Syria: President accepts resignation of PM and Cabinet

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accepted his government s resignation on Tuesday after nearly two weeks of pro-democracy unrest that has posed the gravest challenge to his 11-year rule. But the move was unlikely to satisfy protester demands since the cabinet has little authority in Syria, where power is concentrated in the hands of Assad, his family and the security apparatus.

Tens of thousands of Syrians held pro-government rallies on Tuesday, awaiting a speech in which Assad was expected to announce a decision on lifting emergency laws that have served to crush dissent for almost 50 years. That is a key demand of anti-government demonstrations in which more than 60 people have been killed.

World Cup: Sri Lanka survive Kiwis late assault to reach final

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka succeeded in reaching the World Cup final for second time in a row after avoiding late bowling assault by New Zealand here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing 218, the co-hosts reached the target to beat the Kiwis by five wickets with 13 balls to spare in the first day-night semi-final as veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said goodbye to his home crowd.

Opener Tillekaratna Dilshan (73) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (54) hit half-cneturies to set a foundation for Sri Lanka’s victory to qualify for the World Cup final for the third time and second in succession.

They had won the final in 1996 at Lahore, Pakistan but lost it in 2007 at Kingston, Jamaica.

Sri Lanka play the winners of Wednesday”s semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali.

Muralitharan took his 534th wicket off his last ball on home soil as New Zealand were bowled out for a below-par score of 217 in 48.5 overs.

Muralitharan, who last year retired from Tests after finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 800, now aims to win his second title — after being part of the 1996 Cup winning squad — in Saturday”s final in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka, cruising along at 160-1, lost four wickets in the space of 25 runs to raise fears of an unlikely defeat before Thilan Samaraweera (23 not out) and Angelo Mathews (14 not out) guided them home with an unbroken 35-run stand.

New Zealand, who for the sixth time failed in a World Cup semi-final, seemed to be succumbing like England did during their 10-wicket quarter-final defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, but they staged a brave rearguard action.

It was 34-year-old Dilshan who was once again in rampaging mood, taking the co-hosts to 40 by the eighth over in the company of Upul Tharanga who fell after scoring a 31-ball 30 with four boundaries and a six.

Dilshan then found an equally aggressive and in-form partner in captain Sangakkara as they added 120 for the second wicket, before Dilshan played straight into the hands of Jesse Ryder off Tim Southee.

Dilshan hit 10 boundaries and a six during his 93-ball knock. He also became the top run-getter of the tournament with 467.

Sri Lanka then lost Mahela Jayawardene (one) and Sangakkara in the space of eight runs and then Chamara Silva (13) before the team held their nerve.

It was Ajantha Mendis (3-35) and Lasith Malinga (3-55), along with Muralitharan (2-42), who kept New Zealand under control after Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bat.

Scott Styris, who top scored with 57, added 77 for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor (36) but the Sri Lankan bowlers never allowed them to run away with a big total, dismissing the Kiwis in 48.5 overs.

Styris and Kane Williamson (22) added 42 in the batting powerplay but New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 56 runs.

Sri Lanka once again dismissed hard-hitting Brendon McCullum through a spinner when left-armer Rangana Herath bowled him in the eighth over for 13.

Martin Guptill (39) and Jesse Ryder (19) took the total to 69 before Muralitharan had the big left-hander caught off a quickish delivery.

Soon it became 84-3 when Malinga bowled Guptill with a ferocious yorker after the opener had hit three boundaries off 65 balls.

Of biting nails & running stomach

Celebs across the globe love to tweet the pics of their near and dear ones, the places they visit, the celebrations they hold/attend… Farah Khan loves to tweet what’s on her mind, besides tweeting pics of her new film TEES MAAR KHAN. But a pic of her hands, tweeted by her, caught my attention instantly. Well, Farah wasn’t highlighting a new shade of nail polish, but was vocal that she had chewed her nails in anxiety and nervousness before the release of her new movie TEES MAAR KHAN. So much so that the nails had almost disappeared from her hands and what remained was more of flesh, less of nails.

Almost everyone – sorry, just about everyone – gets those pre-release jitters and is nervous as hell prior to the release of their film. The stakes are high, their reputation is at stake, the world is awaiting the outcome to their film… I’ve often heard people say that they lose appetite and feel insomniac as well.

Says Farah, “I wasn’t chewing my nails during MAIN HOON NA her directorial debut. Back then I was seeing Shirish Kunder and made sure that I was at my best laughs. But I was nervous during OM SHANTI OM and the period thereafter. It’s the same now.” Farah is not the only one. A top notch director, known for his laughathons, has a running stomach a few days prior to his film’s release, while another top ranking director, known for making sensitive films, goes into a shell and stays aloof as the release date draws closer. Like they say in the industry, Friday is the scariest day in the life of a film-maker/actor and it’s getting more and more stressful with each passing year.

