Friday, December 18, 2009
52 percent drop in foreign direct investment
Worst law and order situation and poor industrial infrastructure have badly affected the foreign direct investment (FDI), which posted 52 percent decline during July-November period of current fiscal year. Economists said that domestic shocks like power shortage, worst law and order situation and uncertainty on political front largely hurt the FDI.
NRO beneficiaries’ names put on ECL
ISLAMABAD (updated on: December 17, 2009, 15:41 PST): On the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), interior ministry has put the names of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries, except the President, on Exit Control List (ECL), Aaj News reported on Thursday.
According to the channel the NAB, complying with the directives of the Supreme Court, had requested the interior ministry to place the names of all NRO beneficiaries on the ECL. As a result, names of all beneficiaries, except the President, have been put on ECL.
The names of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Jahangir Badar and Salman Farooqi are also included in the ECL.
The NAB has also requested the interior ministry to apprehended those accused wanted by the NAB, whose warrants had already been issued.
According to the channel the NAB, complying with the directives of the Supreme Court, had requested the interior ministry to place the names of all NRO beneficiaries on the ECL. As a result, names of all beneficiaries, except the President, have been put on ECL.
The names of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Jahangir Badar and Salman Farooqi are also included in the ECL.
The NAB has also requested the interior ministry to apprehended those accused wanted by the NAB, whose warrants had already been issued.
ICC unveils Twenty20 Qualifier details
The ICC has announced the schedule for the eight-team ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2010, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates between February 9 and 13.
The winner of the tournament will join South Africa and India in Group C at the ICC World Twenty 20 in the Caribbean in May while the losing finalist will join Group D which includes the West Indies and England.
The Qualifier involves two groups of four teams with Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the USA making up Group A while Kenya, the Netherlands, Canada and the UAE will fight it out for supremacy of Group B.
Ireland, Kenya, Canada, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Scotland have directly qualified for the qualifier on the basis of their ODI status while the UAE and the USA have been controversiually invited to participate by the ICC.
A total of 17 matches will be played over five days with Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium hosting six group stage matches and Dubai International Cricket Stadium at Dubai Sports City staging 11 matches, including six group stage matches, four Super Four matches and the final.
The winner of the tournament will join South Africa and India in Group C at the ICC World Twenty 20 in the Caribbean in May while the losing finalist will join Group D which includes the West Indies and England.
The Qualifier involves two groups of four teams with Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the USA making up Group A while Kenya, the Netherlands, Canada and the UAE will fight it out for supremacy of Group B.
Ireland, Kenya, Canada, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Scotland have directly qualified for the qualifier on the basis of their ODI status while the UAE and the USA have been controversiually invited to participate by the ICC.
A total of 17 matches will be played over five days with Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium hosting six group stage matches and Dubai International Cricket Stadium at Dubai Sports City staging 11 matches, including six group stage matches, four Super Four matches and the final.
Pakistan confident bowlers can get on top
Yousuf expects return of cricket to Pakistan soon
Agencies
HOBART (Australia): Pakistan have arrived in Australia confident their bowling attack can put them into winning positions in the three-Test series.
Captain Mohammad Yousuf highlighted his team's bowling as a strength after arriving in Hobart to play a three-day warm-up match against Tasmania, starting tomorrow.
''Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets but we need to improve our batting and fielding,'' Yousuf said. ''I think we've got good spinners, the best spinners in the world, and fast bowling also.''
Agencies
HOBART (Australia): Pakistan have arrived in Australia confident their bowling attack can put them into winning positions in the three-Test series.
Captain Mohammad Yousuf highlighted his team's bowling as a strength after arriving in Hobart to play a three-day warm-up match against Tasmania, starting tomorrow.
''Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets but we need to improve our batting and fielding,'' Yousuf said. ''I think we've got good spinners, the best spinners in the world, and fast bowling also.''
Ulema faint after eating halwa
ISLAMABAD: A sweet treat turned sour for some religious scholars and two of them had to be shifted to ICU on Thursday. Ulema gathered at Abdul Ghafoor Haideri's residence at Parliament Lodges to take a decision about participating in Ulema Conference at Interior Ministry.
Haideri served his guests 'Khoor Halwa', a sweet dish prepared of dates, which caused them to fall ill.
They had decided that Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman alone will participate in the conference and the rest of them therefore stayed with Haideri.
But soon after, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Liaquat Baloch, Haji Hanif Tayyab and Mian Aslam fell ill and were rushed to Polyclinic hospital.
Sources informed that the 'Halwa' was not fresh and had turned bad that caused food poisoning upon consummation.
