty.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who is married to Kennedy's niece Maria Shriver, actor Jack Nicholson and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson also attended.

Relatives, including Kennedy’s young grandchildren led the prayers, quoting from the Democrat senator’s speeches on healthcare, equality and immigration.

His widow Victoria sat in the front row and choked back tears throughout the Roman Catholic Service.

Ted Kennedy Junior paid an emotional tribute to his father’s perseverance in the face of adversity and personal tragedy.

He said: “He was not perfect but he believed in redemption. He never surrendered and never stopped trying to right wrongs.

“My father taught me than even the most profound losses are survivable.”

Jokingly he then added: “He even taught me some of life’s harder lessons such as how to like Republicans.”

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed two pieces during the service, being joined by the tenor Placido Domingo for the second one.

Kennedy’s coffin will now be flown to Washington DC, where he will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery next to the graves of his older brothers.

Last night an Irish style wake was held for the friends and family of Kennedy, who died on Tuesday aged 77, following a battle with brain cancer.

The memorial at the John F Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts, was attended by statesmen from both American parties, including vice-president Joe Biden, Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who married into the Kennedy family, and Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Earlier more than 50,000 people attended a funeral procession in the city as his flag-draped coffin was led through the streets.

Edward 'Teddy' Kennedy died on Tuesday evening at his home at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

Once tipped as a future president like his brother, Kennedy's political hopes were dashed in 1969 when he left the scene of a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which Mary Jo Kopechne, a young political activist, drowned.

He went on to become the third longest serving senator in America's history, the elder statesman of the Democratic Party and a liberal with an unparalleled influence on social legislation.link....

Pakistan gets equipment to tackle bird flu

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan received on Friday equipment from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to tackle the threats of bird flu.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) kits along with infectious substance insulated shipper worth $18,704 was handed over by Jenet Paz-Castillo, Health Office chief USAID, to Dr Khurshid Ahmed, deputy animal husbandry commissioner, and Dr Akram Munir, project director National Program for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza, Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development.

'This gear will limit the risk of bird-to-human infection during outbreak response activities such as disposing of infected poultry and decontaminating poultry raising areas,' said Ms Castillo.

Pakistan is the 24th country throughout Asia and the Near East that has experienced outbreaks of avian influenza, particularly from the H5N1 strain of the virus which killed many birds.

Last year alone, 535 new outbreaks of avian influenza were reported in 21 countries, while 51 cases were reported in Pakistan.

'These most recent outbreaks of H5NI (swine flu) remind us how critical such efforts are in containing avian influenza. All relevant ministries, offices and units must remain vigilant in their battles to detect and contain this virus,' she said.

The protective suits, respirators, goggles and gloves will be distributed to people who come in direct contact with poultry infected with the avian influenza virus. The gear will limit the risk of animal-to-animal and animal-to-human infection during outbreak response activities such as disposing of infected poultry and decontaminating poultry raising areas.

Since 2002, the US government has provided more than $3.4 billion to Pakistan for improvements in economic growth, education, health, governance, and assistance for earthquake reconstruction.link...

Swine flu spreading at 'unbelievable' rate: WHO

PARIS

— Swine flu spreads four times faster than other viruses and 40 percent of the fatalities are young adults in good health, the world's top health official warned

in an interview appearing Saturday.

"This virus travels at an unbelievable, almost unheard of speed," World Health Organisation Director General Margaret Chan told France's Le Monde daily in an interview.

"In six weeks it travels the same distance that other viruses take six months to cover," Chan said.

"Sixty percent of the deaths cover those who have underlying health problems," Chan said. "This means that 40 percent of the fatalities concern young adults -- in good health -- who die of a viral fever in five to seven days.

"This is the most worrying fact," she said, adding that "up to 30 percent of people in densely populated countries risked getting infected."

Chan's warning came a day after the WHO said the virus had overtaken others to become the most prevalent flu strain.

"Evidence from multiple outbreak sites demonstrates that the A(H1N1) pandemic virus has rapidly established itself and is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world," the UN agency said in a statement.

"The pandemic will persist in the coming months as the virus continues to move through susceptible populations," it added.

Chan underlined that emergency and healthcare services in several countries had come under strain and stressed that resources allocated for cancer patients and those suffering from heart disease should not be diverted.

