Roger Moore, Brigitte Nielsen to be stars of Vienna ball

VIENNA: Former James Bond star Roger Moore and Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen will be Austrian entrepreneur Richard Lugner’s special guests at this year’s Opera Ball in Vienna, Lugner revealed Wednesday.

The 79-year-old Lugner makes headlines in Austria every year by inviting celebrities to the ball, the highlight of Vienna’s social calendar with tickets starting at 250 euros ($327) and boxes going for as much as 18,500 euros.

His previous guests have included actresses Andie MacDowell and Faye Dunaway, although in recent years, Lugner has favoured starlets and scandal-sheet regulars like party girl Paris Hilton.

Last year Karima El Mahroug, the teenage Moroccan woman known as “Ruby the Heart-Stealer” who was at the centre of a sex scandal involving former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, was on his arm.

“I look forward to coming to Vienna,” Nielsen, 48, said in a video message at a press conference in the Austrian capital, confirming she would attend the February 16 ball.

The former wife of action star Sylvester Stallone, Nielsen appeared in films like “Rocky IV” and “Beverly Hills Cop II” in the 1980s and most recently in the German production of the reality show “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here”.

British actor Moore, 84, and his wife will also join Lugner in his box, the Austrian said, adding that “lots of women go crazy for him.”

Top model Helena Christensen, 43, will also attend the ball as a guest of lingerie company Triumph. AGENCIES

Four legal experts advised PM against letter, Aitzaz tells SC

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ISLAMABAD: A seven-member Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk is currently hearing the contempt case against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, TrendPK reports Thursday.

The PM Gilani’s counsel, Aitezaz Ahsan is giving arguments before the court. The former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader has been directed to complete his arguments in the preliminary hearing by tea break.

Aitzaz said acting upon the Rules of Business is a constitutional pre-requisite and under the Business Rules, it is Law Ministry which is to advise the PM on legal affairs.

The PM’s Counsel stressed the power of decision will rest with the Prime Minister, in case Attorney General of Pakistan is at variance with the law ministry over the advice.

Furthermore, he informed the court that as many as four legal experts advised the PM Gilani in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case not to write the letter; only the then Attorney General Anwar Mansoor voiced difference of opinion.

Justice Mulk remarked besides Anwar Mansoor, Law Secretary Aqil Mirza also expressed opposition and both of them resigned from their offices over the issue.

Justice Mulk queried as to how much weight to be given to the opinion of legal experts in presence of clear-cut court instructions.

Ahsan submitted the court in grade 22 promotion case, bound the Prime Minister to implement the summary.

Justice Athar Saeed remarked the Prime Minister is authorized also to dismiss the advice. However, Ahsan said the court held the rejection of advice as incorrect in Grade 22 promotion case.

Ahsan said it is not criminal not to use the power to reject the advice. TrendPK

Doctors, paramedical staff on roads in protest

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KARACHI: Doctors and paramedical staff of the city’s Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Institute of Heart Diseases are on roads to protest over the salaries, TrendPK reports Thursday.

The crew of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital kept main thoroughfare of Nazimabad-7 till the filing of this news post, causing the traffic holdup. Meantime, Institute of Heart Diseases, in protest against the non-payment of their salaries for four months now, is all protest at Waterpump Chowrangi, causing massive gridlock on all converging roads.

The doctors and paramedical staff, after closing down the OPD, are demanding for the raise in salaries, posing serious troubles to the patients and their attendants with frequent scenes involving exchange of hot words being witnessed.

Demonstrators warned to continue their strike until they are assured by the high-ups over the issue. TrendPK

Riko Diq goldmine case: CJ critical of bid to move ICJ

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry Thursday said the Riko Diq gold mines belongs to Pakistan.

Heading a three-member bench hearing Riko Diq Goldmine case, the Chief Justice Chaudhry noted taking recourse to the International Arbitration Court is an attempt to undermine the authority of the national institutions.