The medical reports however were not disclosed to the media. So rumours kept on circulating that some kind of poison may have been mixed in the sweet dish.
No request from Pak to open Zardari cases: Swiss spokesman
The Swiss justice ministry on Thursday said the proceedings of cases against President Zardari in Switzerland can’t be initiated unless the Pakistani government starts inquiry, report said. According to the ministry spokesman Folco Galli, there was no legal base of the cases against Zardari as Pakistan has not sent any application in this connection. Galli clarified that Switzerland will initiate the proceedings
SC issues contempt notice to Malik
ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court on Thursday issued contempt of court notice to Interior Minster Rehman Malik on transferring of DG FIA Tariq Khosa, terming it an act of interference in court’s affairs.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain issued the notice while hearing Pakistan Steel Mills case.
The court directed Rehman Malik to appear before the court on December 24 besides filing his written response to the notice by the said date.
Chief Justice ordered the Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar to re-transfer Khosa as DG FIA immediately.
A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain issued the notice while hearing Pakistan Steel Mills case.
The court directed Rehman Malik to appear before the court on December 24 besides filing his written response to the notice by the said date.
Chief Justice ordered the Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar to re-transfer Khosa as DG FIA immediately.
NRO beneficiaries’ names put on ECL
ISLAMABAD : On the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), interior ministry has put the names of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries, except the President, on Exit Control List (ECL), Aaj News reported on Thursday.
According to the channel the NAB, complying with the directives of the Supreme Court, had requested the interior ministry to place the names of all NRO beneficiaries on the ECL. As a result, names of all beneficiaries, except the President, have been put on ECL.
The names of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Jahangir Badar and Salman Farooqi are also included in the ECL.
The NAB has also requested the interior ministry to apprehended those accused wanted by the NAB, whose warrants had already been issued.
Seven civilians killed in Afghan bombing: officials
KANDAHAR : Seven people were killed and three children injured Thursday when a car hit a mine in southern Afghanistan, officials said, in a blast bearing the hallmarks of Taliban militants.
The civilians, all in one car, were travelling to a shrine in southern Kandahar province's restive Khakriz district when it hit the improvised bomb, a weapon of choice for Taliban and other militants.
"Seven civilians -- five women and two men -- were killed and three children aged from two to eight were wounded," Zalmai Ayoubi, a spokesman for the provincial administration, told AFP.
He did not blame any group for the bombing but similar devices are widely used by Taliban militants in their campaign against the US-backed government in Kabul and its Western military backers.
US drone strikes kill 15 in North Waziristan
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At least fifteen people were killed including key Al-Qaeda member Zohaib Al Zahidi and seven foreigners while several injured in US drone strikes in North Waziristan on Thursday, Dunya News reported.
According to sources, US drones targeted two houses in Amboor Shaga and Degan area around 6pm this evening. Two missiles each were fired on both the houses destroying them completely while several people were caught under debris. Local residents started relief activities in affected houses after the incident. Two vehicles were also destroyed by the attack. US drones had been flying in the area since early morning whereas 5 drones kept flying even after the attack, sources revealed
Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar prevented from leaving country
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Federal Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has been stopped from leaving the country as his name was included among others in Exit Control List (ECL) after Supreme Court’s verdict against NRO, reported Dunya News on Thursday.
Defence Minister along with 6 member delegation was leaving for an official visit to China where he was scheduled to attend commissioning ceremony of F-22 P Frigate. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir is also part of the delegation. According to sources, when Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar along with Admiral Noman Bashir arrived at Islamabad airport, he was told by the immigration officials that he can’t be allowed to leave the country as his name is included in the ECL. Secretary Defence Syed Athar Ali was also present on the occasion.
On the other hand, talking to Dunya News, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar said he didn’t go to airport as his staff informed him that his name is included in ECL, however, he was scheduled to leave for a three day visit to receive Frigates but some powers want to stop him from going abroad. Mukhtar said it’s shameful and embarrassing that Naval Chief has been allowed to go while Defence Minister has been stopped. The defence minister said he is ready to face courts. Ahmed Mukhtar told that President and Prime Minister have been informed about the incident.
Meanwhile, other members of the delegation have departed for China.
NATO chief opposes Russia's security pact proposal
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday hailed a "new phase" in relations with Moscow, though he said he saw no need for a new security deal proposed by Russia, rebuffing the Kremlin's call for new defence arrangements in Europe.
"I think my visit to Russia marks a new phase in the relationship between NATO and Russia, a new beginning", Rasmussen told journalists at a briefing in Moscow. "We are faced with the same threats in a number of areas: terrorism, Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy - just to mention some - and we should join efforts in the fight against these threats and therefore we should develop a true, strategic partnership," he added.
