Tribesmen’s Firing At US Drones In North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: Furious tribesmen fired at American spy planes flying over various areas of North Waziristan .

According to sources, the US spy planes flew over the areas of Miranshah, Dattakhel, Ghulam Khan, Razmak, Shival and other border areas in North Waziristan.

In some areas, furious tribesmen fired at drones with automatic weapons after which the planes flew back.



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No Intention To Partake In Politics: Pervez Musharraf Said

KARACHI: Former President Pervez Musharraf said, “I have no intention to take part in politics and I long to stay out of it after my resignation and all news in this connections are fake and baseless”.

Talking to his friends here, he said Saturday that I pray for the best of Pakistan and its people and I will not make my personal residence in Islamabad, a political office however he insisted to lead his life, after his stepping down from presidency, being a retired army chief.

He admitted that he kept on meeting with his old close friends including political figures who, he termed, could not remain closed to him during his presidency.

Former president is worried about his security these-days nevertheless he scarcely raise this issue.


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Divisional Meetings Of PML (N) Punjab From November

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) Punjab will hold the party’s divisional meetings from the fist week of November and Mian Nawaz Sharif will preside over the meetings.

According to sources, the meetings will be attended by district officials, members of the provincial and central working body from respective divisions.

The objective of holding the meetings is to listening to the workers’ complaints, to strengthen the coordination of the party organization and leadership with the workers.

The first meeting will be held for Bahawalpur division.

According to sources, it has been decided in principle to give employments of grade one to five with the consultation of the party workers and it would be announced by the chief of the PML (N), Mian Nawaz Sharif.



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Minister For Averting Unscheduled Loadshedding

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Saturday directed the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) to do away with unscheduled loadshedding in the country.

Presiding over a high level meeting with PEPCO and WAPDA officials to review the current power situation and load management in the country, he directed that in no case the DISCOs, whose Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have been designated as the concerned responsible officers, will conduct load management in cities for more than 9 hours and for a maximum of 11 hours in the rural areas.

This decision has been taken due to decrease in water releases from Tarbela and Mangla on account of lower provincial indents to conserve water for sowing wheat crop and curtailment of gas for power plants w.e.f October 13 on account of closure of Qadirpur and Sehwan Gas fields.

He directed that textile industry, fed through independent power feeders, will necessarily be provided continuous supply of power for two shifts.

It was also directed that power looms, depending upon their location will be provided continuous supply for a minimum of 8 hours.

The continuous process industry, again fed through independent feeders, will be provided continuous supply for 24 hours provided these units assist the DISCOs through 50 percent reduction in load
during peak hours.

The meeting also decided that Steel Furnace Industry would be provided continuous supply for 12 hours each day (midnight to noon).

It is pertinent to mention here that the given programme was approved by Federal Minister up to the end of the current month, with the hope that the situation will ease up within a fortnight.

The meeting was informed that present power shortages would be reduced from November onwards. With reduced power deficits, it was hoped that the duration of load management would also be reduced.

The Federal Minister categorically said that the CEOs of DISCOs would be available at all times for the media and other stakeholders to explain the day to day position and various steps being taken to
improve the situation.

It was informed that a large number of new power plants were in various stages of completion, as a result of which loadshedding would be brought to an end by the end of 2009.

It was also explained that this time period was needed because of the fact that no generation could be added in the power sector during last decade.

The Federal Minister requested the public to help end this crisis through conversation of energy.

He appealed to the media to help the Ministry of Water and Power and PEPCO in discharge of their duties and inform the public about the actual reasons of the crises and the various steps being undertaken to counter the same on a fast track.

Secretary, Additional Secretary, Advisor of Ministry of Water and Power, MD PEPCO, CEOs, DISCOs and other senior officials of the Ministry also attended the meeting.


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CJP Urges Judges Of Lower Courts For Speedy Justice

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar here Saturday urged the judges of lower courts to ensure speedy provision of justice as they were the initial custodians of the rights of people.

He was addressing at a certificate awarding ceremony to the twenty senior most district and sessions judges at the end of one-week re-orientation course arranged by Federal Judicial Academy (FJA).

Chief Justice of Pakistan said that district judiciary was the backbone of the judicial system as the bulk of litigation ended there.

He was of the view that by doing justice with tinges of personal dedication and integrity, they would be doing justice with themselves without pinches of conscience.

"The judges are already under oath to do justice without fear or favour,ill-will or affection," he emphasised.

He said there was heavy pendency of cases at every tier of the judicial hierarchy, the judicial officers should find out ways and means to meet this every rising challenge.

Referring to the improvement in service conditions in the matter of upgradation of posts and grant of various allowances of judges, he said a special judicial allowance equivalent to three times of initial pay of the scale of the judicial officers had been sanctioned in Punjab province.