"One must not rob Peter to pay Paul," she said. "All governments must prepare for the worst."

She said the most important thing in the battle against the virus was "political leadership."

More than 2,180 people around the world have died from the virus since it emerged in April, according to the latest WHO figures.

Chan also said that it could be months before sufficient vaccine is available to combat the pandemic.

She put world production capacity at 900 million doses a year, for a global population of 6.8 billion people.

Even if this was an unprecedented effort, and authorities were speeding up procedures for getting vaccines to the market, there should be no question of compromises on their safety and effectiveness, Chan said.

Britain and France received their first batches of swine flu vaccine this week. Australia on Friday said a massive swine flu vaccination programme would start in October and Turkey hopes the first supplies of the vaccine will come by that time.

While 90 percent of severe and fatal cases occur in people aged above 65 in seasonal flu, most of those who die from swine flu are under the age of 50.

A "very severe form of disease" affecting the lungs and causing severe respiratory failure among young and healthy people was being reported, WHO said Friday, adding that highly specialised care was required.

Large numbers of such patients could therefore "overwhelm" intensive care units and disrupt the provision of care for other diseases, it warned.

In the southern hemisphere where the flu-prone winter season is tailing off, the WHO said cities in several countries had reported that nearly 15 percent of hospitalised cases required intensive care. link....

Asif returns for Champions Trophy

Seam bowler Mohammad Asif has been recalled by Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in South Africa despite serving a one-year ban from the game.

Asif, 26, was suspended after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone while playing in the Indian Premier League last year.

But his ban ends on 22 September, the day the tournament gets under way.

"He has served his time for the mistakes he made," chief selector Iqbal Qasim commented.

"We feel he can be a big asset for the team in such a big tournament."

He added: "Obviously, when you are selecting a team for any tournament you always keep in mind the profile of the tournament, venue, weather, behaviour of the pitches and bounce. All these factors were considered before final selection."

Pakistan are in Group A along with Australia, India and West Indies.

And they are hoping to add the Champions Trophy to the World Twenty20 title they won in England earlier this year.Asif's personal goal will be to make to make some headlines on the field after having his career disrupted by a series of drug-related controversies

In 2006, he was suspended for a year by the Pakistan Cricket Board after testing positive for nandrolone, but insisted he had not taken the drug deliberately and won an appeal against the verdict.

Last year, however, apart from the IPL case, he was fined one million rupees (£7,500) after being found in possession of opium at Dubai Airport.

He claimed he did not realise there was opium in a herbal remedy he was carrying but accepted he had made a mistake when he appeared at a PCB disciplinary hearing.

The Pakistan squad also includes Rana Naved-ul Hasan, who was preferred to Abdul Razzaq, and 19-year-old batsman Umar Akmal.

Umar, the brother of wicketkeeper Kamran recently made a maiden international century in Sri Lanka.

UPDATE 1-Tarantino's "Basterds" leads world box office

(Updates with foreign sales for "Inglourious Basterds" and other films in North America)
LOS ANGELES, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Director Quentin Tarantino scored the best opening of his colorful career with his World War Two thriller "Inglourious Basterds," which topped the worldwide box office after selling $65.1 million worth of tickets, its distributors said on Sunday.
In the United States and Canada, it totaled $37.6 million, surpassing his previous best of $25.1 million for "Kill Bill Vol. 2" in 2004.
The foreign contribution of $27.5 million from 22 territories was led by No. 1 openings in such countries as France ($6.1 million), Britain ($5.8 million) and Germany ($4.3 million). The film will roll out across the rest of the world over the next three months, wrapping up in Japan in November.
Brad Pitt stars as the leader of a group of Jewish-Americans who carry out violent wartime acts of retribution across Europe. Pundits had forecast a North American opening in the $25 million range.
The film, which reportedly cost $70 million to make, marks a much-needed salve for the struggling independent studio Weinstein Co., which co-financed it with international distributor Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co (GE.N).
Bob and Harvey Weinstein released Tarantino's 1992 smash "Pulp Fiction" when they headed up Miramax Films. Since launching their new firm in 2005, the Weinsteins have failed to make much of an impact at the box office or the Academy Awards. "Pulp Fiction" remains his biggest film overall with a domestic haul of $107 million.
Last weekend's top film in North America, TriStar Pictures sci-fi thriller "District 9," slipped to No. 2 with $18.9 million. After 10 days, the Peter Jackson-produced film has earned $73.5 million. TriStar is a unit of Sony Corp 675.T (SNE.N).
Paramount Pictures' "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," was also down one to No. 3, with $12.5 million. The three-week haul for the action movie stands at $120.5 million. Paramount is a unit of Viacom Inc (VIAb.N). link...