Three more perished in latest killings’ row in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: At least three persons have perished in latest killings’ row on Thursday in the metropolis.

According to police, one 25 year old unidentified youth’s tortured and bag packed dead body was found near Netty Jetty Bridge, Keamari.

Another hands and legs tied dead body of a 30 year old youth was recovered near Lyari Park in Pak Colony. The unknown deceased was shot in the head after kidnapping.

In third incident, 22 year old Hanif was shot dead in Memon Goth area of Malir.

After the firing and violence incidents, tension has gripped Pak Colony, Malir and Lyari areas of the city. Trend Pk

Woman beaten, head shoved by her in-law

Staff Report

SUKKUR: A man assaulted his brother’s wife before shaving her head over a domestic dispute here, SAMAA reported Sunday.

Erum, a resident of Old Sukkur Colony-V, went to her partent’s home because of the daily assault she had to bear at the hands of her in-laws.

Family of the affected woman alleged that Erum had been subjected to mental and physical torture for the last three years. They said that police had not taken any action, despite lodging of complaints repeatedly.

On the other hand, Erum’s husband said that these allegations were not false. SAMAA

Woman beaten, head shoved by her in-law

Staff Report

SUKKUR: A man assaulted his brother’s wife before shaving her head over a domestic dispute here, SAMAA reported Sunday.

Erum, a resident of Old Sukkur Colony-V, went to her partent’s home because of the daily assault she had to bear at the hands of her in-laws.

Family of the affected woman alleged that Erum had been subjected to mental and physical torture for the last three years. They said that police had not taken any action, despite lodging of complaints repeatedly.

On the other hand, Erum’s husband said that these allegations were not false. SAMAA

Three tortured corpses found in Karachi

KARACHI: Three corpses, with their hands and feet tied up, were found in a vacant plot in North Nazimabad, Karachi; tortured to death, SAMAA learnt Wednesday.

According to police, the three victims aged between 25-35 years. They were shot dead after being tortured.

“We’ve found nothing that can provide their identity,” said police.

Dead bodies of the victims have been shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for post mortem.

Police has started investigation of the incident. SAMAA

Rehman Malik says Lashkare-e-Jhangvi constantly strengthening

Staff Report

QUETTA: Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, has said that the banned outfit, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, is constantly getting stronger with the passage of time.

Talking to journalists in Quetta regarding the recent blast on Al-Quds Day rally, Malik said to provide security to a two kilometer long procession is near about impossible under the prevailing situation.

On September 3, at least 54 people were killed and over 150 were injured In Quetta when a suicide bomber blasted into a rally held to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

The bomber exploded himself in the middle of the Yaum-e-Quds rally at Meezan Roundabout, killing at least 54 people and injuring scores of others.

SAMAA reporter Noor Ilahi Bugti and cameraman Aijaz Raisani were also among the injured. Later, cameraman Aijaz Raisani succumbed to injuries on September

Pak army opens road links between Sindh and Balochistan

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army Engineers have opened the road links between Sindh and Balochistan from Dera Murad Jamali, Mangoli, Goth Jani, Ahmed Pur, Dolat Pur and Garhi Rahim Dad up to Thal for all types of traffic, and have also plugged the breaches in Muzaffargarh Canal and Rang

Pur Canal.

Army engineers, in collaboration with the civil government are working on opening the road link between Dera Allah Yar and Jacobabad.

Army engineers have plugged the breaches at Tori near Ghora Ghat and Ghuspur in Sindh.

The Pakistan army has evacuated 2,784 people from flood affected areas of Johi, Mehar and Dadu to safer places. The army distributed 86 tons of dry rations and provided cooked food to 34,447 people in Sajawal, Bathoro and Shiharpur in the last 24 hours.

40 trucks carrying 20,000 special Eid packages containing

Nawaz Sharif losing grip on his party: Awan

Staff Report

KARACHI: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has said that Takht-e-Lahore (Throne of Lahore referring to PML-N leaders) has always practiced a politics of hypocrisy.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi today (Tuesday), he said that Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) would not field any candidate against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif if he decided to contest election.

He said that Nawaz Sharif should not be afraid of the losses he had to suffer at the hands of PPP in Punjab’s by-election.

Nawaz Sharif is losing grip on his party, he commented.

“What will be the security situation of a province, where an absconder is given the task to arrest other absconders?” he questioned.

Awan said that law and order situation in Punjab had deteriorated after appointment of Rana Maqbool as Public Prosecution Department secretary. SAMAA

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