"Other provincial governments will be asked to make provision of the similar allowances by making special allocations of funds for the purpose," he added.

Chief Justice also noted with concern that despite his instructions to the judicial officers to write research papers, least attention was being paid.

He stressed upon the participants to enhance vision and perspective over the legal matters and the judicial officers should adopt a habit of writing research papers.

He also praised the role of Federal Judicial Academy for arranging training and re-orientation courses for the judicial officers.

Director General of the FJA Moazzam Hayat presented an overview of the re-orientation course.

He said FJA would continue to serve the judicial officers across the country by enhancing their understanding of the legal matters.

Saghir Ahmed Qadri, District and Session Judge Multan expressed his views on behalf of participants.

Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousuf, judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan were also present during the ceremony.

Twenty district and sessions judges including seven from Punjab, five from Sindh two among them females, three from NWFP, two from Balochistan, two from AJK and one from Northern Areas received certificates in the ceremony at the concluding session of one-week re-orientation course.





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Seven-phased held Kashmir polls announced

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has announced the poll dates for Assembly election in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Indian Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy said, "The Commission has decided that elections will be held in seven phases in J&K and first phase will begin on November 17."

"The second phase of elections will be held on November 23, the third phase on November 30 and the fourth phase will be held on December 7," he said.

He said that the fifth, sixth and seventh phases will be held on December 13, 17 and 24.

The election commissioner said, the polling will be held in 87 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will be held on December 28.

He also said that appropriate security arrangements have been made and forces will man all the important places.

There were rifts within the EC about holding elections in the state.

The Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy was not in favour as he felt the conditions were not favourable right now due to reasons like low voter turnout, state officials refusing poll duty and parties not cooperating.

But the other election commissioners like Navin Chawla were in favour of elections in the state.

The last time the elections took place in J&K was in 2002 when the Congress-PDP coalition came to power by defeating the National Conference.

The 2002 elections were held in four phases in more than 14,000 polling stations.



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Indian And U.S Navies To Engage In War Games

GOA: Indian and the US navies are all set to engage each other in war games in the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India.

The exercises, which will be undertaken under the recurrent Malabar series of exercises that commenced in 1992, will be taking place from October 20 in India's western coastal Goa state.

The set of exercises will include diverse activities ranging from gun-firing and fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers, to combating the scourge of terror, through Maritime Interdiction Operations exercises.

The exercise is primarily aimed at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two participating professional navies.

"These exercises are based to increase intel-operability that means being able to operate together and using same sort, or using procedure that we can understand because otherwise all navies have slightly different procedures from others. And unless we exercise, at sea everything is high precision and you can't make mistakes, so exercise to ensure that we know each other's procedures and when we do have to operate together we can do it efficiently," said Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Indian Navy.

The Indian navy will be represented by, INS Mumbai, an indigenous Delhi Class guided missile destroyer, INS Rana, a Rajput Class guided missile destroyer and four guided missile frigates, namely, INS Talwar, Godavari, Brahmaputra and Betwa.

In addition, INS Aditya which is an underway replenishment tanker and one Shishumar class submarine, Sea Harrier fighters, fixed and rotary wing aircraft are also scheduled to participate in the joint exercise.

Ronald Reagan Strike Group (RRSG) of the USN 7th Fleet which is based at Yokosuka, Japan will represent the US navy.

The RRSG will include USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Chancellorsville, USS Gridley, USS Decatur, USS Thach and USS Bridge, an underway replenishment tanker. In addition, one submarine, USS Springfield and one P3C Orion aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

The regular India-US navy interaction over the years has resulted in an increase in the complexity and professional content of the bilateral exercise.

The thrust of the exercise this year would be on Surface/Air Operations, Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Firings, VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) and Submarine Operations.

These exercises will enable enhancing maritime cooperation.

"We also hope to advance to more complex operations and teach our cadets to go beyond technical exercises which we have continued to do with Malabar. Ninety percent of the world's trade passes on the world's oceans. The maritime cooperation of our two navies is vital component to reach stability
and prosperity for India, US and other nations," said john p. Nolan, USN, Commanding Officer, Chancellorsville, a Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier.

Indian warships were involved in exercises with the USS Ronald Reagan in waters off the Sri Lankan coast last year. This exercise had five countries taking part - India, US, Australia, Japan and Singapore.


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Bush To Host Financial Crisis Summit

CAMP DAVID: US President George W Bush said on Saturday he would soon host a summit of world leaders to look at strategies to combat the global financial crisis.

"It is essential that we work together because we are in this crisis together," Bush said before a meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso.