England's chances hanging in the balance

Freddie Flintoff turned up for his last stand with the wrong script as England faltered on their Ashes mission.

From 114-1, England subsided to 307-8 in the final npower Test at the Oval, Flintoff contributing just seven before he fell to a horrible shot. And although they were unlucky to lose top scorer Ian Bell (72) and skipper Andrew Strauss (55) to no-balls, England's biggest failing of the series was again laid bare.

Bell admitted: "We've only scored one hundred, which isn't good enough at this stage of the series, and after the start we had, we're disappointed not to be in a slightly better position.

"Of course I'm upset I didn't go on and get a hundred, but it's not a typical Oval wicket. It was tricky early on, I had to graft it out and be prepared to play some ugly cricket at times.

Oil rises on economic recovery optimism

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose slightly to near a seven-week high Thursday, as optimism for economic recovery and rising fuel demand outweighed a rise in new U.S. jobless claims.
U.S. crude for September delivery, which expired at Thursday's close, settled 12 cents higher at $72.54 a barrel. Crude prices earlier rose to $72.88, the highest level since June 30. October Brent futures settled down $1.26 a barrel at
$73.33.

Oil markets have been tracking stocks and the U.S. dollar, as well as broad economic indicators, for signs a recession may soon end, which could foreshadow rebounding fuel demand.

The S&P 500 stock index rose more than 1 percent and the dollar fell 0.13 percent against a basket of foreign currencies.

The index of U.S. leading economic indicators rose for a fourth month in July, by 0.6 percent, signaling that a recession is abating.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits last week unexpectedly rose to 576,000 from 561,000 the week before.

"It looks like the oil rally has stalled and we're consolidating in the $72 a barrel range," said Gene McGillian, analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut.

Crude prices have risen from lows below $33 a barrel in December amid hopes for an economic rebound.

The crude price rise was also supported by a 4.5 percent surge in Chinese stocks Thursday, with investors drawn to attractive valuations after a 20 percent plunge in Chinese shares over the previous two weeks.

Oil prices had already jumped 4.7 percent on Wednesday, when data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed an unexpected steep drop in U.S. crude stocks last week.

As yet, there are few indications of recovering U.S. fuel demand. Freight traffic across North America fell 17.9 percent in the week ended August 15 from the same 2008 week, a trade group said on Thursday in a weekly report.

Oil markets were also starting to focus on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' September 9 meeting, where the producer group was expected to leave output targets unchanged, according to delegates and analysts.

OPEC last year agreed to a series of output cuts to help stem the sharp decline in oil prices.

In addition, traders focused on more efforts by financial regulators in the U.S. and Europe to stem violent oil price swings.

The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority said they have agreed on steps to strengthen cross border supervision of energy futures markets.

The measures could prompt more reporting on the aggregate positions held by crude oil traders on both U.S. and British exchanges, analysts said.

(Additional reporting by Robert Gibbons in New York, Emma Farge and David Sheppard in London and Jennifer Tan in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy) link...

PIA reports lower half-year losses

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) posted loss amounting to Rs5.4 billion for the six months ended June 30, which reflected a substantial recovery from the loss of Rs18 billion reported in the previous corresponding period.

Analysts attributed the steep decline in loss of the national flag carrier to decrease in fuel costs and reduction in exchange losses. The results were announced by the board of directors on Thursday.

Revenue rose by 11.6 per cent or Rs4.4 billion to Rs42 billion for the six months under review, from Rs37.6 billion in the same time last year.

The board was stated to have said that the airline had achieved revenue rise, in spite of competitive pressures and adverse economic environment. Passenger revenue growth of 11.8pc was said to have helped improve the bottom line.