On his first visit to Moscow since taking office on August 1, the NATO chief repeatedly said recent rows should not prevent Russia and the military alliance from confronting a common security threat from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
After talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, Rasmussen urged greater cooperation between NATO and Russia in Afghanistan. "I think Afghanistan should be the centrepiece of cooperation in 2010 and this is the reason why I have presented to the Russian leadership a concrete list of proposals as to how Russia could further its engagement in our operations in Afghanistan," said Rasmussen. He conceded he had not received any firm offer of support from Moscow in response to his requests for Russia to provide Kabul with helicopters and training support, saying he had never expected to get a firm response this week.
Moscow still views NATO, its Cold War adversary, with deep suspicion. Ties have been severely strained by last year's war between Russia and Georgia and by U.S.-backed plans to invite more former Soviet states to join the alliance.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev published a draft post-cold war security pact on November 29, saying it would replace NATO and other institutions and would restrict the ability of any country to use force unilaterally. "President Medvedev has presented a proposal, a new...a draft European security treaty. I have also made it clear that of course we are prepared to discuss his ideas and his proposals," said Rasmussen. But the NATO chief said a new treaty was unnecessary. "I don't see a need for new treaties or new legally-binding documents because we do have a framework already," he said at the briefing. "NATO and Russia agreed what we called a founding act already in 1997, it contains a lot of very valuable principles for our cooperation and the European security," he added.
Rasmussen said that by 2020, a common anti-missile shield could cover Russia and NATO countries. His optimism about future ties contrasts with years of conflict over previous U.S. plans to install missile interceptors in European countries.
"I think my visit to Russia marks a new phase in the relationship between NATO and Russia, a new beginning", Rasmussen told journalists at a briefing in Moscow. "We are faced with the same threats in a number of areas: terrorism, Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy - just to mention some - and we should join efforts in the fight against these threats and therefore we should develop a true, strategic partnership," he added.
On his first visit to Moscow since taking office on August 1, the NATO chief repeatedly said recent rows should not prevent Russia and the military alliance from confronting a common security threat from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
After talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, Rasmussen urged greater cooperation between NATO and Russia in Afghanistan. "I think Afghanistan should be the centrepiece of cooperation in 2010 and this is the reason why I have presented to the Russian leadership a concrete list of proposals as to how Russia could further its engagement in our operations in Afghanistan," said Rasmussen. He conceded he had not received any firm offer of support from Moscow in response to his requests for Russia to provide Kabul with helicopters and training support, saying he had never expected to get a firm response this week.
Moscow still views NATO, its Cold War adversary, with deep suspicion. Ties have been severely strained by last year's war between Russia and Georgia and by U.S.-backed plans to invite more former Soviet states to join the alliance.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev published a draft post-cold war security pact on November 29, saying it would replace NATO and other institutions and would restrict the ability of any country to use force unilaterally. "President Medvedev has presented a proposal, a new...a draft European security treaty. I have also made it clear that of course we are prepared to discuss his ideas and his proposals," said Rasmussen. But the NATO chief said a new treaty was unnecessary. "I don't see a need for new treaties or new legally-binding documents because we do have a framework already," he said at the briefing. "NATO and Russia agreed what we called a founding act already in 1997, it contains a lot of very valuable principles for our cooperation and the European security," he added.
Rasmussen said that by 2020, a common anti-missile shield could cover Russia and NATO countries. His optimism about future ties contrasts with years of conflict over previous U.S. plans to install missile interceptors in European countries.
Germany: Temperatures drop further due to snowfall
Residents in Berlin and Germany's capital Frankfurt saw new snowfall as meteorologists predicted falling temperatures and more snow for the weekend.
Light snowfall in Berlin late in the morning added a touch of Christmas to the tree set up near the city's landmark, Brandenburg Gate while some motorists struggled with slippery roads. On the Feldberg Mountain outside Frankfurt, children enjoyed a ride on their sleds as older people went for a hike through the snow covered landscape overlooking the city. Meteorologist told that for the coming days, it remains wintry and will get even colder, especially in the east of Germany where temperatures will fall all the way to fifteen below zero on Friday and Saturday.
Heavy snow brings traffic woes to northern France
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Thick snowfall added to the misery of the daily commute for millions of Parisians on Thursday, causing dangerous driving conditions for motorists heading into the centre of town.
