US ignored Bhutto’s request for security: WikiLeaks

ISLAMABAD: Just two months before she was killed in a terror attack, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had approached then US Ambassador in Islamabad asking for help to evaluate her personal security but it was ignored, latest WikiLeaks cables have revealed.

Bhutto handed over a written request to US Ambassador Anne W Patterson two months before she was killed asking her to carry out an evaluation of the security because she feared for her life, say the WikiLeaks cables.

The cables reveal that the US chose to look the other way, suggesting that Benazir should work constructively with General Pervez Musharraf’s government,

More repairs ordered for Discovery fuel tank

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA ordered additional repairs to space shuttle Discovery after more cracks were discovered in the ship”s fuel tank, but the flight remains targeted for early February, officials said.

The shuttle”s cargo run to the International Space Station, one of the final missions before the United States ends the 30-year-old shuttle program, has been on hold since November 5 when a hydrogen fuel leak scuttled a launch attempt. Technicians later found a 21-inch- (53-cm) long crack in the foam insulation that covers the tank, a potential debris hazard for launching.

Further investigation revealed underlying cracking in structural supports, the cause of which has not been determined.

X-rays of the backside of the tank, completed this week, showed additional cracks in three more of the aluminum lithium tank support structures, Kennedy Space Center spokesman Allard Buetel said late on Thursday.

Those cracks will be repaired while managers consider if additional modifications to the tank will be needed, work that could delay the scheduled February 3 launch to later in the month.

The shuttle fuel tanks have been a top safety issue for NASA since the 2003 Columbia accident, which killed seven astronauts. A piece of foam insulation broke off Columbia”s tank during launch and smashed into the ship”s wing. The damage caused the shuttle to break apart as it flew through the atmosphere for landing 16 days later. NASA redesigned the tanks after the accident and developed new in-flight inspection procedures.

NASA is ending its space shuttle program in 2011 after two or three more missions to complete the space station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations that has been under construction 220 miles above the planet since 1998. Russia already has taken over the job of transporting crew members to and from the outpost – at a cost of $51 million a seat – in anticipation of the shuttles” retirement.

NASA is also investing in commercial companies with the hope that private industry will be ready to provide launch services for astronauts by about 2015.

McCullum hits double-ton as India-NZ Test drawn

HYDERABAD: Opener Brendon McCullum smashed a career-best 225 to help New Zealand draw the second Test against world number one India on Tuesday.

McCullum, playing his 54th Test, unleashed 22 fours and four sixes during his nine-hour innings as the tourists declared at their tea score of 448-8 on the fifth and final day of the match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

That left India — who made 472 in their first innings in reply to New Zealand’s 350 — with an improbable target of scoring 327 runs off 30 overs in the final session.

India’s openers Virender Sehwag (54 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (14 not out) took India to 68-0 when the rival captains agreed to call off the match one hour before the scheduled close.

It was McCullum who stole the day’s show and gave the eight-ranked Kiwis plenty to cheer about as they head into the series-deciding third Test

India arms race offers prizes for presidential visits

NEWDEHLI: Arms-hungry India is expected to hand out a raft of military deals worth billions of dollars during an upcoming rush of presidential visits from the United States, France and Russia.

The biggest-ticket item is the scheduled signing of an estimated 30 billion-dollar stealth fighter co-production agreement when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits in late December.

Medvedev’s trip will follow those of President Barack Obama and President Nicolas Sarkozy, both of whom will be pushing existing US and French tenders for lucrative military contracts.

Fuelling India’s drive into the international arms market are growing concerns over China’s military strength and its expanding sphere of regional influence.

“China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to reflect on this reality,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned in

Pakistan PM cancels trips, speculation on government

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has cancelled visits starting this month to Europe, the foreign ministry said, a move which could intensify media speculation that pressure is mounting for a change in government.

The government’s perceived poor handling of summer floods has raised questions over political stability in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country fighting homegrown Taliban insurgents which the U.S. regards as vital to efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

“In view of his pre-occupations with the post-flood situation, the Prime Minister has decided not to go ahead with his scheduled visits to Paris and Brussels,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman in a statement.

“(The) Prime Minister’s official visit to France is being re-scheduled.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the

Match-fixing: Proteas concerned about Pakistan series

LONDON: South Africa’s cricketers have such deep reservations about playing against Pakistan in their scheduled series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month that several senior players are considering whether to make themselves unavailable for selection.

The Proteas are due to play five ODIs and three test matches as well as a brace of T20s, the second of which was agreed to by Cricket South Africa to help with flood relief in the stricken nation.

“To say we are reluctant is an understatement,” one senior player told Telegraph Sport. “Nobody knows what the hell is going in Pakistani cricket and we feel that playing such a high profile series right now – especially in the middle east – is asking for trouble.

“Maybe it’s time for the ICC to step in, or for Pakistan to withdraw from the international game for a year until the mess can be cleaned up and people can

Rain delays Eng-Pakistan ODI

UNITED KINGDOM: Heavy rain delayed the start of the first one-day international between England and Pakistan at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

Covers were still in place on the pitch at the scheduled 11:15 start following overnight and morning rain.

The weather is expected to improve throughout the day and a favourable forecast gives hope that the match could be played to a conclusion.

The delay didn’t take the spotlight off Pakistan after the news that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are to fly back home on Friday.

The three players have been charged and suspended by the International Cricket Council under the world governing body’s anti-corruption code following newspaper allegations of a betting scam that saw no-balls deliberately bowled in the fourth Test against England at Lord’s last month. AGENCIES

Israel’s Netanyahu sees difficult talks ahead

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians would be “difficult but possible”, acknowledging scepticism over whether talks starting next month could succeed.

In his first remarks to reporters since Israel and the Palestinians accepted on Friday an invitation by the United States and other powers to restart direct talks, Netanyahu said:

“We want to surprise all the critics and sceptics. But to do that, we need a true partner on the Palestinian side.

“I know there is deep scepticism. After 17 years have passed since the Oslo process, it’s possible to understand why this scepticism exists,” he said at the start of a cabinet meeting.

He made no mention of a potential stumbling block once the talks start in Washington on Sept. 2 — the scheduled end about three weeks later of Israel’s

Imran warns of protest if Zardari visits UK

LAHORE: Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan Sunday warned that a strong protest would be staged in case President Zardari went ahead with his scheduled visit to the UK.

Addressing his party’s worker convention here, Imran Khan pointed out that the whole country is in the grip of worst floods that unleashed widespread devastation. In view of these circumstances, President Zardari should suspend his planned visit to the UK, he asserted.

He said people are dying due to severe floods, needing government’s help, but the ruler’s focus is on the proxy war of the US.

Imran Khan demanded of the country’s politicians to bring in light the details of their properties outside the country.

Sardar Atique elected AJK’s PM unopposed

MUZAFFARABAD: The Muslim Conference leader Sardar Aatique Ahmed Khan has been elected as Leader of the House Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after he got 39 votes in his support here at AJK legislative assembly on Thursday morning, Geo news reported.

The house caste vote of confidence on Sardar Atique as he secured 39 votes in his favour from the house of 49 members.

Earlier on Tuesday no candidate turned up to challenge Sardar Atique for the top position. Following Raja Farooq Haider’s resignation as the Prime Minister, nomination papers were to be submitted for the new leader of the House till 6pm.

However, no candidate except Sardar Atique submitted nomination papers by the scheduled time. Sardar Atique has sought vote of confidence from the house and is now confirmed Prime Minister AJK.

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