Operating profit before interest, taxation and exchange losses on foreign exchange loans amounted to Rs1.9 billion, showing an improvement of Rs6.6 billion over the corresponding period last year.

The loss after tax at Rs5.4 billion was said to be the result of high financial costs and adverse impact of rupee-dollar parity on foreign currency borrowings.

The board was of the view that plausible options should be worked out for restructuring / re-profiling of non-fleet unproductive loans amounting to Rs62.3 billion and recommendation should be forwarded to the government of Pakistan for consideration and approval to help PIA pull out of the financial difficulties.

The board was briefed on Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS) for empowerment of employees of state-owned entities through their representation on the respective boards by transferring 12 per cent of Government of Pakistan’s shares to employees.

Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, Defence Minister & Chairman PIA, currently abroad, could not attend the meeting and in his absence was presided by Secretary Defence Lt-Gen (Retd) Syed Athar Ali.

The meeting was attended by PIA MD Capt Mohammad Aijaz Haroon, Syed Naseer Ahmad, Malik Nazir Ahmad, Prof Mian Ijaz ul Hassan, Mubashir Iftikhar and Shaukat Ali Rana. — APP link...

Registration of FIR to be computerised

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of interior has decided to computerise the registration process of the first information report (FIR) and to make it uncomplicated so that any citizen could register complaint without any influ

A high-level meeting of the ministry, held here on Thursday with Interior Minister Rehman Malik in the chair, also vowed to tackle ‘unbridled and rampant’ corruption in government departments.

The police chiefs of the four provinces, heads of anti-corruption departments, officials of interior ministry and intelligence agencies and deputy auditor-general attended the meeting.

The meeting suggested special measures to eradicate corruption from government organisations like police and revenue department and to strengthen the intelligence network.

‘There are reports in the media that corruption is on the rise in government departments that is badly destroying the social fabric and putting adverse impact on the country’s economy and credibility of the government,’ said the ministry.

The interior minister vowed to make Pakistan a corruption-free country and said it was desire of both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

He said that anti-corruption department at the provincial level would be more vigilant to control the menace.

‘Anti-corruption policies and departments like auditor-general of Pakistan, standing committees of parliament and anti-corruption departments are there, but unfortunately these policies and measures are not being implemented in letter and spirit,’ he said.

He said that it was observed in the meeting that corruption was destroying the society gradually, but consistently and there was a dire need to take more effective measures to curb the menace.

He said it was decided in the meeting that anti-corruption committees would be activated at the provincial level and recommendations of standing committees of parliament would be implemented in letter and spirit.

In order to eradicate corruption from anti-corruption department, the meeting suggested that the prime minister be asked to raise salaries in such departments, police and motorway police to improve their efficiency. link...

Pakistan leader backs China over Xinjiang

BEIJING (Reuters) - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari backed China's policies in its tense Xinjiang region ahead of his latest visit to the giant neighbor he has wooed as a strategic and economic counterweight to the West, Chinese state media said.

Zardari arrived in China on Friday for his fourth visit since taking office last year, underscoring his government's hopes that Beijing can help shore up Pakistan's economic and diplomatic standing.

In comments to China's official Xinhua news agency, Zardari endorsed China's policies in its far western Xinjiang region, where Muslim Uighurs rioted against Han Chinese residents in the regional capital Urumqi last month, killing at least 197 people, mostly Han.

Xinjiang borders on Pakistan, and some Uighurs opposed to Beijing's rule have sought refuge there. But Zardari emphatically endorsed China's policies, according to Xinhua.

"We are glad that the situation in Urumuqi has been brought under control. We believe that China's policy of social harmony and development is producing great results for all Chinese people," it quoted Zardari as telling Chinese journalists before his departure from Islamabad.

"China is Pakistan's all-weather and time-tested friend. We greatly value our cherished friendship," said Zardari.

Pakistan has looked to China as a counterweight to rival India's influence in the region.

Pakistan also has historically close ties with the United States. But those ties have at times been strained by Washington's growing pressure on Islamabad to do more to tackle Islamist militants in Pakistan who attack into neighboring Afghanistan.

Zardari's praise may be welcomed by Beijing, which has sought endorsement from Islamic countries for its policies in Xinjiang, where critics say it has suppressed Uighur religious life.

