Sri Lanka eases check points in capital

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka said Wednesday it would begin dismantling a dozen permanent military check points in the capital which are a legacy of decades of ethnic conflict on the island nation.

Two permanent road blocks on the southwestern edge of Colombo will be removed Wednesday and 10 other similar points will be gradually eased, the government information department said.

“It has become possible to dismantle the permanent check points with the improved security situation. The permanent road blocks will be replaced with alternate surveillance such as snap road blocks,” a department spokesman said.

It was not clear what will happen to dozens of other check points across the country, where troops armed with automatic assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades stand guard behind sand-filled bags or heavy metal barricades.

In a sign of the changing role of

Zulqarnain Haider Fractured Finger

Third test match between England and Pakistan is starting from 18th August. Top scoring batsman and wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider had injured his finger. It is doubted that may be he will not be available for third test match. He reached London to meet specialist on Sunday. His inclusion in the team will base on the diagnosis.

Yawar Saeed, Pakistan’s manager told that he is suffering from hairline fracture in the little finger. Haider was rescuer for Pakistan team in the last test match when he was declared out on pair and after referral given not out. He then showed his class and made brilliant 88 runs which helped Pakistan to come out from follow on and also gave lead to England.

He was suffering from pain and after X-ray it came to know that he has hairline fracture. He was part of 2nd test match team after dropping Kamran Akmal. Haider showed his skill with gloves even he dropped few balls. M Yousaf is also expected to play in third test match. Umar Gul’s inclusion is also doubted. If Haider will not recover then Kamran Akmal is expected to come back in team.

Floodlights Improved For Tri-Series In Dambulla

Rangiri Dambulla Stadium was under great criticism during Aisa Cup. The reason for criticism was flood lights of the stadium. Now during the current tri-series the flood lights have been improved. Now there will be enough light in the stadium that is required for cricket.

Ashley de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket’s head of cricket operations stated that the illumination levels of lights have been increased after their replacement. The previous capacity of bulbs in the stadium was 1000-1100. These bulbs are erected on eight towers with each tower containing 21 bulbs. After the replacement the range of these bulbs has now reached to 1300 and 1400 watts.

The previous level of lights was not appreciated by players as they thought that the light was not enough for playing. Scott Styris said earlier in the week that conditions should be little brighter to have good sight of the ball.

The slandered of lights were first questioned during Asia Cup when it was complained by many cricketers that it is difficult to play in low light. Gautam Gambhir complained that spinner cant be picked in such low light. Lasith Malinga declared it not up to international standards. Now after the replacement of lights it is thinking that problems of cricketers will reduce after it.

Heavy rain lashes Karachi

KARACHI: Another spell of heavy rains begun in the metropolis, as downpour lashed most parts of the Karachi on early Tuesday morning.

The start of the fresh spell of monsoon rains on the one hand further improved the weather condition in the city, which had faced severe heat during the past days and on the other hand brought with it the usual problems of power outage.

A number of electricity feeders tripped as a result of heavy rain, plunging many parts of the city into darkness.

MQM is a ‘terrorist outfit’: Bashir Bilour

PESHAWAR: Senior Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bashir Ahmed Bilour Monday labeled Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as a ‘terrorist outfit’.

“MQM flourished during the rule of Zia-ul-Haq and then it was provided further support in Musharraf’s regime,” Bashir Bilour maintained.

Fresh spell of monsoon rains begins in Karachi

KARACHI: Another spell of heavy rains has begun in the metropolis, as downpour lashed most parts of the Karachi on Monday evening.

The start of the fresh spell of monsoon rains on the one hand further improved the weather condition in the city which had faced severe heat during the past days and on the other hand brought with it the usual problems of power outage.

A number of electricity feeders tripped as a result of heavy rain, plunging many parts of the city into darkness.

Traffic jams are being witnessed on busy roads as water inundated main roads and streets.

Power shortfall soars to 4810 MW

LAHORE: The power shortfall in the country has reached to 4810 MW as 11 to 14 hours load shedding makes common man’s life miserable.

According to PEPCO officials, the power production is 10015 MW as demand touches to 14810 MW.

The duration of load shedding in cities is 11 to 14 hours, 20 hours in villages whereas industrial sector is facing 6 to 8 hours of load shedding.

Prolonged power cuts also created water shortage in several areas. However, PEPCO officials are optimistic that load shedding will be reduce in coming days with the improved water situation in Tarbela and Mangla Dams.

Balochistan Package Can be Improved in Parliament: Kaira

Pakistan News: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira Monday said the implementation process of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package has started and it was being debated in the parliament for further improvement.
“The presentation in the Parliament does not mean approval or disapproval of the package,” he told journalists here at the Parliament House.
The Minister said with regard to implementation of the package, the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has already issued directions to the concerned departments. Kaira said the recommendations in the package were not final and it could be changed while taking parliament into confidence.
He said a committee to review plans for implementation of Balochistan package headed by Senator Raza Rabbani has been constituted. The Committee, he said held its first meeting on December 5 while it would again meet on December 15 to review the progress on the package.
About the package, he said advertisements were being published in the national dailies for recruitment of Balochistan people in different departments for which the government was giving age relaxation.
On a question about alleged missing of record regarding waiving off loans from 1985 to 1999, he said investigations are in progress and expressed the hope the record available with any departments would also be made public.
Replying to a question, about the missing persons, the Minister said some missing persons have already surfaced while efforts were being made for others as well.
He said the names of missing persons are included in the list prepared by the provincial government but their addresses were not given in the list, adding that directions have been issued to complete the list.

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Balochistan Package Can be Improved in Parliament: Kaira was first posted on December 7, 2009 at 8:57 pm.

New Moon Extended Trailer

Twilight stars Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart took the VMAs stage tonight to debut an extended trailer for the upcoming The Twilight Saga: New Moon — “a first look at a movie we’ve been working on for months,” said Pattinson.

The trailer offers a look at the darker sequel to last year’s blockbuster, which details what happens when Pattinson’s vampire hunk Edward leaves his girlfriend, the mortal Bella (played by Stewart), who in turn looks to Lautner’s character, the human-turned-werewolf Jacob. Fans also got a first look at the improved CGI in play for Jacob’s mythical transformations, as well as glimpses of Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen as evil vamps.

New Moon opens November 20th; in the meantime check out what Peter Travers predicts for the movie.

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New Moon Extended Trailer was first posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:13 am.
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