Salman Khan in Rajshri’s next

The late 90s witnessed a trend when the lead actors got almost synonymous with the production companies that made their films. Leading the gang was today’s Dabangg man Salman Khan, without whose name, Rajshri Films’ were incomplete. Then, came a period in early 2000, when films started getting made without Sallu’s presence, which set many a tongues wagging about an alleged rift between the Barjatyas and Salman.

But, the following news will surely act as a fitting reply to all those wagging tongues. The news is that Salman is all set to be back in Rajshri production. The film in question is Vidhi Kasliwal’s directorial venture. Isi Life Mein. Apparently, it is said that Salman will be doing a cameo in the film, thanks to none other than Sooraj Barjatya. Confirming this news, Bollywood Hungama’s source close to the production house said, “Yes, Salman is doing the film Isi Life Mein; however it’s only a cameo role that he will essay in it.”

The film, which is being produced by Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Rajkumar Barjatya and Ajit Kumar Barjatya stars Akshay Oberoi and Sandeepa Dhar in lead roles.

The film is about the lives of two teenagers in today’s world and their belief that one not only has the right to dream but also the capability to accomplish all their dreams.

Karzai asks why allies won”t hit Pakistan

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that Western allies had the ability to strike at Taliban bases in Pakistan, but questioned their willingness to do so.

“The war against terrorism is not in the villages or houses of Afghanistan …but in the sanctuaries, sources of funding and training (of terrorism) and they lie outside Afghanistan,” he told a news conference in the capital.

“It is a different question whether Afghanistan has the ability to tackle this,” he said in response to a question about Pakistan support for the Taliban and why the conflict was dragging on, “… but our allies have this capability the question now is ”why they are not taking action”?” Islamabad”s covert support for the Taliban resurfaced this week with the publication by the whistleblower organization WikiLeaks of tens of thousands of classified documents which point the finger at Pakistan”s spy agency.

Tuesday, in its first reaction to the leak, Afghanistan”s National Security Council said the United States had failed to attack the patrons and supporters of the Taliban hiding in Pakistan throughout the nine-year-old conflict.

The classified documents show current and former members of Pakistan”s spy agency were actively collaborating with the Taliban in plotting attacks in Afghanistan.

Violence in Afghanistan has soared since a troop surge brought to 150,000 the number of foreign forces confronting the Taliban and two other insurgent groups.

Veteran TV interviewer Larry King to quit

LOS ANGELES: Veteran TV broadcaster Larry King announced his decision to step down from his long-running show Tuesday, ending a record-breaking career that saw him conduct more than 40,000 interviews.

King, 76, said in a statement his signature show “Larry King Live” would go off the air in the autumn after 25 years, allowing him to find “more time for my wife and I to get to the kids little league games.”

King”s marriage to seventh wife Shawn Southwick recently appeared to be on the rocks, with the wiry anchorman filing for divorce in April before a reconciliation between the couple, according to reports.

King, one of the most recognizable figures on US television, said he still plans to work for channel after the end of his nightly show, which has been the subject of intense speculation for months following falling ratings.

“I”ll still be a part of the channel family, hosting several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects,” he said.

The interviewer said he was proud of the fact that his show had recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest running show with the same host in the same time slot.

“With this chapter closing I”m looking forward to the future and what my next chapter will bring, but for now it”s time to hang up my nightly suspenders,” he said, referring to his trademark attire.

Obama, King Abdullah urge Iran to end nuclear program

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia”s King Abdullah on Tuesday voiced “strong support” for international efforts to curb Iran”s nuclear program, which the West says masks a secret drive to develop the capability for an atomic bomb, the White House said.

Obama and the King also expressed hope “proximity talks between Israelis and Palestinians will lead to the resumption of direct talks with the aim of two states living side-by-side in peace and security,” the White House said in a statement.

President Barack Obama says he and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia agreed Tuesday on the need to press for Middle East peace in a “significant and bold way,” including the creation of a Palestinian homeland.

The two leaders briefly addressed reporters in the Oval Office after finishing a private meeting and lunch. Obama said he and Abdullah covered Afghanistan and Pakistan, efforts to combat extremism and Iran”s attempts to obtain nuclear weapon capability.

The president praised what he called a strong, strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, which holds considerable leverage in the Middle East. Obama told the king he appreciated his friendship and counsel. Abdullah said Obama is respected around the world as an “honorable man.”

PAF to get first batch of F-16s tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force will receive first batch of 18 new F-16 fighting falcon jet fighters from United States on Saturday.

Three F-16s are scheduled to arrive at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad, Pakistan on Saturday, with 15 more to be delivered later this and next year, said US Air Force Maj Todd Robbins, the Pakistan country Director in the US office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force for international affairs.

According to American embassy, the US Air Force is set to deliver the first batch of these F-16s to the Pakistani Air Force as a sign of deepening relations between the United States and Pakistan.

“This is the most visible part of a strong and growing relationship between the two air forces that will benefit us both short-term and long-term,” Robbins said.

The sale of F-16s to Pakistan renews new aircraft sales that existed between the United States and Pakistan in the 1980s, but were halted in the 1990s.

The F-16 is a multirole jet fighter sold to 24 countries around the world, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.

US Air Force Maj. Todd Robbins said, “The 18 being sold to Pakistan are the Block 52 versions of the aircraft, which will give Pakistan new capabilities, including day-night, all-weather and precision-attack capabilities.”

He said “They”ve not had these capabilities before, so this is a major milestone in the US providing this capability, which older models of F-16s don”t have.”

Robbins said, “This will enable them to strike terrorists within their borders while helping them to avoid collateral damage.

It”s an increase in capabilities that are beneficial to us all.”

Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the 18 new aircraft, in addition to $1.3 billion in upgrades to its existing F-16 fleet, which are to begin being delivered in 2012, Robbins said.

The US Air Force also is training Pakistan Air Force pilots. The first eight recently completed training with the Arizona National Guard in Tucson, with additional training done by Lockheed Martin, Robbins said.

The Air Force also training Pakistanis in night-attack training and recently completed training to four instructors and five flight leads.

Balochistan presents Rs152 bn deficit budget for 2010-11

QUETTA: Announcing Rupees 152.1 billion tax free Balochistan Budget for provincial year 2010-11 in provincial assembly here Monday afternoon, provincial Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gailo claimed to have presented the largest budget on account of its size in history of Balochistan.

Delivering his budget speech in provincial assembly which was live telecast by PTV and broadcast by Radio Pakistan, Asim Kurd Galloo said that the size of proposed financial budget for the year 2010-11 is 152.1 billion. The current expenditure estimates are 83.440 billion while capital expenditure estimates are 41.810 billion which include Rupees 4.00 bill of foreign project assistance. Similarly he added the total estimates of receipts are 144.910 billion including Rupees 115.520 bill of Revenue Receipts and 29.390 Billion of capital receipts.

In such a case the budget deficit for the new financial year will be Rupees 7.10 billion which will be bridged through provincial resources. He said Pakistan and particularly people of Balochistan are facing a hard time. No doubt 2009-10 was a year of ordeals and challenges for government and people of Balochistan.

Unfortunate acts of terrorism and target killing of innocent precious human lives besides hampering the economic activity indeed made affairs difficult for us in governance and development arenas. We as coalition government have proved that despite these challenges one can deliver if the will and dedication is inherent in governance for the betterment of the people. While He said provincial government under the able political leadership of the Chief Minster Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani stood to its comments to the people.

While assuming the responsibilities, we inherited major constraint of a huge liability in the shape of over draft which initially decelerated our capability to resolve public issues. We faced the challenge and adopted a suitable strategy by persuading the federal government to assume the liability and emanate sufficient fiscal space to undertake our governance and development goals. Federal government realizing the problem waived off the liability worth Rupees 17 billion which is a historic intervention, we take pride in.

Induction of P3 to enhance Pak Navy”s capability: Naval Chief

KARACHI: The induction of modified P3C Orion aircraft would greatly enhance the capability of Pakistan Navy. This was stated by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir.

He was talking to media after the induction ceremony of two modified P3C Orion aircraft acquired from the United States at the Pakistan Navy Base Mehran here on Tuesday.

US Brig. Gen. Mike Nagata of the Office of Defence Representative in Pakistan, and the Consul General of United States in Karachi Stephens G. Fakan also attended the ceremony.

The Naval Chief further stated that these aircraft would increase the capability of Pakistan Navy fleet to meet the challenges.

He pointed out that the P3 was a time-tested aircraft, which is still operational in the US Navy as well as navies in various countries in the world. Admiral Noman Bashir informed that in terms of capability the P3 is also described as ”flying destroyer”.

He stated that this aircraft has quite a lot of endurance and it can ably face the threats and challenges for a longer time in the area of its operation.

Admiral Noman remarked we already had P3 aircraft but the characteristics of the P3s inducted today have been modernized and refurbished and their operational capability has enhanced a lot. He said that as these aircraft have a lot of endurance so they can cover a wider area.

Iran says develops short-range missile defence

TEHRAN: Iran has developed a short-range defence system to combat Cruise missiles, its defence minister was quoted as saying on Sunday.

“A new short range anti-Cruise defence system with the capability to fire 4,000 rounds of bullets per minute has been produced at the defence ministry and soon will be inaugurated,” Ahmad Vahidi said on semi-official Fars news agency.

“We are at the design and production phase of various defence systems in the short, medium and long-range categories,” he added, citing the Mersad air defence and Shahin missile defence systems.

Cruise missiles are guided missiles that operate at low level to evade radar detection. They can fly up to supersonic speeds carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads.

Manmohan Singh alleges Pakistan of interfering in Kashmir

Once again, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh alleged Pakistan of cross border interference in Kashmir, while Home Minister Chidambaram slammed Pakistan for its stance on Mumbai attacks.

Addressing a seminar at New Delhi on security, Manmohan said that hostile outfits were operating from the other side of the border, and called upon the centre and states to launch concerted efforts to curtail terrorism. Speaking on the occasion, Chidambaram vowed to defeat the separatists in Kashmir. Terming the Maoist rebels a big challenge for the Indian government, the minister resolved to deal them with iron hands. He said that Pakistan has been provided with ample evidence regarding the Mumbai attack.

On the other hand, India has claimed to have tested Agni 3 missile today.

According to an Indian TV channel, the missile experiment was carried out near Orissa. Agni 3 has got the capability to fire from 3,000kms and can target a big part in China. The missile is 17m long and 2m wide, while it can carry 1.5 tonnes nuclear warheads.

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Manmohan Singh alleges Pakistan of interfering in Kashmir was first posted on February 7, 2010 at 3:41 pm.

NRO Cases are Political: Fehmida Mirza

Pakistan News: All the NRO cases are political and the judiciary will decide about them, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza has said.
She condoled with MNA Ayaz Sadiq on the death of his father in law justice (r) Sardar Iqbal in Lahore. Talking to media she refused to comment on NRO. She said she couldn’t intervene in court issues. The Speaker maintained that democracy still faced many challenges, adding that a joint session of parliament would be held on November 24 to discuss Balochistan Package.

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NRO Cases are Political: Fehmida Mirza was first posted on November 22, 2009 at 6:08 pm.

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