But his five-day trip is unlikely to produce major political or economic deals. He will visit Zhejiang province in eastern China and Guangdong in the south, both export-driven economic powerhouses. No trip to the capital Beijing is scheduled.

After taking office, Zardari said he would visit China every three months. This time, he will again be courting China as a potential investor and economic backer.

Annual two-way trade is worth $7 billion, according to Pakistan, and the two countries have set a target of $15 billion by 2011.

But in the first six months of this year their bilateral trade shrank to $3 billion, a fall of 13 percent compared with the same period last year, according to Chinese customs data.

China also helped build Gwadar port on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. But Beijing has been alarmed by attacks on Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.

Eight injured in Rawalpindi attack

City Police Officer Rao Iqbal told Dawn that investigators were trying to determine whether it was a grenade attack or an explosive device had been planted.

He said initial investigation suggested that some policemen were on patrol in a private car when probably a grenade was hurled at them from a distance.

He said it left four policemen injured and damaged the car. However, nobody was killed in the attack.

The injured were taken to the DHQ hospital. Doctors described Mohammad Imran’s condition as critical.

Mohammad Arif, one of the injured victims, said that on receiving his brother’s telephone call that he had been stopped by some policemen on the Misryal road, he, along with his friends Ehsan and Saeed reached there and was giving his particulars to policemen when the explosion occurred.

‘It looked as if lightning had struck from the sky,’ a terrified Arif said. The injured policemen were identified as Aftab, Yousaf, Malik Liaquat and Saeed.

In addition to a private car being used by the policemen, a motorbike and a nearby wall were badly damaged in the explosion. link...

First official confirmation: FBI quizzed Pakistanis in 26/11 case

The United States has for the first time officially acknowledged that its investigating agencies questioned Pakistani nationals in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

A Special Agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who investigated the attack in India and Pakistan, told the Special Sessions court trying the case that he had interrogated Pakistani nationals, but declined to disclose their identities.

The agent, whose identity too was not disclosed for security reasons, said the FBI had registered its own case as Americans were killed in the Mumbai attacks. Investigations were still continuing, and therefore, the identity of the questioned Pakistani nationals could not be disclosed, the agent pleaded.

Mumbai Police sources, however, said they believed these Pakistani nationals included the six Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists Pakistan arrested in connection with the attack. link...

Lockerbie bomber: David Miliband denies British involvement in release

David Miliband said he was "distressed" at the Libyan celebrations over Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi's release but denied British involvement.

U.S. Drone Strike Kills 12 in Pakistan Border Region

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — An early morning drone attack Friday on a village near the Afghan border in North Waziristan killed 12 people, Pakistani security officials said. The village, Dande Darpa Khel, is part of the stronghold of Jalaluddin Haqqani, an Afghan fighter and senior Taliban member.

The missiles hit a compound near an Islamic school that Mr. Haqqani had set up, and women and children were among the dead, according to Pakistani officials, who spoke in return anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

The strike followed a drone attack in nearby South Waziristan on Aug. 5 that, the United States and Pakistan believe, killed the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud. His aides have acknowledged only that he is ill.

Mr. Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin are seen as a key link between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban.

The News, a Pakistani newspaper, reported that militants carried out synchronized attacks on several military posts after the missile strike.

The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan have publicly criticized Washington for the drone attacks it has launched in the vast and lawless lands along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan because of complaints about civilian casualties. But the Pakistani government has quietly welcomed some of these attacks, which have helped eliminate influential insurgent figures. link...

In the News

The former Homeland Security secretary says in his new book that he was pressured by other administration officials to raise the threat level in the weeks before the 2004 presidential election.

Karzai, Abdullah teams claim wins in Afghan vote

KABUL - Campaign teams for President Hamid Karzai and top challenger Abdullah Abdullah each positioned themselves Friday as the winner of Afghanistan's presidential election, one day after millions of Afghans braved dozens of militant attacks to cast ...

Eight injured in Rawalpindi attack

RAWALPINDI: Eight people, including four policemen, were injured when a bomb exploded close to a police patrol car on the Misryal road here on Thursday.

Jaswant Singh expelled

Jaswant Singh from India's opposition Hindu-nationalist BJP arrives to meet his party's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani in New Delhi.

