Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

LOS ANGELES: The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson”s body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star”s estate.

The show, “Michael Jackson”s Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson,” had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on Jan. 13.

“Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson”s estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson”s official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely,” Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery (DISCA.O) spokesman declined comment beyond the statement. Co-executors of the estate responded in their own statement saying they were “pleased” with the decision.

The “Thriller” singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery”s show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program “insensitive” and “in shockingly bad taste.”

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer”s well-known sequined glove.

Following Discovery”s decision, McClain and Branca released a statement saying, “we are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future.”

“While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored,” the statement said.

Jackson”s physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson”s death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on Jan. 4.

PCB Concerned About Future Tour Program

PCB has some concerns about the future tour program. In the FTP Pakistan are left to play with limited countries and there is not much cricket for Pakistan against countries like India. In the FTP Pakistan has to tour West Indies for full tour and this will be first tour of Pakistan in six years. After that tour Pakistan will visit Zimbabwe to play series.

After foreign tour Pakistan will end the year by playing the home series against Sri Lanka and England. These series will be interesting. As there is no cricket in Pakistan so the series will be held at neutral venue. The venue for the series is yet to decide. The PCB’s chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said that there is still gap in Pakistan tour program from now to 2012 and there is a still chance of Indian series to fit in it.

Subhan Ahmed said that they are negotiating with different cricket boards to get international cricket back in Pakistan. He said that security assurance is the main issue and the back of international cricket in Pakistan depends upon the security situation of Pakistan. The negotiations are on FTP program are going on between different board and it is hope that there will be some positive results of it.

PM Gilani aware of load shedding, unemployment

Staff Report

MULTAN: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that he knew there is load shedding and unemployment in the country, adding that his party, the ruling party Pakistan Peoples’ Party, will fulfill its promises.

PM Gilani addressed the program held by the Pakistan Baitul Maal on Thursday in his home town, Multan.

He was of the view that, the issues of the provinces have increased after provincial autonomy.

PM Gilani said that the poor people of Pakistan would be given relief after the completion of the poverty survey. Trend Pk

CNG Association decides for strike

The CNG association has decided for a country wide strike after failed negotiations with the government, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
According to sources it would be a three-round strike. In the first round all the CNG stations in the potohar region would remain closed tomorrow. The formal announcement of the decision would be done by the office bearers of the CNG association.
All Pakistan CNG Association has rejected the decision of two day closure of the CNG stations in the country. The association is of the view that CNG stations should be exempted from the program of gas loadshedding.

Shoes thrown at former Australian PM

LONDON: A critic of the Iraq war has thrown two shoes at former Prime Minister John Howard during last night’s live episode of the ABC’s Q&A program.

Neither shoe hit Mr Howard during the program which also saw the former PM blindsided when he was quizzed by David Hicks about why he was left at Guantanamo Bay military prison for five and a half years.

Mr Howard, who was promoting his memoir Lazarus Rising on Q&A, stood by his decision to send troops to Iraq, had no apology for the treatment of Mr Hicks and defended his approach to asylum seekers.

The man criticized Mr Howard about his decision to go to war in Iraq and persistently interrupted the answer before he launched his attack.

“That is for the Iraqi dead,” the man appeared to shout at Mr Howard as he threw the shoes.

A female audience member then shouted: “You’ve got blood on your

‘CIA says Al-Qaeda in Pakistan hit hard in US attacks’

WASHINGTON: The CIA’s expanding operations in Pakistan have taken “a serious toll” on the Al-Qaeda network, the spy agency director, Leon Panetta, has told US media.

But he said it remained unclear whether the effort had prevented a possible terror plot against European cities, the Los Angeles Times quoted him as saying Tuesday.

Panetta did not specify bombing raids by unmanned aircraft in Pakistan as US officials do not publicly discuss the campaign.

But the CIA missile strikes are an open secret, and US officials privately describe the program as a vital tool in the fight against Al-Qaeda and allied Islamist militants based in northwest Pakistan.

Referring to stepped up operations, Panetta said the effort is “taking a serious toll” on Al-Qaeda’s capabilities, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“The basis for that increased pace is

Pakistan floods cause "major" harm to economy: IMF

WASHINGTON: Pakistan”s floods, the worst to hit the country in 80 years, will cause “major harm to the economy,” the International Monetary Fund said on Monday as donors” and investors” concerns grew over the disaster”s impact on an already fragile economy.

The floods “are very likely to cause major harm to the economy in terms of loss of output and budgetary consequences,” an IMF spokesman told media. “In these circumstances, support from the international community will be critical.”

The spokesman did not say whether the economic impact could affect Pakistan”s $11.3 billion IMF program, but he said IMF officials were in touch with the authorities to assess the situation.