Raza Kazim, the counsel of petitioner and former Punjab MPA Ehsanullah Waqas told the court that the apex court’s ruling delivered on May 25 was an exhaustive verdict which was agreed upon by all parties; but, now, Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited (TCC) took the matter to world arbitration court i.e. International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The petitioner said the case cannot be taken up simultaneously by two forums.

The CJ queried if no one cares for the judicial system of the country, stressing this is an apparent attempt to curtail the stature of the Supreme Court (SC). TrendPK

Waka Waka girl Shakira’s birthday today

LOS ANGELES: A Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known professionally as Shakira is celebratingher birthday today (Thursday).

Shakira was born February 2, 1977). Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira began performing in school, demonstrating her vocal ability with rock and roll, Latin and Arabic influences with her own original twist on belly dancing.

Shakira emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s. Shakira is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent English and Portuguese as well as some Italian, French, Catalan and Arabic.

After a poor commercial reception with local producers on her first two albums, and being little-known outside Colombia, Shakira decided to produce her own brand of music.

In 1995 she released Pies Descalzos, which brought her great fame in Latin America and Spain, and her 1998 album ‘Dónde Están los Ladrones’ was a critical success selling over 7 million copies worldwide.

In 2001, aided by the worldwide success of her first English single “Whenever, Wherever” that became the best selling single of 2002, she broke through into the English-speaking world with the release of Laundry Service, which sold over 13 million copies worldwide.

Four years later, Shakira released two album projects called Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Both reinforced her success, particularly with the best selling song of the 2000s, “Hips Don’t Lie”.

In 1995, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation. It is a Colombian charity with special schools for poor children all around Colombia. During her career, Shakira has performed at a large number of benefit concerts. Among the most famous are the Live 8 benefit concert in July 2005, the Live Earth concert, Hamburg where she headlined the show, as well as the “Clinton Global Initiative” created by former US President Bill Clinton.

She was also invited to the Oval Office by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to discuss early childhood development.

She has won two Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Awards  and has been Golden Globe-nominated.

She is also the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, and the second most successful female Latin singer behind Gloria Estefan, having sold over 70 million albums worldwide.

Her U.S. album sales stand at 9.9 million. In the fall of 2009, Shakira released her sixth studio album She Wolf worldwide gaining a lot of critical praise for her eccentricity and writing skills. The album sold roughly 2 million copies around the world.

Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, was chosen as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The song has received generally positive critical reception, and has become a worldwide smash hit and the biggest selling World Cup song of all time.

On YouTube, the English version of the music video is the 4th most watched video of all time with over 441 million views. When she released her seventh studio album, the bilingual Sale el Sol in October 2010, she gained back her Latin following, which Shakira described as being the main goal for the album.

The album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Since 2009, Shakira’s musical career suffered from a strained relationship with her label Epic Records, which resulted in lack of promotion and investment from Epic Records towards her two latter studio albums; She Wolf (2009) and Sale el Sol (2010). TrendPK

Supreme Court summons PM Gilani, again

TrendPK.com

ISLAMABAD: In another unprecedented move, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has summoned Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, again, on Feb 13 in the case of contempt notice issued to the PM over his failure to pursue NRO cases, TrendPK reports.

The premier faces disqualification in case he is convicted by the jury, a matter of great concern for the fragile government facing demands of snap polls in the country.

“The court has ordered to charge-sheet the Prime Minister on Feb 13,” PM’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said while speaking to newsmen after a seven-member SC bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the case.

“We still reserve a right to appeal against the decision and I have suggested it to my client,” he said, adding that Gilani can maintain his office despite the conviction.

Law experts, however, say a contemnor can’t hold any public office at least for five years.

“I’m worried about the growing gulf and tension between state institutions. The court should not only take to task civilian leadership… A third party can take advantage of this situation,” he replied when asked about possibilities of yet another military takeover.

“Those generals who detained judges should also be served contempt of court notices,” he appealed the apex court.