Muslim Australians prepare for Ramadan

The Australian Muslim community are preparing for their holy month of Ramadan, which is a period of fasting and spiritual reflection.

Hurricane Bill churns closer to Bermuda

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- While Hurricane Bill looked less organized early Friday, a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Bermuda.

US energy experts due today: Holbrooke

ARACHI: President Barack Obama’s envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke announced on Wednesday that a team of US experts would arrive in Pakistan on Thursday to help address its energy crisis.

He told a news conference before flying to Afghanistan at the conclusion of his visit to Pakistan that the US would begin issuing 100 business visas every week in Karachi from next month and restore consular services next year through its consulate general.

Mr Holbrooke said the steps were being taken to strengthen bilateral ties and facilitate Pakistan’s access to international markets, especially the US.

He said the measure would be a major step in strengthening relations between the city of Karachi, the business community and the people of Pakistan and the US.

On his first visit to Pakistan’s economic hub, Mr Holbrooke underscored the ‘deep ties’ that bound the two countries and US support for the business community.

The US diplomat also focused on the energy crisis and the situation in Afghanistan.

He said the US had great confidence in Pakistani people and its resilient economy, which promised opportunities for the future. The US was working with the private sector to support policies envisaging innovation, employment opportunities and growth, Mr Holbrooke added.

Focused on the ‘plague of blackouts,’ he said energy shortfall presented a clear crisis for Pakistan.

He said the needs of Pakistani people must be addressed and assured that the US was prepared to help.

‘We also seek to engage the energy crisis of Pakistan which is a complex problem and cannot be solved through quick-fix measures. It needs a mix of resources and plans on appropriate use of fuel and generation capacity.’

As a first step, the US government is organising a Pakistan emergency energy task force to explore all possible means of engagements. In the short term, the US will hold a meeting with Pakistani officials in October in Islamabad.

A team of energy experts will arrive on Thursday to evaluate the situation and seek technical details, the US envoy said, adding that Washington was engaging many international financial institutions, including Exim Bank and the US Trade and Development Agency, the IMF, the ADB and the World Bank. The private sector would be critical in all the efforts, he said.

‘We have made a major turn in our relationship with Pakistan under President Obama by focussing on the needs of Pakistani people,’ he said.

AFGHANISTAN

In reply to a question about Afghan elections, Mr Holbrooke said: ‘There are 17 million people registered as voters in Afghanistan — five million more than the previous election. I can’t say how many polling stations will be closed tomorrow during elections. It is very difficult in Afghanistan to see perfect elections.’

On the possibility of negotiation with Taliban, the US envoy said: ‘This is not like World War II. This is a different war in which there is an equal threat to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States. We are fighting against a common enemy.’

Mr Holbrooke was pleased with the success of Pakistan Army in Swat and other parts of the northwest.
He acknowledged that a purely military solution was neither likely nor desirable.

He said the Taliban were fighting for many reasons -- some for guns, some for money and some for revenge.

Mr Holbrooke vowed to ‘continue to make efforts to succeed in Afghanistan’ and claimed to have made a lot of progress lately both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said there was room for anyone supporting Taliban to reintegrate into Afghan life after leaving Al Qaeda, laying down arms and starting life in accordance with the country’s constitution.

In reply to a question, he said: ‘Balochistan is a concern for all of us as tension seems to be rising, adversely affecting Pakistan and Afghanistan.’ But he declined to go further, saying it was for the government of Pakistan to deal with the issue.

He said the US had no presence in Balochistan nor were its troops present in Pakistan.

US negotiations with Russia for an alternative route for Nato supplies to Afghanistan would not affect the importance of Karachi.

Asked why the US could not create conditions for 2.5 million Afghan refugees to return home, he promised that it would be Washington’s priority after the Afghan elections.

He also talked about plans to set up economic opportunity zones along the Afghan border.

To a question about his reported remarks regarding President Asif Ali Zardari completing his term, Mr Holbrooke said the US wanted democratically elected representatives to complete their term.

‘We support the democratically elected government of Pakistan.’

Earlier, the US envoy met Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan and an MQM delegation and discussed development works.

A delegation of the PPP, led by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, also met him at the Governor’s House.