Pakistan turned to the IMF for emergency financing in November 2008 to avert a balance of payments crisis and shore up reserves.

While economic growth has picked up, Pakistan has struggled to meet some of the targets under the program, especially on increasing tax revenue to allowing for greater government spending.

The country was set to receive a disbursement of about $1.1 billion under the program following a performance review scheduled by the IMF this month.

The spokesman said IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn had told Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari the fund stands ready to discuss how to help Pakistan manage the economic impact of the floods.

“Fund staff have been in touch with their Pakistani counterparts to assess the situation and discuss ways to help,” the spokesman added.

More than 1,600 people have died and about two million left homeless by the flooding, which began 10 days ago after heavy monsoon rains over the upper reaches of the Indus River basin wreaked havoc from northern Pakistan to the southern province of Sindh.

Pakis to celebrate Azadi festivals on Aug 6, 8 in US

i>By Raja Zahid A Khanzada/i>
DALLAS: In America’s Texas state, where a large number of Pakistani communities live, various organizations have announced festivities to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day.

In the metropolis called Dallas Forth Worth (DFW), the preparations to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day have picked up momentum. In this connection, two representative organizations of Pakistani community have finalized their separate programs.

Pakistan Council of Dallas Fort Worth (PCDFW) has planned to hold a program on August 6th in Bismillah Restaurant Plano, which would be split into two sessions.

In the first session, the eminent scholars from among the Pakistani community would read their papers on Pakistan, in order to educate and enlighten the new generation about the history of Pakistan. The session would be presided over by a former Pakistani ambassador Syed Ahsani.

The second sitting would be for Mushaira (Poetry Recital Symposium). The local poets would recite their poetic compositions in this session with themes to pay tribute to Pakistan.

The Council’s presidents, AK Khan, General Secretary Saeed Qureshi, the executive body members and popular social figures Syed Hassan, Amir Salahuddin, have called upon the community to overwhelmingly attend these programs. There is neither entry nor any other charges to participate in the Jashn- e- Azadi Pakistan program.

Additionally, to commemorate Pakistan Birthday, Pakistan association of Texas (PAT) is arranging another program on august 8, that would be held in Flag Polo Hill Park, which will continue till late night.

The showbiz, film and television celebrities Saud Qazi, Javeria Saud, singer Adil Chaudhry, Analti, the comedy actor Shakeel Siddiqui, Ahmed Janbaz, are taking part in this colorful carnival.

The PAT administration has said that there will be a special interesting program in which comic skits would be presented. In addition, the artists would sing the lyrics, songs, and national anthem about Pakistan.

There will be children rides, and various games for the children entertainment. The stalls presenting Pakistan dishes, and products would be installed. At the end, there would be a massive fireworks display. The fireworks would especially prominently display the white and the green colors adorning Pakistan’s national flag.

The PAT leaders John Hamid, Sharik Hamid, Pervez Shahed, and others have announced that the program would be totally free, so that all community members can attend it with the needed passion and zeal. It is learnt that the Pakistani community is waiting for these programs with eagerness.

In Houston city too, the Pakistani American Association of Greater Houston (PAAGH) has chalked an ambitious and comprehensive program to celebrate Jashn-e- Azadi Pakistan in a befitting manner.

These programs would be presented by celebrated artists from Radio, television and film. The president of PAAGH Khalid Khan has appealed to the community to come in huge numbers to participate in the Pakistan festival.

India to miss T20 cricket in Asian Games

MUMBAI: India will not send cricket teams to the Asian Games in November, despite being a key driver in getting the sport included on the program in China.

Here is the original: 
India to miss T20 cricket in Asian Games

Calcutta Business School PGDM Admissions 2010

Admission to two years AICTE approved PGDM program July 2010. S.K.Birla who is president of CBS (Calcutta Business School) had previously announced plans to start a 15-month programmed leaders from next year when a group is official.

This course fees would be close to some Rs 9-10 lakh and the ability to class is 30-60 students. They have also started a diploma degree in management two years ago, and had 100% placement for the first group.

Eligibility for admission:
The minimum requirement for admission to the program is a three-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized Indian or foreign university with a minimum of 50% marks. Candidates who appear in the last year BA studies (or equivalent examination) can also be used, provided they complete all degree requirements by 30 September 2009.

How to apply for admission -:
Applicants wishing to apply for admission to Calcutta Business School can follow one of two procedures to obtain a prospectus and application form:

Applicants can collect Prospectus including application form personally by submitting a demand draft of Rs. 300 / – or receive a prospectus, including the application form by mail or by sending a demand draft of Rs. 350 / –

While applying, applicants should enclose a demand draft of Rs. 1200 / – along with the completed application form with any chassis.

And get more information click here

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