Suicide blasts kill 11 tribesmen in southern Yemen

The officials say Sunday s attacks took place in Abyan province, where al-Qaida-linked militants have been taking advantage of Yemen s political turmoil to capture and control territory in the south.

The officials say in the first attack a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a checkpoint manned by anti-al-Qaida tribesmen, killing eight and wounding 20.

They say a suicide bomber carried out the second attack, blowing himself up in the middle of a gathering of tribesmen. Three men were killed in the second attack.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Pakistani land will not be allowed to use for terrorism: PM

Talking to the media in Quetta, he said that war on terror was not an ordinary war, but a guerilla war with international repercussions. He said that the government wanted that the country’s land should not be used for terrorism.

He said that Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with Afghanistan and India, adding that the government would devise the foreign policy keeping in view the national interests. He said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government believed in the independence of media and civil rights, and that the protection of the journalists was the government’s top priority.

The prime minister categorically stated that there was no political prisoner in the country. He also denied that any journalist was in the custody of the government.

He said that the package of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan was given for the development of Balochistan. He said that he visited the province this time only to review law and order, but would come again with one point agenda and that would be the development of Balochistan.

He said that the United States had confirmed that Ilyas Kashmiri was dead.

The prime minister said that Pakistan and China enjoyed good relations, adding that no agreement had been made to hand over Gwadar Port to China.

He said that Pakistan should have drone technology, adding that intelligence sharing persisted between US and the ISI. He said that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was told that there was a tremendous pressure on the government with regard to drone attacks.

He also said that the government policy was to give people employment and not to render them jobless.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani were also present during the media talks.

Earlier, Gilani said that the world should recognise Pakistan’s efforts in war on terror.

Addressing a ceremony at Command and Staff College in Quetta, the prime minister said that the world had become a global village and no country could survive in isolation.

The prime minister said that the indigenous issues of every country had been internationalised and no country could solve its problems alone.

Clinton to visit Pakistan next month

ISLAMABAD: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Pakistan next month, TrendPK reported on Tuesday.

Clinton will lead the US delegation in next month’s Pak-US strategic dialogue.

Sources told the media that the US intends to send high profile officials to Pakistan for the visit. The dialogue between two countries is expected to strengthen ties and ease tension. TrendPK

Winning toss will play crucial role in Indo-Pak semifinal: Butt

LAHORE: The winning of toss will play a very crucial role in tomorrow’s World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan in Mohali, said the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt on Monday.

Butt said while talking to the media, before leaving for Mohali at Wagah Border check post, that it is not fair to declare a semifinal cricket match as a war between India and Pakistan.

He added that it is expected that the match will be a remarkable cricket competition as both teams contain some very fine players of the current time.

“We miss Muhammad Aamir in this mega event,” Butt added. TrendPK

Billy Ray Cyrus Drops the Divorce

The Cyrus Family have been in the headlines a lot lately, both together and individually. Especially Billy Ray Cyrus when he spoke out about his divorce and his daughter in his now infamous interview with GQ magazine. He caused a real stir in the media by saying “Hannah Montana” had “destroyed my family”.

Billy Ray has done somewhat of a turnaround by announcing on the talk show, “The View”, that he has dropped the divorce. He had filed for divorce in October 2010 after 17 years of marriage.

“I’ve dropped the divorce. I want to put my family back together… Things are the best they’ve ever been.”

Billy Ray also took the opportunity during the interview to do some damage control for comments he’s previously made about his daughter Miley. During the interview he went on to say;

“I feel like I got my Miley back. I feel like we’re the daddy and daughter we were before Hannah Montana.”

Two and a Half Men- Has Been Canceled?

Charlie Sheen has well and truly put his foot in it this time, Warner Bros have decided to discontinue production of Two and a Half Men! According to reports the news came after Charlie Sheen was interviewed on a radio show. On the radio show Sheen insulted the show’s creator Chuck Lorre to such an extent that it provoked the statement of cancellation soon after.

“Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen’s statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of Two and a Half Men for the remainder of the season.”

Sheen’s struggle with drugs and alcohol has been well documented by the media. The actor himself has been very outspoken about his dissatisfaction with the shows uncertainty. Two and a Half Men has been a hugely successful sitcom, making Charlie Sheen one of the highest paid TV actors at this time.

