Despite bloodshed, US to cite Afghanistan progress
WASHINGTON: A White House review of President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan war strategy being released on Thursday will report that foreign forces are making headway against the Taliban but that hefty challenges remain.
The review, which the administration has indicated will not result in major strategy changes, is expected to cite hurdles including the need to strengthen Afghan governance and goading Pakistan to eliminate insurgent safe havens.
In what could be a preview of the report, Obama, who is aiming to demonstrate enough progress to start bringing troops home next year, told lawmakers on Wednesday his war strategy was yielding gradual progress and U.S.-led forces would stick with his approach.
Despite the cautious optimism from military commanders a year after he ordered an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, Obama must overcome skepticism on Capitol
Sialkot lynching: Ex SHO, 25 others presented in ATC, hearing adjourns
September 27, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Staff Report
SIALKOT: A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has adjourned the hearing of the Sialkot lynching case till tomorrow, after the appearance of 26 accused, including ex SHO Rana Ilyas.
Two young brothers, Hafiz Mughees and Munib, had been brutally lynched by residents of Village Buttar in Sialkot, after declaring them robbers involved in a robbery that took place at same time when they arrived in the village.
Earlier today, all 26 arrested accused, including the ex SHO of Saddar Police Station, Rana Ilyas had been presented in a special ATC for being allegedly involved in the sadistic murder of both boys.
The ATC adjourned the hearing of case till September 28 (tomorrow).
The suspended DPO of Sialkot Waqar Chohan, talking for the first time after being released, said that he is innocent. He claimed that he was only taken into
A Minute With Aamir Khan and his Midas touch
September 8, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
MUMBAI: One of India’s most popular actors, Aamir Khan, is considered Bollywood’s man with the Midas touch.
The 45-year-old actor was last seen in the 2009 comedy ”
Idiots”, India’s biggest blockbuster to date, with 4 billion rupees ($85.6 million) in box-office takings.
For his latest project, Khan turned producer for a low-budget film on the growing urban-rural divide in India.
“Peepli (Live)” released in August to rave reviews, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting a special screening. The film opens in the UK on Sept 24.
Khan spoke to Reuters about the importance of international audiences, the star system in Bollywood and why he isn’t interested in crossing over to the West.
Q: Your film “Peepli (Live)” is being released in the UK. As an Indian producer, how important are international audiences for you?
A: “It
PCB won’t suspend any player pending betting probe
LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.
Three held over cricket ”betting scam”
Three people have been arrested by Customs officials in connection with betting allegations against Pakistani cricket players.
Two men and a woman, all from London, were questioned yesterday as part of an investigation into money laundering before being released on bail, HM Revenue and Customs said.
The development came as it was announced that three Pakistan cricketers will meet officials from their country in London tomorrow.
Stissing Mountain High School
Stissing Mountain High School, A gunman who allegedly had a high school principal in Stissing hostages middle mountain and high school in upstate New York is said to have been taken into custody.
Reports from local news sources indicate that students are being released after the school was put into lock for the situation. By about 9:30, about 100 students from the Pine Plains school had been evacuated. The situation in the office of director of middle school is said to be stable and the gunman reportedly the father of a middle school student.
Parents are asked to convene in the House Stissing mountain restaurant at the corner of Route 82 and Route 199, near the school.
Stissing Mountain High School was first posted on November 10, 2009 at 9:45 pm.