"I look forward to hosting this meeting in the near future," he said, adding that he had discussed plans for the summit with Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan, the current chair of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

Bush stressed that the summit, called in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, should not seek to undercut the basic economic principles of international capitalism.

"We must resist the dangerous temptation of economic isolationism (and) continue the policies of open markets that have lifted standards of living and helped millions of people escape poverty around the world," Bush said.

Sarkozy has called for an overhaul of the current international financial architecture established just after World War II at the 1944 Bretton Woods conference, and said on Saturday the summit could possibly be held before the end of November in New York.

The French leader, whose country now holds of the rotating presidency of the European Union, said the meeting would be a "great opportunity" to reassess how the world runs its financial affairs.

"Those who have led us to where we are today should not be allowed to do so once again," he said.

"This sort of capitalism is a betrayal of the sort of capitalism we believe in. And that is the reason why ... we have come to make Europe's voice heard."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accompanied Bush to Camp David. The White House said no new policy announcements were expected.

Bush had earlier sought to reassure Americans the U.S. government, which plans to inject $250 billion in capital into U.S. banks, had no intention of becoming a permanent shareholder in these institutions.

A credit crisis that swept around the globe has pummeled markets, leaving the United States and its European allies searching for ways to cushion the shock to financial systems.



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Bush, Sarkozy To Meet

NEW YORK: President George W. Bush holds talks on Saturday with European leaders hoping to pave the way for an overhaul of the global financial regulatory system, amid growing evidence the world is sliding toward recession.

The White House has played down expectations for the meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and Bush.

Economic gloom was foreshadowed by U.S. consumer confidence and new-home construction plummeting in recent weeks, with U.S. stock indexes ending down on Friday despite better than expected earnings in the technology sector.

Interbank lending rates fell this week for the first time since July, providing some hope that the worst of the global banking crisis may have passed, but stock markets around the world remained volatile, weighed down by recession fears.

European shares ended higher and oil rose $2 a barrel, but a rise in the U.S. dollar was a sign of investors seeking safety.

Among benchmark U.S. stock indexes the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 127 points or 1.41 percent after trading in a 560 point range. The S&P500 index ended down 0.62 percent.

Adding to the gloom about the U.S. economy, a senior Federal Reserve policy maker said the jump in the jobless rate suggested the economy would probably slip into recession.

Intervention by governments in the United States and Europe in the past week needed time to work, Bush said on Friday.

"Our European partners are taking bold steps. They show the world that we're determined to overcome this challenge together. And they have the full support of the United States," Bush said in a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Bush, who leaves office in January after a November 4 election, said he would continue "close consultations" with European leaders at the meeting on Saturday afternoon.

But he did not specifically mention calls by European leaders to reform the financial system that the world has been operating under since 1944, and White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the U.S. focus was on the immediate crisis.

"I think the most important thing we can do is make sure that we stop the bleeding here before we move on to the next project," she told reporters.

Barroso and Sarkozy met Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday and agreed on the need for an international summit before the end of the year. Sarkozy said it should include China, India and other non-G8 countries.
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PZ Isn’t Friends With Shiney

Though Preity Zinta is known for getting along with most of her co-stars, her hero in Har Pal, Shiney Ahuja, isn’t exactly ‘hero-material’ according to her, if rumours are to be believed.


When we got in touch with PZ and asked her about her spat with Shiney, she explained, “Shiney and I are not the best of friends! He’s not exactly a Shah Rukh, Salman, Hrithik or Abhishek for me.



I’ve worked in so many films with these guys, and we share such camaraderie that it’s not unusual that I drop into their homes, chat up with their wives... Well, I don’t share that relationship with Shiney. That’s all there is to it, really! He certainly won’t be seen at a party thrown by me!” So, one thing’s clear, for sure – Shiney is out of Preity’s guest list, and is no pal of the Har Pal actress!




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Meow, it's Bebo The Catwoman!

Kareena Kapoor’s giving the Pussycat Dolls some catty competition with her item number Meow in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Returns.

For this, the actress got into a catsuit inspired by Beyonce because Kareena is a die-hard fan of the American singer.

“I love Beyonce and the way she is. I have tried a different hairstyle and make-up, too,” revealed the sexy Kareena. “It’s a funky track and the video looks very glamourous.” But choreographer Bosco feels Kareena purrs better than Beyonce. “Bebo looks hotter than Beyonce,” said Bosco about the song that’s been specially included in the film.

There are others who can’t stop raving about the actress’ look in this number. Like boyfriend Saif Ali Khan. The Chhote Nawab landed on the sets unannounced to see Kareena perform the song. “He liked it so much that he wished he was part of the number too,” said a friend of the actress.

Kareena plays Ajay Devgan’s loudmouth wife in the film and to get into the skin of the character, she reportedly took inspiration from Ekta Kapoor’s saas-bahu shows on television.