Bangladesh security force told to keep eyes off the ball

DHAKA: Police and elite security forces in Bangladesh have been warned against “loitering” and watching the cricket rather than doing their job at the World Cup.

The country’s home office issued a statement warning of a crackdown on the “rogue” security officials after members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police were spotted lazing in media seats at a match in Dhaka on Saturday.

“The security people deployed at the stadium should be on their toes or inside their camps and must not loiter around or occupy others’ chairs in the gallery during World Cup matches,” a Home Ministry official said, reading out excerpts from an order sheet for Reuters.

The order was issued before Bangladesh meet Ireland in Dhaka on Friday in Group B.

Bangladesh are jointly hosting the World Cup with subcontinent neighbours India and Sri Lanka.

They staged the opening game last Saturday with a defeat by India.

Security at the Cricket World Cup in the sometimes volatile region is a particularly big issue in the sport after a gun attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March 2009 leading to the deaths of eight people.

Pakistan has not staged an international match since.

On the opening match in the country, officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) saw that a number of seats were occupied by a section of security officials and their families at the media overflow area.

“Some of them were on duty and the rest managed their entry through their colleagues having authority to issue an on-duty pass,” the Home Ministry official said.

He asked not to be named as the matter was so sensitive.

“The order is likely to prevent the rogue officials from becoming spectators at the stadium instead of doing their duty on match days,” an official of the RAB said.

Several hundred security officials drawn from police, RAB and intelligence agencies from different forces including the army will remain deployed in and around the stadium to give security to the players, officials and fans during match days.

“If the order is flouted or any personnel found repeating such an offence in the coming World Cup matches, they will be demoted or suspended from the service,” said a police spokesman.

“We must stop this attitude of some people enjoying matches at the expense of others or without making any payment.

“We will not allow any official irrespective of rank and file to lower the image of the nation in this illegal way.”

Dhaka is hosting five more matches including a quarter-final on March 25. TrendPK

Clash among parties harm democracy, says Firdous

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said here on Friday that steps taken beyond law and clashes among parties harm democracy.

While talking with the media outside the Parliament House she said ruling in Punjab with the help of unification group is against constitutional and ethical principles.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not make itself part from the Punjab government and if PPP is expelled out, then it will use its constitutional right, Firdous said.

Stressing on continuing talks, the minister said the PPP’s one point agenda is to do politics of reconciliation. TrendPK

Nabeel Gabol Withdraw His Resignation

Breaking News trendpk: Former State minister for ports and shipping and senior member of Pakistan Peoples Party, Nabeel Gabol, who resigned from his ministry on Wednesday, withdraw his resignation after his meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Friday.

Prime Minister assured that the concerns raised by Nabeel Gabol would be addressed. Although the state minister had cited some ‘personal reasons’ for resignation, the sources said he had withdraws his resignation after getting a cold response from the party leadership over his concerns and reservations regarding the working of his ministry.

After Gabol’s resignation on Wednesday, the police conducted a raid on his residence in the port city of Karachi and rounded up his 11 guards and his name was also added in Exit Control List (ECL) on the order of federal ministry. Nabeel Gabol came into Islamabad early on the morning today. On Benazir Bhutto International Airport, talking to media he said that I have some reservations and I will discuss that with party leadership. He further said that resignation from ministry doesn’t means that he is leaving the party, PPP is my party and I am a worker of this party since 26 years.

After the resignation of Nabeel Gabol the news came in the media that President Asif Zardari wants to elect his son Balawal Bhutto from the Lyari Town seat in the next election. It is to be remembered that Nabeel Gabol has a hold on Lyari Town area and Lyari seat is considered as his permanent seat.

Political parties should work for country’s betterment: PM

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that reduction in oil prices has brought back all political parties in coalition.

Talking to Media, the PM said that he had telephoned all key political leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Pir Pagara, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehmen and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and discussed current political situation in the country. He said that the government was seeking guidance from all political parties to settle fuel prices. He said we all are friends not masters and we have to work together to bring country out of crisis. He said all stake holders would be on board to end gas, power loadshedding and corruption in the country. He said that PML-Q, MQM, ANP, PML-F and JUI-F have assured their full support to the present government. He stated that the government would restructure of PRs, Steel Mills, PIA and other departments. He said that accountability of all institutions would be made transparent. NFC, 19th amendment, Balochistan package were the big achievements of the PPP-led government, he added.

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