Mr Holbrooke termed development works carried out in Karachi unbelievable. Talking to journalists after visiting a city government school near the City Railway Station, he said measures taken by District Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had surprised him.

link...

Indo-Pak talks must resume to strengthen ties : Sharif

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the leaderships of both India and Pakistan to resume bilateral dialogue and enhance people to people contact to strengthen bilateral ties between both countries.

During his meeting with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, Sharif said both countries should adopt a positive attitude towards each other instead of just leveling allegations. Sharif said issues like Kashmir, which has been lingering for years, should be resolved amicably to ensure peace and prosperity of the region. He stressed that Indo-Pak trade links should be increased, The Daily Times reports.

Earlier, Sabharwal conveyed Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh’s best wishes to Sharif, saying the Indian Government and people wanted friendly ties with Pakistan. He also praised Sharif for his efforts to promote sustainable peace in the region. link...

School is H-O-T in Pakistan's Swat Valley

Children sit in unventilated tents without fans, drinking water or even nearby toilets after months of fighting and a campaign by the Taliban to destroy school buildings.

Zakir Ullah, 8, leads a class of first- and second-graders at a Mingora tent school. Taliban militants destroyed the schoolÂ’s building in the Swat Valley city. (Alex Rodriguez / Los Angeles Times / August 19, 2009) link...

Hurricane Bill weakens to Category 3 storm

This satellite image taken early Thursday shows Hurricane Bill swirling northeast of the Leeward Islands. (Weather Underground/Associated Press)

Hurricane Bill weakened to a Category 3 storm early Thursday morning as it continued to churn in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a track headed for Atlantic Canada.

Although the storm weakened slightly overnight, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center warned that Bill could very likely regain strength and become a dangerous Category 4 hurricane again by Friday.

Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson scale from one to five, indicating the storm's intensity at a given time.

The hurricane's sustained winds were clocked at 201 km/h early Thursday morning and it is still considered to be a major storm.

An aircraft was en route to the storm Thursday morning to collect more data.

Bill's eye was located about 525 kilometres north-northeast of the Leeward Islands and 1,270 kilometres south-southeast of Bermuda at 5 a.m. AT (4 a.m. ET) .

Large swells caused by the storm will be affecting islands in the northeast Caribbean Sea and the east coast of the United States through Saturday, the hurricane centre said.

The hurricane is moving at about 30 km/h and is projected to reach Atlantic Canada as a much weakened storm on Sunday.

Environment Canada has said that it is still too soon to predict if the storm will make landfall.

The first bulletin about Bill is expected to be released Thursday by the Canadian Hurricane Centre, which has been tracking the storm.

CBC meteorologist Peter Coade said based on Wednesday's charts, the centre of Bill will move south of Halifax on Sunday afternoon, pass between Guysborough County and Sable Island in the evening, and reach Glace Bay in Cape Breton around midnight.

Coade said the storm will likely have lost much of its power after travelling north over cooler waters off the U.S. coast.

The two other named storms of the Atlantic hurricane season, Ana and Claudette, have had little effect on mainland communities link....

Afghan police: Election day attacks averted

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Police in northeast Afghanistan prevented two bomb attacks Thursday, as the country started voting in pivotal elections, authorities said.

Police early Thursday arrested two Taliban members who had planted a roadside bomb in the Farkhar district of Takhar province, said Zia Mahmudi, the chief police commander in Takhar.

In a separate incident, police found explosives planted on a bridge near the city of Takhar, Mahmudi said. The explosives were removed.

The Taliban had threatened to derail the presidential and provincial council elections with violence.

The government has ordered a ban on media coverage of incidents of violence in an effort to "ensure the wide participation of the Afghan people" at the polls. Watch preparations on election eve »

Along with police, about 300,000 Afghan and NATO troops were patrolling parts of the country to help safeguard voters Thursday, according to NATO officials in charge of election security.

Earlier this week, there were several high-profile suicide bombings and attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Two days before the elections, violence in the capital, Kabul, included a rocket attack that damaged the presidential palace compound.

In a separate attack, suicide bombers targeted a coalition military convoy on Jalalabad Road, a major thoroughfare in Kabul. The blast killed seven civilians and wounded 53 others, a defense ministry link.....