The PM had appeared in the apex court on Jan 19 and was exempted from next appearance. However the court on Thursday again decided to summon the PM observing that the PM has committed contempt of court by not ordering reopening of cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. TrendPK

Deadly drugs kill two more patients

TrendPK.com

LAHORE: The uncontrolled drug reaction is seemed to be far away from being plugged up as two more patients died on Thursday, bringing the overall death toll to 130 in past three weeks, TrendPK reports.

The two cardiac patients breathed their last in Lahore’s Services Hospital as a result of low platelets and count of white blood cells in their bodies. The reaction came after hundreds of cardiac patients were given medicines in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

Hundreds of affectees are still under treatment in different hospitals of Lahore.

In the light of reports received from Britain laboratory, the Punjab government has banned five medicines, sealing arresting while list of more fake drugs is yet to be released by the provincial health department.

The faulty drugs include Soloprin 300mg, Alfagril 75mg, Cardiocastin 20mg, Atenolol 100 mg, Corcont 5mg and Isotab.

This list has also been issued by Sindh health department, advising heart patients not to use them.

Separately, the FIA and Central Drug Laboratory (CDL) officials have seized all record and sealed Efroze Chemical Factory in Karachi over the deaths caused by use of company’s sub-standard drug. TrendPK

Punjab transporter raise fares after oil price hike

TrendPK.com

LAHORE: The public transporters of Punjab has raised fares of intercity buses and wagons on their own after a fresh hike in petroleum prices, TrendPK reports.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by leaders of All Pakistan Transporters Association which decide up to 10 percent raise in fares, increasing economic burden on already oppressed masses.

However, people condemned the decision, demanding the government to take notice of what they called anti-people move.

According to notification issued by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Wednesday, price of Petrol has been increased by Rs.5.37/liter, Light Diesel Rs.3.43 per liter, High Speed Diesel Rs.4.64, High Octane Rs. 6.29 and Kerosene Oil by Rs. 2.78 a liter. TrendPK

Contempt case: PM Gilani calls emergency meeting

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: Embroiled in yet another quagmire, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani called a meeting of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders and coalition partners to discuss the situation triggered by an order of seven-member bench seeking him to appear in person before the court on February 13.

The bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk directed the PM Gilani to appear before the court on February when he will be indicted of contempt charge for not implementing the court orders given in relation with the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aitezaz Ahsan said the PM Gilani is entitled to appeal if he is indicted of contempt, adding he can continue as the premier of the country as well.

PM Gilani will have a meeting with the PPP Core Committee this evening. Also Aitezaz has been invited to the meeting. TrendPK

Come back for more details.

Experts see constitutional crises as PM facing ‘charge-sheet’

TrendPK.com

ISLAMABAD: As Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani faces jail and lose of his office, if convicted, law experts are of the view that the government is on the course of constitutional crises and clash with state institutions, TrendPK reports.

Renewing political tension in the country, Supreme Court on Thursday prepared to charge PM Gilani with contempt of court for his failure to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

PM’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan says “We still reserve a right to appeal against the decision and I have suggested it to my client”.

Speaking to newsmen after a seven-member SC bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the case, he said Gilani can stay on his office despite the conviction. Law experts, however, say a contemnor can’t hold any public office at least for five years.

“I’m worried about the growing gulf and tension between state institutions. The court should not only take to task civilian leadership… A third party can take advantage of this situation,” he replied when asked about possibilities of yet another military takeover.

“Those generals who detained judges should also be served contempt of court notices,” he appealed the apex court.

 President Supreme Court Bar Association Yasin Azad says the situation is moving towards a constitutional crisis “therefore all the institutions should keep in view the future of this country at every step.
 
PPP MNA Nazar Gondal says their leadership respects judiciary, “but we will use our legal right to appeal against the decisions.”

Prominent lawyer, Ahemd Raza Qasuri says “the government is at the point of no return, facing unprecedented situation.”

Deputy speaker Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza said “thought all this did not go well today but Peoples Party has always surrendered before judicial verdicts.”  TrendPK

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