Islamabad: federal government withdraws Saturdays holiday

The federal government has withdrawn its decision of Saturday as an off day, News Trends reported on Tuesday. The decision of withdrawal would be applicable from 27th November this year.

According to a statement released from the prime ministers secretariat, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has approved the recommendation of withdrawing the decision of Saturday as an off day. The decision of withdrawal was taken during the meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI). According to the statement the decision has been taken in consultation with all the provincial governments and all the concerned ministries.

Nawaz should apologize for attack on PPP leaders: Khuhro

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro said on Thursday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif should apologize for attacking Pakistan Peoples Party leaders on October 12, adding that action should be taken against PML-N leaders, Ahsan Iqbal, Khwaja Saad Rafiq and Pervez Rasheed.

During his press conference, he challenged Nawaz Sharif to come out if he has power. “Nawaz Sharif has no option. He only likes to distribute Watan Cards.”

He said that Nawaz made Pervez Musharraf army chief on the recommendation of Chaudhry Nisar.

He warned PML-N leaders not to talk against Benazir Bhutto. SAMAA

President fully authorized to pardon anyone: Aitzaz

Former President Supreme Court Bar Aitzaz Ahsan said that the president has constitutional powers to pardon the sentences given by the court and Rehman Malik can have both posts of Senator and Minister unless Election Commission declares him ineligible on the recommendation of Chairman Senate.
Talking to media in Islamabad, he said that it is also possible that court gives sentence and the president gives pardon. Answering a query, the government has powers to take action against Pervez Musharraf and court interference is not necessary in this regard.

Clegg vows new kind of government

LONDON: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said that he hopes his party”s coalition with the Conservatives will mark the creation of a “new kind of government” in Britain.

The newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister said his recommendation to enter an administration with the Tories had been “overwhelmingly” endorsed by his party”s MPs and its federal executive.

He said that he is now looking forward to working with Prime Minister David Cameron and sought to reassure supporters in the country, insisting he would not have agreed the deal unless he was convinced it would deliver the changes they wanted.

Karachi police bust gang of drug dealers

KARACHI: The Karachi police on Thursday arrested a gang of eight drug dealers, including a woman, with hashish and heroin worth million of rupees in their possession.

Acting on a tip off, the police raided a house located in Gharibabad Goth and recovered 12 kilograms of heroin and 17 kilograms of fine hashish.

According to police authorities, eight people were apprehended from the scene. They are believed to have links with inter-provincial gangs of drugs dealers.

Meanwhile, the police registered an FIR against the accused and initiated further investigation. The case was also handed to investigation police for the arrest of their accomplices.

Margaret Moth

Latest Updates Margaret Moth is Coverage Cnn But the two articles and a video documentary clearly demonstrate that she was not a woman who would want to rest in peace, so I won’t wish that for her. The CNN camerawoman died today in Rochester, MN, three years after she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

“She said she never aspired to be a photojournalist. Rather her path, she explained, was mostly driven by a love of history and her desire to see it unfold firsthand.”

And so she did. As today’s article says:

“Beyond her rich personality, which included deep optimism and kindness, she brought to her profession top-notch technical abilities, unmatched dedication and an approach to work that inspired others to push themselves.

Moth sought out, even demanded, assignments in conflict zones. She barely survived being shot in the face in Sarajevo in 1992, only to go back as soon as she was physically able.

Last September, I posted my recommendation for CNN’s short documentary about Margaret Moth. I was surprised when it drew not just one but ten comments from former colleagues, friends, and strangers who wanted to send their good wishes to her, and to thank her for being such an inspiration in their own lives. A former war correspondent in Central America, a journalist in Nigeria, a survivor from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a friend from New Zealand, and more.

“Dying of cancer, I would have liked to think I’d have gone out with a bit more flair,” she said with a laugh last spring during an interview with a CNN documentary crew that had traveled to Texas, where she was visiting friends.

PCB Takes U-Turn On Ban Of Younis,Yousaf

Pakistan Cricket Board took a u-turn on fixing the time frame of ban imposed on former captains, Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousaf and said there is no specified term on it.
Media has interpreted the first recommendations of the inquiry committee regarding Younis and Yousaf as being a life ban on these two players from playing for Pakistan. PCB claries that the recommendation of the Committee is not a life ban on these cricketers”, said a spokesman of the PCB on Wednesday.
“There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team”, he added.

British Airways Strike

British Airways Strike updates :- QANTAS will take advantage of its alliance partner’s woes by filling seats during the peak Christmas period with passengers left stranded by a 12-day British Airways strike.

Although the strike throws into chaos the holiday plans of BA passengers during the busiest time of the year for travelling, industry insiders say it will be a boost for Qantas because it will enable the Australian airline to fill its aircraft during the highest-yielding period.

The challenge for Qantas, however, will be to find sufficient room on its aircraft.

”I can’t see it being a negative because they are pretty full anyway, so anything made to help BA is going to be icing on the cake,” an insider said.

Qantas dismissed speculation yesterday that it would pull long-haul aircraft off either the Pacific route between Australia and the United States, or from services to South Africa, in response to the greater demand on the kangaroo route to Europe.

Shares in Qantas rose 2c to $2.69 yesterday in its third straight day of gains, spurred on by Merrill Lynch analysts raising their recommendation on the stock from “neutral” to a ”buy” due to improving passenger yields.

”If Qantas has the capacity to carry all of the people on BA who cancel we will be more than happy,” the divisional secretary of the Flight Attendants Association of Australia, Michael Mijatov, said yesterday. ”It provides extra revenue to the company.”

Yesterday Qantas sought to allay fears the strike from December 22 to January 2 will pose problems for Qantas passengers who are due to board BA connecting flights in London bound for other destinations in Europe.

The airline said it would provide ”alternative options, where possible, for other customers, such as those booked on BA services into Europe out of London”.

Source smh.com.au