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Ayesha Takia’s Love ‘Digest’

Actor Ayesha Takia is a sweet girlfriend. Whenever she travels abroad she is constantly comparing the eating joints and foods to restaurateur boy

friend Farhan Azmi’s restaurants back home.

If I like a particular dish, I definitely make it a point to tell him. But on the whole, I think his eating places make some yum food. When I was in Canada, a friend took us to have the ‘best steaks’ available there.

But the one being served back home, at Farhan’s was much better,” says Ayesha. Well, such is the connection between the heart and the tummy. Everything else is just indigestibl








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It’s Not About Exertion, Says Big B

The sight of you being rushed to the hospital on a stretcher scared everyone. It brought back bad memories of the last time when you were unwell.
What reaction can I give to being on a stretcher?

What exactly happened to you?
Intestinal obstruction; a legacy of my accident on the sets of Coolie and its aftermath.

Friday was Karva Chauth, a day that your family always celebrates in a big way. Is that why you decided to go back home on this day?
I do not choose when I get discharged from a hospital, or indeed when I should get into one. My doctors do that. The doctors felt I was well enough to go home and so I did.

How has the industry reacted to your illness? Everybody has been very concerned.
I am grateful to all those who came to visit me at the hospital. There were many who sent goodwill messages. I may not have been able to respond to all personally, but may I use your medium to acknowledge and thank them. I am moved by their concern for me and of all others who I may not have been able to meet- friends, well wishers, and fans.

Uddhav Thackeray visited you this time. Did that surprise you?
Yes, he did and no, it did not surprise me. He is a dear family friend. My sincerest thanks also to Pratibha Patilji for having sent her good wishes. It was also extremely generous of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singhji to have personally called Jaya and expressed concern.

There have been all kinds of rumours about your health and when you will resume work.
I have been asked to take rest. I shall resume work as soon as the doctors give me a go ahead.

Aishwarya’s father Krishna Raj Rai is also unwell and was hospitalised. Have you spoken to him?
Krishna Raj Rai has been undergoing treatment for cancer. His course of treatment takes place in a hospital where he has to go for a day. He is responding well.

People say you are overworked and you hardly have any rest.
No, that is incorrect. I work according to my capability and capacity. My present illness has got nothing to do with exertion and overwork as has been made out by the media. I could have been in this situation even if I was sitting at home doing nothing.

What advice have your children Abhishek and Shweta given to you regarding your health?
The same I would give them. Take care.




NEWS BY INDIA TIMES

Hamilton Near To Be Youngest Champion

SHANGHAI: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton could become Formula One's youngest world champion, and Britain's first since Damon Hill in 1996, at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 23-year-old, who starts from pole position, will take the crown in just his second season in the sport if he scores six more points than Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who will be third on the grid for the penultimate race of the year.



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BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica is also in the running but, trailing Hamilton by 12 points, his already slim hopes looked even less likely after he qualified 11th.

Massa, 27, is also chasing his first world title and will be aiming to close the gap on Hamilton before the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at his home track, Interlagos.

Hamilton has come under heavy fire from some of his rivals after his clumsy attempt to retake the lead from Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen following a poor start at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

The Finnish world champion will be alongside Hamilton in the front row again on Sunday.




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Bangladesh 49-4 As New Zealand Hit Back

CHITTAGONG: New Zealand struck back in the first test by reducing Bangladesh to 49-4 in their second innings at lunch on the third day on Sunday. Spinner Jeetan Patel took two for 12 and captain Daniel Vettori one for seven, while paceman Kyle Mills was one for 12 as Bangladesh began their second innings with a 74-run lead from the first innings. Opener Tamim Iqbal was not out on 30 while Mushfiqur Rahim was yet to open his account when the lunch break was taken. Opener Zunaed Siddique (6) was first to go when was caught at second slip by Aaron Redmond off Mills on the first ball of the seventh over of the innings. Rajin Saleh (6) was trapped lbw by Patel, while captain Mohammad Ashraful was caught at cover by Redmond off Vettori for duck. Mehrab Hossain (6) was caught at mid-on while playing a shot off a ball from Patel. Earlier Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan grabbed seven wickets as Bangladesh bundled out the Kiwis for 171. Shakib completed the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi in a test innings to help give the hosts a 74-run lead in the morning session on the third day. The Kiwis, replying to Bangladesh's 245, added 16 runs for one wicket from 26 balls after resuming on 155 for nine. Shakib bowled Iain O'Brien (15) in his second over of the day to finish with career-best figures of seven for 36 from 25.5 overs, his first five-wicket haul in tests. Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam and Ashraful took one wicket apiece. Vettori top-scored with an unbeaten 55, his 17th test half-century.




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