The snowfall, only a week before Christmas, was a rarity for the French capital, which generally does not see snow before the late winter -- if at all. The snow was caused by cold air coming from Eastern Europe. A total of 51 departments (counties) in the northern part of the country went onto orange alert as authorities grappled with the climate conditions amid worries that the state electricity distribution network might not hold up in the face of sharply increased demand. Residents in Brittany and the Provence region of southern France have been warned that they may face power cuts lasting up to two hours. Officials at electricity distribution network RTE have said the cuts could affect tens of thousands of people at a time if they come. But with no threat of power cuts in the capital, ordinary Parisians were happy to enjoy the snow. "It would be even nicer if it settled a little and if we had 10 centimetres of snow that we could keep for three or four days," said Cecile de Tuny, a passer-by at the Arc de Triomphe.
NATO chief opposes Russia's security pact proposal
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday hailed a "new phase" in relations with Moscow, though he said he saw no need for a new security deal proposed by Russia, rebuffing the Kremlin's call for new defence arrangements in Europe.
"I think my visit to Russia marks a new phase in the relationship between NATO and Russia, a new beginning", Rasmussen told journalists at a briefing in Moscow. "We are faced with the same threats in a number of areas: terrorism, Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy - just to mention some - and we should join efforts in the fight against these threats and therefore we should develop a true, strategic partnership," he added.
On his first visit to Moscow since taking office on August 1, the NATO chief repeatedly said recent rows should not prevent Russia and the military alliance from confronting a common security threat from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
After talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, Rasmussen urged greater cooperation between NATO and Russia in Afghanistan. "I think Afghanistan should be the centrepiece of cooperation in 2010 and this is the reason why I have presented to the Russian leadership a concrete list of proposals as to how Russia could further its engagement in our operations in Afghanistan," said Rasmussen. He conceded he had not received any firm offer of support from Moscow in response to his requests for Russia to provide Kabul with helicopters and training support, saying he had never expected to get a firm response this week.
Moscow still views NATO, its Cold War adversary, with deep suspicion. Ties have been severely strained by last year's war between Russia and Georgia and by U.S.-backed plans to invite more former Soviet states to join the alliance.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev published a draft post-cold war security pact on November 29, saying it would replace NATO and other institutions and would restrict the ability of any country to use force unilaterally. "President Medvedev has presented a proposal, a new...a draft European security treaty. I have also made it clear that of course we are prepared to discuss his ideas and his proposals," said Rasmussen. But the NATO chief said a new treaty was unnecessary. "I don't see a need for new treaties or new legally-binding documents because we do have a framework already," he said at the briefing. "NATO and Russia agreed what we called a founding act already in 1997, it contains a lot of very valuable principles for our cooperation and the European security," he added.
Rasmussen said that by 2020, a common anti-missile shield could cover Russia and NATO countries. His optimism about future ties contrasts with years of conflict over previous U.S. plans to install missile interceptors in European countries.
"I think my visit to Russia marks a new phase in the relationship between NATO and Russia, a new beginning", Rasmussen told journalists at a briefing in Moscow. "We are faced with the same threats in a number of areas: terrorism, Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy - just to mention some - and we should join efforts in the fight against these threats and therefore we should develop a true, strategic partnership," he added.
On his first visit to Moscow since taking office on August 1, the NATO chief repeatedly said recent rows should not prevent Russia and the military alliance from confronting a common security threat from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
After talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, Rasmussen urged greater cooperation between NATO and Russia in Afghanistan. "I think Afghanistan should be the centrepiece of cooperation in 2010 and this is the reason why I have presented to the Russian leadership a concrete list of proposals as to how Russia could further its engagement in our operations in Afghanistan," said Rasmussen. He conceded he had not received any firm offer of support from Moscow in response to his requests for Russia to provide Kabul with helicopters and training support, saying he had never expected to get a firm response this week.
Moscow still views NATO, its Cold War adversary, with deep suspicion. Ties have been severely strained by last year's war between Russia and Georgia and by U.S.-backed plans to invite more former Soviet states to join the alliance.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev published a draft post-cold war security pact on November 29, saying it would replace NATO and other institutions and would restrict the ability of any country to use force unilaterally. "President Medvedev has presented a proposal, a new...a draft European security treaty. I have also made it clear that of course we are prepared to discuss his ideas and his proposals," said Rasmussen. But the NATO chief said a new treaty was unnecessary. "I don't see a need for new treaties or new legally-binding documents because we do have a framework already," he said at the briefing. "NATO and Russia agreed what we called a founding act already in 1997, it contains a lot of very valuable principles for our cooperation and the European security," he added.
Rasmussen said that by 2020, a common anti-missile shield could cover Russia and NATO countries. His optimism about future ties contrasts with years of conflict over previous U.S. plans to install missile interceptors in European countries.
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